Model Carmen Ortega -- Rosie O'Donnell's Wife and I? It's a Beautiful Thing

Why Rosie O’Donnell’s estranged wife Michelle Rounds used a smoking hot L.A. model as serious eye candy ... is something ordinary looking people could never understand -- according to the model, anyway.

We got Carmen Ortega outside Warwick Nightclub in Hollywood, and asked about her night out with Michelle a couple weeks ago. They looked really cozy together, but more than that -- they looked like they were trying to piss off Rosie.

She says the explanation for their "friendship" is simple ... if you're beautiful. For some reason we don't get it, but ... you can give it a shot.

Carmen does have an opinion on Michelle and Rosie's divorce war though. Check it out.