"WHY DID YOU CRY?" - ANTM Fo Porter Reveals What REALLY Happened On Cycle 12

Tyra remember Tyra telling me like, "Listen, if I cut your hair off, trust me. " And I cutting my hair and like hair just falling on my face. The mirrors were covered up so we couldn't see what it looked like. Why did you cry? Tyra said, "Sit down, Celia. I'll make my own decision. " I don't remember too much of Paulina. I just remember she called me Gollum. That was my best photo. That's the photo you chose. I went into that being like, "This is going to change my life forever. In the real world, that would never happen. " and I've never worked with him since then. — I have a lot of questions for you. — Oh, girl. — So many. And so many people wanted you to. I have so many subscriber questions. — People I was going to say, do people ask? — Yes, I asked on my YouTube channel and they're like — I will say I am not YouTube. I literally go as far as like I watch my true crimes on YouTube. I watch music, but I haven't like del dive dived deep into like the YouTube. I've seen yourself, of course, but I'm saying like I haven't fully seen like you asked questions, so I'm excited. So, it's gonna make a blind questionnaire. I'm excited. — People had a lot of love to give for you. Yes, specifically. I mean, wow. — Oh, wow. That's makes me feel so good. — Someone wrote, "By the way, loved you. You were my favorite. The uh you looked you loved your look on the show. Your photo from the colored powder shoot was exquisite. " — A that makes me feel good. — So many nice comments. I'm sure there's some of the funny ruthless questions or comments in there, but you know, — no ruthless questions. — Okay, well that's either way, ask away, darling. — Hey everyone, Jessica here. Today I have a very special guest with me, Faux Porter from Cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model. Today we're going to be having a chat and she's going to be telling us about her time on the show as well as what she's been up to after the show. F. Thank you so much for joining me. We've been trying to make this happen for — a minute. I would say at least like over a year. So, I'm so excited to be here and I'm so excited. It's so nice when I get your text, too. And I'm like, "Ah, like hopefully this time we can make it happen. " And I'm so glad this time it was like we got it. Bada bing, bada boom. And here we are. — And I asked my subscribers what questions they'd like you to answer. So, you're going to be answering those towards the end of the video. So, if you guys asked FO a question, stay tuned till the end because she's going to be hopefully answering all of them. — Oh, exciting. — The NDAs are off, y'all. No, I'm just kidding. — Is it? Wait, is it — I mean, I think after C I think after any contract there, the NDAs are off. Let's just say once Mr. J Yeah, JM um once he released his book a couple years ago, I was like, "Oh, all NDAs are like NDAs are over now. So, but no, I I'm respected and then love my time on the show. So, I would love to answer all questions. — So, the NDA, actually, I want to start with that. What was the process like first starting off on the show? Did you want to get into modeling? And then how did you make it on America's Next Top Model? — Um, so it's so funny. We're starting from the very beginning. Like, I was born No, I'm just kidding. I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but I um and I grew up in New Mexico. I was a preschool teacher at the time. And I had from the age of 12 when the first season came on, I remember running home after school watching UPN because it was on UPN at the time, which was the channel it was on. It doesn't exist anymore, but it was on UPN. And I would watch religiously. Like I was day one fan of Top Model. And as I grew older, I just kept watching it. And I think once I was about 18, I went to an audition in Phoenix. And from Phoenix, it kind of just went like it just happened. I had a second audition in Albuquerque where I was living. And that process was really crazy because it was a casting call, but it was like a cattle call. What we call is basically a bunch of people show up. And I waited literally 10 hours to have my interview. and you're in a room with like and I don't think people talk about this much but when you do the audition when I did my audition it was a room of probably I would say like a hundred girls and they line you up in like this big banquet hall and everyone's lined up on the side and each girl just comes up and talks in front of a camera in front of all the panel almost Tyra's there but she's in like you know Zoom call um and it just I waited there I listened to all these girls insane stories were being told how basically they're like tell us why you should be on the show and some girls are talking about prostitution. Some girls were talking about like it just the most obscene stories were being told and vulnerability was very much on the table. I went up there and I had my talk my go up to 10 hours and it was just one of those things that I had they asked me two questions and it was done. I was mind — what was the question? — The question was just like what do you think you're going to bring to the show and I was like I'm the hippie girl. I'm like the cool chill. I'm very neutral

which I feel very like what's it Switzerland when they call it? Yeah, like neutral. Yeah, very neutral. — And it was like that and then I think it was just like, "Okay, thank you. " It was It was — from my point of view, all these girls had hours to talk and I only had like 5 minutes and I walked out crying because I felt like I was uninteresting. I feel like I didn't give anything. was just like, it was weird. It was a weird feeling after um all of that. And then I think two months later I got a call that I was a final contestant and that's when I was like oh my god. And funny story from that but I don't want to drag it on but basically when I had asked the producers why you only asked me two questions when you asked all these girls a million questions at the audition and they're like we knew you were going to be on the show. We knew from the first casting before we even saw you. We knew it was you. Like we chose you. So I was like and that's not even like smoke up my ass. That was literally like it was they I felt destined for that. Honestly, I truly felt like that was my calling at that time. And my on my 19th birthday, I flew to Las Vegas to shoot the entire beginning of the show. And it was just a coming of age. It was such an [sighs and gasps] that whole experience to me was amazing. I will say off the bat, like I can't say too much bad things about the show, my experience, but overall the whole experience from beginning to end was I mean every girl's dream. So, for me at least, — it's so interesting and I'm really glad that you had a good experience, by the way, — because talking to other uh girls from the show and hearing stories about some people's experiences, — it seems like some like every model had a different experience. — Even if you were on the same cycle with somebody else, do you feel like every girl had a completely different like from your cast members in the same cycle, do you feel like your different your uh experience was so different from theirs? one. Well, I would say 100%. I would say it's crazy, too, because I keep in contact with like Allison, which is also like we love our girl Allison. She's definitely like she should have taken it. I love I mean Tiana. Love Tiana. Tiana was perfect for my cycle. Um but I feel like I think um Allison went on to win. Did she do All Star? — Did she All Stars? Yeah. — Yeah. I'm like she should have won that. She didn't win, but she should have I'm like Allison was just the [ __ ] the Sorry if I can cuss. the best. Um, and I would say like her experience probably way different than mine. Her experience was different because she was already like on her ps and with YouTube. She was or um, social media. She was already like in it. So people already knew who she was. Um, but I would definitely say absolutely there. Everyone had a different experience. And also I definitely didn't see a lot of girls break down. like it to it truly was like you I feel like I walked into that knowing what I was getting myself into, but I truly had the grace of like whatever happens happens. I don't I'm going to go back home after this. home and be a preschool teacher again. Like I didn't think I was going to be a model whatsoever. So I think me going in with that motive of like whatever happens happens. But some girls I feel really not just from my cycle, from all cycles really went in there being like this is my end goal. This is my ticket out, my meal ticket. And I truly felt for them because I think that was like what they were writing on. And a lot of the girls dreams were totally ruined, you know, and it's it's sad. It's sad, but it was so of the time. And I think unfortunately it was a double-edged sword for some people, you know, like it was great for TV, but you're ruining these poor young females. You know, they're just growing up and you're some lives are ruined, I feel like. And that's unfortunate. and I'm grateful that it didn't happen to me that way. So, yeah, it's it was a ride. — So, going back to the first uh you know, when you first made the show, you said it was two months when they had you did the audition and then they took two months to get back to you. — Yes. — Some girls this was their end goal. You mentioned — But for you, do you feel like because you didn't have all your what do they say? Like eggs in a bag and in that basket that gave you an advantage almost. — I mean, I think mindset is different. I think especially now we know with like mental health and women and how our b our bodies work and I think hormones play a hormones background of life, you know, like those types of things really carry into situations like being on reality TV. Reality TV now to me I think is hilarious because people know it's grimy, it's dirty, people know. But I think back then it was like, "No, this is my big break. This is my American Idol moment. This is like this is this could change my entire life. " I went into that being like, "This is going to change my life forever. " But did I go into that being like I will tell you this. I went into there thinking I was going to get extensions

and I did. That was the number one heartbreak face crack of the century for me. I really thought I was getting extension. So, that was the one thing I can say like I walked away being like I had everything ripped like stripped from me. Like my beauty was truly stripped in a way that I had never been able to like figure out on the show. But now coming off of it, um it changed my like I the way I perceived it. I was happy if I got a modeling contract, but if I didn't, I was okay with going back to being a preschool teacher. — You accepted the outcome no matter what. Yeah, — I accepted whatever come what may and I do think that is important but also who am I to judge someone else's dream, you know, like who or who am I to say like, "Oh, you went in there two guns ablazer. " This is not America's next best friend, honey. Like this, you know what I'm saying? Like this is like these things happen and these are good for TV. This is good for, you know, culture, pop culture. But at the end of the day, I'm really glad I did have I was self-aware enough to know like this could go either way. But don't be the girl that's crying on national television, which I cried a lot, but I was that girl, but in other ways, in a way that I could rebound and like go through life and be okay with, you know what I mean? So, — yeah. But for very valid reasons, you cried because I reacted to the episode, which I'm going to get into the hair now. You see the hair now. — She's like, "This is it, guys. This is it. — Don't let the panel see that. Please don't let — Mr. Jay is gonna be like, "Hey, um, we got to sit you down in this chair for a second at the salon. " — And I talk and he be commenting on my photos and he thinks I look good in long hair. So, we — It's been approved. It's been approved by the panel. — So, uh, tell me, uh, you mentioned that you watched the show before you auditioned. What was your perception of the show? — I don't even know. Oh, you know what's crazy is I feel like your brain sometimes blocks out certain things. Like I try to think from like 12, age of 12 to 19. Like I was so obsessed with that. It was like my it's still like I loved Rupaul's Drag Race. Like it was that for me, you know, for the culture sake, but I don't know. I think I perceived it in a way where it was like you're it. You're that girl. Like it you are the moment. You know what I like it was very much and I felt like every time I was watching these girls I don't know I and I'm not into drama like I love you know kikiing and like talking [ __ ] but I'm not like into drama like that like I really have never sat down for a full housewife episode like I wasn't into reality TV. I just think my perception was like that's a dream I want to live out like I want to be a model and I would love to you know but it was it attainable at the time in my 12-year-old mind? No. But I think when you're destined to do something and you have a passion about something, even though I was, you know, a kid growing up in Albuquerque, I wasn't modeling, but I had a passion for this show and I think that's just it bled through into reality. So like literally reality TV. So yeah, I think yeah, I don't know what perception was. I guess the perception was. It's just that it was a dream. That's all I knew was like that was my dream. — You mentioned it briefly. Let's gohead. I really want to ask you about your makeover. — Oh, yes. Go ahead. — And I wrote this down specifically because I found this online. Someone wrote, "In episode three, Fo received a pixie cut during makeovers, which she liked at first, but started to cry after seeing all the other girls makeovers with long hair. She was still crying about it during the photo shoot, angering Nigel. She was put in the bottom two with Jessica and she was saved. What are your thoughts on that? " Oh, Jessica, I love her so much. Um, I Okay, first of all, that like I said in the very briefly, I went on that show expecting extensions. Like I remember telling my mom, "Let's make a hair appointment when I get back for when my cuz my extensions are going to have to be redone. " — Wait, what made you think you're going to get re I'm just curious. — You Because girl, that was the dream. That was the fantasy. I mean, who doesn't want to go on America's Next Top Model, get plucked, get chosen, and then get hair extension, then you win. You It's like I mean, if you look at Tiana, Miss Tiana got like she what was it like Naomi Campbell, like that's what she wanted her hair to be like, you know, and or Tara wanted that for Tiana. But um I don't know why I had this fantasy of long hair. And I'm telling you, that's why I cried so much. And I the most asked question I get about on that show is why did you cry? And I'm like — why did you and it's mostly from and it's crazy. It's mostly was supposedly from older women, which I then would say, imagine being a 19-year-old girl going on national television thinking one thing, seeing, you know, wanting the fantasy of like having long like long mermaid hair and literally, and I will

