“I Tried Out Seven Times" – Reality News Online’s Exclusive Interview with America's Next Top Model 18’s Candace

Reality News Online: Hi, Candace, thank you for talking to Reality News Online today. Had you watched any cycles of ANTM before going on the show?

Candace: Of course! I mean, I’ve been watching since Cycle 1.

RNO: Did you have much modeling experience before coming on the show?

Candace: I’ve been modeling since before the show. I’ve done a shoot for Seventeen magazine. I did Cosmo[politan] and I did Fashion Week. I’ve done some stuff.

RNO: Do you feel the Brits have an advantage having already competed on a Top Model show?

Candace: I feel like they did have a small advantage because they had already been in Britain’s Top Model. They had done the show so they already knew what to expect, whereas some of the other USA girls – it was their first time ever modeling.

RNO: Tyra said you had tried out a number of times for the show – how many and how close had you come before to making it?

Candace: I tried out seven times, starting out with Cycle 11. Each time that I would audition I would always make it to the phone call where you are selected [or not] to go to the semi-finals. I would never get that phone call.

RNO: What was it like watching the viewing panel comment on your commercials?

Candace: Aw, man, it was harsh! The focus group really didn’t care about how we felt or our opinions. It’s all about what they think about us, and they’re not going to sugar coat anything. They tell you how it is. You just have to be strong-minded to take their criticism.

RNO: Who got the harshest comments from the panel?

Candace: I would probably say Alisha. They said she had an “African” accent which clearly she did not since she has a British accent. I would say she definitely got it the hardest.

RNO: Why was everyone so hard on Kyle after the commercial evaluations?

Candace: It’s not that we were harsh on Kyle. Kyle misunderstood where we were coming from. We just wanted to tell her that you didn’t do good and the fact that the focus group said, “Wow! You’re amazing!” [didn’t mean you did well].

We weren’t all mad at her, we were pretty much mad at the judging of the focus group.

RNO: You received comments from the judges about having limited facial expressions while modeling. Watching the show and looking at your pictures, do you feel that’s true?

Candace: Yeah, watching it on TV I feel it’s true. But to me, in my head, sometimes I’m thinking that I’m giving different facial expressions which clearly – obviously – I’m not. It’s something I need to work on.

RNO: So do you think your experience on the show will improve your modeling?

Candace: Oh, yeah. Most definitely. I learned my strengths as well as my weaknesses. I’m on the process of working on it. I’m in the mirror all the time trying to work on my facial expressions. So, I’m definitely working on that right now.

RNO: What was it like hearing Kyle get all the positive critiques at panel when you knew she had been talking about leaving for days?

Candace: It sucked, but at the same time it was based on her photo, and she did good on her photo. But I was just really upset at the fact that she wanted to leave. But at the same time I respect her because she said she didn’t want to stay when some of the other girls really, really wanted it.

But I think being that I was the one to leave and I tried out for four years and I show up and get booted at the beginning of the competition.

RNO: Did you tell Tyra it was Kyle who was thinking of leaving?

Candace: I didn’t specifically point her out. I just said you have girls in the house who want to leave, whereas you have someone like me who really wants it and wants to stay.

I wish Tyra would have taken that more into consideration, but she just said, “Well, it doesn’t show on the picture.”

RNO: What photo shoot did you like most and why?

Candace: I would say the second week with the Kardashians. I was paired with Eboni and we killed it. We did a superb job. Both of us got one of the best photos out of all of the girls. We had lots of chemistry when we worked together.

RNO: What most surprised you watching the show on TV?

Candace: It looks like in the house there is more drama. But, actually, we all pretty much got along together. If they could have shown us getting along and having fun at some point that would have been awesome.

RNO: What are your future plans? Will you continue modeling?

Candace: I plan to continue to model. I’m going to get a modeling agency for L.A., New York, and International modeling. I’m working on all that now.

RNO: Is there anything else you would like to tell fans of the show about you or this experience?

Candace: I had the time of my life. If you have a passion for this and you want to do something with modeling just have confidence in who you are and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything. I’m a proven example. I’ve been turned down so many times and look what’s happened for me. Keep a strong mind and keep going for your career.

RNO: Thank you for talking to me today, Candace.

Candace: Thank you!

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