This week on America’s Next Top Model, the CW rolled out a clip show, reminding fans of everything that has happened thus far this season as well as showing never before seen footage. Last week, however, Tyra eliminated one of cycle 11’s strongest models, Lauren Brie, for lacking in the personality department. Lauren Brie took a photo early on that Tyra called one of the strongest in Top Model history but clearly, it wasn’t enough to keep her in the competition. Shortly after her elimination episode aired, Lauren Brie got sick and was unable to do her interviews but, now feeling better, she was ready to chat. This week, she spoke to BuddyTV in an exclusive interview.
Below, you will find the complete transcript and mp3 of the interview.
When did your dream of becoming a model first start? Is this something that you dreamed about since you were a little girl?
It kind of started with people around my hometown, Charlottesville, saying “Oh you could be a model. You could be a model,” so my parents took me up to New York on a family vacation and I ended up signing with Elite then. I was 14. I wanted to be like a normal high school girl and play basketball so it didn’t really work on with the timing in life but now that I’m graduating college, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to jump back in the industry.
Do you feel like putting your education first was the first decision? Are you happy that you did that?
Yeah, that was definitely the right decision for me because I pride myself on my education and I feel like it’s very important. The modeling industry is a business itself and I am a business major. I feel like it definitely gives you a step up.
As you went through the process of trying out for Top Model, was it very stressful for you?
It was pretty stressful because I was holding a position in my sorority and I was trying to coordinate 70 people to go to an out of town destination and then trying out and getting all the paperwork in and dealing with school . It was pretty stressful but it was worth the stress.
You really seemed to stay out of a lot of the drama this season. Is that just your personality, in life, to not really get involved when things get crazy?
That’s definitely a part of my personality. I’m not a very dramatic person. I think drama’s kind of stupid and pointless and nothing ever gets accomplished from it. My attitude is to kind of stay out, even when it involves me, I’m like, “Eh, whatever.”
Which models in the house were you really close with?
Um, Clark. I formed a quick friendship with her. She’s really cool girl and I love her, although she was kind of portrayed as the bitch. I love her and also Isis. A lot of people probably expected me to butt heads with Isis but I just judged her as a person and she’s a wonderful, wonderful person.
What was the hardest part for you about being on Top Model? Is there any aspect that you really struggled with?
Probably I guess opening up in front of panel because you only have a small opportunity to really say who you are. That’s probably what I struggled with the most.
Do you have a favorite photo that you took this season?
Well, probably my favorite photo is the one with the hot air balloon, considering Tyra herself said that it was top 5 in Top Model history so I was very proud of that photo.
You really had so many strong performances. Do you think that it’s fair that you were sent home because of your personality instead of your overall body of work?
Well, I mean, there’s a reason that they sent me home. I think that I had stronger photos than a few of the other girls there. It’s the luck of the draw in the way that it works out. I can’t complain. I learned a whole lot and got great pictures for my portfolio but so be it. I wasn’t the winner.
Did being on the show renew your passion for modeling and is this something you’ll continue to pursue?
Yeah, it definitely has renewed my passion for modeling. I realize that this is what I want right now in life and I really want to go after it. After I graduate in May, I’ll hopefully move up to New York City and start knocking on agency doors, trying to get signed and get work.
– Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of CW)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