say this, I think they knew I think the whole team knew I wanted extensions. So, they sat me in a chair, and I'm not kidding you, with extensions sitting next to me. Like it was one of those like playing and I remember just being like and when they're chopping my hair girl they're going layer by layer and I'm just like it's maybe it's I don't know it wasn't a Britney moment but I was like maybe it's like they're just going to f I was not until I fully like they're like you're done. I remember just because um the mirrors were covered up so we couldn't see what we looked like at all. Like when they did our makeovers, all the mirrors were covered up. So the reveal was our makeover and my makeover was like, "Oh my god. " And I'm just like balling my eyes out because at the end of the [ __ ] day, everyone was gorgeous. Everyone had these long extensions and beautiful hair and I felt stripped and I felt very raw vulnerable and I felt very beside myself. Um and it's hard to take um coddling. like you know embrace from women who are literally have like inches girl. So I think for me that was the thing is I felt very raw and very vulnerable but at the end of the day it truly broke the mold of what I thought beauty was at that time in a really good tough love way. And what better way to figure that out than one on national television but on a show that I really respected and like really wanted to be a part of. And that's the name of the game girl. like you have to, you know, I signed a contract being like, you're going to do what I say. And that's kind of what comes with like some of the girls that I see that have like it may not be the makeover, but it could be the aftermath of their life. And I'm like, that's the unfortunate part is like that's what we signed up for. Unfortunately, we, you know, we already done did this. We know we we came here for. And having my hair top off was like, yeah, a shock to my core, but I made it farther than I ever thought I would make it on the show. And I mean, I'm I have a 17-year career out of it, you know, so it's a blessing in disguise, and I'm so glad I allowed myself to be that vulnerable and didn't get chopped on the on, you know, on that week. But, um, it was just the universe's way of being like, Tyra Banks is right sometimes. — Well, you did look beautiful in the haircut. You did look great. — Thank you. I had that haircut for over 10 years after that. — Yes. I noticed that you did keep it. So, you kept it after the show. — I did. I kept it. Well, so what it was is I got signed right after the show. I got signed before the show was even completed pretty much um to my agency in LA. Um and as soon as I got signed, they were like, "Uh-uh, honey, you're keeping that hair. " And like, and I made a lot of money with my haircut. I not in like a, you know, like conceited or self-absorbent way, but I felt very much individualized when it came to coming into LA market, coming into a real modeling market. Like I was the girl who had the pixie cut and I carried it very well and I felt very comfortable in my own skin, but I also felt very connected to my masculine feminine side as well. So, you know what I Like I the androgyny of having that cut too helped me out a lot in this modeling career as well cuz I felt I was doing the tough [ __ ] athletic, you know, stuff. And then I was doing like very cute prom photos with like big floopy dresses and like I was living the fantasy that I thought I wanted with long hair, but I did it with short hair. So — when you finished the show, uh did you think, okay, I'm going to grow my hair out or did you want to keep it short? — I did actually. I grew my hair out. And it's funny cuz when I walked off the plane to see my family, my family had no idea what my hair looked like. Like literally, they were like, "We're getting extensions is coming in. Like, we're looking for long hair. " — Your mom's like, "Hey, show me the extensions. " — Literally. And I had a beanie on and I remember this moment so well. I remember walking um past literally. And they're like, and I ripped my beanie off and they all were like, "Oh my god. " It was like the best welcoming committee cuz they were shocked to see like my the reveal. And it was great. It was a moment that like yes I thought I was going to grow my hair out but then once I got signed I was like what do you mean I have to keep it was it was bittersweet but um I to the I honestly wish I could go back and not like I have long hair now. — You want to you mean cut it again? — Yes, I would cut it again. I would do it again. I just feel and this is I mean I think people know this. We have to remember our age. We age and I feel like sometimes cuts can look good at 19, but at 36 I don't think like my pixie cut would look. Also, we have Chris Jenner up in the house. Chris Jenner took that pixie cut and ran with it. So, I have to really be due diligent about how I do my hair now. So, but also this is full circle. This is literally what I wanted and I think now this is like my natural curl. — I love your natural hair. It looks so good. — Thank you. And I feel like I don't know. I love being a chameleon of

sorts of when it comes to hair. Um, so yeah, I will say that whole time in my life of the hair being chopped was bittersweet, but I would do it again and have the same results if I got the second chance. So, — you mentioned the they had hair extensions briefly. Was that when during when you were being when you were doing your interview or was it during the makeover? — The makeover. So, it was like I mean obviously we're scurrying around the entire salon. We're at the is it John Berdau? Is that No, John Barrett Salon. John Barrett Salon at Berdock Goodman. And it was literally like also I think it was for the fact of like I'm sitting there being like I'm so excited like they're like yes. — Did they make you think it was for you? Like these are your — Yes. 100. And this is the thing. I remember it so vividly because I was like oh my god that could be my hair color. that it was just on like one of those I don't know like a dying table where they put like you know the dye whatever the tables they have in salons and I remember just being like that's for me and then there's actually a clip of Natalie walking in while I'm getting my haircut and she's like oh my god you look so cute and I'm just like oh my was extensions and cutting my hair and like hair is just falling on my face and it's a clip of like Tyra talking about what she's doing with my makeup. over and like she's like that cute face, those high cheekbones. What are we going to do? Cut it off. And I'm like, "That [ __ ] she had it out for me from day one. No, just kidding. No, I I am grateful for the cut. And I'm not just saying that because of Tyra's sake. I'm saying that because I truly know what it feels like to have short hair, long hair, and I know I could rock it regardless. " So, — yeah. But I think that you crying was very valid because a lot of people don't are not familiar with how modeling and the agencies work that basically sometimes if you cut your hair really short sometimes the agencies will want to sign you but only if your hair is long. So you have to grow it out and that takes time to grow out and you could lose jobs waiting on your hair to look a certain way. I mean even I even more brutal than that some agencies will just be like we don't want to book you like it or some agencies will drop you. That was the one thing was like coming into the real world if you go against the word of the man so to speak or the woman so to speak um you could get dropped. So like let's say I got a wild hair and I wanted to cut my hair you know this was my selling point and I cut my hair off. I go to the agency and I'm like, "Look what I did. " You know, and they could literally be like, "You just lost a contract. " Because it's in the contract somewhere that, you know, you everything has to kind of be approved. And that's like again the double-edged sword of this industry. It's like I've been able to live and create a beautiful career and an amazing life. And I've had to sacrifice a few things like, you know, hair. Hair is one of those things. I feel like as of the past, I would say maybe five to maybe 10 years, I've been able to have more leniency with my hair. But it's just I'm an individual. I have tattoos. Like I think I came in that was the one thing I couldn't stop doing when I got into the real world was like I want tattoos. This is who I am. I'm a not a rocker chick by any means. This is terrible. I'm like, no, don't do that. I'm not I'm a badass [ __ ] and I love to like wear my just I love to wear my souvenirs on my body and I love beautiful art. So tattoos is one thing that I would butt heads with my agents for a long time. But now in this day and age now we're at in the industry. It's kind of like come as you are photoshops. — Yeah. Some agencies don't want you to have tattoos or for you to cut your hair because you mentioned if you're booked for a job, they're booking you based on your look that they saw in the pictures in your portfolio in your head shot. — And also, one thing people don't realize is that — if they like for America's Next Top Model, they they're taking pictures of you with your short hair. If you come out of when you finish the show, you would have if you're going to grow your hair out, you'd have to literally redo your entire book. — Yes. So, it's funny you do say that because I remember when I first got signed um to my agency in LA, New Models, which love and respect them so much. Kenya, who was founded me, she was my mother agent for about 16 years. And she founded me from the show and I mean, she created my career and really helped me get through a lot of turbulations in the industry because, you know, rockiness. Um but yeah, we're sorry I like got sidetracked. What was the question again? Sorry. — Oh, I was just saying that uh you get booked based off of your look. — So yeah. So with that my I would say probably the first six months of me coming off the show. I went to

