by Mike Bandy

 

This week on Top Model, Liz, the 21-year-old mother from Arlington, TX, was the ninth girl to be eliminated from the competition. In her first photo shoot in Italy, Liz wasn't able to outshine Kayla or Chris in their group shot, and the judges also felt that she made too many excuses. We chatted with Liz about her time in the Top Model house, how she felt about being portrayed as a complainer, and what's coming up next for her.

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: This season seemed to focus a lot on the girls talking about how much you complain about things. How did you feel about how you were portrayed on the show? Do you think that you complain a lot?
A. Liz: I honestly think that you have to be aware of your surroundings and how that can be edited. I was very disappointed in how I was portrayed toward the end; they cut out a lot about our personalities and how we got along with each other. I'm pretty fun to hang out with and I have a great sense of humor. I'm a single mom and I have three jobs; if I were like [the way they portrayed me] in real life, I'd never get anywhere!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: It looked like you and Chris were pretty close in the house (it was mentioned in an earlier episode that you two were friends since the audition process). Have you stayed in touch with her?
A. Liz: I have, we've actually got a party coming up this Friday! I'm also close with Terra [Chris's sister, also on this season] too, because we work together at the mall. Chris lives right up the street from me, and I saw them day one at the auditions; it's ironic that we made it as far as we did.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: When you were eliminated, Tyra said that you could still be a good influence on your daughter and still be successful as a model without winning the competition. How do you feel about that statement, and has it rang true since you've been eliminated?
A. Liz: I definitely feel confident in that statement; I have so many things that I like to do, and I know that I have the potential to be a model and I have the drive to get where I need to go, especially for my daughter and my family. As soon as I'm allowed to take opportunities, I'm ready, because 3 jobs is kicking my butt!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Give us some behind the scenes info - What's the best piece of advice you got from any one of the judges, and which judge gave you the advice?
A. Liz: It's tough...I know Nigel didn't favor when I would laugh things off, but honestly when I get really nervous or I think I'm going to cry, I laugh to keep from doing that. [On the commercial shoot] I didn't want to cry and ruin my makeup and ruin the shoot, but they saw it differently. I think that working on my nerves and controlling them would help me, and being careful of my surroundings on a reality show caught me off guard, because you're filmed all the time, but I'll work on it. I won't do it on a reality show, but I'll work on it.

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: So you'd never do another reality show?
A. Liz: Um, it depends! If it were like the Liz and Sam [Liz's daughter] show, maybe!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Which was your favorite photo shoot, and why was it your favorite?
A. Liz: Oh man, definitely the week I got best photo as John Galliano! I love that photo and I was so impressed with myself that I pulled it off! I can't wait to get the portfolio and see that again!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: If your daughter said to you that she wanted to be a model when she grows up, what advice would you give her about the industry?
A. Liz: Definitely, study, study, study! On the show I was very not knowledgeable about that area; modeling was not a priority growing up, so I definitely would want her to be knowledgeable and know what she's getting into before doing that. People tell me all the time that she's gorgeous and should model but I'm like, "She's only two! I'm not ready!"

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: What's coming up next for you?
A. Liz: I definitely want to finish school, but I also want to do television; like on BET or VH1 or something like that. I also want to do fitness modeling, like for Shape Magazine; I ran track for 7 years, so that's kind of my area. I'm about to break my lease and move; staying in Texas for now, but California would be nice in the long run.

 

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of CW)

 

 

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