Six years ago Marisa Miller was enjoying a day at the beach in sunny southern California when she encountered a man who would change her life forever. That man was Mario Testino, who, unbeknownst to Miller at the time, is one of the world’s most famous photographers. “When I was told who Mario was by IMG in New York, I was like, ‘Okay, if I’m ever going to model, this is the person to do it with,” Marisa Miller recalls. “I didn’t want to be going ‘what if?’ in ten years, so I gave it a shot.”

Since then, Miller has become one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world, gracing the pages of countless magazines, including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The new SI Swimsuit Issue hits newsstands in mid-February, but Miller must remain secretive about her involvement in this year’s issue. “It’s like Fort Knox in that building [at Sports Illustrated],” she says. “I’m not even really supposed to say if I’m in the issue or not.”

That statement leaves men all across America crossing their fingers that Marisa Miller will appear in the issue, because she has the type of beauty that turns heads. Yet, although her natural beauty matches the traditional notion of a supermodel, the other supermodel stereotypes don’t apply to her. She doesn’t smoke; she doesn’t take drugs; she doesn’t have an eating disorder; and she’s not ditzy. In fact, she’s an intelligent, down-to-earth, well-spoken woman who expresses interest in potentially following her mother into the nursing field when her career as a model ends. “I’m an ambitious person, so I think if I stop modeling I definitely would have to have a net goal of something to keep me busy and just to help people do something,” Miller tells me. “My sisters are in nursing school now too, so I’m from a family of nurses. You never know, my future career could be that.”

Miller, however, has no plans to give up her modeling career any time soon. “I love my job,” she says enthusiastically. “The opportunities I get are amazing.”

Nonetheless, as with any job, modeling has both its upsides and its downsides. “The best and worst part is the traveling,” Miller remarks. “It’s the best, because at a young age you get to travel on someone’s dollar. You’re working, so these are paid trips and you’re able to see incredible locations that none of my friends who grew up in Santa Cruz have seen. It’s incredible to have those opportunities and experience different cultures and people. Your life experience is so broad at a young age, so that’s definitely the best part about it.”

“The worst part is also the traveling,” she continues, “because sometimes I have 16 flights before I’m on the plane that takes me home. You’re constantly on the move, and you’re lonely too, because you’re in a different hotel every night. You’re on a plane, and you’re a woman traveling by yourself. You have to get in this mode to protect yourself. People are often surprised models don’t travel with the crews, but they’ll be a crew on one island and a different crew on another. You’re hopping around to these different places. It can be dangerous at times.”

Of all the locations Miller has visited, she ranks Fiji and St. Barts as her favorites. “I’m such a beach girl, any beach makes me happy.”

When Marisa Miller’s not on the road modeling, she can usually be found surfing on the California coast near her home. “Surfing is in my blood,” she proclaims. “My aunt used to be on the pro tour in the seventies. Growing up in Santa Cruz, everybody surfs. Your mailman surfs. [Laughs]. It’s just part of the lifestyle and the culture of growing up there. It was inbred in me from a very young age. Everybody has their thing they do to relax and unwind, and for me, it’s surfing.”

Don’t expect to find Miller riding the waves on Superbowl Sunday though. She and her father will be attending the game at Ford Field in Detroit. But, the big question is, who will they root for? “I think my dad wants Pittsburgh to win,” she says. “My dad was teasing me and said, ‘I think I’ll paint one side of my face Pittsburgh’s colors and the other side Seattle’s colors.’ I’m like, ‘Dad, you’re not painting your face any color. [Laughs].”

Whether she’s modeling, surfing or spending time with family and friends, Miller’s sweet, humble nature always remains the same. She truly is the All-American girl-next-door – only ten times hotter.