Wendy – America’s Next Top Model

Q) Who is your favorite designer?

A) I don’t know why, but I’m going through a Versace thing right now. Versace is back and hot! I walked by their store recently and I was watching a fashion show in the store. I had always heard about their store, but never had been in there. I was just amazed by their fashion show! I just want to grace their magazine one-day and see myself in a Versace ad!

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

A) I started applying for the show after I watched the first two seasons of it. I thought everything they were doing was so easy and that I could do it. I was wondering why they were complaining about their makeovers because I’d let them do anything to me to be on the show and to get that great an opportunity to be in the modeling industry. When I saw on the Internet that you could fill out an application, send in pictures and videotape, I just went ahead and went for it!

Q) What was your audition tape about?

A) I auditioned several times. The first video, I pretty much sat the camera on a desk, sat in a chair behind it and tried to stay as real as possible. This past time, I went to open calls and did an audition tape there.

Q) What was it like meeting Tyra Banks?

A) Meeting Tyra is like a dream. You see her so much on TV and in magazines and then you finally see her in person, even absorbing the fact that I am on her show, it was just weird for me! It was like, “Oh my gosh! She’s really standing in front of me!” To have her talking to her and to be on her show, I was just ecstatic over the whole thing! I was kind of shocked that I was actually there, in her presence and on the show!

Q) How did you feel about your new look?

A) I didn’t exactly keep the new look. When I had the new look I liked it. I am not going to say that it took me a while to get used to it because my hairstyle was just how my hair naturally is. With the hair color, I had actually been that shade before. So, I kind of knew what I was going to expect. I didn’t know how drastic they were going to go with it, but I think I had to get a little used to the length of it. That was really the shortest I’ve ever had my hair. Once I was able to put my hair in a ponytail I was okay. At first when they cut it, it wouldn’t fit into a ponytail. That was what was really hard for me.

Q) What did you like about living in the house?

A) I was happy it was a big house so that we didn’t constantly bump into each other’s way. I think we pretty much had our own privacy. It sounds crazy since you always have camera crews hanging around you, but I think if you wanted to go into a room and be alone, make a phone call or just lie down and take a nap you could just go do that. To some extent, we did have our privacy.

Q) What was your first reaction to learning Faronda’s rules?

A) I kind of laughed at it. I was sitting there thinking how much was going on the week before I came out to Los Angeles. I was thinking about all of the people I had to talk to and trying to get in touch with friends and family. I had to also pack! I was thinking, “Where did she have the time to think of all of these rules, sit on a computer, type them up and then make copies for twelve girls?” I thought it was kind of funny because she took what she had to say on paper very seriously and everyone else was kind of just like, “whatever.”

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

A) I think they want to break her. I think that she has this hard core around her where she is confident and won’t let anyone break her down. It’s kind of like what happened with Eva in season three. She came across as a diva and they transformed her into a warm caring person and everyone loved her. I don’t know if they want to break Jade down, if she’s there for controversy or if they feel she has the attitude where she has to keep fighting for what she believes in. I don’t know if her arrogance is going to be a positive or negative thing. I have to watch the show just like everyone else does. I am very anxious to find out where that goes.

Q) Did you really feel that Jade was your biggest competition as much as she thought she was?

A) I think in the actual contests that I would have been the biggest competition. With the clothing and the makeovers, I think Jade was jealous of a lot of girls because they cut her hair. When she was in car, she was looking through magazines saying, “Long hair is in.” Here I am with my hair longer than her, I’m younger than her and I’m taller than her. I think it’s just arrogance to me. I think it’s so different when you have confidence and believe in yourself. I had confidence and she had confidence, but I wasn’t an arrogant person. I wasn’t thinking that I was a better than anyone else and not making comments to other people to make myself look sexy or gorgeous.

Q) Do you feel that thoughts of your family psyched you out at photo shoots?

A) I think that it was kind of distracting. I always knew that there was so much going on and there were a lot of things that I didn’t share because I didn’t want people to worry. I wanted to focus on the show and give it my all. It did, honestly, worry me because I would always think, “After my time out here in LA, what am I going to show family and friends who are already picking up pieces of their life and puzzle them back together?” I didn’t know where I am going to live after the show and what I’m going to do with my life after the show. I wasn’t sure how I was going to put my life together and model at the same time. I knew it was going to be a struggle and I didn’t know how I was going to prepare myself for that.

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

A) I am pretty sure all of the girls will email one another. Right now, it’s just so tough for me to stay in touch with friends that I have had for twenty years and family. I am sure we’ll email each other and talk now and then.

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

A) I am going to pursue modeling. That’s first on my agenda. I am getting a portfolio together and going to talk to some agents. I am going to meet with some managers and publicists. I am going to try and get my face out into the industry and see what happens.

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

A) I have no clue! Everyone is so different and everyone’s personality is so different. One person may have a certain weakness or a strength. I have no clue! I watched the show and even I sat and thought about that. I thought, “My gosh! I don’t know what is going to happen.” I am just like any other viewer watching the show.

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

A) I would like to thank all of my fans for sending their emails and posting their comments. I go on tons of websites every day and look at everything everyone says. Thank you for your support and I hope that I can be an inspiration to people who are going through struggles. I hope you stick to your dreams and goals. Never give up and keep going. Learn that whatever G-d puts you through, it’s for a reason and it’s only there to make you stronger with your struggle.