ANTM Interview: Analeigh Tipton

Today, I was lucky enough to interview all three finalists of America’s Next Top Model. (The interviews will roll out slowly as I finish transcribing them!) First up is second-runner-up Analeigh Tipton. I honestly thought Analeigh was going to make it to the top two. Here, she chats about McKey’s win, her competition and what’s next for her.

©2008 Pottle Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Full Q&A is below the jump!

How did you get involved in the competition?

I auditioned for cycle nine. I was recruited from a model website and went over there. I made callbacks, but I wasn’t flown to LA. For cycle 11, another person found my myspace, and asked me to audition in LA and I did. I eventually made it to the house. So I was actually scouted both times, and I finally got in.

How did you feel about McKey’s win?

I was really excited, honestly, but I would really have liked to see Sam up there too. I know Sam put everything into the competition too, and worked so hard. They’re both great girls, so I’m happy. Hopefully she’ll work and do the title proud.

Did you expect to do so well?

I definitely HOPED going in that I was going to do really well. But every week is so nerve-wracking, and every elimination brings new fears. I never knew what to expect, or how well I’d be doing. So when I made the final three, I could — not exactly breathe — but be, like, I’m in the top 3, and that’s really incredible.

Marjorie said you weren’t portrayed entirely accurately on the show. Do you agree with that, and how do you feel about your portrayal?

I don’t agree entirely…I thought the way the girls were portrayed was accurate. They definitely focus really intensely on one aspect of your personality, so other things get lost. For example, Clark really did have a sweet side, but they didn’t focus on that, and they focused intensely on my sweet side. I think I’m a stronger person than just a peace-loving thing, but that’s how they wanted to go. I think what she meant is that they focused intensely on just one aspect of their personality, and that’s limiting. We all had a positive experience, I think.

Towards the end of competition, the judges were saying you should look at acting. What did you think of that? Is that something you want to pursue?

I think I will try to pursue both modeling and acting. I will definitely modeling on the more commercial side, which spills into acting. I love doing both so much. It’s kind of ironic that the last thing Tyra said was “You should go into acting!” when I was kind of eliminated because of my commercial. I love acting, I love modeling, hopefully I can do both.

You have a background in ice skating. Was there anything you used for your advantage?

Throughout the competition, I believe it was the mentality that helped me. It was being able to not look at the other girls and compete with them, but compete with myself. In skating, you compete with yourself, and how well you’re doing, so I really brought that to the competition. I had that background of being so competitive through my entire life, so that helped. The posing made it a challenge at first, as I took everything so literally. Mr. Jay helped me in taking my 3D poses, and making them 2D.

Was it weird not being on skates when doing theatrical things?

It was so weird! It was really frustrating, people kept saying “Use your figure skating!” But it’s a whole other ball game when you have to bring that to a photo. I think people were expecting this ballerina thing, but figure skating is different than that. It’s more athletic. I think once I just relaxed, and started to more mix the skating with modeling, it worked better.

What’s more intense: figure skating outfits or modeling outfits and make-up?

Modeling hands-down! Though I have had some crazy figure skating outfits! One time I had to wear a big unicorn head. I got really dizzy and could barely see and it was intense! But I think some of the hair and make-up I had during the competition was more exaggerated and crazy than figure skating outfits could ever be.

After doing so well in the first commercial, how did it feel to not perform at the same level in the second commercial?

It felt like crap, to be honest. I disappointed myself. I was so excited for the Covergirl commercial. I knew I could rock it. They could pick on my modeling, but I knew they liked the way I acted. But then I got on set, and it was NOTHING, and my heart was breaking, and I couldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t remember the lines, when before I had them down PERFECTLY. I just couldn’t get over the fact I was blowing it.

What did you think your chances were of making top two after the commercial?

All the girls said they didn’t do well on their commercials, so I really wasn’t sure. I knew Sam and McKey had such strong features so I knew their photos would turn out well. I think I knew that McKey would go through, but I really wasn’t sure between Sam and I. I got into panel, saw my picture and commercial, and my critique was bad, but so was Sam’s. So I really had no idea until Tyra spoke to both of us. After she said her bit to me, I just closed my eyes, and I knew that was going. But until then, I still had a strong belief I could still be in the running.

How do you think you would have done on the crazy runway?

The runway is one of my strongest things. I think I had one of the best runway walks. I don’t think they showed it, but Tyra said I had the best way back during the last panel. I knew I could do that runway so well, but Sam and McKey rocked it as well. I think it would have been a blast for me to do it too.

How did you feel about your makeover? Did you keep it?

I’m still pretty blonde! I miss my brown hair, that’s my natural color, and I never had it this blond before. I kinda feel a little more average California now, whereas before I felt more… unique. I miss my brown hair. I thought they were going to go darker on me, but then I opened my eyes and… blonde. But blonde hair matches clothing so much better, so it’s okay.

Did you feel that you got enough training throughout the competition from the judges?

They gave really good information back, and it’s really helpful. You can’t take everything that they say to heart. You have to find yourself in what they’re saying. Some of it can be overwhelming, but you definitely learn a lot. I think modeling is really kind of a long learning process. So many times and aspects and situations, there’s no way you can learn how to be a perfect model. There is no such thing as a perfect model, because nobody fits everything.

How did you feel about the Go-sees in the boat? Was it difficult to get around?

Oh, goodness. When they told us the go-sees were going to be in a boat, all of us had this dreadful look. We knew how expansive the city was, and how slow the boats can be. The boats were really frustrating, because they only went so fast, and you really had to schedule your time carefully. I played it safe and only made it to three designers, but I ended up winning the challenge because of that, because I didn’t go over time. On the other hand, it was a really great way to get out there and see the city, so that was really great.

What was your favourite photo shoot throughout the entire competition?

There were a lot that were good. I had a few favourites. My top two were ironically not the ones I did the best on. My first favourite was the beach shoot with the bathing suit, that I shot in the water. It was such a relaxed day, and everyone was happy. All the girls were sitting out and tanning. It was really the first time we all got to relax together. Of course, I ended up in the bottom two, but it was still a fun shoot! My second favourite was the shoot with Tyra. It was really down to earth, and she’s a great photographer. It was the first time we got to show our ability to Tyra, which was great but also intense and nerve-wracking. And I loved the high fashion side, with the hair and the make-up and the crazy poses.

Do you like that kind of high fashion in comparison to more commercial shoots?

I like both. I like the make-up and the hair and the crazy outfits of high fashion. But I think I’m better at commercial. So I think I’ll get to do some of both. I like both aspects, and I can’t really choose.

What did you think of Paulina’s comment that your Covergirl photo looked like a headshot?

Lots of judges said my face was too commercial and not strong enough. It was hard to hear, because what can I do about it? This is my face, it was what I was given. I happen to like my face! It wasn’t a very helpful critique, because it wasn’t like “This isn’t a great angle for you” but rather “we don’t like your face”, but I took it as best I could. And, hey, maybe I will use it as a headshot, because I definitely will be pursuing acting. [laughs]

Marjorie said during her interview last week that you overreacted during the party. Did you think you were doing the right thing?

The boys were EXTREMELY drunk, falling down stairs and setting things on fire. Marjorie was in the bathtub with her clothes on with a boy with not-the-best intentions. I don’t think I overreacted. I think overreacting would have been screaming for everyone to get out at the top of my lungs and I didn’t do that. I have dealt with people who have constantly been drunk throughout my life, so I knew how to handle the situation. I just didn’t want Marjorie to do something on national television that she would regret.

Thank you for talking to us today!

Thank you!