"I Would Never Do Another Reality Show": An Interview with Next Action Star Runner-Up Jeanne Bauer

Jeanne Bauer made it all the way to the final episode of Next Action Star before losing out to her good friend (and now roommate) Corinne Van Ryck De Groot. Still, like millions before her, Bauer recently packed up her belongings and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, although she insists on making time for her newest venture as a jewelry designer.

RealityNewsOnline: How did you find out about the audition?

Jeanne Bauer: Elite [Modeling Agency] in Atlanta. I worked with Elite in Atlanta for about three or four years in the Lifestyle Division and dipped my toe a little bit in television, but nothing on this level. I thought about quitting modeling quite a few times and they always kind of kept me in. So they sent me to the casting and it worked out pretty well.

RNO: So you were thinking of getting out of modeling and into acting? Is that why you decided to audition?

Jeanne: I was always very curious about whether I could do the acting. I had a few people in my life tell me that I should.

RNO: Did you do modeling yourself, or did you run a modeling agency?

Jeanne: I modeled a bit in New Orleans and then started my own modeling agency for a couple of years, then went to work for Elite in Miami as a Booker, while I still had a few people who were running by small agency in New Orleans. I realized that I was basically trying to squeeze water out of a rock by developing a high-fashion agency in New Orleans. The City's strong suit is more so action television than high fashion, so I decided to close down my agency. When Elite Atlanta found out that I was closing my agency, they asked me to get back into modeling, so I signed with them.

RNO: How did you get started in the jewelry business then?

Jeanne: With my modeling agency, I would style all the photo shoots. I would buy old jewelry and old clothes. I ripped them up and sewed them back together. I gave away most of my clothes when I closed down the agency, but I couldn't get let go of the jewelry. And I just started in Atlanta making my own pieces. I had a few people that responded to them every time I wore them. I made them trinket necklaces and people kept coming back saying, "You should do this." Within a year I was making jewelry that was boutique quality and started selling them to the boutiques.

RNO: How do you pronounce your company's name?

Jeanne: Anoo. My collection is actually up on my website now at anujewelry.com. I take old antiques and I disassemble them and I'll incorporate old materials with new materials. So one of my necklaces might have components from three different vintage pieces. Did you see the jewelry? What did you think?

RNO: Each piece looks very unique.

Jeanne: Yes, each piece is one of a kind.

RNO: Did the modeling aspect help you on the show?

Jeanne: Quite a bit, yeah, 'cause you deal quite a bit with rejection in modeling. You go to casting after casting after casting and you get 10 no's or 20 no's before you get that one yes. It's a lot like sales. As far as constructive criticism is concerned, you realize you shouldn't take things personally - not that it doesn't sting a little bit. It does help you a bit. It made me pretty comfortable in front of people, however this was a whole different beast!

RNO: How so?

Jeanne: They're both challenging in the sense that you have to be comfortable with yourself in order to deliver. Modeling is more one-dimensional, and acting is multi-dimensional. There are so many different aspects that you really need to be aware of.

RNO: Did modeling help you with the Watery Grave screen test?

Jeanne: [groans at the memory] Oh, gosh! [laughs] I've had the same swimsuit for about three years, because I do not like to go swimsuit shopping. We never knew what was going on hour to hour. We'd get in the car and they'd drive us somewhere, [but] we had no idea where we were going. When we walked in on five cameras with things set up for people to try on swimsuits - Brenda had a plethora of swimsuits to try out, but you couldn't see what you had on until you walked out in it. You stepped behind a curtain, tried on the swimsuit and then walked out in front of five cameras that are going nationwide - actually worldwide - to see what you looked like. I mean they could have told us so we could shave our legs!

RNO: You had a little bit of trouble with partners to say the least…

Jeanne: [laughs]

RNO: …first with Mark, then with Jared…

Jeanne: …and then a little trouble with Sean too! This is all so new for a few of us. There were a few contestants that had done independent film, and that had been in acting classes for three or four years. This was all completely new for me. We weren't given a lot of time to prepare for each scene, and each of us had a different way of going about it. I butted heads with Sean because Sean is the type of actor that likes to rehearse over and over again, and there are quite a few very talented actors that choose that route. For myself, the more I said the lines; the more stagnant it became. So I started to become frustrated because Sean's routine was actually conflicting with mine.

Jared is Jared. We're both just two very strong-willed people that have no problems speaking our minds and often had a conflict of opinion. Still, when it comes down to it, Jared puts everything he's got into a scene. He's there 100 percent and he's willing to do whatever he needs to do to make the scene work.

With Mark and I, the chemistry wasn't there. It's funny because since the show has aired, I've gotten to know Mark more, I mean, what a likeable guy he is! He is very funny, and very charming and just a really good guy. I think it was just a fluke. I think if we had been given more time, it would have been a resolvable issue.