four or five castings and they went through my portfolio and they're like, "Oh, were you just on Top Model? " Because I was actually able to take my photos from the show and use it in my book. — Really? But — you could use it, but also this is what happened. So looking through my book were like, "Oh, you were just on Top Model. " And I was like, "Yeah. " Like close my book, hand it to me. Like, "Thank you so much. " Like, it was a joke. It was a joke coming off the show. It was kind of a sign of like, "Oh, you couldn't make it in the real world, so you went on Top Model. " Which at the time, I'm sorry, but like now we have social media. It's kind of the same thing. Like you kind of like being able to be on a reality TV show back then was kind of cooler than doing modeling. I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. I think for me the um the um — the exposure I almost said exploitation which could be another thing too but the exposure of of Top Model I think really helped me in that day and age too before social media like MySpace was the biggest thing that was around. So, like having that exposure before social media was an amazing thing to have, especially now. But, um, I think clients thought it was a joke for a while and then once I kind of was well-rounded and my book was great, I had my my branding down in a sense. Um, it skyrocketed. Like, I don't think it was a downfall. Um, but yeah, I do feel there were clients who were not happy that I was on the show right after I got off of it. Like, it was just kind of a joke to them. So yeah, — some girls have said that. No, — They're like being on America's Next Top Model did not help my career. It hindered it in a way. So, but everyone has a different experience, right? — That's exactly going back to the beginning. Yes. Every — experience is different. — It's so different. And that's what I mean. Like I just I think I just had I left out and I worked in great in the commercial world. That's the one thing too to kind of piggyback on is I work well in the commercial world. I was nowhere near editorial runway. I did one year of runway and I didn't even do runway cuz I was short whatever. I'm a thick curvy girl and nowadays it's it's you see it more often like a toy secret fashion show phenomenal. Now they're accepting way more body types, but I never did runway. So I wasn't focused on, you know, the broken z like doing all like the crazy pill. Yeah, girl. The broken. I can't even if you know, you know. All the fans out there. No. That is like one of those things that always follows you around. But um but yeah, I just feel it was hard coming off the show, but I ended up um successful after. It was a success. Um, and I also did get asked to go on the All Stars. Uh, — no way. — Yes, girl. Nice to meet you. — You know what it was is I had a long talk with my agent and she was like, just know a lot of those girls on that show and no disrespect to the women by any means, but in that time it was probably 201 13 that they were doing it. Um, I was already working like those girls wanted to work. Do you know what I mean? Like I was already working clients. I already had like Nike, Reebok Adidas. Like I had all these Target. different clients that like if I wasn't already working like that then maybe I would have gone the show. But since I was already at like a stature where I had already taken I wiped off the top model like image of like foe from top model and I was finally already model foe. Like I was already my own person or my own model at the time. I think that's kind of why I had to say no because again when I came off the show the first time it was a joke. So to like go back on the show for shits and giggles, sure to build my Instagram. A part of me wishes I did that too because now social media is really important. Social med having a following is important. It's my resume. Um I know like I think Allison like skyrocketed after that. Allison got her own show in like I think Vietnam or the Philippines or something after Allst Star because it just reignited her um exposure. [clears throat] So, I would have loved the exposure um I guess just like I said for shits and giggles, but I don't think career-wise it would have been a wise move just because I was already working like I wanted and needed to work at the time. So, — yeah, you would have lost on those jobs and — the clientele would have been like, you know what I mean? And also, it's just at that time reality TV started becoming like it's trash. TV, you know what I mean? Instead of I want — to watch reality TV, — girl. And that's the thing about I — Oh, VH1, MTV. I feel — I feel it got to the point, too. I mean, hello. Like, I so love Drag Race. Like, I'm a huge Drag Race fan. And that's one thing I will say, too. Um I wish the camaraderie of Top Model was ex the same as Drag Race. Like, you know how they're all sisters now? everyone after the show becomes a part of like a family whereas Top Model it was like everyone just scured and no one talks about it and it's like the elephant in

the room. You know what I mean? Does that make sense? Like it's like I love the sisterhood of RuPaul's Drag Race. I love like that once you're an contestant, you're already a part of like this big family and you go to shows together, you see each other all you're alumni, but like being alumni of Top Model, it's like it's sad, you know, and not sad, but it's almost like the stories are more heartbreaking than they are inspirational, unfortunately. So, — how do you feel like your relationships on the show were like with the girls on your cycle? — My I you mean during after or just in general? During the cycle, how was your relationship with the you know with the girls? — We all got along very well. I will say there was definitely some like I wouldn't even call it racial but there was definitely like the white girls were sleeping on the bottom. Like there was a you know like we were like the women of color on top like us women were I don't know how I don't want to say it was segregated by any means. It's just where people fell. Like it's like when you picked your bedroom for um the whole what I think two months that you're there. It was just that you know the black girls went with the black girls and the white white girls and there was nothing like racially like vicious about it. That's just how it was. And I feel like people buted heads a little bit because of it in a sense. Um one thing I think of is like we had like you wouldn't know this but we had Thanksgiving there one year. We actually were there also when Obama was elected which was an amazing experience to like not only just be on the show but to like know that the one of our best greatest presidents have ever were you know we just got the news there but we had like a Thanksgiving dinner around that time and I just feel like there was kind of like I'm not I really I love this model and I don't even want to call her out because I respect her and she's [clears throat] truly tried wiping her slate cleanup top model but there it's on the show but there was one of the models that was like, "Well, I'm glad we have you guys to clean up after us. " And it was was not a woman of color. And — I don't know how to describe and I'm not trying to like, you know, again, paint a negative picture, but there were times where it was like nitpicky and then people were getting, you know, at each other, white girl versus black girl kind of a thing. So, that's like the only real I feel like drama we had. Like it there was never ever like I don't know like no one was passing out on set. No one was like you know brawling. getting too drunk and you know doing anything crazy. I just felt like there was a little bit of that pretentiousness but it wasn't anything that was like oh my god that girl is racist. This is a crazy you know environment to be in. So that experience was it was good. I I loved the girls I roommed with. Um, Jessica was probably the closest girl I was with, you know, I had to go home next. It was so sad. We both cried together when she was eliminated. Um, and we kept in touch. I saw her after the show. Natalie was someone I also kept in touch with and hung out with um a good about after as well. And Amina, Amina is probably my number one. That's my girl. I love Amina. Um, [clears throat] I hung out with her. I went and saw Wicked with her on Broadway. Like it was just like we had so many things together. I remember we got stuck in Time Square one time and it was like — 2 a. m. at Port Authority. We missed the bus and so we were like I don't it was just it was she was a fun girl to hang out with. But it was a good time and it was youth. It was beautiful. Like I said I would do it over again and have the same results if I could. Um and yeah, I think that's just that's the way I went into that show. I didn't go I don't have any unfortunately like no negative like juices towards it. I don't have like bad energy towards my experience there. So, — there were notable moments though from your season. One of them was there was like a situation in the kitchen — with Talia Natalie. — That was the one I'm talking about. It was Oh, yes. Okay. — Oh, so it was because of the comment cleanup. — It kind of got like mixed into the same kind of thing. Um, sorry, I mean to cut you off, but yes. — No, you're fine. — I know what you're talking about. I want to know. — So, I I'm trying to think back. I think what it was Talia that week was having a hard time. And I don't know if you guys remember, but Talia did was a burn victim. I mean, beautiful girl. I saw her at my first audition. Like, she was we actually we saw each other at like the first and second audition when we got on the show. We were like, "Oh my god. " You know what I mean? Like, we made it together. Um, and I think what it was that she was having a hard time that week and she had like a, you know, a breakdown of sorts and she was crying and of course they love to hone in on, you know, who's crying and make it wor they love to throw a rock in a glass house to see what happens. So, um, we're kind of calling her and she's just like, I don't know. I I don't know if I should be here anymore. So, that was kind of the thing. That's where it

started. Well, Courtney to sorry, Courtney, um, Celia, and Allison were all kind of like their little group, which, you know, to each their own. I love them all. Um, Celia stood up when Courtney was on the chopping block next to Talia that week and said, "I don't think, you know, uh, Courtney should go home this week. I think Talia has expressed herself. " And it was one of those things like, "Oh, no. Talia wasn't on the No, Talia, I think, was the best photo that week. I think it was something like that. — Tell us what you remember about the Celia and Talia situation when Celia I think I believe she couldn't during when Tyra was about to eliminate someone. — Um, so that was a crazy moment. Um, it was again like probably one of the most drama-filled moments we had the entire season. So, it had to happen for rating sake. No, I feel what it was is that either Somebody was on the chopping or Courtney was on the chopping block and Celia felt it was in her place to stand up against whoever Tyra was going to eliminate to throw Talia under the bus because Talia was having a really bad week that week. Talia had expressed to the group as you know cameras are always honed in on everybody basically saying I don't feel like I should be here. I really don't know what with what what she was necessarily like struck by, but I think it was just a trigger. She probably was just, you know, having a bad week. That's human. And again, Celia basically just stepped up and just said, I think after hearing what Talia had to say today, I don't think Courtney should be on this chopping block. I think it should be Talia. And I think Talia got like best photo or something. It was something very much like wrong place, wrong time. And that's kind of when we walked off the stage. It's funny cuz when you walk up the stage, when you see us go from like the stage to the house, they might record in the limousine or like in our car to hear us talking, but most of the time we take off of our we take off our mics and we wait till we get home to be rem and then that's when everything kind of blows up. So I think that's what happened was that happened. Tyra said, "Sit down, Celia. I'll make my own decision. " And C S Celia ended up looking like, you know, a fool in a sense. Not a fool, but she looked, you know, like she was malicious, intent. And as soon as we got home and had those mics put on, girl, I don't want to put it this way, but it was definitely I would say um Amina and Talia like ganged up and was like, "This is [ __ ] You are stupid. " It was very and so I think from there that's kind of when like a certain model made agy remark during Thanksgiving like just these things that were very like y'all are [ __ ] dumb and it's just I don't know how like reenacting the fight but it's just it was a heated moment and I think it passed Silia said sorry I think that kind of was blown over but it was just one of those things that was like I said like there wasn't much drama so I feel like when something like that happened it like exploded you know what I mean it like it was blown off the roof and I and Taly did great. Talia was I think she made it to like I don't know eighth place, maybe seventh place, but she made it pretty far. So that's the thing is like you never know what's going to happen. Um who's going to go when um and yeah, it's just that's just the way of the top model world, you know? — What was your reaction when this was happening? — I mean, everyone was like, oh, like and then um it was awkward. Just awkward. I think that's the main reaction was it was so awkward. Um, but like I said, I feel like we kind of rebound rebounded off of that and like kind of just carried on with our with the time there. It didn't really like stick too hard, you know what I mean? And Courtney, my girl, she wrote the best like um farewell letter. It was just she was amazing. I still talk to her as well. I love She's a marine biologist now, I'm pretty sure. — That's amazing. I'm like goals power [ __ ] Love it. Love to see it. I loved it's like and again like some of these women went on to be phenomenal at what they do whether Top Model was their calling or not. Like I think that's just what avenue you chose and the way you chose to like perceive life after that is really important too. So a lot of women went on to be great women you know great females. though in the — I mean I love to hear that and I — personally as a photographer when watching the show back — now that I am a photographer — I always thought the models were so incredible I mean we they had some great models on America's Next Top Model like Celia for instance I thought was an incredible model — and so when that moment happened I thought it I personally thought it was not her place to do that. Yeah, — because also just as a viewer, this is

