ANTM Interview: McKey Sullivan

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to chat with this cycle’s winner of America’s Next Top Model, the strong, smart, athletic and high-fashion McKey Sullivan. She chatted about what it feels like to win, her future plans and more.

Full Q&A is below the jump!

Tell us how you got involved with Top Model.

I have been going to college and living a normal life and I decided that I really wanted to give modeling one last go. I didn’t want to be an old lady, telling my grandchildren that back in the day I could have been a model. I tried out cycle 9 but didn’t make it. I decided to try out one more time. I wanted to give myself until I was 20 to make it in modeling. After that, it was going to be over. So I tried out again for Cycle 11 and I made it.

On the show, you seemed to be quite the boxing enthusiast. Can you talk about that?

It’s a bit of misconception. I’m not a boxer, I do mixed martial arts. The type I do does not have face hits, which is good. It’s more like wrestling. I plan on continuing training, but I’m not competing, due to injury risks. I want to stay in shape and stay toned because that’s important for modeling and my training will help.

Did this background help you on the show?

My martial arts background gave me confidence boost. I had the drive and competitiveness in the past and that could help me in modeling. I have been pushed in the past and pushed myself. I know how to dig deep down and get the best out of myself. I also know and understand how to compete with other people without it affecting me, my personality and my relationships outside the fight or the competition. This helped me when I was modeling to push myself to be the best and to come up with the best photo. A lot of emotions are really similar in martial arts and in modeling. I get frustrated with myself and I’m a quick learner. I think the way I mentally categorize things the same way when I’m modeling and when I’m training. which helps a lot.

What happened the first time you tried out for ANTM?

I thought I did well. But I had an emotional breakdown in my video. I was sobbing ridiculously! I don’t cry so that was weird. I thought I did well, but I want what they were looking for for that cycle. But it all worked out. I went to college and gained perspective and life experience and that let me be a better, stronger person when I tried out for cycle 11. In cycle 11, I was more confident, I had a different demeanor and I experience life differently now.

You are the third winner from Illinois. Why does Illinois produce top models?

We are aggressive people! We go out and get what we want. We are not the kind of people who sit back and take it. We go out and make our place in the world.

When you were in the final 2, what did you think your chances of winning were?

Coming into panel, I felt confident. Before we went into panel, Sam and I hugged each other and wished each other luck. It was all done. We put forth our best effort, and there was nothing left to give. I felt confident before we entered panel. But going through my pictures, I got nervous really quick. This is embarrassing, but I always have to pee when I’m nervous, so I’m just sitting there with my designer gown with my legs crossed thinking, “Please don’t pee in this designer gown!” As judging, went on I got more and more comfortable and stopped shaking so much. I have a confession: I have a neurosis about the number six. So throughout the entire competition, I kept telling myself if I mad eit to the final 3, I’d be fine because 3,2 and 1 are all factors of 6. I guess it worked out!

You said you were always such a tomboy. What led you to modeling in the first place?

I used to be into soccer in a big way, but I had bad injury. I had to have knee surgery and that put me out for over six months. My life revolved around sports and not being able to do anything, I became unhappy and depressed. I wanted to do something, get out there and active again. I didn’t care what it was. I heard of a modeling competition and thought “I can do that. Looking pretty and walking around in heels isn’t that hard.” I entered and I did really well, winning the regional competition. I signed with Elite Chicago and went from there.

What did you think of the runway challenge?

Oh man. We didn’t get any time on runway on the runway before, a couple minutes at the most. It was scary walking on that runway. I wasn’t so scared about slipping, what terrified me was falling off the hill at the top, that would have been disastrous.

Who did you see as your biggest competition in the house and who were your closest friends?

It started out that the closest person to me was Isis, but she wasn’t around for long and I lost my roommate and best buddy in the house. I was pretty close with Joslyn, Sheena and Sam. I’m still closest to Sheena. As soon as casting week started I saw her and thought there was no way I could compete with her. She has this spark and lights up the room. She walks into a room and you can’t help but look at her. As the competition went on at one point I thought Lauren Brie was my biggest competition, and I thought toward the end that Marjorie was my competition because she’s magic in front of the camera.

Are you going to keep the name McKey?

