Misc. Reviews

"AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL," Nicole Panattoni

Age: 22 years old

Height/Weight: 5'11" / 125 lbs

Hair/Eyes: Blond hair / Brown eyes,

Hometown: Murrieta, Calif.

Self-Description: Playful, accepting and sensible.

Background: Has at least one sister who is her #1 fan. Does not currently have a job. Has been with her boyfriend for one year. Her father is her hero figure.

Favorite Things: Movie: "Pretty Woman;" Publication: Maxim; Sport: BMX; Food: pasta; Music: alternative, rap and classic rock; Supermodel: Heidi Klum

Other Activities: Most interesting job involved learning how to build a skate board.

Life Motto: "Actions speak louder than words."

The Interview

Another week and another model "wanna-be" leaves the show. This week we saw Nicole leave the fold - but did we see the real Nicole? Talking to her on the phone she was a lot more outgoing, funny and personable than we expected. In fact, she has been our favorite model interviewed to date.

What did we like about this girl? Just how open and honest she was about herself, and her experiences on the show. We began by asking her if she went out sooner than she thought she would. "Definitely. I definitely went out sooner." At first she didn't understand why she was chosen to leave, but watching the show on TV opened her eyes a bit. "After watching I have a good idea what happened. It seemed like my heart wasn't in it. It didn't seem like I wanted to be there. And I did want to be there. I did."

Modeling has been Nicole's life-long goal, but being on a reality show wasn't. "I didn't want to be on a reality show. I saw the commercial and went to the casting and got it. Which was great." But those cameras in her face 24/7 were a lot to take. The worst part of being on the show? "The cameras and me trying to run from them." She lets us know that in one show you can spot her in the background, running to the bathroom to escape the cameras. To get some time to herself, "I was hiding a lot". Which she thinks may have contributed to the general consensus that she didn't really want to be there.

The other negative to being on the show: the cattiness. "Some girls were pretty catty. I kept a lot to myself." She explained that while there was a lot of talking behind people's backs and in the "confessional", she handled problems directly with the girls themselves. Nicole also talked about the competitive nature of some of the girls. There was "definite competition. I am competitive but it didn't play out on the show...I think some of these girls really needed this to further their careers. I can do it without the show."

It wasn't all bad. Nicole sees a lot of positive to having been on the show. The best? "Probably the photo shoots. I did learn a lot working with the different photographers... The cover of Stuff Magazine...the exposure.... living in New York...... going out and having fun. Plus it is all on tape. Much better than a photo."

So what did she think of the show's creator, Tyra Banks? "I like Tyra. But she was a judge. She couldn't be our friend...... She's a good person." Did Nicole learn a lot from this supermodel? "Definitely. She was trying to help the girls." Nicole has also had some phone calls from Tyra since leaving the show.

So the big question remains: the boyfriend issue. "My only regret was my boyfriend at the time. Being focused on him.... When I was working I wasn't, but at night when I'd go home...." Notice she said boyfriend at the time. They are now broken up, and she is single, and plans to stay that way. "I want to be single!" Sorry guys. Does she still talk to the ex? "I talked to him last night and he feels really bad. He said sorry a lot." As he should. :)

Who does Nicole see being voted off next? She was quick to answer, "Ebony, Giselle, possibly Adrienne." It took a little longer for Nicole to choose who she thinks will win "I hope either Shannon or.....(long pause) Elyse. But I only hesitate with Elyse because she wants to be a doctor. She told me that many times. She has said 'send me home'." Which is a little hard to take as someone that has worked for years to be in the industry. "So I'll go with Kesse. Yep - Shannon and Kesse. Plus they're nice girls."

Nicole wasn't ready to leave the show at first. "As far as my career goes I wasn't ready to leave. Not at all." But when the judges announced their choices "I was ready. It was meant to be." But Nicole isn't done with modeling. "I'm aiming high. Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, that type. Fashion is so competitive. I'll stay in the industry. Definitely." We wish her the best of luck in her future!

~June 4, 2003

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