Interview with Felicia from America's Next Top Model 8!
By Jackie Helm

Felicia was nicknamed "Baby Tyra" due to her resemblance to Miss Banks. Despite her fabulous photos, Felicia got the boot. She was fun to talk to and wants to acknowledge her man's family for their love support. Check it out!

Hi Felicia. What prompted you to sign up for the show?

"All of my friends and family wanted me to try out. I was supposed to try out for Cycle 7 but I never got around to doing it. So, I thought let me go ahead and see what happens."

Did you have any prior modeling experience?

"Before the show, I did one Cinderella fashion show but that was it. Other than that, I am pretty much a rookie."

Do you plan to continue to pursue modeling?

"Yes, I am going to continue modeling. That is a definite."

When you were standing next to Dionne in the bottom two, did you know you would be the one eliminated?

"Standing next to Dionne was so emotional for me. I got so close to her. I know it's a competition but a part of me was like, "If I win this, if I get to stay and she goes home, I am going to be so hurt". But on the other hand I didn't want to go home. I can't even explain it, it was so emotional."

What is your interpretation of why you were the one to go?

"To tell you the truth, I can't explain that because I don't know. I know that the judges have their reasons and what not. Maybe they have their reasons that they didn't show on TV. But, I don't agree with it at all. All of my photos were great. Not to sound cocky but this is what was coming from the judges. They thought my pictures were beautiful. I had no bad critiques on any of them except for this last one (below). Some of the girls had not had one perfect picture yet. And they are still there. So that is why the fact that this one bad picture sent me home is unfair. But it happened and I am hoping that with the pictures that I did take, agencies will see them and want to sign me."

What do you think about the show portraying you as a big head?

"That was crazy because I was one of the sweetest girls on the show. I didn't talk mess on anybody. I didn't say one thing to a person in their face and say something else in my confessionals. They showed me the most in this last show and I didn't have any airtime in the other shows. When they did show me, it really didn't fit."

Do you think Renee is being portrayed accurately?

"They are portraying Renee as what she is. Everything that they are saying about Renee is what happened. I didn't even know she cried that much. I didn't know she was upset about us getting better clique topics to pose. I didn't know she was upset about the very first photo shoot. I had no clue that she cried that much. She is the type to say, "Okay, it happened, suck it up, move on, deal with it." As far as the arguing goes, she really did act like that."

So her hard front is fake?

"No, I think that Renee has both sides but I think the soft side is behind a shield. She has a wall up to protect herself and to protect her feelings. I don't know if it's from stuff she's been through in the past. I�ve seen her soft and sweet side, but something sarcastic always has to back it up, which cancels it out. She just needs to work on it. She did act like a total bitch but I think that it's forced. It's not natural."

Can you tell me about any fun stuff or juicy details that we were not shown?

"When I go into it with Jaslene, they didn't show that we made up. We talked about it, we hugged, and we squashed it. When we got to panel, she started crying at saying that the girls were talking about her. They didn't show the part where she called me out specifically about the argument. She also called Diana out about an argument that they had about the prom show.

They didn't show little stuff like that which I really wish that they would have. Especially me making up with her because I think I look so mean yelling at her. If they would have shown that part, it would have shown that she's not as cocky as she may seem and it would have shown that I am not a total cocky bitch either."

A lot of times we hear that apologies are made although we don't see it on TV. Honestly, I forgot about your and Jaslene's little tiff. I think it showed Jaslene having the last words by calling you a dumb ass.

"If you call someone a dumb ass, you are gonna say it you are gonna be bold about it and say it. She said it as she was turning away form me. It looked so insecure as though she was just trying to say something back."

The same way Renee just reached her hand around the door to flip Brittany off.

"Exactly. If you are gonna do something, be bold about it. Be straight forward and not insecure like you are not sure if you should do it or not."

If you could, what would you do differently?

"Nothing. I wouldn't change anything because everything happens for a reason. So it means it was meant to happen that way so that's how I want it to stay."

Any other plans?

"I'd like to go back to school if that's possible. I would love to go from modeling to acting. I've always wanted my own clothing line and my own shoes."

Do you have any last words or shout outs?

"I would like to thank the academy...just kidding (laughs). I would love to mention Ernesta Mensah, her brother Lenton Allen (my boyfriend who is trying out for "So You Think You Can Dance" today) and their mother, Barbara Mensah, who is like a mom to me.

I love you guys so much, so much, so much. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for you guys. You are a part of me and always will be a part of me no matter what happens. I love you guys to death. There are no words to explain how much I appreciate you.

They are my world. They are great."

That is sweet. Thank for talking with me Felicia. Take care and good luck.

"No problem. Thank you."






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(Photos courtesy of cwtv.com)