The FORT Interview with Diane, 10/15/05

**hepcat** · 10-16-2005, 01:23 AM

Latest to find herself the odd model out was twenty-three-year-old Diane, who put her career as a Criminal Defense Investigator aside to be on the show. Admittedly more curvacious than the usual runway model, Diane nevertheless showed potential for success in the plus-size market with her classic features and steady improvement during the competition. Tyra and Co. didn’t find fault with her posing so much as they found her personality lacking - specifically, Tyra told her she was not “bubbly” enough. It must be odd to be standing next to a skinny model who just finished breaking down in tears during her judging session, yet be told that you are being eliminated for not being sunny and carefree before the judges. Maybe I’m no Tyra, but I prefer Diane the way I found her: animated and lively, without any phony fake cheerfulness.

Thank you for talking to me this afternoon, Diane, I’m just sorry that it’s so soon in the competition.

No worries, thanks for wanting to talk to me!

First off, what attracted you to the show, especially since you already a successful career as a Criminal Defense Investigator?

I’ve always loved modeling. I love fashion and dressing crazy. I love beauty! I embrace beauty. I was just so scared of so many modeling scams out there, you can’t really trust anybody. I thought this show was a great opportunity and a great chance to have a great exposure and know that you’re not going to be “done in” by the modeling agencies or anything like that.

Have you modeled before or was this something totally new for you?

I’ve done some hair shows for the people who do my hair, but I’ve never done real modeling - this is the first.

At the end of the audition process, did it make you nervous to be the only plus-size model standing there?

No, it didn’t make me nervous. I was just so excited to have the opportunity to be let in the house because you get noticed in the house. I was more excited and grateful for the situation than nervous.

It sounds like you watched previous cycle of the show, so what did you think of the new house, the stretch hummer; in short, the more luxurious feel to the show?

Right, oh God, I thought, we must be the best of the best! Then I thought, I guess they’re making money now. It was just awesome! The experience, to this day, honestly, it’s just surreal. I’m like, that’s me, for real? It hasn’t hit me yet. People recognize me and all that. When I first saw the house, I thought, “Oh, we gotta bring MTV Cribs to this house! Ain’t nobody got it like we do!”

What was the best part of the experience?

The best part to me was just giving a plus-size girl an opportunity to be on the show. Previous seasons didn’t have a whole lot of plus-size girls, I think that was the best part of the show.

What was the hardest part of the experience?

The hardest part was boot camp. Because, honestly this show is like boot camp modeling. These people are going to critique you in everything you do. What you think is good or you like, they may not like. You have to be ready - mentally, physically and emotionally prepared before you come into this competition.

Who would you say was the most annoying person in the house?

Hmm...the most annoying. (Pauses)

There had to be someone.

Well, for me it was Nicole. Just because she nagged so much sometimes. I was like, “Oh, God.” She didn’t do it all the time, but as you guys saw, the time she did nag, we were like, “Okay, look. (Laughs) You’re nagging a bit too much.” (Laughs) It wasn’t something like I couldn’t stand her, but it did bother me a little bit. I didn’t let it get to me.

Who were you closest to in the house?

Nik. We’re still close. She’s the bomb.

What did you think of the “plastic surgery” theme for the photoshoot?

Honestly, at first? I thought it was cheesy. I was like, “Oh, God, what now!” It turned out to be so classy that I loved it. At the end I thought, this was bad, this is gonna look good. It turned out to be a great photoshoot.

Your profile in that picture was classic beauty.

(Laughs) I know, it was like, dang! I look great!

In fact, I was so surprised that you got eliminated after that picture.

Can you believe that? One of my best pictures and I gotta go home!

Didn’t they tell you in the judging that you had improved? Were you surprised to be on the chopping block?

Yeah! I was working so hard, honestly, I would really go in there and I would work. I would work on my runway and I would work on my posing throughout the house. And that’s something they say: embrace your body, show it off, show it in your pictures. And I believe that with every shoot, with every week, I think my body improved. So, I was like, this really sucks. Just when I was starting to get good! Even Nigel, you know, he don’t be blowing on the big girls side, but even he said, “She’s improving every week, she has a good shot. She’s getting better and better and that’s what the competition is about.”And then to get booted off, I was really bummed.

What was it like to work with Janice Dickenson?

She’s awesome, I love Janice. She’s as blunt and outspoken as anyone in this world could be, and I admire her for that, because I’m the type of person that I’m going to keep it real, and I’m going to give you the real deal. And if you don’t like it, that’s fine. You know, everybody wanted to know what Janice had to say about them, whether it was good or bad. We all asked each other, what did Janice say about you? (Laughs)

What was your take on the drama between Lisa and Coryn? Did you hear any of Lisa’s talk with Janice Dickenson?

