"I Took The Judges’ Advice And Ran With It": An Interview with America's Next Top Model 4's Michelle

RNO: What did you think of South Africa, and is it some place you could see yourself going to visit again?

Michelle: Oh, I would love to live there! I've always enjoyed other cultures, and I've read in books about the safaris and desserts and rainforests, but it was cool to see the other side of South Africa. It was just like Indianapolis, and I loved it there. It was so beautiful and I would love to go back again.

RNO: Do you feel that some of the girls underestimated you in the competition?

Michelle: I do feel like some of the girls underestimated me, but I never once underestimated any of them. I had taken what the judges had told me from each panel session and worked with their critiques. Every time another elimination went by, and I was still around, I think the other girls realized that I was a threat just as much as the next girl.

RNO: Honestly, were the lions really that close to the jeep that you might have been in any kind of danger?

Michelle: Well, they were about two feet away from us, and I feel like had the driver not pulled away, we would have been eaten. I wasn't all that worried, but when a lion is looking at you like you are a big meatball, you do get a little nervous!

RNO: Sometimes it seems like Brittany acts like she is in high school, with her being the popular girl and everyone having to pay attention to her. Was that the editing, or did she always need to be the center of attention?

Michelle: I think that's just Brittany's personality. She was an only child, and she's used to getting all the attention, but she's a great girl and just likes to have fun. The editing pretty much has her down, but under all that loudness, Brittany is one of the most caring girls you could know.

RNO: Knowing how long and stressful the whole process was, do you think you would do it all over again?

Michelle: Oh, I would do it again in a second. I learned so much from the whole thing that I would go through it all over again. Even Janice taught me some things, and when she would come down on me, that would want me to prove her wrong even more.

RNO: Whose elimination shocked you the most?

Michelle: I think the double elimination shocked me the most. I had thought it would be Rebecca when she was standing there with Tiffany, since she had been in the situation before. Then, when Tyra had the blank picture, I didn't know how to react. At first, I thought it was a mistake, but when she said that both of the girls were going home, nobody knew what to do since none of us saw it coming. That was the biggest shock for me the whole time I was there.

RNO:Since you have been on the show, have you gone back to wrestling, or are you going to try and pursue modeling full time?

Michelle: I have been doing some wrestling, but when the show is over in the middle of May, I think I'll be done with it. I'm going to move to NYC in June, and pursue modeling. A choice had to be made, and I could only do one or the other, and I want to do modeling. If it doesn't work out, I can always go back to wrestling, and how that maybe the WWE will give me a call -- I'm here, call me! I'll be all right.

RNO: What kind of advice would you give to girls that are thinking about applying to future seasons of the show?

Michelle: I would just say that if you want to do this -- go for it. Just be strong and know who you are. Don't take it too seriously, the way that I did. There is no reason to be as hard on yourself as I was. If you believe that you are a star, than you will be.

RNO: Thanks, Michelle!

Phil Kural is a recent graduate from Temple University, with a degree in journalism. You can reach him at pkural@gmail.com with any feedback that you may have.

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