one tree hill

1 Were You Named After Anyone? I was named after Sophia Loren. My father is a photographer, and when I was born he was frequently doing photoshoots with her. Both of my parents adore her, and loved her spunk, elegance, and unique femininity. Plus it's a very traditional Italian name. They wanted to honor my heritage, and inspire those qualities in me. I loved hearing as a child that I was named after such a special lady.

2 Do You Like Your Own Handwriting? Actually, I'm not really a fan of my handwriting. My mother has the most gorgeous penmanship I've ever seen, and my writing is more of a chicken scratch. I generally write in all capital letters so that people stand a chance!

3 What Would Your Superpower be if you could choose one? It's a tie for me. I'd love to be able to fly, so that I could get anywhere in an instant, and have a zero carbon footprint when I travel. But I'd also love it if I never had to sleep. Can you imagine what could be done if you could use all 24 hours in every day!?

4 Are you an Optimist or Pessimist?

I am an eternal optimist. So much so that I get incredibly worked up over injustice and inequality. I believe in the good in people and the world. And I really believe that if our youth mobilize to be a force of equality, and a contingency of caring souls, we can truly change the world. I know that is incredibly optimistic, but I believe it down to the core of my being.

5 What do you collect?

I collect vintage cameras. I have a few that are incredibly old, and so beautiful. They're both a nod to my family and to the beauty & panache of Old Hollywood. Movie magic, the inspiration I find in photographs, it all begins with a camera.

6 What movie would your friends be surprised that you like?

The last truly great movie that I saw was Gasland. It's a documentary about how hydraulic fracturing is affecting our environment and our fresh water supply. Although I doubt that surprises anyone!

7 What are your favorite smells?

I love the smell of night blooming jasmine. It was planted in window boxes outside my bedroom as a little girl, and it carried me into my dreams every night. Also, I love the smell of olive oil, and the scent of fresh basil. That's the Italian in me!

8 Coffee or Tea? Both. If I'm drinking coffee, I'll have an Americano, or take it iced. As for tea, green tea in any oolong variation does the trick.

9 Wine or Beer? I love good wine -- again, I'm Italian! -- but I also adore good beer. If I'm drinking red, I always go for Malbec. And if it's a beer night, Shotgun Betty. Stella Artois and Fat Tire rank right up there as well.

10 What is the best thing you've ever eaten? (Where?)

The best thing I've ever eaten is handmade, fresh truffle gnudie at Wine & Roses in New York. It's so incredible that I don't even know how to describe it. It's a like a rainbow exploding in your mouth. Heaven.

11 Mac or PC? Mac. iMiss Steve Jobs.

12 What are you listening to right now?

I'm listening to a lot of Wolf Gang, Editors, Florence + The Machine, Jay Z, Band of Skulls, and Crash Kings lately. And Stevie Wonder. Always Stevie Wonder.

13 What career would you pursue in another life?

I daydream about being Robin to Anderson Cooper's Batman. Traveling the world covering breaking news, visiting frontlines, and of course shooting photographs. And about doing a talk show show like ELLEN. Who knows, one of those things might happen in this lifetime...

14 What sound or noise to you love?

I love the sound of laughter. Real, uncontrollable laughter. And live music.

15 What sound or noise do you hate?

I hate the sound of my alarm clock whenever it goes off before the sun is up. That happens far too often.

16 Mountains or Beach? Mountains. I love the smell of the woods. I love the perspective you get when climbing to a new height, and literally seeing your world from a new vantage point. Mountains that overlook the beach are a bonus.

17 Cook or Bake? I cook a lot. I need to start baking more. My mom makes an incredible raspberry pie, so I have good jumping off point.

18 Do you go to restaurants and movies by yourself?

I do! And I love it. There's something wonderful about enjoying a meal, or a piece of art or entertainment alone. Being silent and relaxing with your own thoughts. I get a lot of my best thinking done in those situations.

19 What is your favorite fairy tale or childhood story?

Goodnight Moon and The Giving Tree are two of my favorite stories from my childhood. They're both beautiful.

20 What would you tell the 13 year old you?

I'd say, "Don't worry about the ones who say you're weird. Who call you names and push you around and try to break you down. They only do it because they're broken. Keep your head up. Shoot for the moon. Believe in the power of your voice and your passion. Don't wait so long to start using your platform for fear that you wont be able to make a difference. You WILL. And girl! Relish, even more, in school. It is a supreme privilege to have your only job in life be to get smarter every day. After all, #SmartIsSexy, and it's the only kind of sexy that lasts."