"Some Doors Actually Closed for Me" - An Interview with America's Next Top Model 4's Brita

I love interviewing the first three or four girls eliminated from the show. They are the girls that aren't scared to tell the truth and call it like they saw it, since they didn't get so emotionally involved in the show. Brita was no exception. In this interview, she tells me how she thinks she might have been set up, what she should have done to stick around and what sentence she is dying to hear.

RNO: Let's start out with the obvious: You know you were robbed right?

Brita: Haha, yes, I do know that! Thank you!

RNO: Did you think that it was going to be Brandy going home when the two of you stepped in front of Tyra?

Brita: Nope, I totally knew it was going to be me. I've worked in the modeling business before and I know that this show is all about shock value. Of course, they led you to believe that it was going to be Brandy, and then off I go. I've worked in entertainment too, and knew that I was the one going home.

RNO: Do you think the other girls were shocked to see you going home first? Especially before Brandy?

Brita: Oh, I know for a fact that some of them were shocked that I was sent home. Some of them told me how beautiful I was and they couldn't believe it. However, I told them that I would be going home that night -- from the second I saw the picture of me that they chose to show to the panel. That was NOT my best shot, and in fact, it was probably my worst. Odd, huh?

RNO: Why did you decide to try out for the show in the first place? What did you do in your audition video?

Brita: I actually didn't send in a video, I went to one of the open call auditions since my boyfriend really wanted me too, and I had modeled in the past. There were so many girls there when I arrived that I was about to leave, but asked one of the casting people to take a quick Polaroid of me. They rushed me to the front of the line and interviewed me right there, and I ended up on the show, so I guess I had something they were looking for!

RNO: You said that you had recently gained ten pounds, right before you were weighed. How did that happen?

Brita: It's very strange because I'm very odd when it comes to dieting. I actually had the flu, and yes, I know the flu doesn't make you gain weight, but I use sickness as an excuse to eat. I was actually sick for the first week of taping for the show, but of course, that wasn't shown. If they had given me another week, I would have lost the weight, I mean, it's gone now, I was just a little sick at the time so I ate!

RNO: Were you ever given a reason for your elimination?

Brita: No, not really. I was told that I'm not photogenic, but I don't really buy that one. I have been modeling for years, and I have a portfolio and all. All the pictures in my book are better than the ones they took on the show. I don't understand how they could say I'm not photogenic. Then why even choose me?

RNO: Were the judges harder or softer than you thought they would be? Who seemed to give the best advice?

Brita: The thing is -- none of them gave me any advice! I asked if I could move during the photo shoot and they told me no, then criticized me for not moving enough during the shoot. What kind of advice is that?