"AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"
Season 3

Leah

Age: 24

Height/Weight: 5'9"/120 lbs

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Occupation: Sales associate

Favorite Things:
Movie: "St. Elmo's Fire"
Magazine: Vogue, People
Food: Sushi

Other: Was born on a farm in Oklahoma

The Interview

Girlposse.com: Do you feel famous now?
Leah: God no! I had like 7 minutes of fame. But that's OK. I don't need fame. I just want to work.

There is one bad result that comes out of interviewing the America's Next Top Model girls after they're eliminated: You discover that you really like them, and you won't get to watch them week after week. And I found myself really liking Leah.

It is also one of the pitfalls of being eliminated early. The public doesn't really get to see the real you. "Of course not," Leah laughs "Come on. I wasn't on long enough." But to hear her describe the joking around, the pranks and the laughter that went on, I wished that she hadn't been cut. "Maybe if I was on longer they would have shown that more... I laugh at myself more than anyone else." Actually - it makes me wish that I had been there myself...

Leah was fun to talk to, and had a lot to say about the show. The recurring theme throughout our conversation seemed to be how much fun she had, and how much she loved the experience. But she couldn't define one favorite aspect. "My favorite part was the experience. To make it on the show. To be in the top 14. Go to Jamaica. The whole thing. I am just so honored and happy. It was a lot of fun. The experience and the advice that we got from experts. There are people that have been in the industry for years that haven't gotten the advice like we did."

So let's start at the beginning. Why America's Next Top Model? Afraid of sounding corny, Leah explained that trying out for the show as being a giant leap of independence and bravery for herself. She had never modeled before, but it was something she had always wanted to do. "I needed to start doing things for myself. I was tired of being scared." She went on to further explain how she felt she needed to do this to not be afraid of what people would think of her. "I made it happen for myself... It was a huge step. It was one of those empowering moments that you have."

So Leah went for it - and made the final cut. What was her first impression of the other girls? "Oh - I was overwhelmed! I thought 'they're all just like me. Outspoken.' I was waiting for the drama to happen because you just knew it could. Everyone is awesome and I'm not just saying that. I talk to a lot of the girls everyday."

"Nude me up!"

"Yep - that was me." I told her that it seemed so surprising coming from her. "Yeah - everyone says that!" she laughed "But all my friends say 'that is so you'." The one person who found it most surprising? Her father. "The next day my father called me and said 'There are 3 words a father never wants to hear from his daughter. And they are nude me up.'" She had me laughing along with her when she described her dad's trip into work the next day. Leah also had me laughing when she told of her boyfriend's parents having a friend show up with a "Nude me up!" t-shirt. "I thought 'Wow - they went to the trouble to make that?'"

After making the cut and coming to New York, they were immediately whisked away to Jamaica for a photo shoot. Was it what she expected? "It was. What was not expected was for me to get as nervous as I did." Not only were the girls surrounded by a top-notch crew, but the setting itself was a little intimidating. "Stilettos and coral - it was hard!" she laughed. "It was overwhelming. I think it's why I didn't focus, and why I was eliminated." There was no blame game going on with Leah. She was quite straightforward with the reasons behind her elimination. "I couldn't focus. I completely understand where they were coming from. They said I was off and didn't have a rhythm. They didn't have to tell me that - I could feel it. I knew... I allowed my nerves to get a hold of me." As she explained on the show, it is like going for a job interview every week, and every week someone doesn't get hired. "You only get one shot."

As with many of the girls in past seasons, Leah said the cameras took some getting used to. "I think I finally got over the cameras when I woke up at 3AM with a camera in my face. I was like 'what are you doing? Am I that interesting in my sleep?' After that it was pretty easy to ignore them."

She was quick to point out that despite her early departure, it was fun and worth every minute. "I'm not going to be one of those that says 'Oh - I would never do it again. I would." So what would she change? Leah laughs "I wouldn't lose. I would change that. But even if I did lose - yeah. Just to meet Tyra and Jay and J. and Nigel." She also doesn't see this as the end. "Tyra and the gang are so committed. They let me know that this isn't the end... They really do care."

So what's next? "I moved to New York about 2 weeks ago. As soon as I'm allowed I'm going to look for agencies." Her pursuit of a modeling career has only begun. And she's taking her own advice "Just do it! I know I sound like a Nike ad. I had no idea my life would be like this. I didn't even win! I'm 24 years old and I'm finally doing something that I love."

For her fans she sends out a huge thanks. "Thanks for being my fans. Thanks for watching the show."

We'd like to thank Leah for talking with us so openly and for so long - and for making me laugh!

~September 30, 2004

Leah's Beauty Tip:

"Never, ever leave home without lip gloss and mascara in your bag. Preferably by Cover Girl of course. Gotta get them in there." ;)

Read more about America's Next Top Model Season 3
Read about America's Next Top Model Season 2
Read about America's Next Top Model Season 1

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