by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on America’s Next Top Model, the girls were thrown for a loop when they found out that they would be interviewing 90210 star Jessica Lowndes.  Erin ended up winning the challenge and brought Jennifer and Rae along to her photoshoot for Seventeen magazine, which she received as her prize.  Later on, it was time for the dreaded Cover Girl commercial.  Not only would the models have to successfully market the product, but they would have to write the ad themselves!  The judges felt that Rae lacked personality and Tyra told her that she just doesn’t stand out in a crowd.  Rae was eliminated from Top Model and today, she spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about her experiences on the show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you always wanted to model?
A. Rae: I have!  It’s always something I wanted to pursue.  When I was younger, I did a couple of modeling jobs but it was years ago, when I was between the ages of 12-14.  Modeling sort of went by the wayside for high school but I got back into it about a year ago.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Had you ever thought about trying out for the show before, or not until you heard that they were looking for girls 5’7 and under?
A. Rae: I have never tried out for Top Model before and I never planned to.  I didn’t hear that they were using shorter models this season until my father read it in the newspaper.  I thought it was a misprint, when it said 5’7 and under, because it was a local newspaper and they had put together their own ad. 

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you have any reservations about appearing on a reality tv show?
A. Rae: Of course I did!  It’s very difficult.  I’m not a big reality tv person.  I don’t watch much television at all.  Of course, I’ve followed Top Model, though, but some of the girls have said that they were portrayed differently than they really are.  It’s difficult to really put yourself out there 24 hours a day.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Overall, do you think that you were portrayed accurately?
A. Rae: I think America got to see parts of my personality.  As a whole, there’s a lot more to me than what you saw on television.  I always had it in the back of my mind that someday my daughter would grow up and see this, my family is watching, so I was very careful about how I acted and what I said.  I am happy with my performance overall.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you think of the interview challenge, with Jessica Lowndes?
A. Rae: That was fun!  It was fun to be able to get up there and interview.  I had never seen the show 90210, so I didn’t know who she was.  It made it a little bit easier for me, but a little bit harder too.  I was like, “Um…” but it was a lot of fun and Jessica was very sweet.   

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you found out that you would also be doing a Cover Girl commercial on last night’s episode, what went through your mind?
A. Rae: When we found out we were going to be doing commercials, it was definitely nervewracking.  Some of the girls thought it would be easier because we were writing our own.  I don’t know if it was more difficult but you’re really putting yourself out there.  Not only do you have to be selling the product, but you’re doing your own marketing.  You have to come up with something that Cover Girl is going to like!  I spent the entire evening the night before memorizing my lines.  I stayed up later than I should have.  I knew my lines but you get in front of that camera and you know what?  I actually had a very good time.  Nigel is excellent, he made us feel incredibly comfortable.  The final product came out iffy.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How important is it for a model to also be a strong spokeswoman?
A. Rae: It’s incredibly important, especially a model of my height.  We need to be able to perform in every facet of this industry.  We need to be well spoken, be able to market any kind of product.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Has being on the show made you want to continue modeling? 
A. Rae: Oh definitely!  I’m definitely going to pursue modeling.  I’m very passionate about it.  I love the entire industry and I feel that it’s opened many doors for me.  It’s a little bit more difficult because if I were 5’10 or 5’11, I could be in New York doing fashion shows.  This show has brought a lot of opportunities, though, and I’m ready for them!

 

 

America’s Next Top Model airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET on the CW.

 

(Image courtesy of the CW)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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