me speaking as a viewer, but what I saw Talia go through was absolutely terrible. How they — like they always made her feel different because of her burns. They covered her up during the runway show, okay? They were treating her differently and I didn't like that. And so little by little, it felt like to me as a viewer a snowball effect. And maybe that's why she wanted to she was doubting her place there because in my opinion the production was pushing her and poking her. — I and I said this before and I've said it in interviews before that I the producers are good at throwing a rock in a glass house. So they love to kind of like see what happens. And I do feel I guess I have to be admittedly say that I don't know if I've ever put myself in anyone else's shoes in that in that time. And I mean that with like you're in fight or flight by yourself, but to have to think about what Talia went through even just to put herself out there and to be on the show and you know I cuz also there's like weenie Harlo. Obviously we Harlo is like mega and that was something too and I'm like I don't feel like she got the same treatment as Weenie. I would say that Winnie I would say that. Um but again and it sucks to even go back but that was the times like of what it was like you want a story of this girl you know burn victim plucked out of you know bod wherever and then you exploit her that's why I said like you know there is an exploitation aspect to the show as well where it's like again mind you this is a time of the times this is 2000 early 2000s when like we weren't thinking about this but like I can't imagine what she went through I thought I had it bad with having a short haircut. But yeah, you're right. I don't think I ever saw it from the side of like, oh my god, I'm being singled out. I'm being used as this like, you know, poke and prod. Like I wouldn't say she was the story of the season, but it's one of those things, you know, we have Isis King or Isis King, right? Um and then we had Wedi Harlo or even I forget her last name, Whitney, who was like the first plus-siz model. like these types and I hate to even say guinea pigs like people to kind of create a story which again you're exploiting them in a way that's just I don't there is a downside of Top Model that I do feel like those types of situations where you do see girls that were broken down in a way um but I think Talia came out phenomenal on Top She went on I think she really wanted to have kids and I think she has multiple children and like she lived a life she wanted to live but again going into that kind of show you never know what you're experience you're going to get you know what I mean especially if you're thinking this is going to be your end all be all. Especially if this is going to be your career for the rest of your life. That's what you're thinking. You never know what you're going to leave with. You know what I mean? So, I'm glad Talia and I remember her Talia had this thing where she was like, "Y'all put a new meaning to bitches. " And I remember this being like a clip that they used for like the promo commercial, but like we did we all sit on ten toes. I feel like our on our ground. But yeah, there wasn't much drama that was like I can't believe this happened type of a thing. That that was pretty shitty, but it wasn't worse as some seasons have had or some cycles have had. So — yeah. And I think also the show created like with Talia especially like they I believe they ostracized her and singled her out and I think her treatment was wrong. Like it really watching that back I felt terrible for her. But again, you were you mentioned, you know, you're in fight or flight mode. So maybe you even being there, you didn't even notice that, which is very valid, too. You're worried about yourself. You just got a pixie cut. They chopped your hair off. — You have your own problems to worry about. So everyone like, can you talk to me about moments that happened on the show that we didn't even get to see that we might not even know about? — I mean, there's one specific moment, and I'm sure people have heard about it. Um, there was a what's how should I put this? There was a words exchanged between Tyra and Natalie. I think people have heard about this. And where Tyra I mean again this comes back to like we're in fight or flight. We are we're going off of emotion. We're also like mind you we also don't get to talk to anybody. So, our coping mechanism is coping in front of cameras and trying to figure out how to like self-regulate. Um, and it's the first time I fully talked about this, but Natalie and Tyra had an exchange of words that came down to the fact that Natalie didn't feel like she deserved to go home that week, and it was against Anina. And I think she again stood on 10 toes and was like, "This is how I feel about this right now. " And I think that this is kind of and I want to say it gotten to the

moment that was like that was a we're rooting for you. We're all rooting for you moment. But it could have gotten to that to a certain extent. Um just because I feel like there was back and forth and Natalie did not want to go home. And that's the thing is I respect Natalie. I love her. I she's wanted to swipe her whole slate clean of Top Models. That's why I don't want to like bring her up because we're talking 17 years later. Some people don't want to be talked about this anymore. Some people don't even want to bring This is so We're also grown women who have families, who have lives, you know. So, what happened when we're 19 doesn't necessarily matter reflect who you guys are today. — Exactly. And I feel like and even Tyra like that was one of those things again mind you we're on a TV show and like imagine being triggered by something that you can't the only way you know how to release that emotion is by speaking up for yourself. And I think that's what she did. I think she was just had a moment. It was a triggering moment. She didn't want to go home. And I think it's like what do I do? And then you kind of like she just had words that was along the lines of like I don't think I deserve this. I don't, you know, I don't know why I'm getting chopped. It was just one of those things where you it it came down to the point where it's just she didn't want to go home. And I feel like that's a valid reason. You fought so hard to get here. You're in another country now. I think we've just gotten to Brazil at that point. So, she was just fighting for her title. And I think that's just what happens when you're put into these predicaments. Fight or flight. You're doing what you can to keep your head above water. And the odds are always against you no matter what. You know what I mean? So — absolutely. Is that a hunger game? Is the odds in your — That's ex literally girl. It's so true. The odds are — interesting. We're going to get to the hunger games later. Later though — because we'll get to that. — Um so we're on the topic of the Tyra versus Natalie. I didn't even know. I don't even know if I watched that episode to be honest. — So you don't see it on It's not on — it. It didn't even air. So, okay, cuz someone asked a question about the Natalie situation versus Tyra. I was like, "What do you mean? " So, I looked, — they never showed it, but I think someone had mentioned it. Like, I think another model on my season had mentioned um the confrontation. — Wow. It got the word got around. Okay. So, from what I looked online, this is what it says. You can confirm this cuz you were there, but it says the Tyra versus Natalie conflict on America's Next Top Model cycle 12 stemmed from Natalie's perceived unfair elimination after praise from judges, leaving to her infamous postelimination outburst where she called the show and its practices unrealistic, which was largely cut from the show, but confirmed by other contestants and judges, leaving a lasting fan debate about Tyra's handling of the situation and the show's authenticity. Again, I have to go back to this. It was so of the times like 2009. It was 2008 when we filmed. So, this was 2008, mind you. Um I that's a good way to make I haven't heard it from that point of view, that perspective, which is great. I don't [snorts] It was because she was being eliminated and I and like I had said before, she did call out a few people. She did have a few mentionable words. Um, I can confirm that. But again, the way Tyra handled it, like I said, we're talking about a TV show. Like this is so and again like it's reality and it's like it's so hard. That's another question I do get asked a lot and I don't even know how to answer that. I don't have any PR training. So when it comes to that like in a sense where I'm like it was just a moment that happened that was she was not ready to go home and it just came out and she was emoting that was that to me is all it simply was the way Tyra handled it. She saw it for what it was. I would think it would probably one be better for ratings if they did show that. But again mind you it's a vulnerable girl that's literally having a moment that's like I don't want to go home right now — and that was that. So, I don't feel like I feel like they probably did more for Natalie by not showing all that stuff just because it's like it's almost just like it was a an emotion that you know that um an impulsive emotion in the in the — Yeah, I think we can all relate to this. — Also, from what I read, it seems like she was given positive praise about her. Was it a photo or is it a video? It was I think it was um it was the Carmen Miranda photo shoot where we had like these like beautiful like we were um Chita Banana. So her uh her emblem she's actually a real person. Carmen Miranda — and she was like a 1950s entertainer and she had the big fruit basket on her head and she was like a little like chick cha ch I don't know my interpretation of that but yeah that she was very like an entertainer. Um, and she was from, I

believe, uh, Sao Paulo, Brazil. So, we were doing these beautiful photo shoots of like these fruit baskets on her head. And I remember her photo being very, very beautiful. Um, I mean, I could even go so far as saying that the same thing happened for my photo. Um, I didn't get a lot of praise on my photo, but the fact that like there's conflicting words happening, like you got a great photo, um, but you're being eliminated. So I could see that as being — yeah anyone would be any anyone would be like okay but why would you tell me my photo is amazing but then eliminated that doesn't make any — contradicting which would also again emotion your and I totally 100% understand where she's coming from because I feel the same way about my photo when I got eliminated my photo was like I was in Brazil on a beach looking hot I know for a fact that was not my best photo I'm like I was stepping on a man I it just like the photos that I got and the photos that they said was like best photo of the week. I was like, you're going to tell me that's the best. So, but again, mind you, this is ratings. These are things they have to eliminate somebody. So, they can't pick everyone's best photo because there'd be no show. There'd be no eliminations. Like, so yeah, there's again, there's like that weird double-edged sword where it's like it's ratings. It's a show, unfortunately, at the end of the day. And yeah, you can't win them all. That's the one thing I felt. I felt like my photo I was robbed. But I bowed down gracefully and I understood and I went, you know, went home with my head held high and I have this career now. But also Natalie became like uh Miss California. She like she did a lot for herself after the show as well. So like you know it's at the end of the day it's not anything to dwell on because again it was a Yeah. — It's a it was a human moment and I feel like it's very relatable. We're not, you guys are not robots. And also, people have to understand and remember that you guys, you mentioned that you guys were isolated. You don't you can't talk to your friends or family. — No, I went 3 months. I went I think I talked in three and a half months. I talked to my mom twice, maybe twice. And every time I talked to her, I was sobbing cuz it's like you were so built up with emotion. And it's like you hear like gh I can even cry right now thinking about it because it was just like you are so so isolated and you're literally thrown in there to like figure out your own thoughts and like they give you evaluation before you go on the show by the way. — Did they collect your DNA? — It's so they said they collect your DNA. I kind of saw the blip of that — allegedly. — Okay. So I'll say this. I did get blood drawn because I had to see for STDs for I mean if you had you know god forbid anyone had you know a transmittable disease like those kind you had to get so I understand the DNA part but nothing's ever happened to me since then. I've never been cloned I that I know of. I mean, I've had do I've had doppelgangers, but like I'm like that whole part for me was like I remember the whole evaluation was strictly medical because mind you with isolation of being imagine if this was postco like th those are the things that they have to make sure that every person and that's is not going to get sick. No one's going to like cut a piece of glass and no one's going to get just those things that you have to think about healthwise. That's why I my interpretation was of them taking our blood was because we had to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with us in general, but tweets their own. I don't I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so I don't love to dive into that kind of stuff. But I mean, medically that made total sense to me that they definitely I don't want to be in a house if someone's like terminally ill or contagious of some sort, you know, something like that. — You modeled a lot after the show, so you really dove into the real world of modeling. How different was that from America's Next Top Model? What's the number one thing that you like difference that you noticed? — Um I h they're not you're definitely not going to be doing things you don't you're not comfortable with. You're not going to be having spiders put on you. doing a catwalk from 50 feet up high. Like you're not those things aren't um there's like certain things I remember being on the show like I'm like that is so not real. Um, I mean honestly, and I mean this without taking too much away from like theid idolization of the show. I mean, I'm sure that that's I'm sure that's gone by now. Like everyone idolizing the show, but pretty much everything like you're also It's for TV. So, the photo shoots for real. Photographers are not going to talk down to you on set. Nigel, [clears throat] they're going to talk cuz Nigel was talking to Well, Nigel on my photo shoot. He's like, "Stop the shoot. Everybody stop. are you crying on my set? And I'm like, there's no way in Houble Hockey 6 that anybody is going to talk to that guy on set. And that's how it the real world is like you are well respected. Especially now, I mean