I felt bad for Lisa because honestly, Lisa has a big heart. She’s such a loving and caring person. She used to make coffee for us in the morning and stuff, cook breakfast for us - she is just so nice. I felt bad for her because really, her intentions are not bad. I know that’s the way they portrayed her on TV, but deep down her intentions are not bad. Lisa and I actually got close before I got eliminated. Nik, her, and I got real close after Ebony was eliminated.

Do you see yourself as more of a runway model or do you prefer to do photoshoots and print modeling?

I like the photoshoots. I like runway, but I like being crazy and just being up there and stoking that camera, you know, and showing the clothes off. I like them both, but for me, I like the photoshoots better.

What is your opinion of what Tyra said during judging, that to be successful as a plus-size model you have to bring more bubbly personality than the skinny girls?

I think it’s true to a certain extent, but being in this competition, you go through so much. Being in front of judges that critique you in everything that you do, and when at the end of the night you know somebody is going home, I don’t think that there’s nothing to be bubbly about. I mean, it’s a stressful situation! I’m not going to sit up there and be like, (perky voice) “Hiiii!” No! That’s not really how I feel, I feel like I’m stressed! And a lot of people felt that, like they showed with Bre breaking down. This is hard! This is not a joke, this is serious.

Do you read the internet sites where fans talk about the show?

Which site are you?

We’re fansofrealitytv.com.

Yes, I read you guys! I did, somebody told me about it because I never knew about that stuff. I started reading that and I thought it was really cool. [Ed.: Diane confirmed she has posted on the site.]

What’s ahead for you? Do you plan to continue modeling?

I want to pursue this modeling. I love my job, but I really want to pursue modeling and anything else that comes my way. Acting - I would love to be on an episode of CSI Investigators - that would be awesome. I really want to pursue this and I know it will work out for me.

Is there anything else you would like to tell the viewers?

Thank you for watching! Thank you to everyone for their support, and thank you for interviewing me!

Many thanks to Diane for being so fun to talk to, and thanks to UPN for granting the interview.

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AntmSTarTa · 10-16-2005, 01:30 AM

Great interview, hepcat!

Diane, I was really surprised that you/she was eliminated when you easily had one of the better photos.

SARA_MODEL · 10-16-2005, 01:37 AM

Thanks so much for the great interview Hep and Diane, great questions and great answers!

so into you · 10-16-2005, 02:22 AM

Ahhh! Diane! Great interview.

Alphabet Soup · 10-16-2005, 02:40 AM

Great interview!

I was so dissapointed that Diane and Bre were in the bottom 2. They had really good photos. Nicole and Kim's pic were the worse. (IMO)

il2az7 · 10-16-2005, 03:06 AM

Oh! That was a great interview! She has posted? OMG. How cool.

Thanks hepcat, and thanks Diane!

r0guish · 10-16-2005, 03:30 AM

To be honest, Diane dissapointed me in this competition. I really wanted to see more spunk and personality out of her... not necessarily bubbly, I think that's too narrow of a mold or attempt for "plus size models" - who care if she's a plus size model or not, when she auditioned she was so full of sass and attitude and I really felt she'd bring that UMPH to the competition with that kind of pazazz, but oh well.

Great interview as always hep!

CCL · 10-16-2005, 12:38 PM

Great job, hepcat.

DoeBoy · 10-16-2005, 02:53 PM

Great interview hep!

On a side note, cool, she's been on FORT before!

suckmytoes · 10-16-2005, 03:17 PM

Wow, Diane is such a cool girl! I really liked her personality once I watched the show, before, I thought she was trying to be another Tocarra - but Diane is like a really laidback chick! I think they should've gave her another chance, although I wasn't surprised they eliminated her.

Good luck, Diane! and thanks hepcat for the interview!

