50 Most Beautiful People for 2011

Age: 26
Hometown: Avondale, Ariz.
Political party: Republican
Relationship status: Single

Cassiopeia Sonn, a staffer for Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), doesn’t mind getting into the policy weeds.

“One thing I am sort of known for in the office is my attention to detail,” she said. “I just love diving into legislation and knowing every section, which is not necessary sometimes.” 

Sonn has an undergraduate degree in physiology and chemistry and also a law degree, both from the University of Arizona-Tucson.

She says her comfort with minutiae comes more from studying at the molecular level in science than her background in law.

The half-Korean, half-German Arizonan has been working up the ladder in Washington since she arrived on Capitol Hill two years ago. She began as an intern for former Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.). Now she is legislative counsel. 

“Because I am from Arizona and the issues that affect Arizona are so near and dear to my heart, I feel like [working for an Arizona lawmaker is] something that I would do in my free time,” she said. “It’s sort of like combining pleasure and business.”

For fun she participates in “social sports.”

“I was in a bocce ball league, and right now I’m in a kickball league. I played dodge ball,” Sonn said. “Even though I’m not very athletic, it is just a fun way to unwind.”

Walking around at dusk is fun for her, too. She’s the next-door neighbor of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), whom she once bumped into when she was coming from the gym.

Sonn is a big proponent of working out to stay healthy. But she admits to not being a healthy eater.

“I think it’s perfectly OK to eat bad food as long as you work it out in the evenings” she said.

—Christopher Goins

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