"AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"

Toccara

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 5'9"/180 lbs.

Hometown: Dayton, Ohio

Occupation: Student

Favorite Things:
Movie: "What's Love Got To Do With It"
Magazine: no favorite
Food: Spaghetti

Other: Has a very positive outlook on life and dreams of becoming the world's first superstar plus-size model.

The Interview

Once F-A-B-O,
always F-A-B-O.....

OK, I admit I was brought to tears with Toccara's elimination last night. She has it all: looks, personality, drive and ambition. Holding fast to her dream of becoming the world's first Plus-Size Super Model, Toccara was an inspiration to watch week after week. Her laughter contagious, her facial expressions timeless, her beauty unquestioned. If there had been a single star of America's Next Top Model this season, Toccara was "it"!

So it was great to learn that Toccara was exactly what I expected on the phone. Gracious, funny, warm and honest. I loved her from her first answer.

Girlposse.com: Do you feel famous now?
Toccara: (laughing) Oh my god yes! It is so weird. I do feel famous now!

Finally one to admit feeling the touch of fame. :) For Toccara the best part of her fame is "when I meet people on the street, and they say 'Toccara', and their eyes just light up. It feels good inside...." Having had such a visible presence, I asked if she felt pressure as a role model now. "No. I'm me and the show did a good job of portraying me." In listening to her talk about people following their dreams, and not letting anyone get them down, I thought of another career for Toccara once she is done with modeling: Inspirational Speaker. Her earnest tone is infectious!

Toccara has always wanted to be a model. "When I was 9, I met Jamaica - she's a model. I was inspired, still inspired by her. I live with her now. That is amazing... to still be in touch with someone for over 10 years... She is such a motivation." In addition to Jamaica, Toccara also looks at Queen Latifah, Starr Jones as inspiration. "They're not conforming". Toccara is not new to the modeling world. She used to be with Wilhelmina modeling agency, and has done "lots of photo shoots." So none of the modeling experience she was exposed to on America's Next Top Model came as a surprise.

So what did surprise her? The very first elimination. "Magdalena. I was totally shocked! I thought 'No...that's my girl'. I just couldn't believe it."

Toccara swears she "wouldn't change a single thing. Not one single thing." if she were given the chance to do the show over again. Her absolute favorite experience? "When they called the 14 girls to be in the house." She described that moment as "seeing my dreams coming true."

Toccara is best known as a "plus size model". We asked her what that means. "Plus size is size 12 to 16 or 18. It has nothing to do with weight." When I asked if she ever gets discouraged for being viewed as a beautiful plus size model, vs. being viewed as just a beautiful model, she seemed a bit confused as to why anyone would thing she would. "Discouraged? No! There are so many different ways to say it. Plus-size, fuller figured, voluptuous.. Whatever you want to call it. That's me."

In our past interviews with the girls from the house, Toccara is frequently referred to as the funnies person there. ("I didn't know they thought that," Toccara said quietly when I told her.) I asked if Toccara's sense of humor gets her through tough times. "You can't take life too seriously," she said. "You have to find things to smile about. You take what you need and let the rest roll off your shoulders."

So what's next? Becoming a plus-size super model obviously! "I was just eliminated last night. Hopefully offers will be coming in tomorrow!!" she laughed. "I would like to endorse a product. Pepsi or McDonald's." As we were finishing our brief conversation, Toccara added this message to her fans, "Thank all of the fans for their support... Drams do come true. Don't take no for an answer. Follow your dreams."

And when it comes to pursuing her career, we're sure that Toccara will take her own words of advice

~November 11, 2004

Toccara's Beauty Tip:

Make sure your hair weave matches!!

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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