granted, we're talking 2009, things were way different. Me too movement wasn't a thing, you know, like speaking up for yourself, like those things weren't necessarily embedded in us. But um but yeah, it's nothing like the show. It was when I got off the show, I remember my first job ever was Nike and I was like Nike. Yeah. Oh, it was very Oh, girl. And I mean, not to throw me under the bus, but I did Nike, Reebok, and Adidas all like within like a month or two of each other. And I remember like going on set and like, "Yeah, I think I had just shot Nike and I worked with Adidas. " And I remember going on set and saying, "I just shot Nike. " And the makeup artist was like, "Don't say that to the I remember just being like, "You can't talk about that. " Just conflicts, like stuff that I was like, I just remember just being such a young young, dumb, and full of vision type of a girl coming to LA. And I'll be real, I don't I didn't know if I wanted this career because I wanted to be back home with my friends. I wanted to live the college years with my friends. I was the first person at 19 to move to LA. Like I just I was so young and like impressionable and and to see what the reality of my career is now compared to what the show was. It's like it's a blurb of my life. Like I'm glad I had a crash course. Top Model was a crash course. And I mean I'm still full-time a working fashion model, I guess you'd say. I this has been my job. But I'm blessed that I was able to have this um this opportunity and I'm glad I I followed my gut and I went with it. So yeah, I it's very much different than the show. — This career chose you. It seems like — Yes, girl. Oh my god, I love that this career did show choose me. I think it chose you from before I even knew that this was what I was destined to be. There's been a lot of hard times. Um, I've had to really put my foot down a lot uh in the industry just to have my own voice. And I think from 2008 9 to now, the industry is a completely different world. It's not about what TV show you're on. It's not about it's truly about authenticity now. I feel like social media platforms, branding, like who you are as your genuine person is so much more than what it was just being a pretty face and a model and like you know what I mean? Like it's — yeah, — it's if you have a personality and you have looks, you'll definitely go far in this industry. And it's not about like what are you going to do to like prove that you want this career? It's never — can you do a CoverGirl commercial and memorize a script? — I mean, I have to memorize scripts sometimes. I do commercial work a lot too. I do a lot. But the thing is — when I tell you it's like, oh my god, can I just say something? — I have to do this because you just mentioned it. The hottest look in minerals new micro mineral foundation. A super fine mineral with a specially shaped brush allows you to fine-tune your coverage your way. I still remember my full script for my cover. Girl, I can't tell you. It's been 17 years and I could not for the life of me remember the remember my lines during this show like when I was in front of the camera but to this day I can recite every single word y'all. So Mr. J and um the CEO cover girl holl at you girl. — Did you wake up in the middle of the night like new mineral foundation? How — do I know? — I still do. But I will say I actually do I did get a CoverGirl campaign. So — what — it came full circle. — Absolutely amazing. — Yes, — girl. That's amazing. I'm not surprised. But I do have a question about the CoverGirl commercial. When did they give you those scripts? — I truly think they gave it to us the morning of, if not the morning before. Maybe the morning before, but who knows like what um if it all I don't remember. But I remember us literally 6:00 a. m. us being at Milk Studios, which was in which is in New York, and just reading our little hearts away. Reciting together. There's a funny moment between me and Natalie and I'm like talking to Natalie, but I'm like we're being very action. I'm like gra I'm not groping her by any means, but we're just having a girl moment where I was like I'm so brain fog. I have no idea what I'm talking about, what I'm doing. We were so delusional cuz it was like to learn all that was really hard. It was a hard time. Still it's still hard for me to this day to know my lines. So, — do you feel like you had enough time to memorize? It was the group. The group, right? You guys were in groups. — We were in a group and I feel like we did, but also again, we're girls from small towns that literally have no idea what it's like to remember lines. Like

there's a whole process to it. — Yeah. You guys aren't actresses. Come on. — We're not actresses. And as much as we would love to think we are, like there was some girl. I mean, honestly, I'll be real with you, Celia. That girl could do no wrong. I'm And I mean this like if I had to close my I mean, not close my eyes. If I had to like choose a girl I thought should win that cycle, I think 1,000% Celia embodied a model to the tea. Like her fashion, her sense of like of self-awareness, just like she was just someone. But when she did the commercial, I'm pretty sure — maybe she won that cycle that I mean, um that leak for the covergirl. But she was just on it. She just was like, — "Yeah, — she's so good. Every photo shoot I saw, every v video clip I saw her in, — it was like effortless. — She was that girl. She And she That's what I mean. If we want to talk about from what I know now in the industry to what I we know, Celia would have been the winner. the guys who like if we had to choose from that cycle like Celia had the looks, she had the determination, she knew everything, she knew designers. I mean, she worked at Boff Gooden before she even got on the show. So, she was already like in that world. So, yeah, I think her or like Allison, of course, and no disrespect to talk. — All the models that they choose for the show are really incredible. I think all of them could be signed to agencies, — but you know, the show obviously is different for each girl. So, some I'm sure some models will leave the show and be like, I don't even want to do this ever again. They get people get different edits, I think. So, what do you think about that? — I totally agree with you because I do feel like some of the girls got edits that I was like, well, she wasn't really like that, you know, and um I think I'm trying to think. Um there was a certain story I was going to talk about. I forget. Um it'll come back to me. But yeah, I feel like the edits I thought I got a good edit obviously, but I do think that again it's te, it's ratings. I guess it's it just has to be what it is. They have to kind of have the villain. Um I'm trying to think if I have like a villain. I would say again I don't think I wouldn't call I don't know. I don't want to call anyone the villain of my cycle cuz I also think that they were very like I loved all the girls. Um maybe Sandra. — It's not even that they were really a villain. It's the edit that they got. It was the narrative that the produ that the show was putting on them, not that it represented reality. — 100%. I'm trying to think if we had anybody that they necessarily Do you think we had anyone on our cycle that was portrayed that way? — I think someone a subscriber left a comment about Sandra. — I would say Sandra for sure. Yes. No. It's like I would say for sure Sandra went in there like, "Girl, I am hot [ __ ] I am No. I she's like fo's over here crying. I'm practically bald. Like I was like when I saw that I was like [ __ ] like uh and she would like she would be like that. that in in the show. But again like I'm not saying didn't stick out to me by any means. But I don't think I was close to Sandre by any means. So I don't she probably got the villain the she was that way. I will say that she was very of herself sure of herself. Um, — but they made that into her being like it could be more of like they tried to Yes. — exaggerate it a little bit. — 100%. That's what I was saying. So, I'm like I don't remember her being that way, but I do remember watching her clips of her being like, girl, I am I'm practically bald. And I was just like, excuse me, you came in here bald girl. She's like, I have a fauxhawk. And I'm like, they just buzzed your fauxhawk off. That's not fair. That's not the same thing. — Also, do you think what they edited was accurate? for the show. — Yeah, I So, I've watched it. I want I haven't watched it fully. I've watched bits and pieces. I watched clips. Um I've done like a few other interviews where like, you know, we've recaped, but I haven't fully watched it. Um so, yeah, like trying to think back to the I think the edits. I think the edits were great. I think of course they clip to someone like Sandra, you know, or someone again like saying something snoody and being like, "Oh, I'm glad you guys are watch. " It's like those types of things where um they would again throw a rock in a glass house to make it look like someone had said something to like make it seem, you know what I mean? To make it seem like they're the villain or they're a [ __ ] — Yeah, — exactly. So that's why I'm like I It's the edits, y'all. It's the edits. Sandre was It's Yeah. Sandre was whatever. She was just a girl on a reality TV show just trying to make it — authentically herself. it that part. She was herself very much that on the show and I mean good for her. I think she's still working too. I haven't seen her in a while. So, — but I think she still works. — The show see uh the show tends to punish models who are outspoken or speak up

— you [clears throat] know, as we've seen on the show. — Yes. Yeah, that's actually a good way to put it because Yeah. going back to talking about Natalie, like maybe that would be like a reason why they would cut out her, you know, her having her — shape of words. I don't know. But even then, again, it's ratings. It's all about like — That's true though. You make a good point. Why would they cut that out? — Yes. But I was like that like I was saying earlier, I think it could even just be to the fact that they didn't want to make her look bad maybe like or make her or like have her like freak out moment put on national television. I don't know. So maybe they're protecting her. Maybe they were. I don't know. Or maybe they're just — Yeah, we'll never know. We can only speculate. — We'll never know. Like I said, 17 years later, we can only assume, wish for the best. — We can only speculate and speculate. — We wish all the models the best. You again, it the show doesn't necessarily represent the reality of the things that happened. And we always have to remember that the models are real people. That's what I think people forget too is like when people would ask me why would you why did you cry and I'm like cuz I'm human and I literally was exposed and it's like we are humans at the end of the day. And I think that's something that people also hold Tyra accountable for right now is because I don't think she treated some models that way or I think that she used certain clips or certain things to for ratings. You know what I mean? Like that's like exploitation in a sense. Um, so I think that's people can take that from Tyra now. T Tyra like she's doing her smise cream thing and just and I'm and it's only as an observer I haven't seen the ump that it was when it was Tyra top model you know the respect that she had back then like it was like everyone hung on to every single word but now as we've changed entirely with the industry and like the way we think the way we treat humans women the way we treat you know vulnerability um It's it's a lot different. So, I feel like yeah, I it's such a different world now, you know, especially with editing. I mean, now it's like people want that trashy. People will not get signed up for reality TV unless you're literally like batshit crazy stuff. — Problematic. Yeah. — The more crazy you are. Listen, my girl New York. I love New York. Tiffany — New York. Tiffany Pard. I love her. She's my favorite. — I love her. — I love her so much. I watched on Flavor of Love and then on uh New York — I love New York. — Then New York goes to work. — New York — girl I and her mom I forget her mom's name but that's what I'm saying like — yes and she and she's like mom I love him and she's like oh lord she's like I'm I'mma marry him. He's going to be mom and the way that she they talk to each other she's like you're crazy. It's just like yes. It's so — I love her so much. — That's what I'm talking about. Like that's the reality TV that came from after Top Model. Those are the things that like the Juicier, you know, Jersey Shore, like things like this that were very un Exactly. And it's and it was real like that was literally unedited sometimes or it was just like too much unfilteredness. But that's what I mean like you've had to pick and choose I Tyra what she wanted to display and what not. But it's like again now we're in a different age. It's not the same. The things that she would say were horrible. Some of them are really terrible things that she would say. But when I talk on set about it, like you know nowadays nine times out of 10, you know, makeup artists, hair stylist will always say, "Well, that was the time. That was of the time. " Like Janice Dickinson, like people listen to her for a long time. People were like she was on a P. Like that's what I'm saying. Like that would never fly today. Even now I follow her on Instagram. girl. She's still rating Top Model or no, not Top Model. She's still rating runway walks if you follow her on Instagram, y'all. This woman, I'm just like, how do we give her a platform? But again, that's what drove viewers. That's what most of your subscribers were, you know, latched on to was like, it was just such juicy TV. It was unedited. So, that's the thing is I'm glad I got a good edit. I'm really glad they went into their first words that came out of my mouth were like I'm neutral. I'm very peace girl. I don't want any bad blood and I think that's kind of what they ran with. Um and I'm grateful for that. But I do feel like some girls get like this weird wacky edit of them where you're like that's not who they were, you know? Or you'll meet them in real life and be like that's not how you are, you know? So, but there are some girls that I'm like oof that she's probably like that in real life, you know what I mean? Or you know, on and off the show. It's accurate. The representation accurate. — Accurate accuracy. — We're talking about the accurate portrayals and representations. How were the judges and how accurately did we see the judges versus what you saw?

