Actually, a couple of my friends knew about it and that was it. So when I said that, not only did my family and parents find out, but all of America.
Did you try to talk to them about it before the episode aired?
I talked to them about it a little after I was off the show but besides that, no. So it was a big surprise.
What was their reaction?
At first they weren’t too happy about it but by that point, I was like ‘You can accept it or you can’t. If you have a problem with me being bisexual, then it’s your problem.’ I just let them know that I wasn’t any different. I hadn’t changed in any way. I had been that way for a long time. It’s just they had never known about it. So, they’ve gotten over it. When it’s on TV or something like that, they still get a little uneasy. But besides that, I think they’re OK with it.
Wow. So much happened with you on that show. Tell me about the skin problems you had.
I’ve never had any skin problems until I got on this show. I think I was the least freaked out about it. The other girls were freaking out and running around, calling people and I’m like O.K. I didn’t think it was a flesh-eating virus but I thought it was something serious. I talked to Tyra about it and I got the dermatologist appointment. It turned out to be nothing and I overcame it. I didn’t want to cry too much about it but when it was getting worse, I did freak out a little bit there.
Before the episode aired, I saw clips on those entertainment shows where they were making it look like a flesh eating disease had hit Top Model. What were you thinking when you were watching those shows at home?
My mom freaked out about it when she saw the previews for it. I thought it was actually kind of amusing. Everyone was freaking out about it and I was like ‘You guys just have to watch the show.' I couldn’t tell them what it was. I actually got a kick out of it.
So you were a wrestler before getting on the show? Tell me about your wrestling.
I started about a year and a half ago. I was actually the first female to start in my [local] federation.. I was the first woman champion but now there are three other girls that I dragged into it. My last wrestling show is actually coming up here soon because I’m moving to NY. I had to choose between one or the other.
What’s more difficult – wrestling or modeling?
[Laughs]. I’d have to say that modeling was more difficult. In wrestling, when I go out there I am like a character, a totally different person. So I can do whatever the hell I want. When it’s my character, it’s alright because after the show it’s all done and over with. In modeling, it’s a lot more competitive and I think especially for women in the modeling world, it’s a lot more competitive. In wrestling, there aren’t that many women so you have a better chance of getting in.
You mentioned that you’re moving to NY. That’s a big step!
I decided when I got voted off the show that no matter what, I was going to NY. People kept saying that you don’t want to go to NY and all that. But a while back, I set the date of June 1 and June 1 is the day I am leaving for NY. I’m actually really excited about it but my mom isn’t too happy. I’m the first kid in the family. I’m the oldest so there’s definitely going to be a big change. I’m the babysitter of all the grandkids.
Who do you think should win the competition?
That’s a tough question because now you don’t really know what the judges are looking for. They’re looking at so many different things so if you falter once, that could be it even if you had a perfect record up until then. I think all the girls deserve to be there so it all depends on how they perform...I have some people that aren’t on my favorite list on the show but they’ve overcome a lot. Hopefully, the person who wins deserves it.
