When I spoke to her a couple weeks ago, ANTM cycle 16 contestant Alexandria called Brittani Kline a “fashion cyclone.” The description proved more accurate than Alexandria knew, as Wednesday, we watched the 19-year-old cyclone from Beech Creek, Pennsylvania barrel through the last of her competition to become America’s Next Top Model, earning the ultimate praise from Tyra Banks and a $100,000 contract with Covergirl, among many more illustrious prizes.
Plus, added bonus: Yesterday was her birthday!
Today I got the chance to chat with Brittani about what it’s like to have the title “America’s Next Top Model” on her resume, where she stands with Alexandria today, her dream modeling job and more. Here’s our cycle 16 winner:
Hi, how are you, Brittani?
I’m awesome.
Oh, I’m sure you are! Congratulations!
[Laughs] Thank you!
How cool is it to be America’s Next Top Model?
It’s insane. When I auditioned for the show, I had no idea I’d make it on, let alone win. It’s so shocking and it’s so much fun. I’m so happy and excited to get started.
What have the last couple of days been like for you?
The last couple of days have been crazy. Yesterday was my birthday, and I got to do the CW green carpet and go to some parties in the evening, and I met with one girl who works with Covergirl, which was awesome. And I met a few celebrities, it’s just been really fun and cool, and I’ve been talking to so many cool people. It’s really fun.
Happy birthday! That’s the perfect birthday present, right?
Thank you! I know, right?
What has been the best part of being America’s Next Top Model so far?
So far the best part is … well, I’m not going to lie. I’m just a normal person, and I was so ecstatic when I got to meet Mario Lopez and Rachel Bilson, that’s probably been the best part so far, of, like, people knowing who I am because I got to go to these parties with other celebrities and they actually talked to me! It was so weird. I freaked out. I went up to Mario Lopez and was like, “I hate to do this to you, but please take a picture with me.” Like a kid. But I couldn’t help it. So that’s been fun.
When I talked to Molly yesterday, she said you two are planning to move to New York together?
Oh yeah, we’re going to finalize everything in a couple weeks and move in in July.
I can only imagine what being your neighbor would be like, having watched the show.
[Laughs] We’re probably going to get evicted.
You will probably get stopped all the time and get, “Are you those girls…?”
Actually we keep saying that we need to have our own TV show, like, “The Models.” We’re going to be the new Paris and Nicole, with people following us around and watch all the dumb stuff we do as we try to make it in the modeling world. That’s probably never going to happen but we think we should have our own show.
I would watch that. Plus, yesterday Tyra said there won’t be any more normal Top Model seasons.
That’s what I heard! I think that’s so awesome that I was like the last normal winner. That’s so cool.
How early on did you think or know that you might actually win?
Episode one, as soon as I walked in that bubble and I blew everyone away, and I did well with Russell James. Like, he was giving me amazing compliments, and I just kind of thought, “Wow, maybe I have a leg up on some of these girls,” because I was doing so well in the beginning. But then kind of towards the middle, as soon as I had my little breakdown moment with Alexandria, I kind of thought that my chances were shot. My confidence slowly started building itself back up when we were in Morocco, and I’m glad I was able to come back from that moment.
We saw as Tyra basically said she wanted to eliminate you after that moment. Did you two ever talk about that?
No, we never talked about it. I think we both wanted to pretend it didn’t happen. I don’t think anyone has ever said anything that offensive to me before. Like, it just shocked me, some of the stuff she said when she handed me my photo. Like, can’t you just say, “Congratulations, don’t do this again,” instead of, “You don’t deserve to be here, and if it weren’t for everyone else, you wouldn’t be”?
So it was just one of those situations where maybe everyone said things they didn’t mean, but you just get over it and move on?
Yeah, that’s the thing, it’s a stressful situation. You can’t put that many girls in a house and expect them not to blow up. And I’d bitten my tongue long enough.
Where did you leave things with Alexandria?
When she left, I actually cried a little bit, because we were getting along at that point in time. I was sad to see her go because I was used to having her around, and she’s fun when she’s not being crazy. I called her after that episode aired and we talked. We’re cool. If she’s ever in New York and I’m in New York we’re going to get lunch. We’re civil. I’m not going to say we’re best friends, but we’re fine with each other.
How do you think she’ll do on the all-star season?
If she’s really participating in the all-star season as predicted and rumored, I’m happy for her that she gets to go and do that. I think she’ll do really well because she did well in our cycle, but I don’t know what the rest of the cast looks like, so I can’t judge who I think is going to win or has the most potential. But she’s definitely a strong competitor and she’s made for reality television, so I’m not surprised they asked her back, if that’s the case.
You had one of the best and most memorable makeovers of the season, and I also really liked your shorter cut they gave you in the finale. Which one did you like better?
Which one did you like better?
I think I’m more used to the one you had throughout the season, the edgy, blunt cut, but the pixie cut was adorable.
Yeah, you probably haven’t gotten to see too many pictures of me with the pixie cut. I do like the pixie cut better, because it makes me look more mature and, I think, more marketable. That look was kind of a one-look wonder, where I’d have to be wearing a certain look, but I think this cut could be pulled off as girly or tomboy or kind of rocker-edge, like I can do a lot with this look.
Of the Covergirl commercial, Vogue Italia shoot and runway show, which did you enjoy the most?
Probably the Italian Vogue shoot. The runway shoot probably would have been my favorite if I hadn’t fallen. I really got along well with the people at Italian Vogue and they enjoyed shootinig with me, so that was a really good day for me. And the Covergirl shoot, I surprised myself, but I just really had fun with Italian Vogue.
You really pulled it out at the end on the Covergirl shoot.
When Mister Jay had me rehearsing my lines, I guess I didn’t deliver them right, because acting is not my strong point, and I’m very well aware of that. So I was worried. But I just shook off my nerves and decided to have fun with it and be what a Covergirl is supposed to be, myself. I’m not going to try to be someone else, so I just went and did it, and it went over really well. I was so happy and so surprised, because I was not expecting it to go that well, at all.
Do you have any advice for girls who watched you on Top Model and want to model, but maybe don’t know where to begin?
Any girl who wants to model, I’d just say to make sure you really want this, because if you don’t have the passion, the drive, the strength and the backbone to take it, then it will definitely break you, because it’s almost broken me a couple of times. I’ve had people tell me the most ridiculous things. I used to model with Wilhemina of PA, and I was meeting with Wilhemina of New York to see if they would sign me with my branch, and they told me that my eyebrows were not the right shape, and that’s why they wouldn’t sign me. People are going to put you through the ringer. So if you really want this, you can’t give up. You have to keep trying, and trying, and trying. And I kept trying, and it worked out for me. If you know you want this, never let it go.
What is your dream modeling job?
My dream modeling job would be a Marc Jacobs campaign and runway show, working with Juergen Teller, his usual photographer, and I would also love to work with Steven Meisel. And eventually, doing Victoria’s Secret would be awesome. I’d love to keep working with Covergirl for as long as I can. There’s a lot of things I want to do.
(Image courtesy of CW)
Slideshow’America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 16 Finale Photos, Part 2: Brittani Wins!
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Meghan hails from Walla Walla, WA, the proud home of the world’s best sweet onions and Adam West, the original Batman. An avid grammarian and over-analyzer, you can usually find her thinking too hard about plot devices in favorites like The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and How I Met Your Mother. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys drawing, shopping, trying to be funny (and often failing), and not understanding the whole Twilight thing. She’s got a BA in English and Studio Art from Whitman College, which makes her a professional arguer, daydreamer, and doodler.
