"Being Out Of My Comfort Zone Ended Up Actually Being the Hardest Part! " – An Interview with America's Next Top Model 7's Monique

RNO:How have you been received in public? Do you find that people might be a little intimidated or nervous to approach you?

Monique: Oh no, people come up to me all the time. I was at the mall yesterday, and people were stopping me like crazy. People love me, and it’s the complete opposite response from what I was expecting. They know it’s a TV show, and it’s all for TV, and what they show is not really all me. Besides, after talking, they realize that I’m a normal person, and I really am nice!

RNO:What was your family and friends’ reactions to your time on the show? Do they feel that we got to see the real you?

Monique: Oh no, not at all! Friends that I haven’t talked to in years were calling me up asking if it was really me they were seeing. I mean, you have to tell them it’s a show, and heck, at least I was getting attention. Some were slow to approach me, but once again, they realize it’s a TV show, and things get distorted.

RNO:Standing with Eugena in front of the judges, did you think that you would be sent home or did you feel you might still have a chance of staying?

Monique:I had a good feeling that I was going to be the girl going home, but there was still a little hope that I might be staying. I felt that if the judges were looking at my potential to grow, then I would have stayed. I think the fact that I was so weak I couldn’t even cause drama in the house might have played against me too. I couldn’t give them anything!

RNO:What did you feel was your biggest strength going into the competition?

Monique:Honestly, I thought it would be that I’m pretty good adapting to different situations, but being out of my comfort zone ended up actually being the hardest part! It’s just, you get so many different girls from such different walks of life. It’s cultures, eating habits, etc. We all came together, and it was just a mess, but I thought that my biggest strength would be adapting.

RNO:Is it safe to say that you are going to continue to pursue a modeling career once you are free to do so?

Monique:Heck yea! I’m already pursuing it. I live, breathe, and eat being a model! It’s all I think about, and you can guarantee that I’m not anywhere near being done yet!

RNO:What is your plan B in case modeling doesn’t work out for you? Do you have other plans?

Monique: Well, I want to go back to school and get my degree in forensics. Even if I do end up sticking with modeling, I’m going to go back to school. It’s very important for me to finish.

RNO:Is there anything you would like to add or say to fans of the show?

Monique:I just want to give thanks to God, Tyra, and the producers of the show – and anyone that helped give the chance of a lifetime to be on this show. Just keep an eye open – you haven’t seen the last of me!

RNO:Thanks, Monique!

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Phil Kural is an office manager at a law firm, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. You can send feedback to him at pkural@gmail.com.

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