“I Only Skipped Down the Runway Once!” – An Interview with America’s Next Top Model 10’s Amis

RNO: Was being on the show what you expected, and do you feel the competition is based more off personality and likeability or actual modeling progress?

Amis: You have to realize that all the girls put their heart and soul into the competition, but in the end, everyone but one girl is going to be heartbroken. Only one girl can win, so we are all bound to get hurt. It’s a balance, so who really knows what the judges are looking for? I think the show is exactly what I expected. You have to be a people pleaser to win this thing – you have to impress the judges at panel, but you also have to impress Jay Manuel at the photo shoots, so you can never just assume that you are going to be safe, since there are so many people that have to like you.

RNO: When you were in the bottom two with Fatima, did you have a pretty good idea it was your time to go, or did you still have hope you would be staying?

Amis: Oh, I knew I was going home at that point. The judges didn’t think I was taking the competition seriously, and I knew that. It was painful to hear, though, since I really was. They were right, though – I did know that it wasn’t for me. I was there for the experience and for a good time. In a way, I was ready to go, and had Fatima been eliminated instead of me, even though I’m not a big fan of her, it would have been an injustice.

RNO: Now that you are eliminated and can show support for other girls, who would you say are the girls to watch at this point?

Amis: Definitely Lauren! She did a 180 and came into the competition knowing nothing. She has progressed so much. Anya, too – I think she’s the type of girl that the judges love and she is so bright. I would totally watch Kat as well. She’s so beautiful, and probably one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen!

RNO: I have to ask you about the name change – was Tyra serious when she said one of you had to change your name, and why did you decide to do so?

Amis: Oh, she was dead serious! It makes sense, though, since you saw in the first episode how having two girls with the same name was kind of confusing. I don’t know why I volunteered to change my name, but I did – it was pretty spur of the moment. I had the nickname “Amis” from my dad when I was a kid, and it was still close to my normal name, so I just ran with it.

RNO: Here’s the obvious question: do you still plan on continuing to pursue a modeling career full-time?

Amis: Definitely. That’s why I actually just moved back to Chicago, since there are so many more opportunities here for me, unlike Oklahoma. I’m hoping to really just break through, but we’ll have to see.

RNO: So what else is going on for you besides modeling? Is there anything else you’d like to pursue and is there anywhere we can expect to see you in the near future?

Amis: Well, I don’t really have a plan A! I didn’t come off as passionate for modeling, but that’s because I’m passionate about so many things – I love to read, write, and all that fun stuff. I can model, too! I want to dabble in so many things, but first I need to get an agent and take it from there.

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

Amis: I love my fans! It was such a surprise to me to see the support that I have received. Reality TV is such a weird realm, and people don’t realize that we really are real girls just trying to make it, so the support has been so amazing. Thank you all so much!

RNO: Thanks, Amis! Good luck in Chicago!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent America’s Next Top Model 10 articles on RealityNewsOnline:

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

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