Yes. Brittany never suited me. I am not a Brittany. McKey is more unique and innovative and it’s a way for people to remember me.

Why do you think the judges chose you as the winner?

I think I represent a unique kind of girl. I have a unique and different personality. This helps me in photo shoots, I take a different perspective when interpreting the concept and executing the shot. I think my high-fashion edge helped me. I’m definitely a high-fashion kind og model, but during the Covergirl commercial I showed I can do different kinds of modeling as well. I thought I would struggle during the commercial, but I did well and this solidified the fact I can do lots of different type of modeling.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans or supporters?

I want to give a big thank you to supporters. I never realized that so many people cared about me. I can’t believe the forums and emails and phone calls I’ve read and have been receiving. There has been unbelievable support. I can’t believe it. Honestly, it’s better than winning, knowing I have so many people behind me, pushing me to do well and supporting me in that process.

What are your future plans?

I still want to complete my majors, politics and government, and chemistry and biology, and then go on to med school. I have wonderful teachers and advisors at Ripon College to help me along every step of the way. If I want to take time off, if I planned on it, my advisor said he’ll be there for me. It’s a wonderful school and wonderful people, and it’s been very positive. I hope to model and then go to medical school when that’s over. Everyone has been so supportive that I believe it’s possible.

You had a distinct sense of fashion on the show. What was your transformation from tomby to girly-girl like?

There’s never been a complete shift. It really depends on day and how I’m feeling. I had a wonderful advisor at Elite Chicago who taught me everything there is about presenting yourself and finding your own style and doing your makeup and how to shake people’s hands. That was priceless to me. I learned that you don’t have to dress like a guy to be yourself — you can find a style within the fashion industry that looks like you and feels like you.

What were some of your old tomboy habits?

I still sometimes have this habit of putting my butt on the edge of the chair and sitting with my legs wide open. That’s not very attractive! I also used to try to spit like the guys too, but that didn’t really work out — I didn’t have the same skills. I’m not much of a belcher either. I spent some time trying to spit like the boys, but that didn’t work out. I was raised in a country club setting, so I do have manners, I just didn’t like them very much.

What were some of your favorite moments from the competition?

Oh wow, there are so many. After the swimsuit shoot, was one of the most relaxing experiences of my life. Working with the photographer was natural. He let you relax and get into what you are doing. I always had a character behind each shoot and tried to get into the story and figure out what the character would do at that moment and he really let me feel the character and explore her in that shoot.

The princess party was hilarious. I never attend a princess party before, I was not fond of tiaras! The skit Tyra and Miss J did was hilarious and cheesy and amusing at same time. The whole experience was so much fun and it was really great to relax and have fun with the girls.

Have you had a chance to talk to Whitney? Has she given you any advice?

The best advice she gave me was actually at the first Covergirl shoot. We were talking about Dominique and Whitney was telling us how she wouldn’t have made it as far if she didn’t hold herself the way she did in panel. Every time the judges said something bad about her, Dominique just brushed it off — I think that helped me a lot because it kept me from doing anything really bad at panel. Dominique listened and took it in. She wasn’t brushing off it a way that was rude or condescending but rather in a way that was “hey, I sucked. Let’s laugh about it because there’s nothing I can do about it now, but I’m going to learn from this and improve upon it next time.” It made me realize that I can acknowledge I did badly, but still present myself with poise and confidence.

How did it feel to never be in the bottom two?

Never being in the bottom two really helped confidence. It was a goal of mine going into house. I did not want to be in bottom two. I have ambition and I set high goals for myself. I know it’s a huge thing to think going into house, but I kept pulling it off. This was very special to me and it kept me going.

How did you feel when you found out Isis was getting her reassignment surgery?

I was so happy, words cannot express it. Isis has had a really hard life, and to think that we’re the same age is just unbelievable because she seems wise beyond her years. Something so great is going to happen to her, and she gets to be really what she wants to be. Nobody deserves it more than her. Something so great is happening to her and now she can enjoy life however she wants.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I just want to say that I’m so thankful to my friends and family for sticking through me and being supportive all the way. They’re the best. My mom bought me a puppy to travel with, and This has been the best experience ever.

Thank you for speaking with us today!

Thank you!