Here are some highlights from my interview with Melrose, the runner-up for season seven of America's Next Top Model.
You did such a great job throughout the whole season. Why do you think you ended up not winning?
I don't know. I think Tyra has a vision for her company and I think CariDee fits it better than me.
Do you accept the reasons that they gave for voting you off?
Yes. I have dreams and I plan on reaching all of them and this isn't going to slow me down one bit. It's helping me for sure.
Do you think you were misunderstood by the other girls?
Yes. I felt misunderstood a lot.
Who is the real Melrose and why do you think you ended up being misunderstood?
I'm always learning and I'm a strong person, you know? I think I came off like that probably because people are intimidated by strength. I put myself out there and I was really open. And initially, I was a little too open, I think.
You say you think Tyra has a vision for her company. Why do you think CariDee fit that vision?
I don't know. We're just so different. I think I'm more of a high-fashion kind of girl and that's what I love and that's the kind of modeling that I want to do. I think CariDee is more commercial. I think that this title is a lot of work to hold up. You have to be more commercial and be a good spokesperson...I don't know, maybe Tyra just liked CariDee better. I don't know, but I'm OK though with it. I'm happy with where I stand. I'm proud of myself and my friends and family are all proud of me too. And, you know, I'm a winner to them. I feel like a winner. I don't feel like a loser.
What are you up to these days?
I'm finishing designing right now at a clothing company. And then I'm modeling in New York. I'm doing acting and designing in LA and modeling in New York. Perfect!
Eugena just told me that you two are friends. All the bad blood between you and the other girls -- is that like history now?
A lot of it was for TV, meaning it wasn't really real. And some of it was just personalities clashing and some of it didn't even happen like that. Some of the girls I'll hopefully end up being friends with and some of the girls, we'll go our separate ways. But it wasn't as bad as they made it seem.
Comments
A class act!
Wonder if ageism on the part of Nigel was a big factor.
Can’t understand why preparedness, intelligence, good humour and professionalism didn’t take first.
Good luck with your career.
A classy young lady! The true winner of ANTM!!
Best of luck to you, Melrose! You will be the most successful of the group, I know it!
I totally agree, I wish you the best and for you to continue your dreams and be sucessful, the editing always makes one girl “evil”.
Keep going, you will always be the true ANTM winner in my eyes.
Congratulations to you, Melrose on all your success! I loved you from the beginning of ANTM and look forward to seeing your career take off. I just have to say I love that your favorite band is The Cure, too. It’s been my favorite since I was like, 10! And just for the record, I loved your confidence on the show. I think anyone with two eyes and half a brain should have been able to see that your confidence and strength were qualities other young girls should strive to have.
Melrose lost because she didn’t take the pictures that Caridee did. And I thought her attitude towards some of the girls was awful. I don’t think it was all the magic of television. If people are misunderstanding her so much, then Melrose need to think that the problem isn’t everyone else in the world.
Melrose deserves to win! She’s hardworking and i can see the passion in her. Unlike Caridee, her passion is not healthy. Rem. the part which she hopes to commit sucide? That is insane. Anyway, i do not that Melrose is a bad person, it’s all TV. And ANTM just loves drag queens to be in the fashion world better.
You were the best You are my idol I looked up to you from the beginning to the end keep persuing your dreams because I can tell your gonna be big!!!
-♥-
Peyton
Melrose your the best,good luck in your carreer, its kind of funny that they didn’t show your runway outstanding performance on the portofolio. Caridee was cryng all the time, a bit fake to my eyes. Someone had to kiss ass. Looking forward to see you on fashion shows.
Melrose – you deserved to win – HANDS DOWN! This is the first season of Top Model where it was soooo obvious to me that there was a clear winner (YOU!). This was a competition and you clearly won it – you were just not selected to represent Tyra’s ‘company’ (as you so accurately put it!). My prediction – you will be THE MOST SUCESSFUL of ALL the Top Model participants! Just wait – you’ll see!!!!
Melrose, I don’t even know you and I was proud of you on this season of ANTM, You really were more polished than the other contestants. Mr Jay said it best at judging… Melrose is everything we expect out of our contestants, she has it all and now we are chastising her for it. Truth be told you were already beyond what the needed for that gig and it would have left you bored to tears in no time at all. They made the right choice because you already have what it takes to do it on your own, they would have just held you back. They aren’t stupid, you are ready for bigger things, you showed them just how good you were, that’s why you didn’t win. Great career ahead of you, go for it, you’ve got what it takes.
Melrose should have won the competition all the way! She has a unique and different look, unlike Caridee. Melrose had the most confidence and strength and this comes from her desire to succeed. Way to go Melrose. You are the true winner. P.S. Your right about Tyra’s vision for her company and Caridee does fit it. I think you were even a threat to Tyra herself. Good luck Melrose. You rock!
I really don’t think Melrose’s look was all that different. I mean, straying outside of fashion, she looks so similar to Idina Menzel, it’s almost scary. But honestly, she didn’t really have that different of a look. CariDee overcame a lot in her life. She took amazing photos, and had a great personality, so I believe that CariDee deserved to win.
