ANTM Interview: Clark Gilmer

Yesterday, I sat in on a conference call with Clark Gilmer, the most recent eliminee from America’s Next Top Model. The southern belle chatted about why her elimination was a complete surprise, what it’s like to be a brunette, who she wants to see go all the way and who in the house she just didn’t like. You’ll be surprised at her answers!

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Full Q&A is below the jump!

Miss the episode? Read the recap here!

Tell us how you got involved in Top Model.

I’m a big procrastinator. I was online catching up on latest Gossip Girl news on the CW website. I saw that you could still try out for ANTM. I clicked the link, filled out an application and sent in the video in. This was all 24 hours before the deadline, but I guess it worked because it got me on the show!

What did you learn from your experiences on the show?

Going into it, I had modeled before. When you have experience like that, you think you know what you’re doing until you meet with real top models like Tyra Banks and Paulina Porizkova. Then, everything you thought you knew goes out the window. You don’t know anything. You have to teach yourself everything all over again because what you thought you knew was wrong. Like, Tyra taught me angles that I didn’t even know about and expressions I never did before. It’s great to learn from the best of the best, it made me a better model.

Why do you think the judges kept Joslyn over you?

I don’t know! I was confused about that. Tyra said that Joslyn started off strong and got weaker and I started off weak and got stronger. I had the number one photo last week. I thought the judges were looking for girls who were progressing and getting better and better, not the other way around. I guess she gave more personality and energy to the photo shoot than I did. Who knows?

I was really surprised to go, especially after having the best photo from the week before. It gives you a feeling of immunity, but obviously that’s completely wrong. While I didn’t do very well in the disaster shoot, I figured the judges would know I’m improving and give me another chance.

Do you have any regrets from your time on the show?

No, I don’t have any. The things I say, that’s just how I am. I’m a very blunt and honest person. That’s how my friends know me. I’m the girl that says what everyone else is thinking. With Isis, everyone was thinking exactly what I was thinking, but no one would say it because it isn’t “politically correct.” But I’m a straight-up person. I call them like I see them. And I don’t do it behind anyone’s back. I said what I said to Isis, she knows how I feel.

How did you feel about Isis?

We got along, but I was really uncomfortable with the fact that Isis is a boy. I had only hear of people like that in my psychology class. I never thought I would ever come in contact with a he/she. It threw me for a loop and freaked me out. When I would shower or whatever, sometimes there would be a ball of duck tape from Isis in the garbage can and that just freaked me out.

What did you write in your goodbye letter to the girls?

I wrote a personal message to everyone. I told Marjorie to go for it, because she’s really hesitant about everything. I told Lauren Brie that she’s my best friend here. I wrote something to everyone, except Sheena because I had nothing to say to her.

I don’t care for Sheena. Everything they showed about her on tv is exactly right. She’s trashy and classless. We were raised completely differently. I’m a good old southern girl who knows class and she’s the least classy person I’ve ever met in my life.

Do you feel you were portrayed accurately on the show?

Yeah, absolutely. I’m not going to lie. I’m a confident girl, not a cocky girl though. Some people mistake confidence for cockiness. It’s looked down upon when a girl knows that she’s good at something. But I know my weaknesses too. That’s how you grow as a person. But why should someone put their time and money and effort into you if you don’t believe in yourself? You need to make it worth their time.

My friends didn’t think it was real, they were all “you’re nothing like that, Clark!” But I told them that while that’s not what I am in like in real life, it’s a competition and that’s who I am in a competitive setting. Yes, I’m friends with the girls on the show, but they are my competitors too and you need to be aware of that. If I’m not competing against you, I’m the sweetest girl you would ever meet. Me as a friend and me on the show are two completely different people.

Did you keep your makeover? And how did it feel to go from blonde to brunette?

Oh my gosh. Blondes have more fun! Definitely. I feel so much smarter as a brunette. People definitely take me more seriously and people don’t joke around with me as much. It’s so weird, just walking in a room, people don’t notice you as much than they would with platinum highlights. But it’s a good thing, you have to rely on your personality. I’m still a brunette, but it was such a change to get used to. Your hair has so much to do with your life. I had to buy all new makeup because it didn’t match my hair. I can wear purple and red now, where I couldn’t do as a blonde. But wow, yeah. It’s so different and you wouldn’t think it should be and it shouldn’t be, but it is. I’m still me, though! Everyone else has seen me as the blonde that I am on the inside. It’s such an adjustment in life. You would never think that your hair color could change your attitude towards life, but it does.

