It's a rare America's Next Top Model contestant who actually is the way she comes across on television, and Jennifer An, the 24-year-old actress and model from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of those contestants. In a good way.

On the show, Jennifer was bubbly, friendly, and optimistic, and--even after going through her crushing elimination from the competition just shy of the final two--she's just the same over the phone. Perhaps it helps that during last night's ANTM episode, she ended up with a gorgeous Pele-inspired photo and a 5-day vacation in Maui. Talk about ending on a high note.

I had the pleasure of chatting--and laughing--with Jennifer this morning about her experience in the Top Model house, from her new "BFF forever" whom she met on the show, to how she felt like a "father" (really!) to some of her younger competitors.

And she didn't just confirm what I already knew (which includes that she loves to laugh). You'll never guess what recent movie you can spot her in, and why she thinks she was left out of most of the Top Model house drama.

Check out the full audio and transcript of my chat with Jennifer after the jump.


This is Meghan with BuddyTV and I'm on the line with Jennifer from America's Next Top Model cycle 13. Congratulations on making it to the final four!

Thank you!

Of course. How's it feel?

It was exhilarating making it to the top four. [Laughs]

A little heartbreaking not making it to final one?

A little heartbreaking, yeah! But great up until then!

Have you come to terms with it a little bit since you filmed the show?

No, I'm still in pretty deep depression... No, no, definitely! [Laughs] No, it's great. You know, I've come to realize what a great, great job I did on the show. When it comes down to it, I'm just proud of myself for making it as far as I did, and honestly, walking into the competition, I really thought, "Oh my God, I'm gonna be the girl to go home first." So to be able to make it that far was really cool. To see Maui, to see Las Vegas, you know. All the opportunities and experiences that I went through on the show, I mean... to die for. So yeah, I'm happy with how things turned out.

Well you definitely performed really well, so you should be proud of yourself.

Thank you.

What was your favorite photo shoot that you did?

My favorite-favorite... I mean, it's kind of hard to say, because, okay, like... with Russell James, scuba diving, kind of like out of this world, like, super-crazy, you know? That was just, like, off the charts, so awesome. Scuba diving was something that I've always wanted to do, you know? And I guess that would have to be my favorite photo shoot in Maui. In LA, with Jonathan Mannion, the "Make Me Taller" shoot was my favorite photo shoot. You know, he and I jived really well, and he was such a cool person to shoot with, and I think that's so important. Your photographer, and the energy that he gives off, and you being able to read it and kind of, like, give back his energy, I mean, you know... I really loved shooting with him.

I wanted to ask you about all the drama in the house, because you seemed to be able to stay out of all of it. Everyone would be at each other's throats, but they all loved you! So how did you manage that?

I have no idea. It was, you know, maybe I was left out! Maybe that's what it was. Because I would watch it and be like, "Hmm... I didn't even know that was happening!"

Oh really?

Yeah, a lot of the time I'd be like, "How come I wasn't included?" Like, "Why isn't anyone talking about me?" [Laughs] No, but, you know, I think that the girls are a lot younger than me. I was twenty-three... wait, how old am I? I was twenty-three at the time, and you know, a lot of the girls are like 18-19, and, you know, I've gone through that age of bickering and fighting and being bratty, and it's easier to stay out of when you can see it happening, you know? So... I just tried to lay low.

Well, a lot of people seemed... I mean, I've talked to each contestant when they came out, and they would always name you as one of their favorite people in the house, so I don't think you were left out in a bad way.

Get outta here!

No, I'm not kidding!

[Laughs] All the girls are really nice, how could I not get along with them, you know? Maybe they were just scared of me.

Are you worthy of being scared of? Are you a scary person?

[Laughs] I'm a really scary person! [Laughs]

Let's talk about the episode from last night. How did you feel about your photo shoot going into panel?

I was on shaky ground, you know? I didn't think that my photo shoot went really, really well, you know. I didn't think it was really, really bad, either, but I didn't know where I placed, you know? And I was going up against some pretty hard competition, so... I had no idea how it was going to end.

Did you think that you were eliminated fairly?

I think so. I think... I have to say that I think the judges are fair every time, and that especially with my panel experience, they've always been really fair with me, I think. So I can't really disagree with what they said, you know? They always seemed really fair to me.