— Ah, I love the judges. Um, I Miss J. H. I love her so much. Miss Jay was a joy. Like I think Miss Jay was my favorite. Obviously Tyra too. I mean Tyra I've watched Tyra since I was young. I watched her on Lifesize. is Fresh Prince of Belair. So like I already knew Tyra like I feel like she was a big sister. Um but and on the show she was amazing. I would say like when the cameras went off you knew she was like in regular mode, you know, she kind of she'd be like and you know D and then they'd cut and then she'd go back to she'd be a human. So it was kind of like cool to see her in her human form. Um but I think Paulina, she was great. I don't remember too much of Paulina. I just remember she called me Gollum, which I was just like, "Okay, bitch. " Um, it was for my last show. It was my last uh panel and it was a photo of me and it was literally like the photo of me was like literally hunched over and I'm like looking in the camera. It was very It was That's why I said like that was my best photo. That's the photo you chose. But she called me Gollum from that photo. So, I was always like whatever. Um, — who does she think she is saying that? I mean also again it's ratings girl and she's like this is very she said a few choice words to a few models that I was like Paulina like it was London she mentioned like London's weight one time and it was very like and I say this now because I'm someone who's very much body positivity and I thrive on that to hear her say that I was very like she just went down on my book. It was like I remember that happening and like the way that they edit it too, it was just it made Lennon look so bad and I felt so bad for Lennon because I think Lennon did struggle with her weight a little bit on the show. I think anyone did to be perfectly honest, but like the way that she pointed her out I was like oh no like that's in any world that doesn't I don't respect that. Um — that wouldn't be okay in any situation. — Exactly. And it was just you know moving on from that. — We love you London. And I know and London's someone I I maybe spoke to her once after the show and I've always wondered what where she went, what happened. And she's someone who recluse like she's someone who was like I don't want to be a part of that. And I don't think she necessarily had a bad rep. got like uh you know she didn't have a horrible time, but who's to say like that was just her time and she was over it and that book had to be closed. So um love you London. Uh, but yeah, Miss Jay was my favorite. Nigel was great, but again, like I said, he stopped the photo shoot and obviously made me feel very singled out because I was crying because of my haircut. — Yeah. But then also, Mr. J was like, I wrote this down. He's like, um, I know you were a little emotional on makeover day. Do you feel like we've stripped away your femininity? — That's what it was. And that's something that I felt. Yeah, that was a good question. But the fact that he stopped the This is the thing too where I talk about in a real in the real world that would never happen. Like that is so beyond human rights like to like degrade a model on set especially if you're trying to get a shot out of her. No photographer, no um creative director is ever going to belittle a model, especially when you're trying to get a good shot. Like that doesn't make sense. But again, ratings. I digress. Um so he was the only one that I was I mean I loved him. He was great. Loved that he was um a photographer and like had great advice, but I don't really I didn't really take his It was a grain of salt. Like I didn't really think anything much of him. So yeah. — Do you remember your performance changing after that interaction? — I think cuz Tyra remember Tyra telling me like, "Listen, if I cut your hair off, trust me. " You know, like it was one of those things like if I give you if I tell you look good um with your bald, trust me. So, I felt like I felt him calling me out was was uh a bit shitty. But yeah, I at the again like at the was ratings. It was one of those things that I just don't I've and I've never worked with him since then and it's one of those things that I'm like was he worldrenowned photographer? He was, but like nowadays I don't know if I ever see his work anymore. Nigel was the one that I was like I don't think I see him doing anything these days. I don't know. I don't know where he's at these days. — That's the thing. I don't think I've seen him like and that's and I think that's another thing too is like we the way that they like emphasize and exaggerate everyone's like worldrenowned photograph you know extraordinaire and I'm like and I think us our you know younger selves watching this on TV were like oh my god this is like the mecca of you know the fashion industry when act in all actuality like yeah they were well respected in the fashion industry but like that wasn't the fashion industry you know what I mean that wasn't like you know Anna Winour was on the panel or anything like that. And also, yeah, I loved I didn't um watch

honestly after my season, like I think the thrill was gone in a sense where I was like I didn't watch anything after mine, but I really did love when they had um Ashley Graham come in and I think was it Ashley Graham that was a judge for a while? — I think Rita Ora — Rita Oura that was a little weird for me. I didn't get it, but Ashley Graham I think did like a few episodes. I don't know what it was. I just remember seeing her — I remember seeing her on there. I'm like, if Ashley Graham were to take that over again, I think they could really do something with that show again. I mean, who's who knows — if what's your opinion on if they were to make a new modeling show, what would you change? That's I've been asked that once before a couple years ago and I think I think [sighs and gasps] the way I would change it would be more of one the realistic side but two I think it's about women empowerment or human empowerment. It doesn't have to be male, female, everywhere in between, non-binary. Like I think there could be an avenue. It just depends on how you first of all who's going to be hosting. Um, I think someone like Ashley Graham would be amazing for that kind of a job. Um, and I just think it's about I don't know though. I think we could be too far into the world that we're in that no one's really going to look at that and be like, "Oh, I take this seriously. " You know what I mean? Like maybe I mean American Idol is still taken seriously. The voice is taken seriously. I also think there should be emphasis on skills, you know, talents. Like those are the things like I watch we love um RuPaul's Drag Race because these people are really talented. They really have depth to them. They really have instead of it just being this pretty face, can you do this? can you do extreme that I think if they were to do it now I think it should be more or less about the personality how to become an influencer how to you know it's just I think those things are interesting for the newer generation that's growing up seeing social media I think there could be a play on that too I don't know how that would work out like thinking of top model terms to like 2025 terms — yeah we'll never see something like that again — we'll never see it but I do think that there could be a really good benefit of the downside of this industry. There's a lot of good things about the industry. I think I like I love to cook. I'm a massive cook now. I'm actually going to culinary school hopefully next year. Yes. — Yeah. Good for you. — It's in my cards. But it's just one of those things like I'm like I would love to see not just a pretty face and doing fun crazy shoots, but I think it'd be cool to actually get to know these people on a level or these women or these models. I don't know. I just think that could be it. They tapped into it a little bit on the show, but I think it could be a real I don't know a real that something could come up. Something could happen again. Eureka um moment, but who's to say we'll never get it back again like we had before. So, — never. — Yes. — But maybe that's not a bad thing right now. — Yes. No, it's — Yeah. In our day and abage too, like people want to be uplifted, happy, want to be inspired, want to be, you know, um, they want to think and Top Model made you think, but again, like I think it's more than just surface level. I think it would be great to have a show that would display individualism, being your own creator, stuff like that. So, — I was curious, what's the most common question you get from being on the show? — Um, What was the question? Sorry. Re reward the question again. So, sorry. — Sure. What's the most common question you get being on America's Next Top Model? — So, I that was first question was I do get noticed sometimes. Not as much anymore. I mean, now that I have long hair, I would get noticed um a lot when I have my pixie. Um I do, but I more or less get like, you know who you look like? You look like someone like where would I know you? I always get like, you from? you? And sometimes people will know that like I was on the show or they'll hear my name and they'll be like, "Oh my god, I've never heard of anybody named Fo before but except on the show. " So that's why I also went with Fox cuz my real name is Felicia. My government issue name is Felicia. But Fox is my nickname. I took Fo on when I went on the show. And so yeah, people will know me from the name but not necessarily from looks. Um, and my most asked question would have to be what was Tyra like? What was Ty? That's like literally the question I get asked the most. That and why I had to get my haircut. But what was Tyra like? Um, just because I don't know. I'm like I always wonder like we've seen so much of Tyra. Like even nowadays like she's very active on her Instagram and I'm like Tyra is just a regular old silly woman. like she is just someone like the way you would see

