Nothing But Bubble

With a career on the rise, R&B singer MELISSA JIMÉNEZ is so perky, she’s about to burst. We can’t stop smiling, either.

By Richard “Treats” Dryden

Melissa Jiménez is the type of confident woman who refuses to settle down unless the situation is absolutely right. So after dalliances with the Ruff Ryders (she appeared in Styles P’s “Daddy Get That Cash” video at age 17), and Roc-A-Fella (for whom she modeled Rocawear and sang on Beanie Sigel’s “Feel It in the Air” single), the 23-year-old Mexican-Greek songstress has finally committed to Steve Rifkind’s SRC/Universal label. With her Wyclef Jean–backed debut, Signed, Sealed, Delivered due this year, Jiménez’s multilingual R&B prowess picks up where Puffy-era J. Lo left off. Really, who wouldn’t want to wife her?

Your label, SRC, is known for street artists like Wu-Tang and David Banner, but your sound is a little different.

Yeah I know, I’m R&B-pop. But I’m a huge fan of hip-hop. I was a young teen with Ruff Ryders. It doesn’t get any rougher than that. [Laughs.]

Do you consider yourself more of a girly-girl or one of the guys?

Oh, I’m totally like your buddy. But I’m a female at the same time. Guys might be like, “Oh, she’s butch!” [Laughs.]

But when it comes time to get sexy, you obviously deliver.

Oh, give me heels! Put on the makeup! I’m very comfortable with myself. I’m not trying to be something that I’m not.

When you were looking at a revealing outfit for the shoot, I overheard you say, “This is for the one.” Who’s “the one?”

Oh no! What I meant was, “Can I save my goodies for the one?” Like, the one man I’m gonna walk down the aisle with. You know, so he can be like, “Yeah, only I can see that.” I’m a good girl.

Yet I heard you have a mischievous side.

I’m just very open— I’m not shy. I’m a people person. I know I appear cuckoo and crazy—my friends call me Bubblehead because I’m very bubbly. They’ll be like, “You’re bubblin’ over, calm down!”

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