"The Viewers Boosted My Confidence The Most!": An Interview With America's Next Top Model 4 Winner Naima

The quiet and reserved Naima was a viewers choice as the winner of this season's America's Next Top Model before the season even started, and only the pictures had been placed on the UPN website. Naima, with her exotic looks and stylish Mohawk, was not only a fan favorite, but a favorite of myself as well. I had a chance to interview Naima, and was a bit scared that she would be a little shy during our interview. That wasn't the case though, and Naima was more than happy to tell me about her experience. Here's what she had to say:

RealityNewsOnline: What's the first thing that ran through your mind when you saw your picture on the screen, declaring you the winner this season?

Naima: The whole thing was just so emotional. Knowing that you made it to that point -- I was confident that I was going to win, but you never know. I'm not even sure what was running through my mind, I was just so happy.

RNO: Did it surprise you, thirteen weeks in, to hear Janice say that she didn't like your Mohawk?

Naima: Haha, a little, yes. Janice was just trying to give some advice though, and she knows that I need to be versatile if I want to make it in the industry because trends change. Janice was blunt and honest, so you have to just take her advice for what it is.

RNO: Did you think that being quiet and reserved would be an advantage or a disadvantage?

Naima: I think that being serene and peaceful is not a detriment to anything, however, it could come across that you are trying to hide something. I think I needed a little more belief in myself, and when I found that, I was able to show more self confidence.

RNO: It looked like you were physically reacting to every comment the judges made to you at the last elimination. Was that the case?

Naima: Haha, that definitely was the case, I think I was physically reacting to everything that was said. I mean, it was only down to two girls, and my chances to win were 50/50 so everything that was said at that final panel, I took to heart. It was such a long journey.

RNO: Did you feel that at times some of the other girl's overwhelming personalities overshadowed you?

Naima: No, I don't think any of the other girls really overshadowed me. There were so many eccentric personalities in that house, but everyone had their own role, and everyone stuck out in their own way.

RNO: What did it feel like knowing that you were the Cover Girl of the week every week since the show started?

Naima: It warmed my heart so much to know that the viewers were rooting for me to win. I think the viewers are the ones that gave me the most confidence! It's such a confidence booster when you see that the fans choose you as their favorite, and especially every week!

RNO: Doing the final runway show, was it hard to see the runway in the water, or was it not a problem at all?

Naima: Well, we had a rehearsal during the day, so with the light it was easy to see the runway. When the show started, and it was dark, we had very little light, and had to go on what we did during the day. I mean, if you fell, you fell. You have to just get back up, strike a pose and keep on going. Thank goodness I didn't fall, though!