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Full of confidence, outspoken, never one to shy away from a shouting match or a confessional, and seemingly doing whatever it took to gain an advantage in the competition, Bianca, an 18 year-old college student from Queens, NY, gained the reputation of the "bitch" of this cycle on America's Next Top Model. There has to be one every cycle, doesn't there? Bianca made it to the top four before being eliminated, but the burning question reamains: Is Bianca really a mean girl, or is she merely misunderstood?
Bianca, why don’t you tell us a little bit about how you got involved in the competition?
Okay, so hi, everyone! It went like this. I’ve been a big fan of Top Model since Cycle 1, and I always realized at 18 that I wanted to go on the show, try out for this show, because when I was younger, I tried modeling, and it didn’t actually work for me because everyone told me I was a bit urban, and it wouldn’t work.. My look wouldn’t be marketable. So, I just knew if I just got a chance to make it that I’d go far. I just needed a door to get my foot in so I could make it, and Top Model was that door for me. I tried out as soon as I turned 18. I went in and I was the only one called out of my line. I was really excited about that, and then when I got the call from Tyra, I just had my mind set that I was going to win. I went in, and the rest is what you see on TV.
(SV) How tall are you?
I’m 5’ 11 ½”, so right next to six feet.
(SV) Do you feel as though you were portrayed accurately on the show?
I felt that editing played a big part of what the audience saw, but everything I said, I said. When you put it together in a certain way, it comes out entertaining television, and I have no problem with that because I’m a reality TV junkie. [laughs] I don’t have a problem with it because that is what TV is, you know—reality TV. I knew what I was getting myself into when I tried out. I’m not what you saw. [laughs] I hope people could see that. I’m a nice person, very caring, generous, but I was just in the spirit of the competition.
(SV) I was going to ask you who was the real Bianca? Was it the fun-loving girl or the mean-to-the-other-girls girl?
I feel that I can’t be just one person. I’m a lot, you know. At home, I’m just the nicest girl you ever see—always laughing, always giggling, telling jokes, things like that. Really simple kind of girl, but I do have a competitive side, and I’ve always had a competitive side. Maybe it came out, you know, a bit extreme on this show, [laughs] but I do have my days when I’m not the nicest person.
(SV) Who were you closest to in the house?
The two people that I was really close to at the beginning were Kimberly and Mila, and it sucked that they got kicked off first because they were the ones I used to confide in, and, you know, talk to, and they left first. Once a couple girls left, I got really close with Jenah, and I’m still very close to her.
I was curious if you’ve cleared the air with Heather or Lisa since being on the show?
Yes, actually, I spoke to Heather when I got home, and she loves me. [laughs] I apologized for anything that came out wrong or was edited. I told her that’s not how I meant for it to come out—that’s not the way I wanted the comments to come out. She said she completely understood, and she told me that she really appreciated the tough love I gave her because she got tired of people treating her like a child. I actually treated her like an adult, and she appreciated it. I still apologized because some things were misinterpreted, and I thought I really care for her, and I really want her to do well. As for Lisa, I spoke with her briefly, and I’ll be home in a couple days, and we’re going to hang out. So, there is no bad blood between myself or any other girls in the house.
What was your favorite part of your time in China?
My favorite time is China was the stuff you guys didn’t see. It was the girls and I sitting around and talking about the people we missed and just being able to really understand the girls and where they come from in life. Of course, the shopping! I didn’t get much shopping in, but it was just great to see the sites and to be able to go overseas like that. It was just amazing. All of China, from the 14-hour plane ride there to the 14-hour plane ride back was amazing.
What are you going to do now that you are no longer on the show?
Well, I plan on continuing modeling. I’m going to go to agencies all around New York City until I get hired, I guess.
What would you like to say to everyone who was a fan and supporter of you while you were on the show?
I want to tell my fans “thank you so much” for supporting me and believing in me, even though I seemed kind of bitchy on TV, and I want to thank everyone who watched the show, actually—just for supporting, and watching, and understanding that all the girls—we really have dreams. Even though it’s a reality show, we’re really trying to make it, so thanks for supporting us and watching the show.