her on the show when the cameras weren't on she wasn't as animated but she was very much still like hey it's Ty you know what I mean it's like very like she was very bubbly she was just I mean to reach their own how they feel about her I love and respect Tyra I think that did she say some choice words in the show I think there's a lot of kickback that's coming back to haunt a lot of people nowadays with saying crazy obscure things, but Tyra is a black woman who made it. And paved a way for I'm Afro Latina for women of color like me. She encapsulated it into attainability. She was attainable. She was approachable. She, you know, I love Naomi Campbell as well, but you know, they always had that headto head and I always felt like Naomi was like the Beyonce and Tyra is like the Rihanna, you know what I mean? Like same demographic, same amazingly powerful women who have made their own way, but like Beyonce is Beyonce. She's be like she's like it's almost like I she's I don't know. She's a Mecca of sorts. Rihanna is like your girl that you could call like she's your bestie. So that's what I'm saying. Like Rihanna um Tyra is like that to me. Tyra I feel like you could call her up and be like, "Hey girl, like I have something to talk about going through this. " Whereas you know I'm not comparing them by the way. I'm just letting you know like this is how I see — this is how the models were back in the day. Like Tyra did it for us. Tyra made us and so did Naomi. Naomi made it for us for like the high fashion girlies. But I think to me that she had the same dream I had and um it carries with me like I respect her, you know. Granted, we all change in life. We all become different people of ourselves, I guess, as you get older. But Tyra is someone that I feel like she's always just kind of been that girl who's paved the way for her. So, I love Tyra and I really do have respect for her. And I think that again choice words are mistakes and sometimes but um I do feel like she paved a way for a lot of people, you know. So yeah. — Do you still keep in touch with Tyra? — I do um to an extent. I follow her on Instagram and it's funny cuz I'm I maybe I just don't follow the other models, but I'm like am I like one of the only Top Models she follows? I don't think she follows many girls from Top Model. So, I don't know exactly who she follows, but I've only seen a few of them on like her, you know, I kind of stopped a little bit, but um I do talk to her from now and then when I do like send her a message or whatever, she responds or she'll heart it. But yeah, we keep in contact. Um I'll put it this way. I keep I've talked to her more than I've talked to some girls on the show. So, yeah. — Who do you keep in touch with from the show? — Um Amina. Amina is someone I've talked to hung out. Yeah, she's my girl. She was she's my girl. Um Tiana I talked to here and there. Allison, I've actually seen Allison out um in LA. She's in LA, too. So, she's I've seen her out and about. — Um I'm trying to think of who else I've like Jessica. Um love her. Jessica's I think a doctor now. She just like she's — I know Courtney, Celia, like those are the girls I do I have kept in touch with and I've seen them on social media. So, everyone's just like thriving. Everyone made it. Everyone made it out. Like, everyone is on the other side of like, you know, the trials and tribulation that was top model, you know, whether it was good or bad for them. But, yeah, everyone's I think everyone's just kind of been in like I don't know. They're women now. We're all We're all older now. It's so weird to think that it was 17 years ago almost, you know, when we started building. — It's still culturally relevant today, the show, which is absolutely insane. But it just speaks to its impact — 100%. And when you said at the beginning you're like you got some love and I'm like that makes me I think also my thing is I am I'm a woman of the world and I feel like you want to have an impact some way somehow in the world and I think that it's one of those moments that few people get to have the opportunity to experience and I took mine with like okay I I did that. It's in my, you know, it's in my my book of life. And I'm just grateful I got the opportunity. Like I'm really grateful that I got to like meet those girls and like be able to like to to be me. And yeah, I don't know. I was in a weird place in my time in life. I was trying to have a like not have a baby, but I was in a toxic relationship when I was, you know, in when I went on the show. I was trying to get pregnant. Like all these things that I thought I wanted for myself as a young 19-year-old girl.

I'm so glad the universe have my back. And it's the same to some of those girls on the show, too. Like, I'm sure that the show helped them really reach a point of like, I am that [ __ ] I am, you know what I mean? I am that person. I am whoever. I was chosen, you know, one of few people to be on this show. So I I it's a bittersweet time for some people, but I think that for the most part, we are part of pop culture and a part of something that like some people can't even say they could ever do in their entire lifetime. So it's besides like, you know, reality TV now because I mean they're just taking anybody off the streets to be on reality TV now, but no. No, I'm like anybody can be reality TV. But again, back then it's it was of its time. So yeah, I'm just glad I had it. Yeah, — it was like at its peak. — Like I said, VH1, Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, — Rock of Charm School. Did you watch Charm School? — Oh my god. Charm School. And then um was it um Sharon Osborne was on that too, wasn't she? — Yeah. What did you do you know about Megan? She always wore like a bikini. She was on Charm School. Wait, she's on Rack of Love. — Yeah. And then she wasn't she like talking [ __ ] to like Was she like the main like blonde chick? — Yeah, she is. So she's hilarious. But some notable personalities, — yes, — from reality TV during that time. And again, you were mentioning that like it's just a different time back then. What was acceptable then is not so acceptable now. Like some you couldn't get you couldn't put that same reality TV on TV today. — I know. It's would literally probably lose their minds of like Yeah, it's Yeah. I just think about even some of the things that were said on the panel on Top Model. I'm like that would never fly today. You could never say those things. Um but yeah, but that's what I mean. Like I think it's of it. It's pop culture. You know what I mean? Like it's it was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Yeah. that the I hope that the comment that Paulina made you didn't even think twice about it because you look you're stunning. — I have to find that photo. I'll have to put it somewhere like cuz it's like literally it's — I hope you didn't listen to it at the time. — No. Okay, good. That's one of the things too is like I made a career of my for myself and like you know I never saw Pina after that. I never saw like most of those judges, but I did make something of myself regardless if they saw it or not. Like I made something of myself, my career, and my passion. So that's like that's all that matters. Like they can call me Gollum. I've been called worse by better people. Okay. Or better by worse people. Whatever. It's like I — You know what? Gollum was in a movie. Okay. — Exactly. I'm still getting that Gollum money. Okay. I'm still getting the Gollum money. — The Gollum money. It's funny because I feel like there's so many things on that show that are like what there was also I think Paulina even said like this is the most this is a monster like look at this monster in this just things that are like you would never — why you know I don't even know if she's it could I mean I also wouldn't put it past Janice Dickinson to say some crazy stuff like that because she's very much Mauy but um but yeah it was so the time and I get and it's like I said I'm 17 years later I'm sitting here. Like it changed my life. It still changed the direct trajectory of my life in ways that I couldn't even imagine. I'm still working jobs that I dreamed of. So, it's I'm blessed and grateful eternally to that show in in a way, you know what I mean? — Also, I think it is your perseverance too and your work ethic that made this all this happen, too. You did it. You were part of that, too. — Oh, you did so good. like we did so good. I'm I love you for getting me here. I love me for doing it. You're doing amazing, sweetie. But it's true. And I and I that's what I I think I gained a lot of that too from the show. I think I did gain a lot of like my self-confidence of like I I've done that and I could do anything else. So, it's it comes with the territory of like insecurities obviously, but also beautiful beginnings, beautiful experiences, beautiful opportunities have come because of the show and I'm just grateful I made an impact on that show in some sort of way. Or I'm grateful that like people remember me still and that, you know, I don't get — Oh, yeah, they definitely do. And they had a lot of questions to ask you. — We're going to move on to the subscriber questions that people wrote and they want you to answer. So, the first subscriber question, how tall are slash were you and have you found your height to be significant obstacle in the real world of modeling? I feel like it was brought up a lot on the show. PS, absolutely loved your look on the show and your photo from the colored powder shoot was exquisite. — A kisses to them. Um, it was hard. It was You're talking about the makeover, correct? Like it was — so the makeover and then the colored

powder photo shoot. Your height. my height. Okay. Yeah, height. It was There's It was a very loaded question and I love it. Um, so my height I'm still I'm 5'9 and I have stayed that way since I'm 5'9, like 6'2 on a good day when I'm wearing heels or boots. But, um, that was the funny part about the show, too. And I'm glad somebody asked about that cuz I got literally when I was on the chopping block, it was who goes home, the oldie or the shorty. Celia was 25. First of all, — I do remember them saying that about her, which was wrong, by the way. — Yeah. So, she — which was so wrong of her to call her old. I chose her to be on the show. — I mean, of the time, remember 25 and I remember when I first started, I was like, when I'm 27, I have to figure something out cuz I can't like I don't want to be one of those models who's like freaking out. It's over. I'm like 36 and I'm still here. Um, so that was my elimination was oldie or shorty. And I remember people asking like, "You're actually tall in real life. Like, how did she eliminate you for that? " And again, it comes down to the fact like they have to eliminate somebody and my height. There was a time where I did have one of the producers come up to me and be like, "Hey, so when you do like the um when we do like panel shots or shots of everybody together in a group, I highly advise you wear heels because I was shorter, but also mind you, I'm wearing like Vans and like and Converse. The other girls are literally wearing heels and like they look like models. I'm literally I'm this tomboy girl who comes in there. I don't know how to like properly dress. But so I think they ran with that at the beginning. They're like, "Oh, she is shorter than a lot of the people, girls here. " So I think they use that to their advantage. Um I call [ __ ] cuz I'm taller than the average woman. I would say um my [clears throat] height has helped my it's an advantage. It's very rare that I'll go to like a casting or a job and um someone's taller than me. That it happens, but has never negatively impacted my job in any way, shape, or form. I've never been sent home because I was too short. I have been sent home because my ass is too big, but that's a different story. I have been sent home because I was too curvy. That's one thing about the industry, too. I will say just a little side note, is that there's so many things, but like the weight aspect of it still kind of lingers on. We're now going back to like OM Well, we're going back to skinny now because OMPic is a huge um you know, is a big thing now. But that was the one thing that I will say that um my weight was an issue more than my height was. If that makes that that's more of a in the real world. — Oh, In the real world. On the show. I was a twig. On the show I was 19. I was like, you know, I was a 19-year-old girl. Um but yeah, as I got older, I just kind of filled out my winning body. Besides that, I digress. Um, when it comes to the red photo shoot, uh, Keith Major was actually the photographer who shot me for that. And that to this day is probably like the best photo shoot I've ever had. Like, I've had great photo shoots, but that photo shoot in particular was like I think that photo shoot was honestly what made me be like, "Bam, I'm a model. " That was a shoot that like that was like the shot heard around the world. Like I remember I still to this day remember like walking off that set being like I remember telling Tiana like you got to do this, you got like hitting every move and it's like I just remember like I'm a model now. So when I won that week I was like on cloud nine like I was like I made it. So I think it was like I think that was like either the week after I got my haircut too. Like when I was on the chopping block then I went to like the best photo of the week. Why do you think the majority of the season's photo shoots were group shots? — Oh, that's a good question. That's a good question because in the real world, I despise group shots and not because I don't want to be in a shot with anybody else, but it's so hard to get one person to have a good face and everyone else have a it's like it's so hard. So, that's a good question because in the real world that is actually something that's like act taken into consideration. I don't know why they had a lot of group shots. I think what it is because you only have so many girl. You have so much time in a day and imagine having you know to take I mean you have what like 13 girls or 10 girls or however many girls and you only have like a couple hours to shoot something with hair, makeup, styling, all that. So you probably have like maybe four or five hours to actually shoot. So I think for time sake you kind of have to shoot in groups to kind of you know what I mean to to get everyone in at one time. So that's my only consideration. But in a real world that would piss any model off. I'd probably piss any photographer or creative director off because it's so hard to get one. Also it's not about the models in real world. It's about always about the clothes, always

