Lauren London

Lauren London is bigger (and deffer) than ever, but do you have what it takes to walk with the panther?

By Damien Scott; Photography by Rony Shram
MORE CREDIT
(CLOTHING) earrings by h&m; dress by larok; BRACELET by ben-amun;

Lauren London may have started her started her career as a video vixen, but unlike the rest of ’em, the 24-year-old L.A. native’s best asset isn’t her ass (although, to be fair, it’s as perfect as her smile). Since bowing in ATL in ’06, her around-the-way-girl charm has landed her in flicks left and right, including this spring’s Next Day Air and July’s I Love You Beth Cooper. She even likes dudes who don’t rock jewelry. How many vixens can say that?

We hear your idol is Barbra Streisand. Can’t say we saw that coming.

Lauren London: You think because I’m some little black girl, I can’t love Barbra? [Laughs.] I’m the little half-black, half-Jewish girl who was odd and awkward. I try to be myself. Barbra didn’t look like Vivian Leigh or Lucille Ball: She was Barbra Streisand. She made her own mark.

But you’re probably the only Streisand fan to appear on a Clipse mixtape.

Lauren London: I’ve been knowing Pharrell and them since I was really, really young. They’re like family to me. Pusha is definitely my brother.

It seems you’ve been connected to a number of people in the rap world.

Lauren London: Most of those are rumors! I don’t have a lot of friends; most of the friends I have, I’ve had since high school.

Fair enough.

Lauren London: [Laughs.] So…what were you going to say?

I was just going to ask about the kind of guys you’re attracted to. Are you attracted to rappers? [Laughs.]

Lauren London: [Laughs.] No.

OK, then how do you like your man to dress?

Lauren London: For some odd reason, I like a man in sweatsuits. Obviously, you want your man to look good in a suit, but I like when men look comfortable and the swagger just stands out of that.

And what should this man know before approaching you?

Lauren London: Don’t be thirsty. Be comfortable in your own skin. Don’t mention anything about Hollywood and you’ll be OK. I don’t want to hear about your jet or your car. Be emotionally stable. I’m interested in a guy who’s a lover of God, a lover of music, a lover of poetry, a lover of women—

“Lover of women”—that’s important.

Lauren London: That’s very important!