AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL CYCLE 6
OUR INTERVIEW WITH JOANIE FROM UPN'S "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL "The Girl Who Walked Through the Ancient City"--Joanie, Sales Associate; age 24 of Beaver Falls, Pa., poses for a CoverGirl photo shoot in AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL on UPN. Photo: De Yonker/UPN ©2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. UPN ©2006 CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Interview

There are a couple of things you should know about Joanie right off the bat. One: she is funny as all get out. Two: She is extremely likeable. At least that is what I discovered talking with her on the phone after she was named the runner-up on America's Next Top Model.

So what is the best part about being famous?
(laughing)Ahhh... being famous. Am I famous? I consider myself a mini-celebrity. I'm on the C+ list. It is so cool. The vibe I get off of people is so cool. I like that.

Joanie went on to describe her version of "celebrity" to me as being very approachable. She likes that people feel they know her and can talk to her. As she said, many people don't feel they can do that with celebrities, but with her they can. So Joanie fans.. don't be afraid to say Hi! If you see this gal on the streets.

Joanie's journey to America's Next Top Model was like many others. She had watched the show, and her mom would ask why she wasn't on it. After hearing this a few times, she thought "I guess I could try." She never thought she would get called back, but was "so glad" when she was.

Another thing about Joanie? She's a great secret keeper. As hard as it was for her to not tell her friends, she never said a word. Not before. Not while she was filming. Not afterwards. They had to find out just like everyone else: by watching the show. She simply thought how amazing it would be for them to turn on the TV and see her. And she admits it had her phone ringing off the hook. "It still does".

Obviously Joanie impressed the judges enough to make it to the finals. I asked her if there was a point in the competition that she really believed she would win. "Oh yeah. I think it was about the time of the church runway show. I rocked it! I was so robbed" she laughed, referring to the challenge that week. I agreed. "I saw the other girls' reactions. I loved it. At this point Danielle hadn't really "popped". I always saw her as my equal and my competition. But Danielle really didn't really stand out until the doll shoot."

Where did Jade fit into the competition? "Jade was never my competition." Joanie explained some of their differences. "I'm not mean. Jade really targeted the weak. We fought all the time." But bygones are bygones and the two have made their peace. "She called me the other day and we apologized to each other." Joanie was thankful for the olive branch that Jade offered because she admitted to being a little worried about all the press they would have to do now that the show was over.

As it came down to the finals, Danielle and Joanie were running neck-in-neck. "It could go either way," Joanie said about winning. "She was my mirror image, but we also completed each other. I speak.. well I guess. She has this fierce walk."

Overall it sounds as if Joanie is thoroughly happy with her performance, and the choice of Danielle as the winner. Now it is on to pursue a life in TV, movies, modeling and more. And to her fans, she has the following message: "Thank you! So weird... fans. Ha! I want to thank you for leaving messages at MySpace. I appreciate it so much. Come out to the fashion shows and buy my magazines and come see my movies. I also want you to know that I reply to every message I get. Even if it takes me 3 or 4 hours."

See... this gal is no C+ rated celebrity. She is top notch to her fans, and we all can't wait to see what she does next.

~May 18, 2006

Read about America's Next Top Model Cycle 6
Read about America's Next Top Model Cycle 5
Read about America's Next Top Model Cycle 4
Read 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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