ANTM Interview: Joslyn Pennywell

I know it took me forever to post this, but better late than never, right? I got the chance to talk to Joslyn Pennywell about her time on ANTM, never giving up on her dream and her future plans.

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Full Q&A is below the jump!

What is it you saw in yourself that made you think you could be America’s Next Top Model?

When people talk to me, I make a connection with them. Anywhere I go, I walk with confidence and I also walk while keeping in mind that I want to put a smile on someone’s face. I love to make people laugh and I guess that’s where my goofiness comes from. I wanted people to remember me for something and I wanted that to be my personality.

How did you feel about your CoverGirl commercial?

I tried to avoid looking as sick as I was feeling because I was feeling very miserable. I felt very weak. I tried out so many times for the show and I didn’t want all of my determination that I put into it to be in vain before I reached my goal, which would be to become America’s Next Top Model. It may be goofy, but I was sitting there for my commercial and I was sick. I was like, “Joslyn, make yourself feel happy then maybe you won’t have that sick look on your face.”

Do you know what was wrong, illness wise?

I had a cold previously, like a couple days before the commercial shoot, but I ended up having to go to the emergency room after I did the commercial. I had gotten dehydrated because I had been vomiting so much. The doctor told me that I obviously had food poisoning or something. So, they gave me medication for the nausea. It had gotten pretty terrible and it weakened me pretty bad.

You tried out for Top Model over 30 times. What kept you going?

I think it can be summed up in one word – faith. I had faith in myself and I knew that if I worked hard, I would be rewarded. I tried out four or five times per season, since Cycle 2. If I didn’t make it for Cycle 11, then you can bet I would have been in line for Cycle 12. I was involved in a reality TV scam that was NOT pleasant, and this guy really did take me for a run. You have to realize that there are creeps out there ready to scam you, and I was definitely scammed, but I still got right back up and tried again!

Why do you think the judges chose Elina over you?

I think the biggest problem that came up for me was I was trying to do the photo shoots sometimes to my liking and did some things that they wanted me to change. When I tried to do that it took away from me and the way I’ve always done things. That was my biggest fallback. What I would end up trying to do at the end of the day was satisfy what they were telling me and still be myself that I was at the beginning. I tried to pick it up, I really did. I was really confident about the commercial. What happened? I don’t know. I did have some bad photos along the way, but I thought that most of my photos were pretty good! My biggest worry the whole time, especially during photo shoots, was that I had to satisfy the judges. Being in the bottom two the first time really showed me that. That’s when I began to get past it, but most of the time, that really did hinder my performance.

You and Elina had some conflict in the house. What were those issues about?

Elina contradicts herself. She’s an environmentalist, yet she smokes cigarettes. She’s against people having pets and she has a cat! She says that pets are slaves and I’m like, “Well, why do you have a pet cat?” It’s like she’s not practicing what she preaches.

Who did you think was your biggest competition?

I started to see great improvement in Sam, but only after she got her haircut. I didn’t see Sam as a threat before she got her haircut, but she somewhat was a threat after she got her haircut. McKey just is a beautiful person in general. Once you get to know her, McKey is a great person.

What was the biggest struggle for you throughout the competition?

Doing the show is overwhelming. It’s a stressful experience, and I was getting tired. I had down times. But I don’t think I was as bad as they made it out to be. I think the biggest problem that came up for me was I was trying to do the photo shoots sometimes to my liking and [did] some things that they wanted me to change,” she told Reality TV World. “When I tried to do that it took away from me and the way I’ve always done things. That was my biggest fallback. What I would end up trying to do at the end of the day was satisfy what they were telling me and still be myself that I was at the beginning. I tried to pick it up, I really did, and I was really confident about the commercial. What happened? I don’t know.

What did you think of what the judges had to say about you?

I don’t value Paulina’s opinion. I did not hear the comments firsthand, but I do object to her comments about me being more of a runway model than an editorial model. Paulina always says some stuff that makes no sense, none whatsoever. But that’s her opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and Paulina has hers. I feel like I’m both runway and print.