|
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL CYCLE 6
WENDY ELIMINATED FROM UPN'S "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL
Wendy, a retail assistant manager and Hurricane Katrina survivor from New Orleans, became the second girl eliminated from the sixth cycle of UPN's hit series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, reducing the pool from 12 girls to 11. She joined the show only two days after finding her parents who went missing during the devastation of New Orleans.
Tyra greeted the girls at the Warren Tricomi hair salon where each received a fabulous new makeover to help launch their transformations into high-fashion models. Jay Manuel and J. Alexander additionally helped each girl define their own personal style that would help accentuate their new dramatic looks.
The next day, the girls took front row seats at a Gen Art Fashion Show where they were challenged to choose a runway fashion to fit their personal style. With fashion and make-up tips from AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL winner and Cover Girl Naima Mora and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, the girls were given only 15 minutes to complete their looks. Zoe felt that while Wendy’s outfit did portray the "Urban Glam" fashion she was after, her ill-fitting apparel dampened the look.
The following morning, Jay Manuel met the girls for their second photo shoot where each had to pose on a beautifully crafted set made completely of ice. It seemed that many of the girls had trouble focusing on the shoot due to the freezing conditions, but Jay felt that Wendy needed to be more dynamic as her poses appeared stiff and uptight. "She looks like a frightened bird," Jay noted.
While evaluating the images taken during the chilly photo shoot, all of the judges agreed that Wendy is beautiful and has the potential to succeed as a model; however, her photos just didn’t stand out. "The judges see a model in person, but for two weeks in a row they have been less than impressed with your photos," Tyra said to Wendy before eliminating her from the competition. "So what the judges see now is a lot of potential, but they haven’t seen that potential put into your photos."
The winner of UPN's AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL will have the opportunity to be managed by Ford Models. She will also receive a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl. The winner will additionally appear in a fashion spread in Elle magazine and on the cover of ELLEgirl Magazine.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL airs Wednesdays, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. For more information about AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, log on to www.upn.com.
The Interview
Wendy's exotic beauty has been the topic of many on-line discussions and debate. To set the record straight, she is African-American, Italian, and Native-American Indian. We talked about her makeover, and the "J. Lo" look she was given. "Everyone keeps saying that!!" she laughed over the phone. "My hair is naturally curly, and I can do it either straight or curly. I can do either in about 20 minutes actually. I guess I'm lucky." Lucky is an understatement, and I had to tell her I should hate her for the ease with which she can look so stunning. "It's not my fault!!" she laughed "I was born this way!"
But it wasn't her look alone that placed Wendy in front of millions of televisions viewers. Wendy believes that it was determination that earned her a spot in the coveted top 13 of America's Next Top Model. Maybe it's the old saying "3 times a charm".
"The 1st time, I sent in an audition tape and application. Like they tell you to do. They called me to go to the audition in Atlanta with 400 girls. I ended up sitting next to Amanda from Cycle 3. The 2nd time there were 100 girls." With each audition she learned. She updated her photos and changed her look, but one thing never changed: "My persistence. My dreams and goals stayed the same." She also knew what to expect over the other girls auditioning, and it was her 3rd try that placed her in LA with 12 other contenders. "I knew how many girls wanted this. The point is to be on TV and to be seen. That alone is a great accomplishment."
But as many people now know, the road wasn't easy for Wendy. The timing of her 3rd audition and subsequent trip to Los Angeles coincided with Hurricane Katrina, which left her and her family homeless. "I was living in a hotel at the time. I had to pack everything I owned in a suitcase when to LA. The worst thing that could have happened then was if the airline lost my luggage. But they didn't, which is a good thing!" she laughed. But living with the stress of not knowing where she was going to live after the competition was difficult for her. "I tried to hide how I felt about what was going on. But it was very hard." As for her family now, "They're ok [now]. No one is able to move back. I think it still has everyone in shock."
Wendy would "do it again in a heartbeat" she began. "I could go on and on about how great of a time we had. Meeting everyone. The 2 Jays. Everyone." But she does have one regret. "I wish it would have happened at a better time for me. I'm more focused now. All of my worries are kind of gone now."
So what was it like to watch herself on TV? "It's weird. Being on the show is different than seeing yourself. You're followed around 24 hours a day, and obviously the show isn't that long. You don't know what they're going to show." Wendy watched the show air with friends, "they asked why are you shocked? I was having flashbacks of watching the show in previous seasons. I've always watched it, and now, I'm on it." We wondered if any of the judges comments surprised her. "I was a little anxious to hear what they [the judges] had to say. I heard that I looked like an actress, I looked sad. I wanted constructive criticism."
Wendy's past experience of modeling helped her with one potentially difficult part of being on the show: living with 12 other women. "When you live with 12 girls, some people work on your nerves. You're always waiting for people to get out of your way" she explained. "In 2004 modeled and was in a different city every day. It gave me great exposure, and I knew what to expect. I was on the road with 11 other girls!"
For now Wendy is continuing on the road to her dream: becoming a model. She is looking for agencies, getting her face out there. "I'm ready!" As for her fans, "I hope that I can inspire everyone else. Don't let a small impediment stop [you]. Believe in yourself!"
With legions of fans believing in Wendy, we wish her the best of luck and look forward to seeing her again.
~March 16, 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
Send this review to a friend
Post your own Misc. Reviews here
Current Reviews
Past Reviews
|
|
Looking for a book?
Use this convenient Search Box from Amazon.com
|
|
Printer Friendly Version