Nik – America’s Next Top Model

By starrymag | January 17, 2014

Q) Who are your favorite designers?

A) I have so many! I love everything that I can’t afford, like Gucci and Versace! I don’t have any of it in my closet, but I visit their shops all of the time!

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

A) Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a model. There is just something about models that exudes class and sophistication that I always wanted to be a model. That’s the only reason I am a model. That’s what my heart says! That’s why I went out for the show.

Q) What was it like meeting Tyra Banks?

A) Meeting Tyra Banks was crazy! I got the chance, week after week, to stand, talk and socialize with Tyra Banks who is a world famous supermodel! She’s a real person! It used to be that I was like, “Oh my goodness! It’s Tyra Banks!” It’s really cool that I had the chance to experience her first hand and she’s really cool.

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

A) I definitely learned that modeling is not as easy as it looks! It’s definitely hard work. I think a lot of people look at modeling as one of those easy jobs, but it’s not. I learned that you have to work long hours and you have to really take care of your skin. There is so much more to modeling, even when you are not in front of the camera. There is so much outside of that! You have to take care of your skin more than the average person would. You have to look like a model at all times. It’s just so much more than what people really think it is. It’s a very hard job! I learned that you have to really be prepared for that.

Q) Why do you think they chose Nicole over you?

A) You know what, I’m not 100% sure. Nicole and I are so different, though. Nicole is tall with long beautiful hair and gorgeous skin. She’s just a complete different look than me. Maybe they just felt like she had something better to offer. I don’t necessarily think that I didn’t win because I wasn’t great and didn’t have great potential. Maybe she’s just what they are looking for now.

Q) What did you like about your time in London?

A) London was great! The thing I liked most was that I actually had the chance to get to know a lot of the girls better in London than I did when we were in the US. I really cherish the time that I got to build friends. I really built relationships with some of the girls, where as before I didn’t have those relationships. Even with Jayla, we became so much closer in London. In the US we barely even talked!

Q) The judges said that you seemed to have the same face in your photos and had a bouncy walk. Have you worked on those since being on the show?

A) If the judges don’t like it then I definitely had to change it! I’ve been practicing the walk and trying to give a variety of faces. You practice in front of a mirror and make faces. I hate to tell people that, but that’s how you have to practice. In every career, you have to practice.

Q) What was it like to walk the runway?

A) It wasn’t a very exciting feeling because you are very nervous, but at the same time your adrenaline is pumping and you just can’t wait to get to the end of it to hear the results. It was so much fun! I could do the runway over and over again! It might not have been the runway walk that the judges absolutely loved, but it was just amazing to be up on the stage in front of all of those people.

Q) How did you get the confidence you needed to perform?

A) I think it’s in the last moment. You have to kind of forget all of the negative and the not doing well in the past. You have to tell yourself that you have confidence because if you don’t then you are going to go on the runway and look like you don’t. I may not have blown them out of the water, but I felt like I did when I was walking down the runway and maybe that helped me a little bit.

Q) Do you feel that your personality showed up more at the end of the show?

A) I definitely think you got to see a little bit more of my personality towards the end of the show. It’s still not 100% me. I just want to let the world know that it’s a very difficult situation because you have so many people watching you. You have to live with all of these people so it’s very hard to get adjusted. Unfortunately, I didn’t get adjusted as quickly as the other girls, but I am fun and crazy and I like to play. I have a good personality and hopefully I’ll have another opportunity to show that.

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

A) I am not going back to work, I know that much! I am going straight to New York and, hopefully, to run and knock on some of the doors of agencies. I am going to see what kind of opportunities I can get there. My main goal is that I want a billboard in Times Square! I know the one that I want, but I know that Diddy is not going to give it up. I am definitely going to try and get one of those if I can.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from the show?

A) There are so many! This isn’t necessarily a moment, but the thing that I take the most from the show, would be meeting all of the influential people that I did like Tyra Banks, Iman and Benny Medina. This chance to meet these big people that sitting at home being the normal person I was before the show wouldn’t have allowed me to meet. How many people can say they did that? It’s so cool!

Q) What can we expect from the reunion show and to learn about you?

A) Hopefully, I can show my personality at that show so people can stop thinking that I am dull and boring. I just hope that in our last chance to show the world that people get to see I am happy. I want the world to know that I am happy and that the experience has not made me bitter. I promise that I am not going anywhere and thank all of the fans and people that support me because they really helped me.

Q) Who do you plan on keeping in touch with from the show?

A) I keep touch with so many of the girls. They are all so wonderful! I definitely want to keep in touch with Diane. She’s just an amazing person and such a good person. I’d definitely like to keep in touch with her and Bre and Nicole. We’ve been through so much together which has brought us so close. I’d even like to keep in touch with Jayla! Her and I are really good friends. She’s so supportive. I am going to try and keep in touch with all of the girls though.

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

A) I would like to say to all of the fans that I appreciate them so much! I never expected people to care so much about the things that I was doing and I really appreciate it. I am so happy that I made it this far. Even though I am not the winner, I am not going anywhere! You will see me really soon!