If you had to redo some of your experiences on the show, what would you change? What would be some of the things you might do differently?
Well, I don’t really regret most things, but one thing that stands out to me that I would redo was running into the glass. It was kind of painful, and my lip was swollen for a while, [laughs] and I was really panicking because of the photo-shoot. I really had like a big panic attack over that. But, other than that, I don’t really regret anything. I had a blast. Everything helped build me to who I am right now.
So, you don’t think there was anything you could change to not get eliminated?
While I was doing the show, I wanted to win and that was it. That’s the only thing I thought of. When I sit back and look at it or sit back and realize what happened, me winning wouldn’t have been good for me at that time because I already had that competitive spirit, and it was going into a negative place. If I would have won, I don’t know if I would have been the most humble person, and right now I have time to sit back and realize how I can change as an individual and how I can be a better model.
What was the best advice you received while you were on the show?
The best advice might have come from Heather when she told me that winning wasn’t everything. It’s just about you growing. It’s about the people that you meet on the road. We had a long talk one day. I just remember her looking at me, and I felt she was like peering into me, as funny as that may seem. She was just like, “Bianca, I know you’re not a bad person. You just want your dreams. All of us want this to come true, but I want you to understand that this isn’t everything, and you also have a life after this.”
You said you’re a reality junkie. What other reality shows do you like?
Oh, gosh! [laughs] I love I Love New York. I love Real World. Oh, gosh! I would say every type of reality show there is. I’m just a junkie. [laughs]
You said at the judging panel that you learned a lot about modeling throughout your time on the show, and that you really grew as a model. How did you take the advice and the critiques the judges gave you and kind of expand on that and grew on that?
Well, I’m really into people assessing themselves and being flat-out blunt. I enjoy it and I appreciate it going to panel and the judges telling me every week, “This might not work. This isn’t working for you. This is okay, but this isn’t.” I appreciate it and I really took it in so much. That is how I like for people to be. I don’t like for people to sugar-coat anything around me because that’s not the type of person I am, so I appreciated everything from the judges.
What did you feel was your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge I had was just getting my face to express emotion, I guess. Because anger came easy to me, and, you know, I learned how to smile with my eyes. There were just certain things I could see Jenah do that I couldn’t mimic.
Did you have any previous modeling experience before this, or did you come in straight up with no experience and kind of started from the beginning?
I was basically thrown in fresh. The only experience I had was trying to get signed, like going to different agencies and understanding how blunt people could be, and how hard it is to get signed.
I was wondering if you could talk about Tyra’s farewell advice to you. How did you think she thought you should have friends or relatives take pictures of you?
At first, I didn’t quite understand that, and I felt that it was a slap in the face, but when I realized what she meant, and I stepped back and thought about it, she was trying to help me. She gave me the best advice she could give me, which was go take some more pictures. Go practice some more. Because, if I would have went out into the modeling with my portfolio, and I just thought, you know, this is the best book in the world, and wasn’t getting booked, I wouldn’t understand why. Tyra telling me to continue practice, continue to practice, and me build my book up. When I go out there I can be more confident because I have a good book because, honestly, I did practice, and practice makes perfect.
Am I to understand you that you sort of played up your bitchy side for the show?
At no time during the taping of the show did I think this is good TV. I got used to the cameras right after we moved into the house. I was just me being me, and I think that editing played it up more than it was. I got really irritated. I missed my family as much as the other girls did, but instead of reacting like Jenah and crying or, you know, Chantal, and confiding in Saleisha, I just got angry, and I took it out on everyone around me, which wasn’t the best thing to do. But, I didn’t want to show that much emotion, so it came out not in the best way.
Have you been reading the online commentary—like fans’ reactions to you, and I’m wondering what your reaction is to some of their comments.
Yes. Just like I’m a reality TV junkie, I’m a blog junkie, and I’ve been on every blog possible. I just been reading, and there are a lot of negative comments, but I can’t get mad at them. I just take them in. Sometimes, I do get mad, but for the most part, when I think about it, I can just take it in because I put myself out there. I knew what I was getting involved with, and I used to be a fan and a viewer before I was on the show. So, I understand when they have their favorites and when they have the people they don’t like. That’s just how reality TV is. The only thing I can say is to the people who write—to the bloggers—I’m not like that. I’m not a bitch, [laughs] and I’m not perfect. I have my days just like anyone else. I’m still human. I’m going to have bad days and good days. That’s just life. That’s how it goes.
