“If You Didn’t Have Confidence, You Would Be Sent Home”– An Interview with America’s Next Top Model 5’s Winner, MY Nicole

You know, it’s kind of ironic. I’m 24 years old, and I had butterflies in my stomach as I awaited to talk to MY Nicole, who is only 18! I felt like I was back in high school. But finally, our conversation began. My interview with MY Nicole was everything I expected it to be, and then some. She was fun, giddy, professional and very mature. Not only that, but she was happy to be the one to end my curse of backing the second-place girl! Read on to see what she said about her time on the show, and where she plans to go from here.

RealityNewsOnline: First, I want to say congrats. It’s nice to see one of MY girls finally take home the prize and end my curse! When you first arrived in Beverly Hills, and got a good look at the other girls, did you think you would win the competition?

Nicole: I’m happy I was the one to end your curse, Phil! (laughs) Somebody was going to do it eventually! As far as the other girls, I took everything in steps. At first, I just wanted to get on the show, but then when we moved into the loft, of course I wanted to win. However, I took it one week at a time, tried not to show any attitude or get in any fights and just make it through the whole thing!

RNO: Had you watched previous seasons of the show, and what factored into your decision to apply?

Nicole: Oh, I was a huge fan of the show before I applied. I think I watched every episode of every season. I had wanted to be a model ever since I was a little girl, and figured since I was finally of age, I would apply. I went to an open call, and pretty much just got lucky!

RNO: Only since I’ve been asking everyone else, did you steal Bre’s granola, and if not, why do you think she automatically accused you of doing it?

Nicole: I definitely didn’t steal Bre’s granola. I think she accused me of taking it because at that point, Bre didn’t really care for my company, and really considered me a threat to her. I’m still not sure why I was really accused, but we are cool now and that’s all that matters.

RNO: Did you think that when you fumbled on the Cover Girl commercial that you would be eliminated, or did you still have some hope?

Nicole: I still thought I had some hope. It was hard, though, because I knew I messed up. However, you have to have confidence in this competition or you are going to be sent home. I didn’t have a choice, I had to move on, and in a way, it drove me to do that much better at the photo shoot./p>

RNO: Before you went to London and you were standing with Jayla in front of Tyra, did you think you were going home that week?

Nicole: No, I never had a feeling that I was going home. Everyone says that they know when it’s their time and that they are going, but I had no feelings that it was me ever going home. Even after Tyra said that both of us had to pack our bags, it didn’t sink in. I never wanted to believe that I would be eliminated.

RNO: Your main goal during the final runway show was to show the judges that you could be edgy and show some attitude. Do you feel you were lacking those things during the rest of the competition?

Nicole: Slightly, yes. I thought the judges were looking at me as just another pretty face, and didn’t realize that I was capable of much more. They had mentioned it to me, so I wanted to show that I could be edgy at the final runway show, since I figured it would be the perfect time to do so.

RNO: Since you were able to participate in every shoot this season, which would you say was your favorite and which was your least favorite, and why?

Nicole: My favorite shoot this season was the one I got to do with Tyra with Gilles Bensimon photographing. I also liked the Secret photo shoot and the one we did on the farm as well. The first picture was definitely the worst for me. I didn’t like it at all! Although, now that I’m thinking about it, I love the photo that Tyra took of me in black and white as well. There’s so much to choose from!