10-16-2005, 01:23 AM	#1
hepcat Phooey. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: here Posts: 24,920 Blog Entries: 3	The FORT Interview with Diane, 10/15/05 Latest to find herself the odd model out was twenty-three-year-old Diane, who put her career as a Criminal Defense Investigator aside to be on the show. Admittedly more curvacious than the usual runway model, Diane nevertheless showed potential for success in the plus-size market with her classic features and steady improvement during the competition. Tyra and Co. didn’t find fault with her posing so much as they found her personality lacking - specifically, Tyra told her she was not “bubbly” enough. It must be odd to be standing next to a skinny model who just finished breaking down in tears during her judging session, yet be told that you are being eliminated for not being sunny and carefree before the judges. Maybe I’m no Tyra, but I prefer Diane the way I found her: animated and lively, without any phony fake cheerfulness. Thank you for talking to me this afternoon, Diane, I’m just sorry that it’s so soon in the competition. No worries, thanks for wanting to talk to me! First off, what attracted you to the show, especially since you already a successful career as a Criminal Defense Investigator? I’ve always loved modeling. I love fashion and dressing crazy. I love beauty! I embrace beauty. I was just so scared of so many modeling scams out there, you can’t really trust anybody. I thought this show was a great opportunity and a great chance to have a great exposure and know that you’re not going to be “done in” by the modeling agencies or anything like that. Have you modeled before or was this something totally new for you? I’ve done some hair shows for the people who do my hair, but I’ve never done real modeling - this is the first. At the end of the audition process, did it make you nervous to be the only plus-size model standing there? No, it didn’t make me nervous. I was just so excited to have the opportunity to be let in the house because you get noticed in the house. I was more excited and grateful for the situation than nervous. It sounds like you watched previous cycle of the show, so what did you think of the new house, the stretch hummer; in short, the more luxurious feel to the show? Right, oh God, I thought, we must be the best of the best! Then I thought, I guess they’re making money now. It was just awesome! The experience, to this day, honestly, it’s just surreal. I’m like, that’s me, for real? It hasn’t hit me yet. People recognize me and all that. When I first saw the house, I thought, “Oh, we gotta bring MTV Cribs to this house! Ain’t nobody got it like we do!” What was the best part of the experience? The best part to me was just giving a plus-size girl an opportunity to be on the show. Previous seasons didn’t have a whole lot of plus-size girls, I think that was the best part of the show. What was the hardest part of the experience? The hardest part was boot camp. Because, honestly this show is like boot camp modeling. These people are going to critique you in everything you do. What you think is good or you like, they may not like. You have to be ready - mentally, physically and emotionally prepared before you come into this competition. Who would you say was the most annoying person in the house? Hmm...the most annoying. (Pauses) There had to be someone. Well, for me it was Nicole. Just because she nagged so much sometimes. I was like, “Oh, God.” She didn’t do it all the time, but as you guys saw, the time she did nag, we were like, “Okay, look. (Laughs) You’re nagging a bit too much.” (Laughs) It wasn’t something like I couldn’t stand her, but it did bother me a little bit. I didn’t let it get to me. Who were you closest to in the house? Nik. We’re still close. She’s the bomb. What did you think of the “plastic surgery” theme for the photoshoot? Honestly, at first? I thought it was cheesy. I was like, “Oh, God, what now!” It turned out to be so classy that I loved it. At the end I thought, this was bad, this is gonna look good. It turned out to be a great photoshoot. Your profile in that picture was classic beauty. (Laughs) I know, it was like, dang! I look great! In fact, I was so surprised that you got eliminated after that picture. Can you believe that? One of my best pictures and I gotta go home! Didn’t they tell you in the judging that you had improved? Were you surprised to be on the chopping block? Yeah! I was working so hard, honestly, I would really go in there and I would work. I would work on my runway and I would work on my posing throughout the house. And that’s something they say: embrace your body, show it off, show it in your pictures. And I believe that with every shoot, with every week, I think my body improved. So, I was like, this really sucks. Just when I was starting to get good! Even Nigel, you know, he don’t be blowing on the big girls side, but even he said, “She’s improving every week, she has a good shot. She’s getting better and better and that’s what the competition is about.”And then to get booted off, I was really bummed. What was it like to work with Janice Dickenson? She’s awesome, I love Janice. She’s as blunt and outspoken as anyone in this world could be, and I admire her for that, because I’m the type of person that I’m going to keep it real, and I’m going to give you the real deal. And if you don’t like it, that’s fine. You know, everybody wanted to know what Janice had to say about them, whether it was good or bad. We all asked each other, what did Janice say about you? (Laughs) What was your take on the drama between Lisa and Coryn? Did you hear any of Lisa’s talk with Janice Dickenson? I felt bad for Lisa because honestly, Lisa has a big heart. She’s such a loving and caring person. She used to make coffee for us in the morning and stuff, cook breakfast for us - she is just so nice. I felt bad for her because really, her intentions are not bad. I know that’s the way they portrayed her on TV, but deep down her intentions are not bad. Lisa and I actually got close before I got eliminated. Nik, her, and I got real close after Ebony was eliminated. Do you see yourself as more of a runway model or do you prefer to do photoshoots and print modeling? I like the photoshoots. I like runway, but I like being crazy and just being up there and stoking that camera, you know, and showing the clothes off. I like them both, but for me, I like the photoshoots better. What is your opinion of what Tyra said during judging, that to be successful as a plus-size model you have to bring more bubbly personality than the skinny girls? I think it’s true to a certain extent, but being in this competition, you go through so much. Being in front of judges that critique you in everything that you do, and when at the end of the night you know somebody is going home, I don’t think that there’s nothing to be bubbly about. I mean, it’s a stressful situation! I’m not going to sit up there and be like, (perky voice) “Hiiii!” No! That’s not really how I feel, I feel like I’m stressed! And a lot of people felt that, like they showed with Bre breaking down. This is hard! This is not a joke, this is serious. Do you read the internet sites where fans talk about the show? Which site are you? We’re fansofrealitytv.com. Yes, I read you guys! I did, somebody told me about it because I never knew about that stuff. I started reading that and I thought it was really cool. [Ed.: Diane confirmed she has posted on the site.] What’s ahead for you? Do you plan to continue modeling? I want to pursue this modeling. I love my job, but I really want to pursue modeling and anything else that comes my way. Acting - I would love to be on an episode of CSI Investigators - that would be awesome. I really want to pursue this and I know it will work out for me. Is there anything else you would like to tell the viewers? Thank you for watching! Thank you to everyone for their support, and thank you for interviewing me! Many thanks to Diane for being so fun to talk to, and thanks to UPN for granting the interview. __________________ THE SMEAR: Barack Obama got 100% on "Through the Fire and Flames" on Guitar Hero. THE TRUTH: Barack Obama is a DDR fanatic.

