BARE KNUCKLES
The Diva of Sex: The Vanessa Del Rio Interview
by JEFF WINBUSH
G21 Staff Writer
To read this article in Deutsch, Francaise, Italiano, Portuguese, Espanol, copy and paste the complete URL("http://www.g21.net/bare23.html") and enter it in the box after you click through.
When that ball drops in Times Square on the last day of 1999, whatever else the millennium brings I dearly hope that certain things are deleted from the culture. Let's put Entertainment Weekly and People into full panic mode by eliminating from the lexicon the word, "diva."
Whitney Houston is a diva because she sings and is known to be demanding to work with. Demi Moore is a diva because she demands $15 million a movie. Jennifer Lopez is a diva because she has a nice ass. Madonna is a diva....well, because she's Madonna.
None of these ladies are fat and they don't sing opera. So what --- besides the fact they've got attitude to spare --- justifies bestowing divahood upon them? Is being a diva nothing more than having a little talent and attitude in abundance? How about tightening up the criteria a bit and reserving divahood for those women who have a track record of doing it their way and getting away with it.
Vanessa Del Rio....the name that launched a thousand hard-ons. It's been 13 years since she retired from sex flicks and she's more popular now than she's ever been. Rappers turn her name into a verb. "NYPD Blue" put her in America's living rooms in prime time. BELLE magazine hosts her monthly sex advice column (this is what journalism teachers mean when they say "write about what you know").
You're nobody in the Nineties if you don't have your own website and Ms. Del Rio is nothing if not cutting edge. Visit www.vanessadelrio.com to find the "Mistress of Masturbatory Memories" in all her glory. Want some own genuine Vanessa Del Rio panties worn by the porn icon herself? Perhaps a souvenir bra, stockings or audio tape of Vanessa talking dirty as you cruise to work Monday morning is more your special interest. It's your one stop shopping for all things Del Rio.
Talking to Vanessa herself is not as easily accomplished. You track down her publicist, play phone tag for a few weeks and after you've assured him you're not some kind of demented fan trying to stalk the retired sex superstar you get a chance to talk to her.
Or could it be true that Vanessa Del Rio is actually calling you at your home to do the interview?
Yes! It is true.
The voice on the line is pure Noo Yawk accent without a trace of a Latin accent. Born
Anna Marie Sanchez in Harlem, Vanessa turns 47 this year. She's a bit thicker in the waistline and larger in the breast size than her glory days on film or when she became a workout warrior as she prepped herself for a career switch to competitive bodybuilding.
After a brief return to stripping in men's clubs, Vanessa now plays hostess instead leaving the bumping and grinding to younger women while she meets and greets her many fans. She hasn't made a sex film since 1986 and has turned down offers of big paychecks to get busy before the cameras ever since. AIDS scared her out of the business and keeps her sexual activities confined to her boyfriend.
A one man woman? Yes, it clashes with her carnal cavorting in The Filthy Rich or Viva Vanessa: The Latin From Manhattan, but Del Rio isn't just a Olympic-class sex athlete.
All right‹she did make her mark with her body. So did Jackie Joyner-Kersee and nobody puts the bad mouth on her.
If you can't get the mental picture of Vanessa the Undresser out of your mind that's your problem. She's doing quite well with it, thank you very much. The natural assumption would be to assume just how bright can a woman be who made her mark by doing the nasty with men, women and other life forms that don't quite fall into the first two categories.
Vanessa is nobody's fool.
She knows exactly who she is, what she's done and why men act like horny fratboys around her. Girlfriend works it and if you try to play her, you only end up playing yourself.
The Vanessa Del Rio Interview
G21: Hi Vanessa. You sound out of breath.
Vanessa Del Rio: (slight panting) I just got back in the house and remembered I was doing this interview. I've been out spending money. Shopping does wonders for a girl (laughs).
G21: Well let's get to it. When you retired from adult movies in 1986 one of the things you said you were going to do is write your biography. It's 1999‹where's the book?
Vanessa: Still writing it.
No, actually I'm waiting for the person I want to collaborate with to become available. She worked with LL Cool J and Queen Latifah on their books, so I'm waiting my turn.
G21: Thought of a title for it yet?
Vanessa: I had a couple that weren't printable, but I'm thinking about "The Complete, Uncensored, Biography of Vanessa Del Rio: Porn Queen."
G21: That about covers it I think.
Speaking of rappers, you've become a popular name for rappers to drop. Ice Cube, Chubb Rock are among the rappers who've turned your name into a verb. "She Vanessa Del Rio'ed me."
Vanessa: Right. I've been in some rap videos though I don't really listen to much rap. "Get Money" by Junior M..A.F.I.A. crossed over to MTV. That was fun. Clicking the channels and there I am on "Yo MTV Raps."
G21: You've definitely been rediscovered. I read the article that VIBE did on you generated two thousand letters! Then, of course, you played yourself on "NYPD Blue."
Continue The Vanessa Del Rio Interview
+++ The Previous BARE KNUCKLES +++ THE NEXT BARE KNUCKLES +++
© 1999, GENERATOR 21.
E-mail your comments. We still like to hear from you. Send your remarks to rod@g21.net.
THE MAIN EVENT