It was a bumpy ride for America's Next Top Model contestant, Lisa, this season.  She has gone from the bottom of the pack to the top and then, was eliminated on last week's episode in China.  Early on, she took a lot of heat from the other models for once holding a job as an exotic dancer.  Lisa was determined to prove that she deserved to be there and certainly earned her place among the cycle 9 models.  On last week's episode, the girls had to do both a Cover Girl photo shoot and commercial.  Despite a disappointing performance from Heather, Tyra felt that she had more to offer as a model than Lisa and sent her on a flight back home.  Today, Lisa talked to BuddyTV about Bianca's bullying and Jenah's amazing pictures. 

Below, you will find the complete transcript and mp3 of the interview.

Hey everybody. It's Gina from BuddyTV, and today I'm talking to Lisa, who was eliminated last week on America's Next Top Model.  Can you tell me if modeling was always something you wanted to do growing up?

I wanted to be a model when I hit around age 12, and I was taller than everybody else and wasn't good at basketball. I had to figure out something to do with my height. I would look at models and see how beautiful they were, and I never found myself beautiful so I would really look up to that. I think that's when I really started thinking that one day maybe I could be a model.


Was this your first year trying out for the show, and did you go to an open call?

Yeah, it was my first year because I had to wait until I was of age and I had my citizenship. I went down to the open call as soon as I had the opportunity, and then I got picked and I just kept getting call backs. I got lucky.


Early on in the beginning, you were getting a little bit of heat from some of the contestants for being a dancer. Can you talk a little bit about how you were feeling when you first started?

Well, I wanted people to know I was a dancer because I didn't want somebody to try to bring that up down the road. I felt like I should have told everybody, but then looking back I wish I hadn't. I thought that throughout the competition people might try to use that against me, and when Bianca brought that up in the beginning I felt like she was trying to say that because I was a dancer I was not worthy to be a model. At first I was upset, but then I think I proved that I was more than just a dancer and that I could be a model. It never really came up again.


It seemed like Bianca went from targeting you to targeting Heather. What was your opinion of the way Heather was treated in the house? Or at least how it was shown on TV?

I think on TV it could be a little bit exaggerated, because there were times when we all did get along and we would do things with Heather. I don't think all the focus was on Heather like they try to make it seem. I was aware of Bianca's feelings toward Heather, but I didn't know that it was to the extent it was until I watched the episodes and kept seeing the confessionals and things like that.


Is there a lesson that you learned from being on the show? Is there something that you really learned about yourself?

Actually, yeah. It was funny, I actually learned it after watching the show more than when I was on it. I saw myself. Not that it was exactly how things were, but I got to see how I was and then I learned that I can be a perfectionist and that I tend to overcritique myself. When I saw it I was like wait, I wasn't even doing that bad! Why was I so hard on myself? I just know that in the future I probably won't be as hard and I'll just let myself make mistakes and be okay with it.


Out of all the photos you took, do you have a favorite one?

The gargoyle photo shoot. That was my favorite just because I think I proved that I could be editorial, because when I would try to model before they always said I was commercial looking. This showed that I could be editorial, step outside the box, and really prove myself.


Is there a model in the house whose photos really impressed you when you were on the show?

Yeah, actually Jenna. You really didn't see a model when you looked at her, but then she performed so well. I guess it's a toss up between her and Heather, because Heather would just naturally take these striking pictures every time. I was impressed by both of them.


You didn't get to spend a whole lot of time in China, but what was it like to be there?

For me, it was amazing. I never dreamed that I would go there, at least not so soon in my life, and I would be like “Wow, I'm on the other side of the world right now.” I would have loved to have stayed, but it was also good to know that I as going home.


What's the goal for you now? Are you still working on modeling and pursuing that as a career?

Yes, I've decided to put myself out there and to start working at it. Even now, I've talked to a couple of photographers and plan on getting another book together. I've even started exercising, since Tyra [Banks] would tell me that as a model you might be slim, but to work on your body. Since I got off the show I've been working on my legs, trying to become stronger and build myself up. So yeah, I'm ready to go and get it started.


Lisa, I just wanted to thank you so much for your time. I really appreciated talking to you, and good luck in the future.

Thank you.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of CW)