“The Whitney and Fatima Show” – An Interview with America’s Next Top Model 10’s Katarzyna

I really like Katarzyna this season, and was disappointed when she was sent home over Whitney, who seems to have fizzled out, or Fatima, since I still don’t understand why she got to hang around even though she missed a photo shoot! Alas, Kat was eliminated because the judges just didn’t see a sparkling personality. Just like I always, I had a chance to talk with Kat about her time on the show, and to get to the bottom of all the crap talk that was going on in the house this season.

RealityNewsOnline: Hello, Katarzyna! Thanks for taking time to talk with me. Had you watched previous seasons of the show, and what factored into you decision to apply?

Katarzyna: Yes, I did watch previous seasons of the show, and that’s why I was so confused by panel when I was there. I got criticized, and when it was bad, I tried to take it in and now snap back. I remember from last season, Victoria was a fellow Ivy League girl, and she talked back when the judges criticized her, and she was sent home. I went in just saying “thank you” every time it was bad, and I think the judges took that as me not having any personality. However, if girls talk back, then they think they are out of line. I thought watching the show first would help, but I was still confused!

RNO: I know you had a normal 9 to 5 job before being on the show, but have you had any previous modeling experience?

Katarzyna: When I was 15 years old I had done some photo shoots. It was never anything big, though, and it was such a long time ago. I don’t even think I was very good at it!

RNO: It was strange to see you on top for so many weeks, then being sent home. Did you have inkling that you were in danger of being eliminated this week?

Katarzyna: When the judges gave us the feedback on our photos, I knew it was going to be myself and Whitney in the bottom two, since we got the worst feedback. I had never been in the bottom two before, so I thought I still had a chance, especially since Whitney had been there several times. It sucks that I went home and it was only my first time – in previous seasons, you know if someone is in the bottom two for several weeks in a row, their time has pretty much run out. I don’t really understand why Whitney stayed and I went, but I knew it would be us in the bottom two.

RNO: What are your thoughts on the whole incident with Fatima being allowed to stay over Stacy Ann, even though she missed the photo shoot?

Katarzyna: Oh God, Fatima should have gone home. With Fatima, she starts arguments all the time, and that has kept her as the focus of the show. If you actually saw her modeling, she’s not really that good – she can’t stand still! That fact that she’s so argumentative has served her well. You know the judges must know that she’s a problem in the house. In panel, she played the poor Somalian girl card and acted as if everything was so new to her. She was such a different person in the house and in front of the judges. Stacy Ann got robbed.

RNO: The judges’ main complaint with you was that you weren’t showing them personality. If that’s the case, why do you think you got as far as you have?

Katarzyna: They always mentioned that I looked like a model, so I think that’s why I got as far as I did. Many of the times someone was sent home, we all sat there and wondered why it happened and someone else got to stay. People ask why Dominique is still around, but she should definitely be there longer than Fatima – she’s great at posing and is a nicer girl.

RNO: Were you surprised that Whitney got to stay over you, even though the judges haven’t been so keen on her photos or attitude lately, or did you have a good idea it would be you?

Katarzyna: You just never know when you are in the bottom two. I wasn’t shocked that it was the two of us, but I had no clue who was going, really. I’m not a big fan of her attitude, since she always had a problem with someone.

RNO: Has the amount of talking behind people’s back this season surprised you at all, and did you know that so many of the other girls didn’t see your personality either?

Katarzyna: The funny thing is that I saw the whole thing with Fatima talking about me, and it’s just weird that they always showed whatever she or Whitney had to say. I’ve read post-show interviews with Lauren, Claire, Marvita, and Amis, and they all said they found me funny and thought I had a personality. I didn’t hang out with Fatima, since I wasn’t her friend, so she didn’t even get to know me, and that’s what irritated me about the comment she made with me not having any personality.

RNO: In your opinion, is this a fair competition where the girls are evaluated each week, or do you think the judges have a pretty good idea on who is going home each time?

Katarzyna: I really can’t say. I think the judges have their favorites, but I don’t think I could ever… ever since Claire went home, I could never predict who was going. It was a shock to me that she went home so early, while other girls got to stick around.

RNO: What did you think was your biggest strength in the competition and what was your biggest weakness?

Katarzyna: The week I won the challenge for runway – I guess that was my biggest strength. I loved doing runway. My weakness was that… well, I mean, I thought I had personality, but I don’t think it showed on TV. I don’t think it was anything against me, and the more I watch the show, the more I think this season should have been called The Fatima and Whitney Show. We all did the same interviews, but they always showed the two of them in the confessional. They were being shown more than everyone else, despite the fact that we all did the same interviews.

RNO: Looking back, is there anything you regret, or is there anything you could have done differently to stick around longer?

Katarzyna: The only think that I would have liked to change was to let us see all our photos from each shoot. Not so much to see if they are really picking the best photo, but so that we can learn what works for our bodies, what doesn’t work, and just get more experience. We only got to see one photo, and that was it.

RNO: If you had to make a prediction on the final four, who do you think is going next and who has the best chances of winning?

Katarzyna: I think Anya has the best chance of winning because she has done great and has been very consistent. When you watch her, she’s a natural and has a lot of talent. Dominique has talent, too. Either Fatima or Whitney should be eliminated next.

RNO: Now that things have been said and done, do you still plan on continuing to pursue a career in modeling?

Katarzyna: Definitely. I mean, from what you could see, I wasn’t the crazy girl or the girl that started drama. I wasn’t there to be on a reality show – I was there to model. I don’t know what the motives were of the other girls, and some really did want to become models, but everyone was there for their own reasons.

RNO: So what are your immediate plans? Do you have anything in the works or is there anywhere we can expect to see you in the near future?

Katarzyna: I don’t have a website, but you might be able to find me on Facebook soon. I’m going back to New York City shortly, and hopefully I’ll be able to get signed with an agency, and then take it from there!

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

Katarzyna: Looking at the CW website, there are a lot of people that have shown so much support for me, even though I wasn’t the crazy girl! They supported me, and I appreciate it! To go from nobody really knowing anything about you to being in your corner is a great thing, and it meant so much to get that support.

RNO: Thanks, Katarzyna!

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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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