You had said modeling is in your future. What else might you want to do?
Well, I would love to be a fashion writer. Fashion is going to be in my life, somehow, some way. I want to do something in the fashion field. I’m currently in school. I was doing physical therapy as my major, but I’m going to have to change that now.
What is Bianca like in person? What are you really like?
On an everyday basis, I’m just a normal girl. I’m loud. I think I’m funny. [laughs] I like to laugh. I love a good joke. I’m just a real person; I’m down to earth. I do have my bad days, like I said, but it’s not that exaggerated. Like, I’m not a walking time bomb waiting to just try to bring people down. That’s not the truth at all.
Do you really feel the show played it all up and wasn’t portraying you fairly?
Yeah, like I said, I said everything. Everything you saw, I said it. I’m not going to deny that, but editing makes a big difference. When you put three comments of me saying, “she’s a bitch, she’s a bitch, she’s a bitch” together, then you’ll know she’s a bad person. I’m not upset by anything that I’ve seen. I think it’s really entertaining.
You won the challenge last night on the episode, right? So, do you think it was fair that you won? The show kind of made it look as though you tried to sabotage Jenah. Was that accurate?
Oh, actually I didn’t win last night’s challenge. I won the challenge before.
Oh, really? Sorry. I messed up. Skip that then.
How do you feel about the modeling industry in general—about weight issues and things like that?
I feel like the modeling industry has its standards and where it wants it to be. I wish that we could change it and make it okay for models to be normal weight, I guess, or okay for a size 10 not to be called a plus size, but just be regular. I think it’s going to have to be little steps at a time before we can just make big changes. But, for now, I’m healthy, and I’m a size 2, so I’m okay with it.
What was it like working with Tyra as a photographer?
It was amazing, even though it was the shoot I got kick off. Tyra has always been one of the people I looked up to, of course. Just for me to work with her in general was great, and for her to be my photographer, I actually learned from her because she’s a model. For her to be behind a camera, she knows both sides, so it was good for her to teach us things.
What do you think was the biggest trick she taught her was during the shoot?
To let go, and I don’t know if I totally grasp that yet, but to just let go and just go with it. You know, I didn’t want to jump. I didn’t want to leap. I couldn’t understand why she wanted me to, but you just have to let go and do what your body wants and stop thinking so much.
What was it like on that shoot? Was it amazing to be at the Wall? What was the most amazing part of it?
Yeah, I remember going on the plane and all the girls would say, “I hope we go to the Great Wall.” I wasn’t that excited. I was thinking more about shopping. Once we get there and get that Tyra Mail, we got to walk around and climb it, and it was amazing. People told us the history—the tourists stopped and told us the history behind it, and it was just amazing and breath-taking. You would have to go there just to understand how we felt to be up there looking at it.
Your pictures were gorgeous—absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you so much!
Do you think it was fair you were kicked off last night?
I think it was my time to go. I honestly did. The girls there—they had really strong portfolios, and they were ready. Mentally, they were more ready than I was. I wish them all the best of luck, and I just feel like it was my time to go.
Are you keeping in contact with any of the girls?
Yeah, like I spoke to Heather. I spoke to Lisa. Kimberly left me a million messages, and Mila—we’re going to hang out. You know, we’ve got a strong bond with them, and I feel like we’re really sisters. I can’t wait to hang out with the rest of them.
You probably haven’t been able to hang out with so much before the shows air, but do you have plans to hang out and keep in touch with all of them?
Yes. Definitely. We all E-mail back and forth, so that’s fun.
Do you have any hobbies outside of modeling? You said you were interesting in fashion, in general.
Yeah. I write. I used to step. Dance team. I’m involved with everything.
Are you getting recognized a lot? I’m sure you are on the street. What do you think of being a celebrity?