Have you gotten any crazy reactions from fans or anybody else since you've been on the show?

I have to say, I've spoken to some of the girls, and they have told me like, "Oh, I get recognized all the time, and you know, whatever," but I don't know what it is... I don't think people really stop me that much. I mean, here and there, maybe like once a week, you know, people will be like, "Are you...?" and I'll be like, "Yeah," and they'll be like, "Cool! It's nice to meet you. Bye!" [Laughs] So, I time to time get recognized, but nothing big or anything.

Well, this is something that only a true ANTM nerd would notice, but I have seen it on a couple blogs, so I thought I should confirm with you directly... were you an extra in Transformers 2?

[Laughs] I was!

I knew it!

That is so funny. Oh my God! Someone said that to me the other day! I was like in the CW, doing a CW thing, and they were like, "Were you in Transformers?" And I was like, "Oh my God, how did you notice me?" It was like a second. I blinked and I was gone, I mean... That's nuts.

How did that come about?

Well, I graduated school with a degree in theater, so I've been pursuing acting ever since I was out of school, and you know, while I was in school, and things like that. So 'extra' work is just something that I did to get my SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card, you know?

So are you going to pursue modeling/acting in the future?

Yeah, definitely. I mean, I'm not going to turn anyone down, you know what I mean? I'm going to go for it, and I'm going to go full throttle, and I'm just going to see where this opportunity kind of lands me, you know?

Based on your whole experience on the show, what are the most important things that you learned? About yourself, or about modeling?

Where to start? Okay. I think the #1 thing is, walking into a competition, like, just have confidence. You know what I mean? A lot of the girls, their own confidence kind of self-sabotaged them, you know? I think another thing is don't take yourself too seriously. Take everything day by day. Don't look too far in the future. Don't look back, definitely. And, just try to keep your head on. Know who your friends are, know who your enemies are. Don't get too deep into anything, because it's a competition, it's a surreal life that you're living, you know. And I think that I kind of learned that I can be a leader. I think that a lot of the girls are so much younger than me... well, not so much, but they're, you know, they're younger than I am. And I think a lot of them looked up to me, like, as an older sister, or maybe as a father... [Laughs] ...and it was a great experience for me to know that, you know, I could really be a role model to these girls in a way that is, just, completely friendly, you know? And I think, like, take every opportunity for what it is. I mean, this was so great. I mean, being kicked off hurts, you know? It's really, really painful. But at the same time, when I look back on it, I'm like, oh my God, I did so many amazing things that I can cross off my list of To-dos before I die, you know? So just appreciate it for what it is.

Now that you're out of the competition, who are you rooting for, Laura or Nicole?

Oh, that's hard! Okay. So, I don't think it's a secret, Laura and I are BFFs forever. [Laughs] But, I mean, I love Nicole, and they both have strengths in separate places. I mean, Laura is super commercial, but she has this really, like, conformative [sic] look, I mean, she can look like a million different people. And I think she's really proven that. She has such a strong walk. But with Nicole, she just naturally has it, you know? Like, I said, jokingly, on a previous episode, I was like, "Nicole is the perfect model, she's got everything she needs, and, you know, she's the hardest competition there is." I mean, they're both so hard to go up against. And that's why I got kicked off, because of them. So [laughs] it's hard to say how it's going to end, you know?

When do you and Laura get to head back to Maui?

You know what, I will keep you posted! [Laughs] I'm waiting to hear about that as well.

There should be a TV special about the adventures you guys have down there.

I think so! Because we are really just going to rock everyone's socks off. So it's going to be pretty amazing.

What's in the future for you now?

I'm looking for agencies, and I'm going to get my SAG card. I'm SAG-eligible now, so I'm going to get my SAG card and then just start workin' it, you know? Like what other choice do I have? This is just such a great jumping-off point for me, so I'm just going to take it and run.

Oh yeah, you have an obligation to society to work it.

Don't I?

Yes, totally.

I mean, seriously!

Thank you so much Jennifer, it was a pleasure to watch you this season, and we wish you all the best.

Aww, thank you!



-Meghan Carlson, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Image courtesy of the CW