MODEL SEARCH WINNER DAN-GOOR CHATS WITH VEGAS CONFIDENTIAL

Here is Avi Dan-Goor's Q&A session with Vegas Confidential and a closer look at his story:

Q: Tell us about where you grew up.
Dan-Goor: "I was born and raised in northern Israel, a town called Nahariya. I moved to Las Vegas when I was 18 because my mother and sister and brother lived here. About three years later, I went to UNLV because I always wanted to get in the hotel business. I worked in the industry for a long tiame before I decided it was too fast-paced and I didn't want to do it anymore. I got into real estate a year a half ago with Shapiro and Sher Group of Prudential.

Q: Growing up what did you want to become?
A: "I thought I'd be in business. I worked at McDonald's at 16. In Las Vegas I worked at Chinois and met Wolfgang Puck.

Q: You mentioned during the finals that you lost 100 pounds.
A: "I grew up chubby. When I reached 15-16 I became really uncomfortable with it. I was shy. I decided to do something about it. I started exercising every day, eating really healthy. It's still evolving. I love, love living healthy. It changed my life. I went from being very shy to not afraid to sell myself. It really boosted my confidence."

Q: How did you get involved in the talent search?
A: "Some people at the (real estate) office convinced me to submit pictures. It all happened by mistake. I submitted my information a month early. Then I got a call that my submission came in too late. I explained that I submitted a month earlier. I re-submitted it by email. I got a call and they asked me to try again next year. Joanne Downey called next day and said 'This is your lucky day.' The 20th contestant had dropped out of the competition. I was No. 20, the last out of 20 guys and 20 girls to go on stage."

Q: Where do you hope to be in five years?
A: "I hope to grow my business and be as successful as my bosses are. The sky's the limit with real estate."

— NORM CLARKE, Vegas Confidential