Michelle Deighton made it into the top 6 on her season of
America's Next Top Model and has continued to find herself in the limelight, getting regular work as a model throughout the world. Michelle will soon be appearing in the Fox Reality Channel Show
Reality Camp.
You may know Michelle as one of our
America's Next Top Model TVjs. You can find her
archived sessions here. She recently took time out of her schedule to talk with us about America's Next Top Model, her career, and what fans can expect from her this year.
How did you get initially involved with Top Model?
Actually, one of their scouts saw me or saw a picture of me and they ended up getting my information and giving me a call and asking me if I would like to send in my application and I sent in my application and my video and I made it on the show. So, I was happy about that.
Cool. Were you a fan of the show before, did you follow it at all?
I had no idea what the hell Top Model was. I had no clue. And, as soon as I got the call I was like "Yeah, you know, modeling? Sure. Tyra Banks? Sure." And, so I sent in all my stuff and then I mentioned it to my aunt and she's huge in reality TV. She automatically started freaking out and screaming and I was like, "What? What?" And she was like "Oh my God!" and told me all about it, so...
So, did you actually do any type of modeling before Top Model or was that, the whole experience, kind of a new thing for you?
I've been trying to model since I was 14 years old. A modeling convention actually came through Tarahoat, Indiana and for some reason I had to go, I just had to go. My mom wouldn't take me so my aunt ended up taking me, and I went to the whole convention thing and out of about 30 agencies there I got 21 call backs. And so, yeah, I was amazed, and I didn't know the business too much. I think that was my downfall, but I mean, I've been trying to do it ever since I was fourteen. So, finally I made it, and I'm happy about it.
How was the overall experience of being on the show? I don't know what kind of expectations you had going into it, but can just tell us overall how the experience was?
Well, going into it, after I found out I was going to be on the show, I didn't know what to expect. I just knew it was gonna be a completely new, exciting world. I was just amazed to be a part of this experience, but when I got there it was crazy. I tried to stay out of everyone's drama, but I kind of created my own. I didn't mean to, but it just kind of happened. But, I was amazed by the experience because it was also my first time being away from home. So, that kind of threw me for a trip also. But I came out of it a better person, a more open person.
What was the most challenging thing for you on the show?
The most challenging thing about being on the show was definitely being away from my family, because in 18 years before that I hadn't gone more than a day being without them. So that was the one thing that was causing me so much stress. I love my family a lot and we're very, very close, so I don't know, it just kind of hurt to be away from them so much.
What were the best things you took away from the whole experience?
Definitely the experience above anything and plus, like I said, since I was 14 I've been trying to model and I hadn't gotten that leverage and Top Model kind of got my foot in the door, because, with the modeling agents and all that, it's kind of their guilty pleasure. Some of them won't admit they watch it, but when I walk into a casting, they're like "Michelle?" And I'm like "Yeah?" And they're like "Top Model, coming to your audition," and I'm like "Yup, absolutely!" That helps a lot that you have fans out there and people that kind of think they know you a little bit, so that helps in conversation and helps getting jobs also.
Do you still keep in touch with any of the girls from your season?
I see them every once in a while, like once in a blue moon. I see Brittany all the time in LA, but we don't really hang out all that much.
When you watched the actual episodes for the first time, did you feel that the show's portrayal of you was pretty true to life, or do you feel like you were skewed a little bit, as far as how people saw you on television?
Well, I get upset when people blame it on editing because nobody made you do that, I mean, everything I did on Top Model that they showed, I did all of that. And they actually showed it perfectly. I cried a lot, I was emotional, I was in a new place, away from family, and I was kind of like a little kid then. And then, by the end of the show, I had progressed more into being the woman I am today. So, it gave me a lot more confidence to do whatever I want to do.
What exactly transpired after the show? What kind of opportunities opened up for you?
Well, after the show I started getting more into modeling. I've been doing photo shoots, runway, I've been in LA fashion week, all that good stuff. And everybody knows that I love wrestling, they put it as my occupation on the show, so I actually got to go and do a guest appearance on Smackdown. So, right there, I could have died happy that moment. That was one of the things I really, really wanted to do and right now I'm actually talking to a few people, trying to get back into wrestling. I'm quite excited about that, but I'm still gonna continue to model. It's not like I'm giving one up for the other.
Do you have any big plans for this year, as far as what your fans might be expecting from you, as far as what they might be seeing you doing?
Oh, dear lord, this year is going to be good. I don't have anything down in paper yet, but I'm talking to quite a few people and that's why I'm going back to LA to try to work out some deals, so I don't want to say anything because it may not happen. It may switch around and stuff like that, but this year I'm gonna be on TV quite a bit. And, I actually have a new show coming out on the 30th of this month: it's called Camp Reality. It's on Fox Reality Channel and it's it's gonna be good. It's all reality stars, people from Survivor, The Amazing Race, American Idol, everybody, and its like Fear Factor except teams of three. It's going to be insane. I've never had that much fun in my entire life, so you definitely, definitely have to watch that.
Do you have any advice for other young girls out there who look up to you and who might want to pursue modeling, or go into the whole entertainment business?
My advice for anyone who wants to get into singing, acting, all that is start with what you have and where you are. Because most people think "Oh my God. I have to go to LA or I have to do this," and its like "No, if you wanna act, go to the local theater, go just start with what you have where you are."
Second, don't give up. Because, like I said, since I was fourteen (I'm 21 now) and I didn't find any success at all until I was 18 years old. So that's four years of nothing. And that's hard to keep up for someone that's older, and especially hard to keep up for someone that's 14. So, if you love it, continue to do it. Lastly, and I cannot say this enough, I have no respect for anyone that chooses an eating disorder. I mean none whatsoever, because there are so many other ways, healthy ways, to get into the business, to stay thin, just to make it in the business.