“The Show Doesn’t Make or Break Me, I Do!” – An Interview With America’s Next Top Model 7’s Melrose

RNO: Looking back, do you think there was anything you could have done to make the girls like you? Do you even care at this point?

Melrose: No, not really, and it’s pretty funny. I mean, I came out of the show with the girls that I wanted to be friends with. I am who I am. I wasn’t going to change for anyone. I don’t feel like I lost with my family and friends. I went all the way through the competition and I’m a winner to them. I have no regrets. I did my best and that’s all I could do. In this case, it wasn’t good enough, but second place is enough for me. It’s the perfect place and I still plan on getting all my dreams accomplished. The show doesn’t make or break me – I do!

RNO: You said that you were misunderstood once CariDee was named the winner. What did you mean by that comment?

Melrose: There was a lot of name-calling the whole way through the competition at me. I’m pissed and it sucks. I tried my hardest and did my best and got called a bitch the whole way through because of it. I think that maybe the inter-house relations were part of me not winning. Depending on the girls in the house, though, and who was cast, I might have done better with other girls. I did get along with some girls and you didn’t see that. I thought that I was going to win and that I deserved it. I walked through this competition with such determination. I don’t feel that I deserved the reputation that I got, and I knew I’d be labeled the bitch if I didn’t win. Since I didn’t win, I was edited negatively.

I was initially upset when I was eliminated, but after my little interview, I was calm and realized that it was actually the perfect place for me to be in. Watching last night, though, it was nice to see Jay Manuel and Twiggy fighting for me. Nigel was my biggest enemy and I really don’t think he understood who I am. There are a thousand photographers that would disagree with him saying that I photograph old, the sparkle in my eye, natural ability, etc. He didn’t really see me, and to be honest, with the cameras and all, I think that it’s next to impossible for them to get a real girl.

RNO: Going into the final panel, did you feel that you were going to win the competition or were you uncertain?

Melrose: Well, by the way things were going at that last panel, I felt that I deserved to win, but I wasn’t sure if I would win or not. I thought that I did my best and that my pictures were great. I gave the real me, and I felt that I’d be a great role model and perfect person to show off their company. However, I thought it was weird when they were only showing some of the pictures from our portfolios, and the ones they showed were my weakest and CariDee’s best. I also think it’s bizarre that the judges didn’t like my Cover Girl photo because I thought it was great! They liked CariDee’s, though, and I guess that plays into it since the winner gets a contract with Cover Girl!

I can honestly say that I never saw CariDee as a threat through the whole competition. I always figured that it would be Eugena with me in the end, or actually almost any other girl. I never felt that CariDee would make it to the end with me.

RNO: Did you realize that CariDee and Eugena so strongly disliked you and didn’t want you in the finals? Do you think they considered you too much of a threat to win?

Melrose: Yeah, they probably wanted me out because they knew I was a threat. However, I never knew how much they hated me, or how much any of the other girls hated me! I can never put that much energy into hating someone, so I thought it was so bizarre when they were saying how much they couldn’t stand me. I never would have expected it from some!

RNO: What are your plans now? With your talent, it’s obvious that you are going to continue modeling, but what are your immediate plans?

Melrose: Well, for the last four months I’ve been working with a clothing company and designing a collection for the spring of next year, so you can expect that soon. It’s an exciting and very magical company that is owned by Michelle Rodriquez and Dar Young. So I’ve been working on their woman’s line and getting everything together. It’s fun and really something I missed while in the house on the show. Just being creative and my artistic outlet. I’m so used to living close to the beach and being able to create, so it was hard for me adjusting in the house. I also want to do more high-fashion modeling, since I realize that is more my passion than commercial.

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

Melrose: I really just want to thank everyone so much for seeing the real me. Know that I’m not going anywhere and plan on working hard and fulfilling my dreams!

RNO: Thanks, Melrose!

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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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