On the previous season of America’s Next Top Model, we saw plus-sized model Whitney Thompson battle it out with runner up Anya Kop, who eventually lost the title to the 20-year-old from Florida.  Five years ago, Whitney began a modeling career locally, but never landed any major gigs.  After being pushed by her family and peers to join the reality search for aspiring models, she auditioned and landed a spot in the finals of the tenth season of America’s Next Top Model.

Whitney recently talked to the L.A. Times to speak about her experiences on the show and how she dealt with being the only plus-sized model in the competition.  She said that her weight was “an issue a lot because the clothes didn't fit me ever, which they don't show on camera because I didn't make it an issue.”

The 20-year-old from Florida added that while other girls just tossed on their clothes during photo shoots, she had to go through the ordeal of having to adjust the clothes to fit her.

"I anticipated the worst at every challenge and photo shoot, like when they handed me a size 2 skirt and said 'Put this on' and the stylist was cutting it and sewing it on.  It's embarrassing," Whitney revealed. "That is difficult, but I anticipated the worst.  I was prepared mentally for that.  Thank God, because that could really drag you down."

It wasn’t only the clothes that were making the experience hard for her, but also her co-competitors.  In fact, she recalled that Stacy Ann called her “fat” and Whitney retorted by saying that she was “phat,” as she described her personality.

"I think the girls were a little jealous that they had to diet and they had to do this work to be super skinny, and I was like 'Well, I don't, and my pictures still came out better than yours,'" Whitney recalled.  "I think it was difficult for them because the plus-sized models usually lose their confidence within the first week or two.  I think they were like 'What? Well you're big!'"

Nonetheless, Whitney did not let this get to her.  Instead, she did her best because she fought for what she believed in, and that’s being beautiful no matter what size one is.

"Even though there are disadvantages to being bigger, in the long run the best thing that's happened to me is that even before everyone knew that I won, I got e-mails from girls and boys from all over the world saying 'I've dealt with an eating disorder and you've had me seek help and I see your confidence and how you do it,'" Whitney says.  "People who were really looking up to me just for my ideas on the show, not even knowing I had won.  I think that's really the best reward I could possibly have."’


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: L.A. Times
(Photo courtesy of The CW)