We've seen photos of the lucky shorties who will compete in this cycle of America's Next Top Model, but we haven't gotten to hear much from the models just yet. With identities of the chosen 14 now out in the open, the local papers of two finalists, Rachael Weisz and Laura Kirkpatrick, got the chance to ask the girls about their modeling goals and experiences while  filming ANTM this spring.

Check out their interviews after the jump. Two very different backgrounds and personalities--it should be interesting to see Rae and Laura together when ANTM premieres September 9 on the CW!

Rochester, MN native Rachael Weisz, 21, who goes by Rae, spoke with her local paper the Rochester Post-Bulletin about her experience on America's Next Top Model Cycle 13, which filmed this spring:

How did you get your start in modeling?

Rae: When I was a young girl, I modeled for several local and national ad campaigns. I only recently made the decision to get back into the industry. But this experience was far different from anything I had done in the past.

Were you ever discouraged by your height since being tall is often a requirement in modeling?

Rae: It may be true that in some aspects of high fashion, height serves as an advantage, but it isn't everything. A proper mindset, the ability to adapt, and professionalism can make up for such shortcomings -- that's not an intended pun.

How did you react when you found out you'd been selected for America's Next Top Model?

Rae: To be quite honest, I felt ambivalent -- excited for the opportunity I was being given to gain valuable experience in the industry, but also apprehensive because of the sacrifices I knew it would require of me.

Did you make any special preparations to be on the show?

Rae: Well, I very much like to read so I had to make sure I had enough books for the time I would be away. There was also the very difficult task of preparing myself to be away for so long from the people I love.

What was being on the show like?

Rae: Imagine being videotaped all the time. That is what it was like.

What will you take away from the judges' critiques?

Rae: I will look to take their critiques and apply them toward my work. None of the comments, no matter how harsh, were intended personally. It's simply about improving.

What was it like being away from your daughter?

Rae: Any mother who loves her child knows what it is like to be away from him or her for any measure of time. Words are incapable of providing an adequate description.

Where will you be for the show's premiere? Any special plans for watching it?

Rae: Well, in a way I've already seen the show, you know, having been in it. I'll likely watch it in a quiet environment away from too much pomp and circumstance. 

Laura Kirkpatrick, the cow castrating farm girl featured in one of the CW's latest promos for this ANTM season, also answered questions about this season with her hometown Kentucky paper:

What were your interests growing up and what do you like to do in Stanford?

Laura: I told my parents since I was little that I wanted to be a model. I drove them crazy with it. I always dressed different than most girls and didn't follow any crowds. I love the farm, it's very peaceful. I work so hard some days that I hate the work and I want to pack up and sell it all, but then a little baby calf is born or my belly is full from the corn and beans I just picked and it makes it all worth it. I paint all the time -- my grandmother is my biggest fan. She thinks all my paintings are priceless. I love to do my artwork, and I'm always pushing to do even better then my last painting. I love to hang with the guys playing paintball, football and goofing off. It's like I have a hundred big brothers and now they all want to meet my hot model friends!

Have you modeled in the past? When did you become interested in it and how did you get into it? Is this something you dreamed of doing from a young age?

Laura: I have always always always wanted to be a model. My biggest dream is to work for Victoria's Secret! I had always watched "ANTM" ("America's Next Top Model"). The week before I auditioned in Chicago, I had gone to New York to meet with agencies and try to be signed. They all told me I was too short. Some even said they would sign me if I wasn't so short. I cried so hard on the dirty streets of N.Y., but I never gave up. And then I heard "ANTM" was looking for people 5'7" and under to audition and I thought it was a joke so I Googled it and saw it was true! So me and my mom bought an old Cadillac for $200. We didn't even know if it would make it there, but we drove up to Chicago where I tried out. It took two days, and I was there from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. They just kept calling my number, then before I knew it I was off to L.A. I remember there was so many beautiful girls that I thought should have been models, and I can still see them peel off their number and hang their head and walk out. The whole thing was very emotional. I remember praying the whole time, saying "God, please just get me through one more round," and he did.

Had you watched the show before you auditioned?

Laura: All the time. Me and my dad and sister tape them all! My dad gets so into it, and now you can only imagine how much he can't wait to watch it this fall starting Sept. 9.

What was the process of getting on the show like? How many auditions/tryouts did you have to go through?

Laura: I went to Chicago to try out. It took two days and so many rounds I lost count.

Do you worry about how you are portrayed? Did you feel like you were representing your hometown/state/region?

Laura: I'm a little nervous, when you film 24/7 you know they had to catch something embarrassing. I believe I represented Kentucky proudly, though. I didn't want them to think any stereotypes of Kentucky. They loved my accent; they called it the gentleman's language because they said Kentucky people were so kind. Being a southern girl you know I'm proud of my God.

Was there any culture shock being in a big city?

Laura: I was from the smallest town out of any of the girls. I think the biggest shock was the food; L.A doesn't have any gravy and biscuits.

What was it like interacting with people from so many different places with such different backgrounds?

Laura: It was so fun meeting such different people from such different places. We are all so different, but yet we all were there for the same dream and dealing with the same struggle of being too short.

Did you make any friends on the show?

Laura: We all wanted to be "ANTM" so bad, but we were all like a big family. We might pick on each other or get mad at one another, but we would never let someone else hurt one of us. When you live with so many girls, you either have to make friends or make yourself and others very unhappy.

Was it hard being that far away from home? Was there anything in particular that you missed? Are you glad to be home?

Laura: It was hard, I missed my family. I'm very close to them, but I was also so busy that I didn't have too much time to think about it. But as soon as I stepped off the plane, I ran across the airport and my body was shaking. My mom, dad, sister and little brother were all waiting for me, and my grandmom had a good ol' country meal waiting for me, and shortly after my dad put me back to work on the farm.

Was it intimidating standing in front of the judges, most of whom are celebrities?

Laura: It was crazy to see the judges. It was like I was still looking through the TV. I'm amazed I could even get anything out of my mouth in front of them.

What was it like to have cameras following you and knowing everything you do could be on national television?

Laura: In L.A., I forgot they were there. Now I look back and say, "Dang, I should of brushed my hair that morning" or "Maybe I should have put some makeup on since everyone is going to see this!!!"

Did anything from your upbringing prepare you particularly well for this experience?

Laura: I believe I've had a semi-hard life. My dad worked very hard to single-handedly raise my sister and I. My mom was in the Navy at the worst possible age for me and my sister. She was in the middle of a war, and I couldn't just pick up the phone and say, "Hey, Mom, I love you and I need your help." I'm dyslexic so I hated school, and I struggled the whole time. I remember sitting in my seat sunk down in my chair in class thinking "please don't pick me to read out loud in class." I believe if I didn't go through all of that to make me strong in life then I wouldn't have been able to handle the stress in L.A. It's hard for anyone to become a model, but when you're trying to be a model and your kinda short and you're doing it on national TV, that's a lot of stress. I've always been hard on myself to do better.

What is the biggest thing(s) you learned from the experience?

Laura: I've learned that sometimes you have got to get out of your comfort zone to make your dreams come true. I didn't want to leave my family and friends or do things on national television that I had never done before, but I knew I wasn't going to be a model staying here in Kentucky.

-Meghan Carlson, BuddyTV Staff Writer

Image courtesy of the CW