"At the Final 14, Everyone Became a Diva!" – An Interview with America’s Next Top Model 3’s Julie

I have to admit, when I previewed the girls before the season started, I thought Julie was going to be a bitch. Not the case – in fact, she ended up being one of the most fun, real girls of the bunch. Very easy to talk to, Julie had no problem dishing the dirt on how all the girls changed, how she pretty much knew she was the one going home, and whether or not she would do it all again.

RealityNewsOnline: I have to know, do you regret saying you wanted to get into manufacturing?

Julie: No, not at all. You know what? I was honest with myself and I said what I would have said in any other situation. Of course, it was chopped up on the editing floor, but there isn’t anything that I said that I would have taken back. They made it look like I didn’t want to be a model at all, and that wasn’t the case.

RNO: Did you ever want to be a model in the first place, or were you just using the show as a platform to pursue something else?

Julie: I do enjoy modeling, and definitely wanted to start my career in modeling. However, I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to expand after that, and that’s what I wanted to do. I could always go back and forth with modeling and something else – Tyra and Janice are doing it now!

RNO: You came across as one of the most “real” girls. Was that your intention?

Julie: That definitely was my intention. I wore sweats and people were calling me saying, “I can’t believe you wore sweats on national TV.” Well, that’s me! I wasn’t going to punish myself or be embarrassed – I’m very comfortable with who I am, and I’d be uncomfortable being anyone but myself.

RNO: If you had the choice and knew what you did now about the whole process of the show, would you apply again?

Julie: You know, I’m really not sure if I would do it again or not. One time might have been good enough. It was a great experience, but I’m not so sure I could deal with the havoc all over again.

RNO: What was your favorite part of the whole experience?

Julie: Definitely going to Jamaica. Also though, I loved going to the party and meeting all those top designers in the business. Really, the whole experience was just a blessing that I’m glad I got to experience.

RNO: From what you saw, was Amanda changing from the whole experience?

Julie: No, not really. The thing was, all the girls in the final 14 turned into a diva, excluding myself of course, ha ha! It was just funny that everyone got offensive on Amanda when she made that funny pose after her hair was done. I mean, there was no reason for her to go all Zoolander in the salon. She was just trying to be cute, but came off conceited and corny.

RNO: In your own opinion, would you say that Cassie had an eating disorder that needed to be fixed?

Julie: No, not at all. The whole thing was blown way out of proportion. She told Amanda and I that, years back, she would eat something, feel sick, and throw it up later. She couldn’t even remember the last time that she did it! I know girls that do have eating disorders and it’s not something to laugh at. Amanda didn’t have an eating disorder, it was just edited that way, and some of the girls just took it too far.

RNO: What did your family think about your time on the show?

Julie: My mom wasn’t thrilled with me being on the show at first, but, once it began, she became very excited and actually started to keep a scrap book every time I turned up in a magazine, newspaper or whatever!