“I Don't Like to Hold in My Emotions”: An Interview with Catie Anderson of “America’s Next Top Model 2”

Catie Anderson was the eliminated at the halfway mark this season on America's Next Top Model. In this interview, Catie discusses who she felt close too, why she thinks she made the finals, and what she wants to do now that the show is over. Oh, and what exactly did she think about all the crying the editors showed? Read on to find out!

RNO: What do you think it was about you that Tyra saw and advanced you to the finals?

Catie: She told me that I had that whole "Girl Next Door" look, which I was happy about. Tyra also told me that she could see me doing high-end fashion, which thrilled me.

RNO: So were you shocked when last night, Tyra said the only one that she could see doing high-end fashion, was Shandi?

Catie: Yeah, I was a little shocked at that comment. I know that Shandi has a better bone structure than I do, and that is what they look for when it comes to high-end fashion shows, however, that doesn't mean that I can't do it too!

RNO: What did your family think about you going to do the show, being that you are only 18? Was it a culture shock being away from home for so long?

Catie: Oh, my family was thrilled when I told them I was going to be on the show. What you don't know is that I actually graduated high school early in order to move to L.A. on my own so that I could pursue modeling and acting. I had actually already been living on my own for about seven months before the show began. So being on my own was not that big of a deal since I was used to it.

RNO: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how well do you think you were edited on the show?

Catie: Two! The editors were obsessed with showing all my traumatic moments. I actually had a really good time and had so much fun. I laughed so much and they rarely liked to show that. For some reason, they had it out for me, and I think they wanted people to hate me. For what reason, I don't know.

RNO: Do you consider yourself the emotional person that everyone was pegging you to be?

Catie: I do and I don't. I have been labeled the crybaby, but actually, I like that about myself. I don't like to hold in my emotions, so usually I just cry and then I learn to deal with what the problem is and move on. However, it wasn't like I could escape the cameras to get a good cry out, so they got it all on tape, and that is what they showed of me. But I'm not as emotional as what was shown.

RNO: Within the house, you have said at different times that you had bonded with Heather and Camille. Even Xiomara stated that you two were close. Who do you feel you had the strongest connection with?

Catie: On the show, it was Heather and Xiomara. Heather and I just clicked because we were similar and I understood how she felt with moving out for the first time and all. As far as Xiomara, she was and is just a really good friend. I talk to her now at least every other day. She's the type of person that if you have her as a friend, you know everything is fine because she will always have your back. I love that about her.

RNO: Speaking of Camille, it seemed like she didn’t rub you the wrong way, like she did most of the other girls. Why do you think that was so?

Catie: I guess I just didn't let her get to me. Every time she would say something controversial or something that would rub people the wrong way, I would just brush it off. Honestly, half the time she said things I don't think she meant for it to come out the way it did, or to offend people. It's just the way that things come out when she speaks.

RNO: Looking back on the experience, what would you have done differently to stick around longer?

Catie: I'm happy with everything that I did, even though it didn't seem that way as the show was ending. I didn't even remember saying half of the things that I did. I thought the ending was going to be different. I said most of that stuff in my exit interview and it was basically distorted to make it look like I left out in a big huff, and that wasn't the case. I stick by everything that I did on the show, and I'm proud of myself.

RNO: Were you sick of Janice Dickinson digging into you all the time? What did you think when she gave you that look when you told her you were a virgin, and when she called you a child prostitute?

Catie: Honestly, I don't know. She may have been out to get me, I don't know. Sometimes I would let her and the other judges get to me, but other times I would just tell myself, "Catie, get a grip!" I knew they were going to be blunt with me, and sometimes Janice's analogies were pretty funny, but I knew it was for TV, so I just dealt with it.

RNO: It seemed like you were very emotional at the acting lesson, which was understandable. However, when it came time for you to act out the script, you didn’t seem to care, when all the other girls were using the energy from the day before. What happened?

Catie: I wasn't big on the fact that we had to make out with a stranger. I had never met the guy before and I was expected to kiss him? I just wasn't up for it. Plus, I was so emotionally drained from the day before that I really didn't feel like being a part of the whole thing.

RNO: You knew this was coming – what’s the deal with your hair? Did you keep it short, or are you letting it grow back?

Catie: Well, I have grown it out a little longer, but it has actually grown on me quite a bit. I'm actually really starting to like it. I just miss being able to put my hair in a ponytail if I want. Although, if I wanted to have it longer, I could always just get a weave, instead of waiting for it to grow. I'm still not so sure yet about what I'm going to do with it.

RNO: Everyone notes that there was at least one judge who was really pulling for them. Do you think there was one judge who especially liked you?

Catie: Nigel was always very nice to me, and he was nice on my eyes too. Haha! The thing about Nigel was that he was always honest, but didn't seem to make things larger than life, the way some of the other judges did. He never exaggerated what he though, and just told the straight truth.

RNO: What kind of reactions have you been getting from the public? Are you recognized when you go out, and have people mentioned any of the crying to you?

Catie: Actually, people that recognize me have been really nice, which is not something I expected. I thought people would really ream me out, but people have been so sweet, and I really appreciate that. It's nice to see that people realize what the editor shows isn't exactly what the person is like. I'm telling you, they wanted people to hate me!

RNO: So what’s next? Do you plan on trying to make it in the modeling industry, or are you going to try something else?

Catie: I'm going to continue modeling, without a doubt. If that doesn't work out, or when I'm done with that, I'd like to get into TV, and do some kind of broadcasting or voiceovers. After my modeling career is over, I plan on going to college and getting my degree then, but I still want to do the modeling thing, even if it's just catalog modeling when I'm a little older, but for right now, I want to continue following my dream.

RNO: If there was just one piece of advice you could give to someone who was going to try out for next season, what would you tell them?

Catie: The bottom line is that you have to be yourself. You have to know who you are and know what your sense of style is, or you are going to be very very confused when it's time to showcase all that stuff. That is the best piece of advice I can give to anyone who wants to be on the show.

RNO: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans, or just something you would like to add?

Catie: Well, thank you for doing this interview with me, and remember everyone, avoid the drama, it isn't worth it!

RNO: Thanks, Catie!

Phil Kural is a senior at Temple University, and can be reached at pkural@temple.edu.

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