/ Sexy & Successful 2011- Melinda Shankar

by Anokhi Admin

Sexy & Successful 2011- Melinda Shankar

Jul 16, 2013

Actress

Perky, cute and talented, 18-year-old Melinda Shankar has all the attributes needed to attain stardom. The young Guyanese star has already started to make her mark on Canadian television. Shankar has a starring role in YTV's series How to be Indie and was even nominated for a Gemini (the Canadian equivalent of an Emmy) in 2010 for a best performance in a children's or youth program or series. In fact, the show has been renewed for a second season—no doubt because of Shankar's stellar performance. The Ottawa native is also a season regular on the hit Canadian teen drama show Degrassi: The Next Generation, where she plays the wildly ambitious and popular Alli.

In 2008, Shankar, who is always keenly aware of the international community and the importance of addressing the needs of children in need of support, travelled to Ecuador with the cast of Degrassi to do volunteer work with Free The Children. The endeavour was also captured on film and aired as a documentary on MTV Canada. Shankar has also dabbled in Disney, with a supporting role in the Disney Channel TV movie Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars. She will star with Hollywood heartthrob Aidan Quinn in the 2011 film The Festival of Lights, which was shot in Guyana and New York City. Oh, and don't get in Shankar's bad books. This dainty girl has a black belt in karate!

Q&A

Zodiac sign: Aquarius.

Relationship status: In a relationship.

Best way to unwind: I go to my karate or boxing class.

Fave Bollywood movie: Slumdog Millionaire. After meeting Dev Patel in L.A. at the Kid's Choice Awards (he was so sweet) I watched the movie and fell in love!

Favourite Hollywood movie: A Walk to Remember. I've seen it at least 40 times.

Favourite book: The Outsiders.

Guilty pleasure: Dill pickles and ice cream. (Yup, together.)

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why? The ability to fly—I hate traffic!

What is on your iPod? Everything, but a LOT of Backstreet Boys.

Something quirky about you no one would know: I am deathly afraid of anything involving the after life and ghosts and spirits.—to the point of not going in my own basement without someone with me.

Best personal feature and why: I always feel conceited answering that one, but I'd say my eyes. I'm told that my mom and I have the same eyes, and I think she's stunning in every way so I'm going with that!

Best feature on the opposite sex: I LOVE defined cheek and jaw bones.

Celebrity crush: Brian Littrell.

Three things you can't live without: People excluded —my phone, clothes and laptop!

Most memorable professional moment: Getting nominated for a Gemini award!

Most valuable life lesson: When I ran into a tree and broke my arm. I learned never to run into a tree again.

Motto you live by: Everything happens for a reason.

_{BY: TAMARA BALUJA / PUBLISHED: JANUARY 2011/8TH ANNIVERSARY SEXY & SUCCESSFUL ISSUE}