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Posing a bad thing in the modeling world? It is if it’s to the point you over-think and can’t relax during a photo shoot, as Sarah, a 20-year-old photographer and sixth contestant eliminated from America’s Next Top Model, found out. Join me for Sarah’s experience during her quest to become a top model.
Hi, Sarah. How are you?
I’m doing amazing!
Thank you for speaking with me today.
It’s a pleasure.
How did you get interested in applying for America’s Next Top Model?
It’s a funny story, actually. It’s a little bit of a long one, as well. I went to an actor party for Cycle 7, Chicago auditions, just to promote my photography and stuff, and one of the casting people came up to me and asked me if I wanted to audition for Cycle 7. I said, yeah, sure, but I’m still signed with Elite Chicago. I’ve been signed since I was 17. He said, “Don’t worry about it.” So, I went up to Minnesota, I went to callbacks and all that stuff, but didn’t get on the show, unfortunately. Then, they called me back for Cycle 8 and had me do auditions. When I did callbacks for Cycle 8, I was auditioning with Jaslene, and I was like, “Oh my gosh! [laughs] I saw you on last cycle.” But, then, I got America’s Next Top Model.
So, you’ve had basically three years of modeling experience?
Correct.
Sounds as though you’re pretty accomplished already for being 20.
Thank you! I work really hard. I don’t sleep much anymore, but that’s okay.
There were thirteen girls under one roof. What was that like for you living in the house?
Um, stressful, and the shower situation wasn’t very fun. The girls I met were awesome, and if you put 13 girls in a house and from different parts of the country and different backgrounds, they are going to fight. You don’t expect drama to happen, you’re insane.
That happens with two, doesn’t it?
Well, yeah. That, too! Meow! [makes awesome cat sound] The house . . . it felt as though you were kind of living in a dream world. That’s kind of how it felt to tell you the truth. When I look back on it, it baffles me sometimes. It was so amazing, though. I had amazing fun there.
Who was your roommate?
My first roommate was Samantha. Then she got the boot [laughs] from Tyra. Then, Brittany moved into my room after Samantha got kicked off.
Was there anyone you were particularly close with in the house?
I think I was probably closest with Brittany, Jael, and Felicia, and Jael is just like this bright light that you can’t even describe. She makes everyone happy around her. She’s amazing.
I have to ask this one. Who was the most difficult one to get along with in the house?
You probably know the answer to that. [laughs]
I probably do!
Renee was definitely the most difficult person to live with in the house. You can tell from the show I stayed out of the drama. I’m not a drama person. I’m there to work and live and stuff, but that’s just not me. It was difficult not to get into something with Renee just because of the . . . yeah.
It showed you on the last show, when Tyra had her session with all the girls, and you mentioned that you felt she was always talking down to you. Is that how you really felt?
It is! The way that Renee talks sometimes is very dominant. I don’t know. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves is when somebody will, like, point their finger at you. It's more of an authoritative figure, and I’m not a huge fan, especially coming from a girl that is my peer. Renee doesn’t realize she is doing this, though. She really is . . . deep down she is a sweet person, and I still keep in contact with her. She’ll learn. [laughs]
Sometimes I forget she was the same age as you were because she just seems older—not necessarily with her emotional response . . . I don’t know; it’s just different. It’s night and day between the two of you.
I like her a lot. I’m a happy person. I’m watching myself on the show, and I’m, like, wow, I just seem like this bubbly . . . but, with me, when it comes down to a business standpoint, I can be completely serious and everything. In real life, I’m just a happy-go-lucky person, and I enjoy life, and I laugh a lot. I make funny faces like I do on Top Model. That’s just me.
Our readers always like hear another contestant’s opinion of the other girls in the house. Could you give me a one or two word description--just the first thing that pops into your mind--when you hear the other girls’ names?
Brittany: Red-haired; bubbly
Cassandra: Strong woman; spiritual
Diana: Jersey; bold
Dionne: Very calm and collected
Felicia: Dancer
Jael: Wild and crazy; very fun to be around
Jaslene: Chicago; very opinionated
Kathleen: Kiki Puff Puff (that’s what we called her; she’s hilarious)
Natasha: Russian; very cutesy
Renee: Very competitive
Samantha: Sweet southern girl
Whitney: Intelligent; amazing to talk to
You get a chance to say something about yourself, too.
Sarah: Giggly [laughs] and workaholic
What did you think of your makeover, and is that a look you kept?
I loved the makeover, and I’m going to call a Sessions Salon really soon while I’m out here to get another haircut by them, but I dug it. I love the brown hair. I’m back to blonde. It’s just too much upkeep; I’m lazy when it comes to hair. [laughs]
How tall are you?
