Here at Guanabee, we may get to swim in a pool of champagne with a cardboard cutout of Gael Garcia Bernal on a regular basis and eat sushi off a naked Noelia, like, every other Tuesday, but nothing compared to getting to talk with “Making Menudo’s” Thomas Augusto. You might know Thomas for his smooth song stylings or his kickass backflips, but we love him most for his hair. It’s magical.

Thomas, a native of Dallas who didn’t make the cut until his second audition in New York, found out about the show thanks to a radio announcement. Pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a “superstar,” Thomas tried out for the show, even though he’s more a fan of Justin Timberlake and Beyonce(’s ass).

Thomas’ fans are probably also well-acquainted with his mom, Mildred. “Sometimes I’ll be performing and she’ll be in the back giving me all these crazy hand signals,” Thomas laughs, “So distracting!” But anyone who tries to mess with her little boy can expect an entirely different sort of hand signal. “She may be small, but she packs a powerful punch.”

Of course, being on a reality show can often get surreal. “There’s so much left out,” he reveals, including a lot of footage of, well, him. “I’m really funny.” He says cameras are on the contestants almost twenty-four hours a day, six days a week “unless we’re sleeping. At least, I hope unless we’re sleeping.” On their one day off, though, the guys can elect to partake in such fun activities as “optional” dance classes! On camera!

As to the resident mayor of this reality Funtown, Menudo manager and judge Johnny Wright, Thomas says he’s definitely more mellow and laid back when cameras aren’t rolling, but is always extremely professional. When cameras are on, though, he can be “pretty intimidating.” One of Thomas’ most nerve-racking moments on the show to date was when Wright announced “If you don’t think its gonna be like that, well, it’s gonna be like that.” Oh shiiiiit! He says the tension in the room was “so thick you could cut it with a knife.” Thick like your lustrous mane of hair, Tom-tom? Oh. Unprofesh.

Thomas admits that the show might not always be as “reality” as viewers might think. Producers, he says, definitely make “situations a lot more stressful than they have to be.” But the guys’ reactions to that stress is “all real.” Like when they cry like little bitches? We hope so!

The dynamics of the show also make it difficult to make friends, seeing how everyone is, at the end of the day, your competition. Thomas says there are some friends he definitely roots for and wants to see make the band, but he’s still aware that some people (cough JC cough, cough) are in direct competition with him because they have the same “look” and “hair.”

As for the future, obviously, Thomas hopes to make it into the final five, fab Menuditos. “I’ll do the teen heart throb thing for a while, then go away for a while, and come back like ‘bwow wow!’ Justin Timberlake.” Just don’t try bringing sexy back without a receipt, ok?

Oh, and ladies? Thomas says he’s “Single. Single and ready to mingle!” but his heart belongs to one Most Beautiful Latina. Giggle!

“Can you give Beyonce my number?”

Oh. Yes, Thomas. Yes, we can. Right after we finish crying. Alone. Into our sticker-laden Trapper Keeper. With I Heart T scribbled along the spine. Oh God.