How do you smile with your eyes?

That was my question in the beginning! I didn’t figure it out until I knew how to do it myself. You squint and cover up the white below your pupil, and this brings up your lower lid. It’s squinting and staring down what you are looking at hard. You have to focus on what you’re picturing and stare it down. You can’t just stand there and stare, you have to show it in your face. Your eyes are the window to your soul and you need to show that.

Did you like your picture this week?

I didn’t do the greatest, but I don’t think I did the worst. I’m a really hard critic of myself and I would straight up tell you if my picture sucked. The first week, with the bureaucracy, that picture sucked. I hated that picture. But this picture, with the blackout, I think it was good. I’m going to put it in my portfolio. Joslyn should have gone home with her picture. It was terrible.

Are you going to purse modeling?

For sure. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I modeled when I was a few months old, when I was in diapers for a local hospital. But, even starting at such a young age, it’s not pushed by my parents at all. This is something I wanted to do since I was in the womb. My parents are worried about me. They don’t want me to get hurt. My mom is afraid of my getting rejected, but I’m a tough girl! I can handle it. I definitely plan on pursuing modeling, especially now that I know the ins and outs of it.

I love the runway. It’s my favorite, but whoever signs me, it’s up to them as to what I do within modeling. If an agent sees me kicking butt in commercials, that’s what I’ll do. But I do want to do high fashion and editorial photo shoots. You don’t have to fit into this mould there, you can just go crazy with it and make an awesome picture.

Who would you like to see win the competition?

Naturally, I’m friends with most of the girls, so anyone who wins is fine with me. I am in awe of Elina’s bone structure. It’s very European and it’s gorgeous. She is going to go really far in high fashion. But Lauren Brie is my best friend in the house and I want to see her go all the way. She had one of the best photos in Top Model history, which is huge. She can do commercial as well as high fashion and I can see her going all away.

How did you feel about Elina’s crush on you?

I didn’t know it for the longest time. When we kissed in the hot tub, I had no idea. To me, it was a funny friend thing to do. But afterwards, I was in the kitchen with Hannah. Hannah was like “Did you know Elina likes you?” I was like, “I like her too.” She was like, “No she likes likes you.” And I was like, “I like like her too.” And finally Hannah was like “Uh, she had a crush on you.” I had no idea, but it became a joke between everyone. When we got on the bus to go to panel, it was like, “Clear a spot by Elina, Clark wants to sit there!” Elina told the other girls she would get up early and come watch me put on makeup and loved how I moved and how I dressed, which is kinda weird. But I took it as a compliment. A weird compliment, but a compliment, nonetheless.

Who was your biggest competition in the house?

It really varied week to week who was my biggest competition. You always looked at the week before and who had the top photo, but that always changes. And, as we know, having the top photo doesn’t mean anything the next week. Overall, my biggest competition was Lauren Brie, as weird as that sounds. It’s also weird that she’s one of my best friends in the house and one of my biggest competitors. But I only say that she’s one of my competitors because we come into photo shoots with the same mindset and bring the same energy. We were raised very much the same and have the same attitude about a lot of stuff and the same outlook on things. It’s what makes us friends, but also makes us similar models. When we got the makeovers and I got brown hair and she got blonde hair, that really calmed my nerves and set us apart. But until that point, it was stressful. During the semi-finals, when Lauren Brie was called, I didn’t think I would be called because we look so much alike. But I made it in the house.

Now watching the show, it’s so easy to see the there’s stuff I would change. It was the best experience in my life. I met some amazing people and worked with amazing photographers. We shot with Russell James and that’s huge! He shot the cover of Sports Illustrated for Pete’s sake.

You do you think has the least potential to be a model?

In the beginning, I thought Marjorie didn’t have a chance and Isis. But Marj got the number one photo the first week, and that theory went out the window quick! I just don’t see Isis going anywhere as a model. Her body just isn’t like the rest of us. She still has she has a man’s body. Her waist goes straight down and her face is too manly. I know that masculine features are good in modeling, but a feminine manly. Hers is manly manly. You can tell she has a condition, just when you look at her. She doesn’t have a strong runway walk and she has a lot of insecurities about what to hide and what to cover up. Even if you aren’t a swimsuit model, you are going to be in a swimsuit from time to time. As a model, you need to be ready for anything and Isis isn’t.

Thank you for speaking with us today!

Anytime!