about what you're selling. So you wouldn't really see that in the real world because you want to focus on one garment, one shirt. So yeah, I just think I think in the grand scheme of things, I think it's just for time sake. That's why they did more photo shoot, more group shots, and then at the end you start seeing more individual shots. You know what I mean? — How long did you guys have to shoot? Do you remember? H I mean I can just I can say like if anyone remembers the Sierra photo shoot that we did with Sierra, she was like a singer and we were like her crazed fan like wrapped in her wires. Um Sierra was like 5 hours late to that photo shoot. If anyone remembers um that episode, she was like really late. So we had started we got up at like 5:00 a. m. in the morning. So our mornings could start super early. Well, they mostly would, but there was a lot of girls to have to get makeup and hair. So, our mornings would start early and then I remember specifically that photo shoot we did. We were up at like 5 getting ready. We go to location. We're at location. We're just like wait, we're people just nitpicking at like hair. Like we're waiting for Sierra to be ready. And we finally went on and everyone got their shot. But it was like I would say maybe like 20 minutes to maybe like 40 minutes. It's like you do some time. Yeah, you do. — That's a long time. That's a good time. — So that's what I was saying. So like I mean it could even be like boom boom like but some shots I think like when girls were being eliminated when there was less girls I should say. Um there was more time but like I said like there wasn't you get maybe 30 to 45 minutes as an individual. So depends on what the shot was. Yeah. But yeah, for the most part I would say at least 30 minutes. That's a good amount of time to get a good shot. — Yeah, for sure. — The next question kind of you've already talked about the beauty. It's the beauty shot. You were representing the color red. They just wanted to know, did you enjoy the photo shoot? And when you look back at the picture, what do you think about it? — We kind of went over that like I was on Cloud9. I loved that photo shoot. Keith Major, who I do talk to this day still. Um I talk to him quite frequently. Instagram just commenting on photos and whatnot. But um I love that shoot. That shoot like I said brought me into my modeling hood. Like I I after that you couldn't tell me [ __ ] After that I was like I am that girl. So yeah, it was a liberating shoot. It was very liberating. I'll put it that way. — This person wrote it was one of the best photos in America's Next Top Model history in my opinion. — Oh, I will take that. And that photo that says a lot because that photo is simply just paint in a face if you think about it cuz there's some real elaborate photos that they really like the hot air balloon stuff like that. But thank you. I appreciate that if that — is so sweet. — I love it. Besos to them. — And then at what point did you start liking your makeover? Did we kind of talk about that already? — We kind of did. I started I liked it um after that photo shoot. Truth be perfectly honest. After the red photo shoot, that's when I was like I got this. I you know, I was a headstrong. So, — also to end on a um we're going to end it on the Hunger Games Victor. You were a literal character. So, someone wrote, "How did she get to become a Hunger Games Victor? A literal character named after her and she got to be the model. " Oh, that's such a cool. It's okay. First of all, great question because that was actually Tim Palin, who is the photographer for all Hunger Games. I think he was a photographer for Lionsgate Studios, but all the Hunger Games um promos. He hand selected me. I don't know where. I don't know how he found me. I think maybe from the show even. Um Oh my god. I'm trying Aaron Ruiz. I don't know. Is that his name? There's another photographer. There's another photographer that he knew that was like who's also a part of like the drag race world. The a bunch of gays. They're Put it that way. So, he's Tim Palin's um a gay photographer and he found me. I think he might have found me from Top Model. But that ex that experience was literally one of the most amazing photo shoots I've had to date because basically what it was is I got selected and I they had made me a whole bodysuit like custommade like leather bodysuit and it I was basically an advertisement for the promos for the last Hunger Games. So what it was is that you know when like you see like a billboard or bus stop and they have a billboard for the Hunger Game for like for I'm sorry when you see the bus stops there's like advertisements for like movies and stuff you know — print poster so that was the image that they used. So imagine I'm a victor and a real in the real world

my image was a photo of me as a victor for the promo. So, like I wasn't an actual I wasn't in the show, but I was a previous Victor from years before. So, it's it's complicated to explain. I'll have to send you a photo of it, but I was a previous victor is what it was. — It was like you were in a brace or something. — Yeah, cuz it was like I was a battling at war. That was the whole thing. So, it was such a creative concept that was like I wasn't in the movie, but I was a previous victor for the promos. So, I don't know how it happened. Um, it was so cool. But when I had somehow Tim found out my last name was Porter and he was like, "That's a perfect name for your character that I would make for you. " And I was like, "Okay. " So, I was apparently made into a Hunger Game Victor. And yeah, I I don't know if I'm in like the Hunger Game wiki because there's like Wikipedia for everything now. But um — I think you are. — That is so crazy. I didn't know this, but yeah, I basically it was because of the photographer for the movies. — Wait, I think it's like Porter Melissa Maleficent. Yeah. — What's your charact What's the Was it What's the name of the thing? Bo Porter. — Um, I'm Porter Maleficent. I think that is — Porter Maleficent. — Oh my god, I totally spelled that wrong. — I don't even know. — Wait, Porter Millisent Trip. — Yeah, that's crazy. — You're in here. You have to send me that, bro. This is the first time I've been hearing this. — Wait a second. You have to confirm this. Hold on. Is that you in this poster? Wait. — No. I'm sending this to you right now. — Okay. — Is this You were in District Five. — Yes. That's so weird. Five is my favorite. Oh my god. My favorite number. That's so crazy. — Oh, you broke your neck in the final showdown resulting in a spinal injury. — This is crazy. Oh my god. I'm learning something new about myself. Sorry. I'm not sure that like messed up the entire — No, it's okay. There you are. — Yeah. Yeah, I can see that over. Oh my god, how crazy. You just show like introduce you to something I never knew about. Oh my god. Ah, okay. I have to look that up later, but like that's — that is so cool. — That is so Yeah. So, basically what it was like I was just it was for a promo, but I guess he made me into like an official character. Oh my god. — You're a victor in the 38th age. What's AG? I don't know. Oh, hungry. — Yeah, girl. I don't know. I don't know either. So, that's so cool. I should reach out to that photographer because that was like one of those things. I had no idea what it was going to be about. I had no idea what like the whole shoot was about. I basically it was just a photo shoot to me. So, I had no idea that I was going to be like an actual — Victor. Wait, did you know about your death? — No, there's a I have a death. — You have a death. You died. — It says Okay. I survived if I'm a victor. — Okay, it says the victory tour. Due to her injury, Porter had to wear a hello. — Hey, I can't read. I'm like shocked. — My girl. — Okay. Victory tour. Due to her injury, Porter had to wear a halo brace throughout her victory tour. And then it says death. Although it is unknown how she died, she was dead by the end of the second rebellion as she was absent for the vote on a final 76th Hunger Games. She was likely a victim of the victor's purge. — Wow. This is I have like chills. This is crazy. I never even knew it got this deep. — Me, too. — See, I'm a huge Star Wars nerd. So, like I love these worlds, like these sagas that have like their own worlds. So, like Hunger Games is obviously, you know, in the spectrum of the sagas. I'm like, God, that's so cool. I'm like fan growing right now. — That is so cool. you have like a story about your character has a story in a back story. — So rad. So yeah, when I did that photo shoot, um like I said it, all I knew was like, yeah, you're going to be in a promo ad for the billboards. And I was like, okay, like whatever that means. I don't think I ever saw ever got to see the ads physically, which is weird because I live in LA, but Tim did send me like a massive professional print out of both of them. You have it? — Yeah, I still have them. I'll have to find them and I'll have to show you. But yeah, — trivia. You have trivia. You know that? — You literally have a trivia section. It says, uh, Porter was not mentioned in the original trilogy, but revealed by Capital Couture, a Hunger Games website promoting the movies. Also in the Hunger Games Catching Fire, Hay Mitch Abernathy said that Finnick Odair was the youngest victor ever at the age of 14. This means that all the victors that came before him in the final continuity, including Porter, had to be at least 15 at the time of their victory. So you were 15. You were 15 to 18 years old. Wow. Um I I was probably 24, but okay.

[gasps] — You look so cool in these pictures. That is so rad. Like you literally just opened up like a whole spectrum I had no idea that I was on. Wow. I didn't realize that was such a thing. Oh my god. Well, shout out to whoever like found that out. — I'm going to find the person who commented. Hold on. We're going to give a special shout out cuz I had no idea. And my subscribers are were just so great. They were asking me such great questions. So, thank you to everyone who took the time — to ask FO a question. Okay. We were going to thank the commenters about the Hunger Games. — Yes. — One of them, Bookworm 1938. And then the next one, Jacob. Thank you so much. — Thank you guys. Thank you, too. I'm I literally you opened up a whole frame of mind that I didn't even know I was capable of having because I literally have never heard of this before. So, I appreciate you for those questions. Those are phenomenal questions. So there's so much love on in this comment section. Someone wrote one of my faves. You — a — you know uh she's so beautiful still. — A thank you guy. That means so much. Like I said I think people humans as as a whole we always want to have some type of impact or impression on whoever whatever. And I just think that you know there's a select few people who watch this show who watched it religiously. to one to be remembered at all, but to have love and I think that's all I ever wanted to go through with this entire process from the when I first auditioned to now was like I only want to lead with love. I do lead with love and I love that people still have fascinations about us, you know what I mean? So, it's I appreciate it and and I'm glad that I had an impact in a positive way. So, — I think I really think you did judge just judging from these comments. It's supposed to be everyone was so sweet. — Seriously, — guys. Thank you guys. — No, we appreciate you taking your time to have a chat with me about your time on the show. It was so much fun. — Yes, I have girl and I feel like I was talking about my girlfriend. So that's why that was a big thing too is like I love having these talks and also people getting to know who one who we are as humans but like people getting to know like I do have myself on social media. I'm trying to be more about being open with um who I am because like I said authenticity really goes far these days and it's what helps people feel more grounded. So having this kind of an outlet and having like being able to speak my mind and my truth through this, I appreciate you and I hope I get to spread more of that. But it is nice when people get to see who I am outside of Top Model years later. And thank you for the platform to be able to have that on. So I appreciate you. — Of course. Oh my god. Of anytime. Well, thank you so much, Fo, for joining me today. And thank you to the subscribers who left us comments and messages — to ask FO. We appreciate you guys so much and girl, I had so much fun. You're so cute. — Thank you. — Oh, you as well, girl. We'll do this again anytime. Call me up. — Thank you guys so much for watching. And thank you again, F. Do uh you have Instagram. We're going to plug your Instagram. You have a website. — I have You know what? My boyfriend was just like, "Why don't you have a website? " I was like, "Oh my god, I feel so unprofession. " Um I have Instagram and I have Tik Tok, but um I have two Instagrams, too. So, I have a food Instagram and I have my regular Instagram. So, if you go to Faux Pops, that's my regular Instagram. And then there's a there's a tag on there. So, you can follow my — follow me wherever. Just find me will be in the description. — Yes. Faux Pops and Food Pops. — Love that. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you guys later. — Bye — bye. — Okay, I'm gonna pause it. Wait, that's stop recording.