Anya Kop came very close to winning in the tenth season of America's Next Top Model, but she admits that plus-sized model Whitney Thompson deserved to grab the win.  The two girls have become close through the course of the season, and Anya has nothing but praises for the 20-year-old from Florida.

"If I was going to see someone other than myself win, it would be Whitney.  She's a beautiful model, and she's going to go far in her career," Anya told TV Guide.  "I'm just so grateful to have made it to the top two.  I think it would have been amazing if I had won, but she's a beautiful person, and I think she deserved to win America's Next Top Model.  I have nothing but love for her."

As for Anya's grueling experiences on the show, she sees it as a complete learning process.  She says that the mistakes they've committed on the show has helped them learn things sooner than later down the road.

"It was definitely a learning experience.  If I didn't make the mistake [then], I would have to learn it eventually down the line," Anya admitted.  In fact, she learned another lesson when she did a topless photo shoot with Nigel Barker, which eventually garnered a lot of buzz from the Parents Television Council.

"I was topless, but it was such a classic, beautiful picture.  All the pictures came out beautiful," she recalls the photo shoot.  "Nigel is a famous, wonderful photographer.  It was a privilege to be working with him!   That's their opinion, but it was a wonderful experience."

Much of the success of that particular photo shoot, she credited to Nigel, who she says "was very professional. He made me feel very comfortable as a model.  I was able to really focus and get great shots.  The pictures came out beautiful and will be great for my portfolio."

While fans are anxious to see where the runner-up's career is going, she says, "My personality and my drive will get me far, because I have such a passion for it. I have things I have to work on, and being on the show has only shown me that.  It showed me the good parts and the bad parts, and I have to learn from both to be a better model!  And I will!"


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Photo courtesy of The CW)