Renee seemed to be pretty vocal about her doubts about the plus-size possibilities; how did this make you feel and did the other girls discuss this or were they relatively supportive?

Well I’ve been basically informing all of the reporters that that was not real. Renee was simply mocking all the other girls because prior to that little scene that was shown that night, that little clip, all of us girls got into this huge heated debate about that very subject. And Renee was very supportive of me and Whitney and she was on our side. She was helping us make our point. So when we got back to the house Renee was simply…it was like joking, like hahaha, you know, mocking what the other girls were saying. It’s just the editing. I don’t know if the editor knew that it was a joke. Once the camera guy figured out that they were joking around they stopped filming so when the editor got the footage he was like, oh great we can put this in, when in reality, that’s not how it happened. It’s funny too that after they show the clip of Whitney and Renee and that whole situation, they show me talking to Whitney and Jael peaking her head up from under the blanket and me being like, I’m so mad and yadayada or whatever I said. When that happened, I was mad at something completely different that happened a week prior, and the funny thing with editing is that they can do that and they show it like that, and you know, that’s how people, viewers, see it and think its real and it is supposed to be quote unquote; it’s just reality TV and it’s not all real all the time.

Did it get annoying to always be associated with "plus-size?" Do you feel like it might have been hard for the judges to see your individuality because you were constantly being associated with a type?

It was a little bit difficult, especially with the judges because as you know nobody’s perfect all the time, nobody’s happy all the time, every single person has insecurities. So if you are a plus sized model, or me, I should say, I am a plus sized model; if I show just a little bit of self-doubt or I was having an off-day or I made a comment or something, immediately it would be that I have a problem with my image and that I don’t love myself. And they made comments like that to me on the show during panel, that I don’t love myself, and what are you going to say to them? I could be like, “Oh no, you’re wrong.” And a couple times I did say that, but it wasn’t getting through to them and they just kept going at it. So finally I just said, you know what, you can say what you want to say. So when Tyra asked me a couple episodes ago, “Why are you so into this competition?” all they showed me saying was, “Oh, I don’t know.” It was funny for me, I actually laughed when they showed that clip because I did say more than that. I don’t remember my response exactly, but it was pretty good and it was valid, but they don’t show that. They just show me being like “Oh I don’t know” and me saying “Just ‘cuz” because they want to make me into this type of character that’s unsure of herself and everything. But the people who know me know how I really am. And they only showed one side of my personality; in that they only showed me laid back, quiet, to myself, introverted…but I’m not.

Do you feel like it would ever be possible for a plus-size model to actually win this competition?

Well I would hope so, maybe down the road and what not. I still have hopes for Whitney so we’ll see what happens with that. I am rooting for her to win because she can represent that for the both of us and I told her when I left yesterday that “You better win it, you better take it all.” So I’m hoping that she does and that she can represent for the both of us…by being America’s Next Top Model.

Do you stay in touch with any of the girls?

I do speak with Whitney and Renee on occasion and also Natasha once in a while.

You mentioned that you’re rooting for Whitney to win; is there anyone who you would hate to see win?

(Laughs) Oh sneaky, sneaky. Hmm, let’s see. You know, really I would be happy, like I said last night you know, to the girl who wins, congratulations. I no longer have that shot. You know I got to know a lot of the girls and yeah I butted heads with some of them, and yeah I found some of them annoying, but you know, what are you going to do? We were all in this together and as this competition unfolded we got to know each other more, and yeah everybody has their flaws and little things that annoy you, but you learn to love and accept them for who they are. I’ll be happy no matter who wins.

So what are your plans now? Do you plan to pursue modeling or are there other career options that you are considering?

I would like to pursue modeling as soon as I possibly can and begin working on my portfolio and doing all kinds of stuff in that aspect. I am back in school, I figure I have a year left, I might as well just finish. If the modeling thing takes off, then I would go on hiatus from school for a while.

Do you have any final thoughts about last night, the show, or your experience in general?

I had a really amazing time, I met amazing people, learned a lot about myself, became more confident in who I am…which is ironic considering that it was just negative comments that I got from the judges. I came back home and my friends and family saw a complete change in me. I was just growing and I was just so incredibly confident, and that’s just a blessing, so the whole thing was just a blessing in disguise. I feel very fortunate to have been able to be a part of this experience on Top Model and I just wish all the girls the best of luck.

(Interview conducted by Royce Yuen)

Part One / Part Two