» Owners: 
LSM - Jimmy Kimmel 
Ellen Interview 
Ciara Ellen LSM 
Ciara never once wanted to follow in the footsteps of other young singing sensations. She admired them, of course, but never wanted to be just like them. Instead, the former high-school track star, now a beautiful 23-year-old R & B diva, found her inspiration on . . . ESPN. We like her already.
“I take my motivation from athletes—basketball players in particular,” she says. “I love LeBron James because he’s my age and full of ambition and drive. I love Michael Jordan. You can tell he chose to work hard to set himself outside the pack. There was so much pressure, but he pulled through every time. That energy motivates me.”
At this year’s Super Bowl, it was the New York Giants’ David Tyree who thrilled her. “The way he held on to that ball that Eli Manning threw—I felt what he had inside,” she says. “He wanted it that badly. When it comes to my career, there’s nothing more exciting than being successful at the highest possible level.”
Ciara, whose third album, Fantasy Ride, debuts next month, has just wrapped up a daylong photo shoot. Yet she bounds into the makeup room and offers her visitor a firm, earnest handshake that exudes confidence and energy. Her appearance also makes an impression: She has changed out of a plunging white gown into a simple gray T-shirt, black leggings, and a pair of Uggs. But she still looks stunning and radiates the kind of youthful confidence that comes only from achieving lofty goals early in life.
Like many of her idols on the court and gridiron, Ciara found her ambition early. “When I was growing up in Atlanta,” she says, “I was always striving for something. I was always setting goals and trying to be somebody.” She burst onto the music scene in 2004 with her debut album, Goodies. It spawned hit singles with Missy Elliott and Ludacris, sold 3 million copies, and earned her two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. She cowrote every song on her follow-up, The Evolution, which sold more than 1 million, and she’s hoping her fans will equally embrace Fantasy Ride.
Ciara admits that it’s hard to find time for dating, concentrating as she is on her music these days. But she does know this: She won’t waste her time with men who don’t possess the intensity of focus that she does, who aren’t always moving the ball forward. “I like for a guy to have his own thing going on, to have strong drive and focus—because that motivates me,” she says. “You can tell it’s there when you talk to him, but it also shows in the way he carries himself—how he moves around a room. That confidence shows through, that swagger. It’s really intriguing to me, and I need to see this sort of great potential before I even talk to him.”
Ciara Shows How to Keep Your Focus—in Life and Love
1. Concentrate on What’s Inside
“During the first 6 months of getting to know somebody, it’s fun. But even if you want to move fast, you need to pump the brakes every now and then so you can learn about the person behind that cute face. You do that by building a friendship.”
2. Don’t Let Her Consume You
“Even when you’re in a relationship, keep yourself on course. It’s natural to veer off and be consumed by your other half’s world, because love drives you to do that. You’re so happy and all you want is more and more of that person. That’s fine, but never lose sight of your own priorities.”
3. Keep It Simple
“You don’t have to accessorize with big, gaudy chains. Less is more. You can make a much stronger statement with a white T-shirt and jeans. And always have nice shoes—we notice that.”
4. Learn with Lightness
“I like to go out to dinner. I like to go to the movies. These are things that give you the opportunity to learn about a person’s tastes—what they laugh at. That says a lot.”
5. Mind Your Manners
“It’s important for a guy to be a gentleman. I like some toughness, but not too much. He has to take the time to understand who I am. A lot of times, men are like, ‘You’re fun. You’re cute. I like you,’ and I think, Are you listening to what I’m saying? You should get to know me—the things I like and the things I don’t like—’cause I’m doing the same with you.”
Share on Facebook
Corey
October 12th, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
LOVE CIARA!!! the pics looks GReAt ome of her best! Loving her new look, which is slowly going back to the Goodies days!!! She is SUPER SMART!!! SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Corey(Quote) (Reply)
Marquis a huge ciara fan
October 12th, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
Ciara looks good as hell. Marquis a huge ciara fan(Quote) (Reply)
high_price
October 12th, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
We GOT 2 SUPPORT FANTASY RIDE! high_price(Quote) (Reply)
the offical go girl
October 12th, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
man she is fly i cant wait to the cd drops im going to run to the store the offical go girl(Quote) (Reply)
Marquis a huge ciara fan
October 12th, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
yeah i know in not going to school i gonna fake sick Marquis a huge ciara fan(Quote) (Reply)
ReyRey
October 12th, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
Those pictures look sooooooooo good
mmmm ReyRey(Quote) (Reply)
Jes
October 12th, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
model status!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
flawless!!!!!!!!!!
go girl!!!!!!!!!!! you better work!!!!!!!!!! LOL Jes(Quote) (Reply)
Corey
October 12th, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
I know these are some of her best pics she took, love the hair and style it really fits her! Corey(Quote) (Reply)
krazykay
October 12th, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
why is she in dhat magazine? krazykay(Quote) (Reply)
Jes
October 12th, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
i think she is promoting her album. she could be a professional model. she did get a modeling contract, this is just good practice. i cant wait for the album!!!!!!!!!! Jes(Quote) (Reply)
sonia18
October 12th, 2008 @ 11:58 pm
DAM she looks sooo hott in those pics n she gave good advise thankz cici sonia18(Quote) (Reply)
carter
October 13th, 2008 @ 4:45 am
i was thinking da same thing y she in dat mag still look good vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carter(Quote) (Reply)
Bloody
October 13th, 2008 @ 5:00 am
O MY GOOOD SHE IS SOOO CUTEEEEEEEEE HER NOSEE XDDDD AWWWWWWWWWWW I JUST LUV HER SHE IS MA GIRL Bloody(Quote) (Reply)
I LOVE CIARA AKA MARCUS
October 13th, 2008 @ 10:18 am
um……………………..wow I LOVE CIARA AKA MARCUS(Quote) (Reply)
LOSECONTROL
October 13th, 2008 @ 10:43 am
ok yall 2day is monday we gotta get ciara video on 106th and park so please go vote LOSECONTROL(Quote) (Reply)
AppleTarts
October 13th, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Ciara looks Gorgeous!!! AppleTarts(Quote) (Reply)
Ciarastan4lyfe♥
October 13th, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
yea ciara looks great awsome and fresh luvs dha hair….!!! Ciarastan4lyfe♥(Quote) (Reply)
isaiah
October 13th, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
WoW this is truly realy Beautiful isaiah(Quote) (Reply)
AppleTarts
October 13th, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
She looks Amazing!!! I’m glad she’s promoting her album!!! AppleTarts(Quote) (Reply)
Sammie
October 13th, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
This is not the first time she has been in the magazine, nor is she the first non-athlete featued in the magazine. Sammie(Quote) (Reply)