"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by," says Cheryl Tiegs, joking.

I had asked this great Sports Illustrated cover girl and super woman to sit still for an interview about a year ago. At last I have heard from her – and it was worth the wait. Do I need to remind you that Cheryl is really America’s first supermodel? At age 61, she is involved in many projects she will enlighten us about. Here goes:

LIZ: What are you up to these days?

CHERYL: Well, I had a great time for a red-hot minute there as the judge for the highly rated reality show "True Beauty." This aired Mondays on ABC, produced by Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks. The twist to it was that contestants thought they were being evaluated on looks alone. We were secretly checking out their personal character. You know, Liz, star quality is the light that shines from within.

LIZ: What else are you doing?

CHERYL: I am working with Cambria; they produce a natural quartz product and they give me a platform for telling people how to green up their homes and environment. I drive a Fuel Cell car and I was named the "Green Star of the Week" by "Access Hollywood."

I also have my own line of skincare called "Ageless Woman," and I like to think this is part of keeping myself looking good. I am happily single. I’ve been thinking about getting in touch with Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, the authors of The Rules, on getting out and dating again. But everything is working and my motto is "Life is good and keeps getting better."

LIZ: A few years ago I remember being with you at the Westminster Dog Show and you were very involved as a spokesperson for your dogs. Are you still involved in the dog world?

CHERYL: I am not officially involved, but dogs are one of my keys to happiness. I can’t imagine a house without a dog. My beautiful white labs shed like mad, but I say, "The hair goes away, the love will stay." My dogs are named Truffle and Big Beluga, also called Bugs. My son thought of whales when he chose those names. My mind went immediately to caviar!

LIZ: Tell me what it’s like, being an incredible beauty – born that way – to live your life as Cheryl Tiegs.

CHERYL: Liz, now you see why I didn’t answer you sooner. Yikes! I could write a book on this one.

I think I was a pretty cute little girl. But when I became a teenager, I was taller than everyone in class. I would scooch down somehow during the Friday dance class, so I couldn’t overshadow my partner. I had very bad skin, but that wasn’t for lack of washing it. I was painfully shy. I’d go to dinner parties and not say a word. Once I was on the Merv Griffin show and he was so kind, but he did ask why I was so shy. This was in front of millions of people and I can’t remember how I responded, but I do remember the moment.

Then, I got fat. My modeling career ground to a halt. I was heading up to 180. So I put myself on a program of weight loss, exercise and clean skin. So I went through the Ugly Duckling phase, but I am grateful for all of it because I am now very aware of my health and physical being.