Leslie – America’s Next Top Model

By starrymag | January 18, 2014

Q) Who is your favorite designer?

A) My favorite designer is Calvin Klein. I think their clothes are simple, colorful and straight elegant. Even their underwear is so comfortable!

Q) Why did you decide to apply for the show?

A) Modeling is something that has always been in the back of my mind. When the opportunity came up, I thought, “Why not audition? You never know what’s going to happen.” I was fortunate enough that I made it on!

Q) What was your audition like?

A) I went to an open call at a local mall here in Arizona, where I live. I went online and it just so happened that they were auditioning for the next cycle, so it worked out well!

Q) Why do you think the judges chose Sarah over you?

A) The guest judge mentioned that he could see me doing print and that I would do great at it, but he couldn’t see me 3D. I think that I had proven to them that I could take a good photo, I had that, but I think that everything else was kind of lacking in front of them like my runway walk and my presence. I was so nervous and so tense every time I went in there. As much as I tried, I couldn’t loosen up and I couldn’t just be myself. I couldn’t show them the same person that I showed them at my earlier audition. I think that Sarah kind of had that over me. I think she had the presence where they could see her representing her as America’s Next Top Model and they could see that more in her than me, at that point.

Q) Have you been through any training for your walk since being on the show? 

A) I have had no formal training because we’re not allowed to contact any agencies until the show finishes airing. I’ve been practicing and, in all honesty, I think it’s gotten a lot better. It really has! I would love to get Ms. Jay’s or Tyra’s opinion, but obviously that’s not going to happen. I definitely think it’s gotten a lot better and I’m wearing my heals more and practicing since I used to not wear them. I’ve gotten more comfortable with my walk and I have an idea of what I’m supposed to do now so it doesn’t look so ridiculous anymore.

Q) Did you write anyone a note when you left and if so, to whom and what did you say?

A) I left notes to Brooke. That was the first person because I am in love with Brooke, who is the sweetest girl. I also left a note to Jade. I actually got along fine with Jade in the house. We had a lot of interesting conversations and I never really saw that bitchy side of her that I think others see. She’s not the favorite on the show, by far, but I think a lot of it is editing. I know she had her crazy moments on there, but she was always so nice to me! I had nothing against her so I left her a note. I think I left Sarah a note since she was my roommate that I talked to a lot in the house. At that moment, I was in such a rush to leave and had a million thoughts in my head. What I wrote probably didn’t even make sense since I was so upset.

Q) How do you think you were able to avoid the drama in the house?

A) I am just no drama. I know that girls who usually say that end up being the most dramatic, but I’m just a very easy going person. I just did not have any reason to have conflict with anyone. I wasn’t there for the drama. I was there to see it, but I didn’t really care to talk about it. For the most part, I thought the girls were easy going. I really couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls.

Q) What was it like meeting the twins, Richard and Ron Harris?

A) They were a hoot! They were so funny! They were so entertaining with the twirling and their clothes. I remember the girls and I kept cracking up. We kept imitating them because they were so funny, the way they would talk. That was actually really fun to meet them because we got to just spin around in these pretty dresses.

Q) Have you mastered the “a-swirl” yet?

A) I can’t say that I have practiced it since the show. I was just trying to get my walk down, so I wasn’t really adding an a-swirl in there. I can turn and I think it’s ok and doesn’t look too bad. I might need to practice a little more.

Q) What did you like about doing the fashion show at the church?

A) That was another fun day! Runway was something I kind of dreaded and it made me nervous. I don’t know if it was also because it was church. We wore these long garments and the outfits were really snazzy. It was just fun energy and everyone was cheering you on. The energy was so high and I fed off of that. I didn’t care if I looked ridiculous, I thought I would just walk around and have fun with it. And I did!

Q) What was the most difficult part of the photo shoot with the clowns?

A) I think that photo shoot I should have nailed because I love to dance. I am not the best, but I can break it down a little bit. I think at that point, though, I was just so stressed. Everything was just starting to take a toll on me. I just couldn’t let go for whatever reason. I remember being so nervous, more nervous than being on any other photo shoot! It makes no sense to me now, but that’s how I felt at the time. I think I was over thinking it too much. I think I was concentrating on getting a good shot and not letting go and dancing to let the photographer capture the shots. I over thought it way too much. I thought the final picture, though, was not that bad. Even though I was eliminated and that was my last picture, I was happy with the results. I don’t think it was my photo that sent me home. I think they knew I could take a good photo.

Q) What are you going to do now that you are no longer on the show?

A) I am going to definitely pursue modeling. I fell in love with it. That’s definitely something I want to do. I am trying to find a local agency here and within the next couple of months try to take some time to hit up bigger cities like LA, New York or Miami. I think I can get signed to a bigger agency there. Either way, I am going to continue to pursue modeling.

Q) What did you learn about modeling from the show?

A) Everything! I had no clue before this! I really had no clue before about the modeling industry in general. I learned how to pose in front of the camera, what to bring in photo shoots. I also learned, when I start pursuing modeling and go to auditions, I learned I need to work on my presence more. It’s something that I wasn’t so aware of. I wasn’t aware of how it was affecting me while I was there. My walk, obviously, gave me an idea for what to do now. Anything I learned about modeling, I learned from the show.

Q) Who do you think will win “America’s Next Top Model” this season?

A) I think that at this point, that Danielle has been kicking butt in everything more so than everyone else. Besides Jade, she has the best runway walk to me (personally). I think her photos are consistently good each week. The judges love her personality. I think it will be her or Joanie.  Joanie kind of came out of no where, too. I think both of them we weren’t really expecting them to do as well as they did and then all of a sudden it’s like, “Whoa! You guys are really stepping it up!” So, I think they both have a good chance!

Q) Who do you stay in touch with from the show?

A) I definitely keep in touch with Brooke several times a week. I have talked to Jade a lot since the show. I have talked to basically all of the girls, here and there. I have talked to Sarah and Kari. Since they were both my roommates, we had time to bond.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am not even saying that to be cheesy or corny, but I honestly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t get much air time so I think it is difficult to get to know me from the show. I think that viewers generally lean towards the contestants who show their personality more, someone like Joanie or Danielle.  So, I honestly wasn’t expecting to have fans. It’s really exciting to me! I get tons of emails and messages every day that are encouraging words. I absolutely appreciate it!