by Gina Scarpa

 

Last week wasn't the first time that Seymone's attitude came into question on America's Next Top Model. When she was not chosen to open a fashion show, Jay Manuel seemed to have enough of her and word traveled back to panel that did not appreciate the opportunity that had been given to her. She didn't agree but there was no changing Tyra's mind and Seymone was eliminated from the competition. We talked to her today in an exclusive interview to hear more of her side of the story and talk about her experiences on America's Next Top Model.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you tried out for Top Model before this cycle?
A. Seymone: Actually, I always wanted to do America's Next Top Model. I was just always too young. I was finally old enough to try out and I tried out for the wrong cycle. It was the All Star cycle but they asked me to audition for Cycle 18. I only tried out once before.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was different about being there than how you thought it would be, watching it on tv?
A. Seymone: I guess when there's a situation in the house and you're like, "Oh I wouldn't do that. That's so stupid." Being in the situation, you know what's going on and what events occurred that people don't see.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was there any separation in the house between the British girls and the American girls?
A. Seymone: There was no separation actually. Whenever we were out, it was like rivalry! Back in the house, it was one big family. I've never lived with a whole big group of girls. It's just like a whole bunch of hormones and personalities mixed in together.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who, did you feel, was the toughest on you?
A. Seymone: I feel like Kelly and Tyra were probably the hardest on me. I think that's because they saw something in me that I have not yet reached, you know? They were trying to get that out of me.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It came across like you were not open to some of the feedback you received or were shutting down. Was that actually what was going on or are there things we didn't see?
A. Seymone: I think the times that I was really hard against taking in feedback was during casting. That's because people didn't really ask me what was wrong, they just assumed. I wasn't upset because I didn't get any bookings. To be completely honest, like I said on the show, if you don't want me, you don't want me. It's one thing for you to not want me but it's another thing to have a casting and not bring things that don't fit me. I'm a plus size model and I cannot fit in a size double 0. It frustrated me. It happened multiple times.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you feel pressure, being a plus-sized model?
A. Seymone: There were two of us this cycle but I feel like it's harder. With the smaller models, they don't have to watch their bodies as much. You have to watch your body proportions and I'm not saying that you don't want to look like a plus-size model but you don't want to come across as bigger than you already are. It's really difficult to watch your body and your angles. It's a lot.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you have a favorite photo?
A. Seymone: I like them all just because they were really, really different. But I don't think that any of them can represent me as a model because they're like, my beginner photos. I still don't know exactly what I'm doing and trying to feel it out. I don't think any of them can represent me because I haven't exactly stepped out.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your elimination clearly upset you. Did you feel any better a few days later?
A. Seymone: It was still hard. Obviously, just judging from my response, I wanted this a lot. I always wanted this. The girls and I were all talking. It meant the most to me. They said that I was probably one of the girls that it mattered most to. Just for them to say I wasn't taking the opportunity seriously, I feel like they were misunderstanding me.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's a lesson that you learned from the competition?
A. Seymone: I guess to have patience for casting directors.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's next for you?
A. Seymone: I am not going to stop modeling, period. I feel like I've gotten my foot in the door and now that it's there, I'm shoving my whole body through that.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What do you want to say to your fans?
A. Seymone: Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for supporting me. It really does mean a lot. There are people who don't like me because I'm a plus-size model. It's important that people know who I am and know that I'm a really nice person. Just don't cross that line with me. It is what it is. Just for them to see who I really am and that I am a nice person and a potential good model, it means a lot. When people Tweet me, I Tweet back because I feel like I owe them that. They took the time out to say something to be that was incredibly sweet so I respond! I'm just as human as they are. When I do come across those Tweets that aren't so nice, I laugh them off because they're naïve to the whole situation.

 

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of the CW)

 

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