Interview With Lisa of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
Posted on Thu 24 Nov 2005 (2118 reads)
by Syrone Harvey Age: 24 Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Occupation: Assistant Wardrobe Stylist Lisa exploded onto the set of America’s Next Top Model with a quality often unique and rare in the fashion industry. Gutsy, confident and energetic she threw herself into the competition without any concern for how she would be perceived. The judges agreed Lisa’s personality was strong and outgoing, but they often wondered if she’d recognize when or if things went a little too far. Hands down, most of Lisa’s photos possessed a poise and beauty uncommon for someone displaying a wild and crazy lifestyle. We had a chance to catch up with the newly eliminated Lisa. Hey Lisa! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk to you. Hey, no problem man. Did you have any previous modeling experience before America’s Next Top Model? I’ve been modeling since I was 14. I have had a lot of experience in a lot of different types of modeling. You strutted down the Top Model runway with a sense of boldness and unshakeable confidence; what do you attribute this to? Well, you know I feel like I’ve been working on myself for so many years and coming from the environment I was raised in I didn’t always have this confidence. I had to basically get the inner strength from inside and tell myself how lucky I am to just be who I am. You know you have to find that inner peace and love for yourself. When did you realize confidence in your modeling ability? I became the confident woman that I am right now a couple of years ago. When this competition came, it’s like something just snapped inside of me. As I said in another interview before, I thought this competition was made for me. It’s about inner strength and if they’re able to break you down. It’s about criticism and all the negativity I was raised in. So I really thought this competition was made for me. At any point did you feel torn down or discouraged by the judges and their criticism? No, I just let it go right over my head. Because I mean, I understand and I knew… Okay, this is what I was thinking going into it: I’m like okay… they want to be able to break you down to be able to build you back up again. But, if you know who you are you’ll feel fine throughout the whole thing. Do you know what I mean? I’m always going to be real to myself and I just figured you know, they’re going to tell me this but tomorrow they’re going to tell me that and everything is going to contradict themselves and tease you so that you’ll go crazy for the ratings so then they’ll tell you how great you are again. You were prepared to deal with the criticism? Yeah. It didn’t bother me. Whatever they said basically I let it go right over my head because I knew that the next day they’d do something else. They’d say the same thing but they’d do the opposite of what they did before. You came into the competition already pretty familiar with fashion designers and supermodels within the industry. How did you gain so much knowledge? Since I was 7 I would watch the fashion channel. It was just my way of escaping from my family life. I would just watch and I just wanted to be, you know, I just wanted to be one of those women who was just like beautiful and elegant and you know, glamorous. I would sit in front of the TV. I’d do the runway walk. I would listen to interviews they did after the show with the designers. I mean that’s what I thought anybody who wants to be a model, that’s what I thought they at least did a little bit of. I’ve known all about that stuff since I was a little girl. I’ll tell you this, my runway walk was FIERCE at like the age of 8. Did you feel you had an advantage over the other competitors? I’ve been modeling since I was 14. I’ve traveled the world and I’ve done it all. If that gave me an advantage… they put me in the competition with them so obviously it didn’t give me the upper hand 'cause I got eliminated. That’s also the thing to. I went in there knowing I was more experienced than the rest of them and that’s why I was trying to help them. But, if you do that then you’re going to be the know-it-all and everyone’s going to be intimidated by you. Then everyone’s going to hate you which means they’re not even going to listen to the advice you give them. Were you aware of how the other girls felt about you? No. No I didn’t know that. I thought that they were really listening to me. And yes I may have said it with a glass of wine in hand, but you know that’s what you do after a full day’s work and all this scrutiny and insults and the critiquing. Of course that’s what I do I have a glass of wine, big deal. It seems the other girls resented your “help” and felt you were too excessive. Were you purposely trying to annoy the other models? No. I really was trying to help them and give them advice. I said on the show… I really want to help the girls so I can make the competition as fierce as it could be so if I did win I’d know that I beat everyone out at their best. It didn’t happen. They don’t want to listen to you. Why should they listen to you cause you’re the competitor? If I were in their hands I would’ve listened to me cause I’m not someone just giving them advice and taking horrible pictures. What contributed to the flare-ups between you and Coryn? The thing with Coryn and I… she’s even said in an interview that I read; in the first two weeks she was there she lost 15 pounds. They constantly told her how muscular she was looking and how over toned she was. What would you do actually trying to be a caring person but say like "Oh you need to stop working out. Not only did you lose so much weight but you’re already starting to look like a skeleton." I mean she was already hurting her own body. That’s me of course trying to help again but they all think I’m trying to give them false advice. But I know what I’m talking about and they even said that, and I was really just trying to be a good friend, trying to help her. Did you learn anything from this situation? You know what? That’s something that I’ve learned during this whole show; you can’t assume that everyone is going to be as open as you are. People are going to take everything that you say into whatever way they want it so if that was being offensive then that’s really bad for them cause they’re not going to learn to grow. How did you feel when Coryn called you an alcoholic bitch? I was hurt. That was below the belt man. The image we saw of you appeared to be of someone with an excessive drinking problem. Was that a true portrayal or were things blown out of proportion? I know who I am. I know what I did and I don’t really care what other people think. You can’t please everybody ever. Obviously I drank. I’m not denying that. I did have maybe two or three glasses but big deal though. I drink wine all the time. I mean that’s the environment that all of my friends partake in. We all will have a drink here and there or with lunch or have whatever. It’s not alcoholism. It’s not like we’re… I don’t have a problem. I mean I wasn’t wasted. I know that definitely for editing they needed to up the ante a little bit. I’ll say this… I probably had two or three glasses a night maybe for three days a week. What’s wrong with that? What did you do to get through the challenges and the different shoots? There is definitely an inner strength and there’s like people and places I go to in my head or like advice my grandpa gave me. You know just like little things. For instance, I was taking care of my grandma and grandpa for a long time. I’d remember he’d say, “Live each day like it was your last one. But don’t take yourself too seriously.” You know I carried him with me during that whole thing a lot 'cause me and him are really alike. It’s really hard being around all the negativity. Were you close with anyone in the house? No. I’m friends with Ebony. I love Bre. She’s an amazing person. Another thing… the girls were so concerned about how they were portrayed in front of the camera that they weren’t being themselves. So anyone who is going to be themselves or who has a very strong personality is going to get blown up like crazy. It’s just going to stand out like a sore thumb. I know that I’m not that outrageous of a person. Its just that you’re seeing it in a light with all the other girls who are like quiet and safe that it’s going to look outrageous. What was your favorite photo shoot? The funnest one was the superhero shoot but my favorite picture was the one on the ranch. Do you have a favorite model you aspire to be like? Definitely Linda Evangelista. What lies ahead? I plan to continue working with my management pursuing modeling opportunities. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Well Lisa, thank you for your time. It was great talking to you. We look forward to seeing you in the future. Thank you man. It was good talking to you.

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