10-16-2005, 02:22 AM	#4
so into you Anya \| Kata \| Aimee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hong Kong Age: 19 Posts: 2,053	Ahhh! Diane! Great interview. __________________ beauty is only skin deep.

10-16-2005, 03:06 AM	#6
il2az7 My Hero Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: At the Kissing Booth Posts: 238	Oh! That was a great interview! She has posted? OMG. How cool. Thanks hepcat, and thanks Diane! __________________ And tonight she's going to scream your name from the highest rooftop Because for the first time in her life, she's not afraid to fall in love

10-16-2005, 03:30 AM	#7
r0guish Milk in MY cocapuffs? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 1,408	To be honest, Diane dissapointed me in this competition. I really wanted to see more spunk and personality out of her... not necessarily bubbly, I think that's too narrow of a mold or attempt for "plus size models" - who care if she's a plus size model or not, when she auditioned she was so full of sass and attitude and I really felt she'd bring that UMPH to the competition with that kind of pazazz, but oh well. Great interview as always hep! __________________ "How do you feel about marriage and commitment?" - Britney Spears "I feel that...I feel that love is love...love has...I don't believe in marriage. I believe you can get married." - Kevin Federline *Huh? I think I just got stupider...* Please do your part to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina: DONATE!

10-16-2005, 12:38 PM	#8
CCL Jam Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The only snowflakes I want to see are the ones in my avatar Posts: 6,151	Great job, hepcat. __________________ If wishes were like horses we'd all be going for a ride.

10-16-2005, 01:30 AM	#2
AntmSTarTa JESSICA: #1 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, USA Posts: 1,232	Great interview, hepcat! Diane, I was really surprised that you/she was eliminated when you easily had one of the better photos.

10-16-2005, 01:37 AM	#3
SARA_MODEL FORT Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada... Posts: 577	Thanks so much for the great interview Hep and Diane, great questions and great answers!

10-16-2005, 02:40 AM	#5
Alphabet Soup Alphabet HO Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 20 Posts: 550	Great interview! I was so dissapointed that Diane and Bre were in the bottom 2. They had really good photos. Nicole and Kim's pic were the worse. (IMO)

10-16-2005, 02:53 PM	#9
DoeBoy FORT Fogey Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 996	Great interview hep! On a side note, cool, she's been on FORT before!

10-16-2005, 03:17 PM	#10
suckmytoes FORT Fogey Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wherever I'm standing... Posts: 1,535	Wow, Diane is such a cool girl! I really liked her personality once I watched the show, before, I thought she was trying to be another Tocarra - but Diane is like a really laidback chick! I think they should've gave her another chance, although I wasn't surprised they eliminated her. Good luck, Diane! and thanks hepcat for the interview!