I've seen Michelle make all the right decisions in terms of gaining and maintaining an audience. She encourages and responds to feedback, she updates regularly (every Sunday), and you can't argue with the content — stories and photos of girl-on-girl kissing, thongs and all-night partying. If Tara Reid had a site, this would be it.

Aside from the free and user-friendly Wonderland, Michelle maintains an active Yahoo! group as well as a budding e-commerce area. So many people have recognized her good looks that some have sloten her images for various web scams. (Like the cool million I made off that blonde Russian bride gimmick. Thanks, M.)

I recently sent Michelle an interview while sitting naked at my computer, and she was kind enough to respond (naked, of course) with a glimpse behind the scenes of what is sure to be one of the most successful personal/budding model sites for a long time to come...

*****

Site: MichellesWonderland.com
Description: Crazy lil' blonde coed, sharing her life through pics & personal journal
Birth Date of Site: March 8, 2000
Contact E-mail: michelle@michelleswonderland.com

1. What were your goals for MichellesWonderland.com when it started, and how's it going so far?
Honestly, when I started "Michelle’s Wonderland," I had no goals for it at all. It was a goofy, little thing I puttered around with during the winter of 2000. I had no idea I would end up keeping up with it for this long. I would have never guessed that it would become so popular, either! Currently, it's going great. Over the past three years, over a million people have visited my little slice of cyberspace. That makes me feel great!

2. Who takes most of your pictures? And who updates the site?
My husband has taken most of the photos you've seen on Wonderland over the past several years. Occasionally, a friend will grab my camera at a party or whatnot, but the majority of the photos are credited to the hubby. In fall of 2002, I started doing a few professional photo shoots on the side, and have continued to arrange more shoots and try out new photographers. I really enjoyed "modeling" in that type of atmosphere.

3. What are some of the more creative and successful ways you've promoted your site?
One of the most popular things I have going for me — and the site — is my Yahoo! Group. It's similar to a fan club, but I treat it as more of a forum to chit-chat with me and other members. There's always something going down in there! I'm chatting in there nearly every day. Unlike a lot of other model groups, I answer people directly, and I love to shoot the breeze with everyone! Without my visitors, the site wouldn't be at the stage it is today. I hesitate to use the word "fan," but — bear with me — the fans are all so fantastic!

4. Tell us about your struggles with identity theft/impersonation online.
Oh, good lord. What is this all about? This whole "fakers" thing still puzzles the hell outta me. I get these girls/guys saving my photos and sending them out — in chat rooms, on singles sites, everywhere — saying, "This is me." I even have a few making their own websites with all my photos on it! The thing I don't understand is this: they can't ever meet the people they're fooling online. They’re getting attention, sure, but they can't possibly feel good about it. Puzzling.

5. You met your husband in a McDonald's. Was he the one who suggested you super-size your breasts?
Good one, Paul. :) OK, I know everyone is going to call my husband a wuss for this, but he didn't want me to get them in the beginning. He thought implants were stupid — and expensive. We talked about it — well, I talked about it. :) I wanted Playboy-perfect boobies, goddammit! And he loved me just as I was, all natural.

Finally, I said, "Look, you'll learn to love them." And trust me, he has. Many, many times!

6. Were you as surprised as I was that Todd Bridges took down Vanilla Ice in "Celebrity Boxing?" Seriously, I had Ice in two.
I never watched "Celebrity Boxing." Sorry I don't have anything clever to say here. :)

7. How long are we going to have to wait before you pose topless? I'm giving you three months.
Hey, who knows? Topless is something I might do for the site. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see! It's tough to have those Playboy-perfect boobs and not show them off! We'll see what happens! :) Hehehe!

8. Does your husband, or anyone else in your family, have any concerns either about the content of your site or its growing popularity?
Well (hi Mom), my mother visits the site. :) The only content she doesn't care for are the pics of me kissing the girls. The very first time she saw those, she printed them out and brought them to me. She was like, "Are you gay?” She's soooo funny!

My husband digs the site. He knows that it's a big hobby of mine. Plus, it keeps me busy on Sunday afternoons, and he can take off to play golf or zone out and watch TV without interruption. He's one of those people who gets online like once a week. I don’t get that. Some invisible force pulls me online at least once a day.

I think the first time someone actually recognized us offline (in Tulsa), it freaked my husband out. It's kind of like, "hey, people have seen the site and recognize both of us!"

9. What are the advantages to having both a website and a Yahoo! group?
My Yahoo! group and Wonderland site drive traffic back and forth. That's the best part. After opening the group again in March 2001, I’ve seen my traffic skyrocket!

I think the group is so popular because I am actually in there chatting with people. I have several moderators who help me out, so messages are being posted all day. It’s a very fast-paced group.

10. Does it concern you — perhaps excite you — that some men are likely visiting your site with some Vaseline and a box of Kleenex?
Ewww, goddamn you, that was gross! LOL. In all honesty, I don't ever think about that. With all the hardcore porn out there on the 'Net, and all the pics of hot, hot girls, I wouldn't think my little soft, tame site would excite people to the point of Kleenex or Vaseline!

11. In your bio, you say that you "can offer so much more of a contribution to society, other than pretty pictures." Does that mean videos as well?
Yes, that means plenty of videos in the future. Clearer, longer, brighter videos. You know you want it! You know you need it! :)

12. What can we expect in the near future from MichellesWonderland.com?
Not too long ago, I started considering a second site. You could call it a "sister site" to Michelle’s Wonderland. It would be linked to my main site, but would cost a small amount per month.

It would have bigger, better, sexier photos (maybe some boobie, definitely no kitty). Longer, more in-depth journal entries, not just covering "what I did this weekend," but far deeper.

Better videos (as mentioned in the previous question), LIVE webcam chat w/ sound, more cute girlfriends & some two-girl photo sets, and a big ol' forum to shoot the breeze in. :) It’s an idea we're tossing around — stay tuned!

Thanks Paul!

*****

Paul's Recap:

I already called bullshit on Michelle's assertion that she doesn't think about what some men might "do" when visiting Wonderland. She stands by that, though I've never heard of men who ask for photos of feet so they could study colors of nail polish. (RuPaul excluded.)

Be sure to check out MichellesWonderland.com every Sunday and her Yahoo! group every day, if you're up to it. Both sites are constantly evolving for the better, and you can monitor my prediction: topless in three months. Who wants to put $20 on it?

Thanks to Michelle for a great interview. If you're already a fan of hers but new to PK.com, poke around a bit. There's some T&A here, too, for crying out loud.

Want to be interviewed on PaulKatcher.com? E-mail Paul.