Top Model Gossip

ANTM Interview with Dominique Reighard

by Erin on May 10th, 2008

I know this is a bit late (I interviewed her on Thursday), but better late than never. Dominique Reighard was the latest girl to be eliminated on America’s Next Top Model. I have to say that the show didn’t do her justice. She was spunky and fun and smart during the interview and really seemed to understand that Top Model is entertainment.

Jim DeYonker /The CW. © 2008
The CW Network LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Full interview below the jump!

Tell us how you got involved in Top Model.

It started a long time ago, since cycle 1. I’d been watching the show and I wanted to do this. I knew I could do this. Even when I was a little girl, I wanted to model. I tried out 5 times and finally, I made it in Cycle 10.

What was your favorite experience in Rome?

It was when we first got off the plane and they took us all around Rome. We got to embrace all the history and culture there and they let us
take pictures of everything. We saw the Colosseum and all the architecture and all the history and that was really fun.

Have you been watching the show and watching yourself on it? What do you think?

Oh my god, it’s so entertaining!!! (laughs) I’ve been cracking up and enjoying it. It’s been a really great cycle, a really entertaining cycle and I’m just so glad that I got to be part of it.

Do you feel that you were portrayed accurately on the show?

I feel that I was portrayed accurately. But at the same time there was a lot of stuff let out. And if you had seen everything, a lot more stuff
would make sense. But yeah that’s me! All my friends would say so. I’m grounded and I’m confident, so for me to look silly on tv that’s fine. I just hope people enjoyed watching me as much as I enjoyed watching myself!

What was the best advice you received on the show?

Something that stuck for a while with me was when Elle Macpherson was there and we did the boat photo shoot. Elle told us stories about her life when she was a model, about this industry, and how people can be mean. You have to keep your grace and integrity, because at the end of the day people are always going to put you down in this industry. You always need to be positive and open and keep that grace and positivity. Elle was so encouraging for me.

What’s next for you now that the show is over?

I plan on doing a whole lot right now! Modeling, acting,correspondence work, I’m thinking about my own clothing line. I just want to get involved
in everything in this industry. This is what I love to do. It’s so exciting and this is a very exciting time for me. I’m moving to LA!!!

Did photographing Paulina help you as a model?

Oh definitely. When I was on the other side of the camera, I found that it’s a lot of work. Just as hards as it is to be model. The most important thing I learned from that was how important it was for the model and the photographer to connect. You need to do that in order to get the shot you need. Obviously I have a lot to learn because I’m a terrible of photographer! It’s important to be well-rounded in this industry and know what it’s like to be a photographer.

How did you feel to be constantly compared to a transvestite and drag queens? Did it bother you?

No, of course not! It’s just so funny people always say stuff about you you can’t let get it to you. I embrace it because transvestites are some of the most beautiful women in the world. Why should I be insulted by that? They carry themselves better than most women do, they dress well, they are confident and they love who they are. They are so beautiful, so I really took it as a compliment.

What was it like to work with Nigel?

I was soooooooooo nervous because at the end of the day, Nigel always had a good thing say about me at panel. So I wanted to impress him and give him a reason to keep supporting me. But it was difficult because everyone dropped the ball on that photo shoot, and I guess I didn’t know what they wanted me to do. I was disappointed I couldn’t nail it, but at the same time it was a wonderful to work with him.

Were you expecting to be eliminated?

I can’t say I disagree or agree. Everything in life happens for a reason. Do I feel that the winner is going to be more successful than me? No. Should I be embarrassed or ashamed? No. I made it really really far, almost to the last episode. It’s all about my ambition and my confidence and I know that I’m going to be successful and go far regardless of when I left the show.

Why didn’t the girls seem to like you?

You know what? There were times when we didn’t get along, but being on the show was a great experience for me. I have tons of personality and I’m really high strung and sometimes that is taken in a different way. So by being on this show, I learned that I need to step outside myself and recognize that people react to different personalities differently. At the same time, I think the girls were intimidated by me and my confidence. A lot of them weren’t as confident and self-assured as I am and I think, in the heat of the competition, that that got to them.