I am 5’ 9”.
You got tagged with posing too much during your shoots. Is that something you were conscious of doing?
I wasn’t really conscious because I think I over-analyze things. I’m a very analytical person. I think I just thought about it too much. It sounds kind of cliché, but I needed to stop thinking and just kind of do.
This ties in with what you just said. Were you trying to out-think the photographer who was shooting you, and did you detect any animosity with whomever you were doing the shoot with. Jay seemed to mention your photography background enough--every time you had a shoot.
Every single time he did it. “Sarah’s a photographer.” I’m, like, “Jay, why do you always have to do that!” But, all the photographers were really nice, and when we got down time, I would sit there and ask them, “I see you’re using this light here and this light here. Can I ask you why?” I would just pick their brain, and they loved it. They were really awesome about it.
Do you think your background in photography hurt you in this competition?
I think that it helped me and hindered me at the same time. You know, I know a lot about the session, and, sure, it always helps as a model to know that. I think it just made me think too much when I was up in front of the lens. I was thinking this is the light source; I’ve got to kind of do this, when I should have just stopped thinking and gone with my instinct.
You have a claim to fame as you had an episode named after you: The Girl Who Takes Credit. After winning that challenge, you took flack from your teammates. Renee stated that you didn’t do any of the work you were praised for, and Dionne didn’t seem too happy, either. What’s your take on how all that went down?
You know, I actually . . . right after that . . . when we were going to get the clothes, and when I was showed the clothes I was, “Oh my gosh! Can I wear the blue," because I always wear blue. You probably saw me wearing my blue jacket every single day. I’m wearing it right now. I love my plaid blue jacket. It’s like my staple. [laughs] But, you know, we all helped. It was a team effort, and I went up to Renee and Dionne after it, and, unfortunately, it wasn’t aired. I went up to Renee and Dionne after and talked to them and said, “You’re not mad at me, are you? I’m sorry. When I was talking, I should have given you credit and everything.” But, I just got so caught up; I was so happy that I won. I was like, “Oh my gosh! I won a challenge!” I was so excited, ‘cause I’m not that type of person whatsoever, and I felt really bad about it.
This past week, you had to create a unique name for yourself, and you chose “Moe.” Looking back, would you have chosen something different?
Yes, I would have. I should have stuck with my gut instinct and chose Sarah Von because that’s what I use in my photography.
Is that “V-o-n?”
Yes. Not the big jazz singer [Sarah Vaughn]. [laughs] Yes, Sarah Von. But, you know, Moe is my middle name. My middle name is Maureen, which “Mo” is short for Maureen. I thought that it would give me something different, but I should have gone with Sarah Von.
What was that whole party experience like for you and getting to meet Benny Medina?
The party experience was fantastic. Benny Medina? It was very intimidating going into that room and seeing everybody, but, at the same time, I’m used to going on castings where you go into a room, and they size you up. They look at you and say, “Okay, we like these proportions.” It was amazing talking to him, though. He is very influential in the industry, so it was intimidating and I was nervous, but I giggle a lot. [laughs]
Talking with your mom on the phone, you seemed fairly certain you’d be in the bottom two. How difficult was directing your own hair and makeup, the personality sides, just doing that shoot in general?
That shoot was . . . I liked directing the hair and the makeup and everything. I think that was awesome. I would have gone a little bit lighter on the eyes, but what are your going to do now? Picking out the four emotions, I didn’t do a very good job at that. I really liked my happy picture and my regret picture. I loved those. The innocence one I completely agree with them. I went at the website today, and I looked at it, and I was, like, eww! The anger one? I like the image, but it was the hardest one to get out of me because I tried to think back to something that I’m angry about or something, but I really couldn’t bring that out of me, which is a good thing and a bad thing. I guess I’m not an angry person.
You couldn’t think about Jay telling you to loosen up? Not pose? [laughs]
Even that, that gets me more frustrated, but not angry. I’m trying to think back to the last time I was truly, truly angry, which is a while ago. I usually deal with things before I get angry.
Do you read any of the online sites discussing the show?
Yes, and I’m an avid fan of Fansofrealitytv.com. It’s one of my [laughs] guilty pleasures and reading all the stuff everyone is writing about me.
The readers will be thrilled to hear that.
Yes, I’ve been reading everything by the way, readers!
Did you think you would be the one going home when it was between you and Whitney?
