by Mike Bandy

 

On last week's finale of Top Model, Brittani, the 19-year-old from a trailer park in Beech Creek, PA, was declared the winner! Throughout the competition, Brittani took some amazing photos and was always thought to be a professional...until her rift with Alexandria boiled over and almost got her eliminated. Brittani struggled with panic attacks, feeling ill, and not being able to have her mom come visit, but she persevered and became America's Next Top Model! We caught up with the very busy Brittani to talk about her time in the competition, what life in her small hometown has been like since her win, and where she's going next!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Brittani! You're the winner! I gotta ask: How does it feel to be America's Next Top Model?
A. Brittani: I have to say, it's very surreal and exciting, because I never expected to win! Also, getting to go to different parties and meeting people and signing autographs; I'm just over the wall happy!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Take us back to the final panel - you're standing there with Molly, and it was such an emotional, beautiful moment when you won. What was going through your mind when your name was called? How long did it take the judges to deliberate?
A. Brittani: I didn't even hear my name, and I'm pretty sure my heart might have stopped, and it was all a blur, but I looked at molly and then looked at the screen, and then I lost it and was bawling. It just meant so much to me, because my dreams were finally coming true! Deliberation time varied, it usually took anywhere from a half hour to an hour. But time doesn't really mean anything to me, I think it's something people use just to have organization in their lives. I don't really pay attention to it.

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: It was mentioned quite a lot on the show that you live in a trailer park, and it seems like a really close-knit community. In fact, I talked to Hannah last week and she said that your whole town was rooting for you to win! What has life been like in Beech Creek, PA now that they have a top model in their midst?
A. Brittani: Pretty much anywhere from Lock Haven, Howard, all the little surrounding areas, people have been going nuts. My phone blows up, my Facebook blows up, I have a fan page with over 8,000 fans! I have a little jar at the bar I work at to get a fund to move to new York. I've signed autographs and gone to schools and read books to children. It's been great! I've always loved where I'm from, and everyone there is so happy that I'm giving people there something to look up to. Everyone expects that they'll do whatever what their parents did...but I'm showing that you can do anything you want. Everyone was so excited and so happy, it's been almost overwhelming how many people approach me and hug and kiss me and cry!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: At the final runway show, you were upset because you'd fallen and your mom wasn't there to talk to about things, as she wasn't able to come to Morocco due to severe panic disorder and a recent back surgery. How did your mom react watching the show, and how is your relationship with her now that it's all done?
A. Brittani: I mean, my relationship with everyone that was in my life prior to Top Model is pretty much the same. People say that I'm a celebrity, but I'm not. I'm just a normal person. My mom has done everything for me, and she's my best friend, and I wouldn't be here without her! I knew she wouldn't be [in Morocco], but I expected some other family, like my aunt, to be there, but they decided not to, and that definitely hurt! I was looking around for my family and nobody was there. It was heartbreaking, after going two months, it was really hard and devastating to not have anyone there.

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: I've interviewed every girl this cycle, and every single one of them had glowing comments about you and what a great person you are. Do you keep in contact with all the girls, and have you made any lasting friendships?
A. Brittani: Oh yeah! I talk to pretty much all of them, but not regularly. We chat on Facebook a lot about things, but the people I'm closest with are Molly, we're best friends...I love Monique to death...yesterday was my birthday and she called me and left me a message. [Winning Top Model] was definitely the best birthday present!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: There were so many crazy challenges this cycle - giant hamster balls, runways with fire, balancing candles on your heads! I was sure Tyra was trying to kill everybody. What was your favorite challenge of them all?
A. Brittani: I know, right!?! That tea tray challenge was crazy, because I was like, "Did you SEE me in practice? Do you really want me to burn a Moroccan restaurant down? Alright! You're payin' for it, Ms. Banks!" That challenge was awesome because I danced for 10 years, and I had so much fun, and I ended up winning it! The outfits and atmosphere were so much fun too!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: So, we've gotta talk about the blowout with Alexandria. Major, major stuff, probably the most dramatic panel we've ever seen on Top Model. My question has two parts: Did anything happen that was not shown on camera, and how is your relationship with Alexandria now?
A. Brittani: My relationship with her is completely fine - after the episode aired I called to make sure how she was doing. We're civil, and understand that there's parts [of each other] that we don't like, but at the same time, I do love the girl. We went through this experience together. As far as anything that happened off camera, I can't talk about that. Nobody got hit, though, if that's what you're asking [laughs]!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Since you're the winner of the competition, you've obviously got a lot of experience. What advice would you give to girls who want to try out for ANTM?
A. Brittani: Oh lord...any advice for any girl that wants to model, is make sure you have a thick skin. I thought I was pretty tough and didn't care what people thought of me, but they ran me into the ground! You really need to think it through and find out if it's something you really want, because they're gonna wreck you and wreck your body image, and that's how a lot of celebrities run into drugs and things. It's not for everybody...it's a lot of hell, and if you want it, you have to be passionate about it. I've wanted it since I was 7. You have to have dedicate yourself to this business!

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Give us the scoop: What was up with the random haircuts for the last panel? I thought you both looked amazing, but it was kind of a shock!
A. Brittani: You should have seen me! They didn't show me crying and not being happy..I didn't want them to chop my hair off! I thought that I wasn't gonna win because I fell on the runway, and I didn't see the point of them cutting my hair just so they could send me home. But once my logic came back, I trusted them, and as soon as they were done, I really liked it. It was a change that I never would have had to do on my own. I thought everyone back home would think I was butch - if you have short hair in the city, it's fashionable, but where I'm from, it's weird. The haircut literally happened in the bathroom - it took like ten minutes!

 

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: So, you've already done the shoot for CoverGirl and Beauty in Vogue, which we got to see. Can you give us any details about the Italian Vogue shoot? When is it, where is it, what's the theme?
A. Brittani: I'm going to Paris in June to do that! I'm really excited about it! I'm assuming that I have a meeting with IMG sometime soon, and I'm moving in with Molly [in NYC] in July! I'm just anxious! I want to do runway, print, and everything. I just can't wait to get started!

 

(Image courtesy of the CW)