Why do you refer to yourself in third person so often? Were you aware of it before the show?

I think I got it from Tyra and watching Top Model! She talks about herself in third person all the time! But yeah, I do it and it’s cool and it’s not a big deal. I’ll work on it the day somebody confronts Tyra about it and makes her work on it.

Do you have any regrets from the show?

I can honestly say no. I don’t have any regrets. I learned so much from being on the show. How can you day you have regrets when with every experience on this show, I grew from it, it made me a better person and definitely a better model! I learned so much and am so grateful for everything.

What did you learn on the show?

So much! It was like model boot camp! As a model, I had a crash course on what it’s like to be a top model in the industry. I learned how to pose and how to know how to use my angles, what works, what doesn’t work, how to behave appropriately on set, I learned about commercial, catalogue, couture, I learned how to step outside the box. I learned how to be a model. I’m so ready for this industry!!

Who do you plan on keeping in touch with from the show?

I plan on keeping in touch in everyone. I shared something so special with everyone. We shared this amazing in experience. no on else know what
this cycle was like. We are the only fourteen girls to have gone through this and this experience ties us together. All the girls were fantastic and I just feel so lucky to have been apart of this.

Who would you like to see win?

I can’t say who I’d like to see win. I just got sent home. We all have to sit down and watch next week. I’m so excited. I really can’t say. Fatima, Anya and Whitney all bring something different and unique to the table. I’m just going to watch, have a big old party and see who wins!

How did you feel about your makeover?

I have my long hair back in. But sometimes I wear my hair short. I like to switch it up. I’m a diva. I was excited my makeover, I embraced it. I wanted to show the judges that I can rock anything and that I’m ready for anything because I am. Plus I love changing my look. Now I want bangs. Will I stay blonde? I don’t know. It’s whatever I feel like.

Which photo shoot was your favorite and which was your least favorite?

My favorite photo shoot was definitely the one with Tyra. It was an awe moment for me. Finally, I’m being acknowledged, I’m showing what I can really do, and I showed Tyra what I can do it right in front of her face. I can’t be denied. I kept on giving her something different. She was really impressed and I was impressed and it’s the photo shoot that captured my abilities as a model best.

My least favorite photo shoot was the one on the boat. It was really awkward I don’t know what I was thinking about. I should have kept my behind up. It was ugly and uncomfortable and I have no idea what I was thinking.

Can you explain why you called Whitney a racist. Do you still stand behind that?

I apologize for it. I apologized to her for it. She said a lot of derogatory comments that didn’t air. Our argument was more of an argument about her disrespecting other people in general. She wasn’t attacking me personally, but she had a lot of disrespect for other people. But no one was standing up to her so I felt I had to. In the proper context, I didn’t call her a racist I said that I could call her a racist based on the things she was saying. I did apologize later but that didn’t air. But yeah. She made A LOT of inappropriate comments that were really out of place and she should be embarrassed.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the final three contestants?

They are all so great. Whitney, for her to win, it would be really big. We’ve never had a plus-sized girl go this far and it would be amazing to see her win it, if only for that reason. Anya has a natural ability to pose and she does it really well. She also looks exotic and can bring a different look to the modeling world. Fatima is exotic and beautiful and can pose. As for weaknesses, all three girls need to work on their walks. Tyra is missing out on one fierce runway without me or Katarzyna. We were definitely the strongest walkers in the house. But these three, they need work. This walk-off is going to be so entertaining! Whoa, that was really mean! (laughs) But it’s definitely the weakest trait in all three.

How did you feel about the judges picking on your outfits during panel?

My orange outfit as awful. What was I thinking? Honestly, I ran out of clean clothes and just threw clothes on. We’re overseas, we’re insanely busy with the competition, we don’t have time for laundry! But leaving the house I didn’t think it looked that bad. Then when I saw it on tv! I was like “oh my god I look awful!” Everyone has permission to critique my outfits, they were hideous.

Thank you for talking to us Dominique!

Thank you!

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POSTED IN: ANTM Episode Resources, America's Next Top Model Cycle 10, Top Model Interviews