Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP: Maria Ho

The below is Michele Lewis' latest interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP featuring interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.

Maria Ho is looking to prove that last year wasn't a fluke at the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

Maria Ho will forever be known as the "Last Woman Standing" at the 2007 WSOP Main Event after she outlasted all other woman hopefuls to finish 38th and cash $237,865. Ho's beeing playing poker professionally for the past few years and her success has landed her major coverage as well as a spot on Team Bodog.

Also impressive... she holds a communications degree from the University of California and likes to slow dance with Tiffany Michelle.  But you can read all about that stuff after you hump to the jump.

Michele Lewis:  Hi Maria, how are things going at the WSOP this year?

Maria Ho:  Things aren't quite going as planned as far as tournaments are concerned, but I understand that tournaments do in part require luck, so I am not going to let my results or lack thereof affect me too much. I've played 9 events thus far, cashed in none, made day 2 once, and had tons of late night, last level bustouts, but just haven't gotten anything going really. As far as the WSOP overall, I am really enjoying myself more so than I have in previous years. It's been great to be a part of Team Bodog for the series, and I've really made some close friendships with the people that I work with which is what I will ultimately take with me from this experience.

ML:  Did you do anything to prepare mentally for the main event?

MH:  Most definitely. I really wanted to clear my head and be in a good state of mind. I don't want to go into the main event hung up on the fact that up to this point, I haven't really had the results I was hoping for. At the end of the day, I know that I have been playing well and that is the mentality that will get me through the long road ahead of me. I think I put too much pressure on myself to do well and I need to let that roll off my back. Coming off of being the Last Woman Standing last year of course I want to do well again this year, partially because I want to "prove" so to speak that it wasn't some sort of lucky fluke, and partially because I have high expectations of myself. I have spent the last couple of days hanging with friends, throwing back a couple drinks of the alcoholic variety, and just not allowing myself to think or talk poker. That way when it's time to get down to business, I can be fresh and not like I have been here all series.

ML:  If you weren't a professional poker player then what would be your dream job?

MH:  I think my dream job would be to be a schoolteacher. I love kids, and I think it is so incredibly important to help shape and mold the young and impressionable minds of children in a positive manner. Now if only schoolteachers make as much as poker players....

ML:  So, you've been seen hanging with Tiffany Michelle quite a bit these days. Are you guys good friends because I think I saw you two slow dancing last night.

MH:  Yeah, Tiffany Michelle and I have been getting pretty close as of late. We had a moment last night and that song just really spoke to us, ya know how it is. I can honestly say that it was the best slow dance I have ever had, she really took the lead and I just fell into her arms.

ML:  Well, when you're single... what do you look for in a guy or significant other?

MH:  Hmmm....guys? I would have to say loyalty and honesty are two huge ones, followed closely by sense of humor. Definetely someone who can hold their own in a conversation, isn't afraid to disagree with me (but not too much), quick-witted banter is a plus, and physical attraction is a must.

ML:  Who do you think is the hottest guy in poker?

MH:  Daniel Negreanu. He doesn't take himself too seriously and that's super hot to me. But really though, he could stand to gain a couple of pounds. Nothing a cheeseburger won't fix. Those tofu burgers just don't get it done.

ML:  And hottest female?

MH:  Tiffany Michelle, aside from the obvious reasons, just trust me on this one.

ML:  Do you read Wicked Chops?

MH:  Yeah, I love their stuff. Although I can think of a couple of bra burners and organizations of the like who wouldn't take too well to their obvious exploitation of the female form on their site and their sexist comments which totally scream underlying misogynistic tendencies. Haha Only kidding. I loved seeing my name, a woman, on their coverage of the main event last year.

ML:  Don't you think those guys are total pigs? I do. I tell them all the time no one likes their shit talking and gossip doesn't really sell well.

MH:  Well they put up with you telling them that cuz you're hot, it actually might turn them on to hear a hot girl calling them pigs. You should ask them about that. You might be sending them a reverse tell.

I don't think so... they don't listen to me and they usually have me locked in a sweat shop.

Thanks Maria and good luck in the Main Event!