It’s very cool to be walking down the street and for people to recognize you, and scream, and want a picture, and an autograph. It’s pretty cool. It’s kind of weird at first, but I’m getting used to it. [laughs]
Are you still in school?
I’m in college, and it’s my second year. I’m a sophomore at Lincoln (??) University.
Are you planning on finishing and doing modeling at the same time? What is your plan for modeling in the future?
I definitely plan on finishing my education. I come from a strict background, so I have to finish school, and I really enjoy school. I plan on taking a semester off and getting my career together. I really want to model. It’s been my passion since I was 12, so this is something I’m really serious about. I plan on getting that together, and, hopefully, going to school part time.
Which was your favorite photo-shoot out of all of them?
My favorite photo-shoot had to be the Gargoyle photo-shoot because not only were the clothes amazing, but I actually started to grasp the concept of what they wanted me to do—of what Tyra and Jay wanted me to do. I started making my way up to the top from that photo-shoot.
Your haircut was a big deal in the beginning of the show, and I personally think you’re gorgeous with short hair. Are you happy with having short hair? Are you planning on keeping it that way?
Yes, I love the haircut now. At first, it was a huge shock, as anyone can imagine. I watched the show from Cycle 1, and I always told myself, “When I go on there, I’m not going to complain. I’m not going to cry.” When I got there and I saw the picture of what Tyra said my makeover was going to be—you know, long, golden haircut, like kind of Beyonce, kind of Tyra Banks—I thought okay, this is what I’m getting, and then I ended up with no hair, so that was a shock, and that is what made me cry. I didn’t complain, but inside I felt upset. I thought I looked like a boy, and it made me feel like I didn’t have the same confidence I had when I came here with the big, red hair. But, now and a few weeks after the Gargoyle shoot, I guess, I got used to it, and I really love it. Now, seeing it on TV, it grew on me, and I’m going to keep it, and, hopefully, I’ll get a brush because I looked really bad on TV. [laughs]
It definitely looked amazing. Do you think it had something to do with you staying so long in the competition? Do you think if you would have gotten the original hairstyle, would you have stood out as much as you did?
Definitely, definitely, definitely! I think it helped me a million because if I would have gotten the blond hair, I think it would have been video-girlish. I don’t think it would have fit as well as the haircut did, and they always say they want you to be more versatile and more high-fashion, and that cut was just what I needed. Jay told me this, and now I can see it.
(SV) Who did you see as your greatest competition?
In the beginning stages, I thought my greatest competition was Ebony because when you first see her, she is just, gorgeous, gorgeous, six-oneish kind of girl. Gorgeous complexion and strong, strong personality. I just thought she had that Naomi flair, and I was intimidated by that. After Ebony left, I started looking more toward Jenah and Saleisha as my biggest competition because Saleisha has that personality, that charming personality, that bring you in, and Jenah’s portfolio is just amazing. So, those three, definitely my greatest competition.
(SV) Aside from yourself, who would you like to see win the competition? Had to throw that in there!
[Laughs] I usually say I want all the girls to win, and I really do. I want them all to do well, and I wouldn’t mind who won because I'm not there, one. And, two, they all bring something different to the table. But, I’m just going for picking a friend, and a strong portfolio, and I’d have to say Jenah. Because, Jenah, her portfolio, again, is just amazing, and I’m close with her. Saleisha has a great personality, and Chantal looks so much like Heidi Klum to me, and she is just gorgeous. Any of them would do well.
Bianca, is there anything you want to add or anything you read on the blogs that you might want to address?
I definitely know Fans of Reality. I’m a huge fan, and I’m addicted to all blogs, but definitely that one stands out to me. I just want to let the readers know—I know I have some fans on there—I just want to say thank you to all the bloggers, and I want to thank you for the support. Thanks for the positive comments, the negative comments, I’m not a bitch, I love Heather—we’re still friends; we talk, and don’t believe everything you see or reality TV right away, or analyze before you comment because editing plays a big role, I guess. I want to say I’m going to continue to model; I’m not going to give up. I have a strong personality, and I have a determined will to make it. Thank you!
Many thanks to THE CW and Bianca for this interview opportunity!
Photo Credit: THE CW