You know, I didn’t to tell you the truth. I didn’t think I would be the one. Whitney, it was the second time Whitney was in the bottom two, and I felt I would be given another chance. I really wanted to prove it to 1) myself and 2) the judges, that I can let go of all this stuff, and it’s unfortunate I didn’t get another chance. But, I realized to myself that I don’t have to prove it to anybody. I have to just go out and do it, and that’s enough for me, and I’m going to, so you’ll see my face of covers of magazines. [laughs]
Do you feel you were portrayed accurately on the show?
I think I was portrayed accurately besides the fact of the whole challenge and that kind of stuff, because I’m not a person to take credit for somebody else, and I wouldn’t do that. I’m not one of those people. I’m happy-go-lucky, and when I talk about my photography, I’m very passionate about that and everything. So, I think I was portrayed very well and accurate.
You have a lot of things going for you career-wise. What do you want to do when you grow up? And, not meant in a derogatory way, of course. [laughs]
It’s very funny. Of course, I want to do my modeling. Modeling has an expiration date, which I understand. I’m doing my photography still, but I’m actually in the process of recording an album, which is amazing, and I’ve been recording ever since I got back. Music has been such an influence in my life—all my life. I’ve been singing since I was little and all that stuff. I just got finished with a demo, and we’re talking to a bunch of record labels and distribution companies, and me and my manager, Bill Colvert, will probably sign something soon and get the record out there.
Wow, that’s interesting.
I’m a busy . . . like I said, I’m a workaholic.
What was your favorite photo shoot?
My favorite photo shoot was probably—well, there’s two. I think I did the best in the nude photo shoot because I wasn’t allowed to second-guess myself and because I had cold ice cream on my hands, which I ended up getting frostbite on my hand. Me and Cassandra got frostbite on our hand from the ice cream. I didn’t get is as bad as Cassandra, but I was crying afterwards. It killed. I thought the feeling wasn’t going to come back in my hand. Cassandra’s was a lot worse, though. I don’t even know if she has feeling in her hands or not. The most fun photo shoot out of all of them would have to be the Drag Queen photo shoot where we dressed up as guys. It was a good realization for me seeing those images and seeing how I was too posey and stuff like that. Plus, the drag queens were so much fun. Ohmigod. When Jael was talking about moustache-orize with her moustache on, and Natasha being gangster, it was such an experience!
What was your least favorite photo shoot?
My least favorite photo shoot was probably the first one to tell you the truth, because I’m supposed to be pro-life in prison. But, before the shoot, I was supposed to be one of the guards, and that’s what I was preparing myself for and everything. You know, being one of the guards, being strong and stuff like that. I get there, and they’re, like, “Oh yeah, you’re in prison.” And, I’m like uh, uh, okay, and I don’t understand how I could be pro-life in prison if I’m spending my life in prison, so it was very, very confusing. A very confusing subject.
I’ll put you on the spot and ask you what qualities do you think Tyra is looking for in a model for her show?
Tyra is looking for someone being unique. You know, any girl that’s reading Fans of Reality TV is listening, a girl that just has passion about something, and a girl that’s different from other people. Don’t just talk about modeling. Talk about yourself and talk about what makes you different. She’s just looking for fun personalities, and every single girl on this show had definitely a personality. They’re all very different. Just somebody that’s different and has that little spark in their eye. When I went into my casting, I talked about my photography, and stuff I love to do, and all that stuff. Definitely, people for the show have to be very, very, a very strong person. It’s extremely emotionally and physically draining.
I think we’ve learned it’s not just beauty, personality, things like that. That was interesting from your perspective what you thought she was looking for.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you?
I think that the show portrayed me amazing, and I’m really excited for all the fans of America’s Next Top Model to listen to my music because it is such a part of me, and I’m so proud of it. The songs that I’m writing currently are so sophisticated and stuff like that. There’s a new song “Sing Me to Sleep” that is so amazing.
You’re doing the lyrics, too?
Yes, I’m writing and co-writing all the lyrics. I just recorded two songs out here with Marshall Altman, a big-time producer out here, and we co-wrote the most amazing songs that are so beautiful. It’s so amazing because I’m putting everything—all of my emotions from the show, everything I’ve been through—into my music. It’s all of me, so I hope everyone enjoys it.
I’ll look forward to listening to it.
You can go, if you want to, to Myspace, and that’s the website for my music.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m on Fans of Reality TV all the time. I was just on there. [laughs]
Thanks for talking with me, and congratulations for making it as far as you did. Best of luck in all of your many endeavors.
Thank you so, so much.
Many thanks to Sarah and CW for this interview opportunity!
I'm relieved now that she's gone.