Yeah I agree – CariDee has a more versatile look. At the end of the day = personality & looks go a longer way.
Yeah! I agree – don’t think the “high-fahioned girl” made sense. CariDee’s looks seem to fit all categories — an integral part of being a good model.
Melrose is a sorry loser. OMG. Nice try, covering it up.
Marina, people that post negative comments more than half a year later are pathetic, talk about not being able to let go of a reality show contestant, you’re a total loser. Grow up!
im jsut mad cause alllll season they said melrose had GREAT pics then at judging they pulled out all of her bad pics nd some that they said were good at 1st but then changed their mind its all fake tyra nd them just pick an image they want that season b4 it all starts (4 ex like this season a foriegn girl)….oh nd marina u r sooo weird where in the whole interview does she say negative things bout caridee…nowhere oh nd i hate girls like caridee that use their disadvantages 2 make others feel sry 4 them there is always a gril like that on every season!!!!!!!go melrose!!!!
Melrose deserved to lose. She’s a bitch.
After watching the returns of America NextTop Model, I thought that she was more of a selfish _itch than I had realized. Maybe she such take LONG HARD LOOK, at the reruns and maybe she would “SEE” what others really saw in her.
Melrose – oh she is such a great girl. She was the hottest and coolest at season 7. Actually, in the whole America’s next topmodel history. I loved her from the beginning and the other girls were sooooo jealous of her. She deserved to win all those competitions during the show – and she did that, because she WAS the best. I do not understand why she didn’t took the seventh ANTM-title. WHY was that???? I personally think that she holds the same kind of class as some of the big classics. I mean like Twiggy, Moss and Banks herself. Seriously… I mean that. She derseves the world.
Good luck to you, I know you have a great future ahead of you because you are the way you are. I think your intentions are good when you were so bluntly honest with them, but it never comes across well, even though you are trying to help. when u were surpised that Anchel had yoga skills, i could see how that would upset her, by what you said. HOW you say it matters. you are a great model, work the camera well-naturally, have a unique, wonderful face and eyes and nice proportionate physique, i loved the Donald Trumph and wife pic (RIGHT ON and funny), blew the girls away with the interview (only confident people avoid getting shot down by the interviewee), and were consistently on top. I thought CariDee could potentially win, but wasn’t quite as consistent as you…Excellent Job, and remember not everyone’s wants to hear the TRUTH as harsh as it may be. sometimes its best to keep that to you. Take Care, I know you’ll go far.
Go Melrose! You were the best of all the girls but yeah Caridee was much more commerical.. However I really think ur gonna succeed!
You should have been the winner in my book!!! I am sure you will “go places” and become famous because you do have all it takes.
God bless you and lots of luck!
I thought that once I have read Melrose’s interview, maybe my negative image of her will change a bit. I was wrong.
The interview just showed how arrogant Melrose is and how unwilling she is when it comes to accepting defeat. Her words continue to show her uttermost fakeness and she even steered away from the question of being in good terms with co-competitors (read it again and observe). She says her personality is strong, but being strong doesn’t mean bossing around the house (giving off heavy chores to other contestants yet leaving none for herself), psyching someone to submission and fear, out of jealousy (most particularly, Anchal Joseph, during the freak photo shoot episode, space photo shoot episode and many more), or even whining for an accident (The Final Runway…she didn’t handle the ‘gown accident’ professionally) And for those who haven’t watched the Finale, take note that in that particular episode Melrose articulated some statements that would contradict those that she said in the interview, particularly on how she felt about the outcome. Those words may be her initial reactions, but by declaring them, she DID feel like a loser at one point.
I agree that she was a great competitor, but I agree with the judges that she was too clinical…she is just like the rest of the models out there.
Note that I’m just pointing out my observations (Those who watched the season would understand me…for those who haven’t, go see them for yourself…try YouTube)
My verdict: Melrose, I’m sorry but I don’t think that you deserved to be America’s Next Top Model. CariDee is the rightful holder of that distinction.
Bettina, I suggest that when you watch ANTM, you WATCH ANTM…don’t blink for a sec. ‘Coz I think you’ve missed the parts wherein Melrose acted like a biatch…there were loads of it. And I agree with you that she WAS the best…not IS the best…that’s why she lost.
I am so glad Melrose didn’t win, coz I would’ve seriously written to Tyra or the company or whoever and complained!! I think Melrose is so so fake, unnatural and pre-rehearsed. Watching her is like seeing a dull, boring, irritating film for the millionth time. I literally clenched my teeth everytime she came on! Go CariDee!!
Melrose may have been beutchy, but honestly, so where the other girls, if not more! Melrose was determined, and always worked her butt off for everything. She is the true winner, because she had class, and determination. All Caridee had going for her were some good photos, but she sucked in the run way, she was a beutch to Nigel, and very disrespectful, not only that but she used her illness as an excuse to get ahead, I love how she always brings it up. Maybe if Melrose had an illness, she would have won instead of Caridee.