Unfortunately, there won’t be a new episode of America’s Next Top Model: College Edition this Friday, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit and twiddle our thumbs. Last Friday, Tyra tearfully said goodbye to Allyssa Vuelma, the curvacious hopeful who survived after licking soda from a disgusting kitchen floor.
Tyra may not have made a huge scene for a model she was rooting for as she’s done in the past, but this one was definitely a moving parting. Allyssa represented those women who aren’t stick skinny, those who don’t own the typical model look. She embraces her curves and hopes to help pave the way for up and coming Brazilian models.
I was given the opportunity to present Allyssa with a ‘final exam’ interview, asking about her time on the show. Thank you for your time and insight!
Name: Allyssa Vuelma
College Attended: Florida State University
Do you feel you represented your school well? What has the reaction been to your appearance on the show?
I feel as if I represented my school well; I made sure to wear FSU stuff and Theta stuff while in the house! Since the show, I get recognized a lot on campus and people are really happy about my accomplishments on the show. They are great supporters and fans!
Which previous models and/or challenges inspired you to tryout for ANTM?
I tried out for ANTM because I wanted to show that awesome-sized models could do just as well in the industry. Gisele is my biggest inspiration since she is Brazilian and a supermodel for Victoria’s Secret.
What do you feel your strengths were, going into the competition?
My confidence helped me get through a lot of the competition. Having no experience, I really had to keep my ears and eyes open in order to learn and soak in every bit of advice I could.
The show has undergone tons of changes for this College Edition. Is there any aspect of the previous make-up that you feel you missed out on?
I don’t feel as if I missed out. I just feel like I gained so much more because I was able to listen to my fans comments and hear their opinions and critiques. It became a way for me to connect with them.
How do you feel about the newly incorporated social media aspect of ANTM?
The social media aspect of the show now adds a whole other dimension. We now are able to make our fans be apart of our photo shoots and incorporate their comments into our photos.
Given the opportunity, would you go through the process again? And if so, what would you do differently?
I would do ANTM all over again in a heartbeat. ANTM showed me that I am able to be so much more successful than I could have imagined. I put my mind to a goal and achieved it: being on the show and one of the 13 girls that were chosen by social media and the judges shows me that my perseverance can take me anywhere.
Was there any part of the process you weren’t ready for prior to trying out?<
I was ready for it all, I knew I had no experience so I was expecting to learn as I go. Pretty adventurous, but so worth the sleepless nights and tears.
How has this experience changed your personal/professional life?
I am now 100% confident that the fashion world is right for me. I am continuing my degree and I plan on moving to LA and get into the industry anyway I can.
What are your aspirations as a model?
I hope to redefine the stigma of models and modeling. It’s a big bite to take but getting on the show was my first step and I made it so there’s no stopping me now.
Who do you believe is the strongest of the remaining models?
Of the remaining models I honestly believe that most of them are strong competitors: Brittany, Kristin, Laura, Victoria and Nastasia.
(Image courtesy of The CW)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
