by Mike Bandy

Last week on America's Next Top Model, Kendal, the 23-year-old stunner from Northport, AL, was the seventh girl to be eliminated. In the bottom two with Esther, Tyra and the gang felt that Kendal needed more practice and that she let her nerves get in the way. We spoke to Kendal about her time on the show, what really happened during the Grammy challenge, and what's coming up next.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: You're from a small town in Alabama; what was it like to be in California, being photographed by famous photographers, and meeting Tyra Banks?
A. Kendal: Basically, it was overwhelming. Being from a small town, and then going California and into the fast life, it's something totally different. That was my first time being on a plane and leaving my family, and then to meet Tyra Banks on top of that; it's not every day you get to meet Tyra Banks! I couldn't even control myself, that's probably why I was so nervous. And, the girls [on the show] had friends, I don't have friends like that, I hang out with my sisters and that's it. So it was pretty overwhelming.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: What would you say was the toughest challenge for you in the competition?
A. Kendal: The toughest challenge was the conveyor belt; we were in 4 or 5 inch heels, and we had no idea how fast the conveyor belt would go, so we were caught off guard with how fast it was going. And then it would speed up even faster, so of course I'm gonna curse being on that thing! That was definitely the hardest challenge.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: During the Grammy challenge, Jay suggested that maybe you sabotaged Chris with the dress you chose for her, and you couldn't understand why he would think that. Was there more conversation than what we saw, and did he explain why he felt that way?
A. Kendal: Okay, first of all, I think that was BS. It's not in my character to sabotage somebody, and we were on a team, why would I sabotage her? I think Kayla's dress was just as short as Chris', and [I felt that]since we're at the Grammy's, you can do whatever you want. Chris loved her dress and was happy with it. I couldn't understand that; I don't know if [Jay} was trying to make me mad, but I don't know why to this day he said that. But that's basically what was said, and I didn't get that at all. That was so rude of him to say that, but I held my tongue and didn't say anything.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Give us some behind the scenes info: How long does a photo shoot typically take, including hair and makeup?
A. Kendal: Basically it's an all day thing...we'd get up at 6, and it takes about an hour to set up for the photo shoot, and then we'd get home at like 10 or 11 PM. It's like 9-10 hours, and it's very exhausting.Plus, they have to do OTF (On the fronts), where they talk about their experiences with the photo shoot, and that takes a few hours.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: You told Tyra that you felt you needed more experience. Do you feel that the competition helped to prepare you for the modeling world, or do you still feel inexperienced?
A. Kendal: At the time I felt like I needed more experience because [of] the critique that was given to m. I would ask the other girls what Jay thought about them, and they'd always say that they did well, but my critiques from Jay were bad. At the time, I'm gonna be real and honest and what's on my mind, but as I'm watching the show, even when the judges say something bad about me, people say that I did good on my photos. Every time Jay would give me a critique, I would lose my energy and I wasn't 100% myself, [but] I take critiques well when Tyra gives them to me. She would say things like, "You did good, but just do this." Looking back on it now, I don't think I'm a horrible model, and I feel like I can do good as a model.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Are there any girls in the house that you're still close with, and if so, who are they?
A. Kendal: Oh yeah, I text Terra all the time, I'm supposed to be visiting her, but my car broke down. When she left, that tore me down; she made me feel like I was home when she was in the house. I remember one time in the house we were talking and just fell asleep and the mic people had to come and take our mics! I'm also cool with Chris, she was the fun energy of the house.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: What's coming up next for you?
A. Kendal: After the show I said I wasn't going to do modeling at all, but now I'm comfortable with myself. I think I should start with a smaller market like Atlanta and build myself up, then go to New York. I don't want to jump into something and then feel lost again. My backup plan is to go to school in the Nursing field, but I didn't want to be hands on with the patients because I'm a germaphone, so maybe something in Healthcare.


America's Next Top Model airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on the CW.

(Image courtesy of the CW)


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