[GRITS]

This website does interviews w/all the girls who have been eliminated on Top Model-girlposse.com.

The Interview

We are now more than half way through the eliminations on America's Next Top Model. Through most of the interviews we've been a bit surprised by the personalities of the girls compared to what we expected by watching them on TV. This week we were happy to find that Kesse was exactly as we expected her. She was as sweet, kind and open as she appeared on the series, without a negative comment about anyone or anything to do with the show.

Kesse had never modeled before. After seeing an ad for the open call, she auditioned in Little Rock for America's Next Top Model. It was about 2 months later when she got the call telling her she made the semi-finals. After a week of interviews and evaluations she made the final cut. Knowing she would be moving in with 9 other women, Kesse went in with an open mind. "You can't think everyone is like you. Or like people you know. Everyone is so different." She believes that it was this school of thought that allowed her to get along with everyone.

The experience was better than she thought it would be. "Tyra really wants it to be special...she wanted to give us the best of everything...I had a blast! Something I will never forget." Kesse explained the hardest part of being on the show. "The first week was the hardest, being criticized by the judges. After a while I said Hey, this is what's it like in this industry. They're preparing us for this..." She was focused and motivated by what she was learning.

The cameras didn't seem to bother Kesse at all. "You knew they were there. The first week I'd try not to look in the camera, but I would and I know I'm not supposed to look in the camera. But after about a week you were used to it." I had wanted to ask Kesse about the cattiness in the house, but somehow her sweet demeanor started rubbing off on me, and I forgot! Instead we talked about what she loved most about the whole experience. "The swim suit shoot, and the movement shoot. The movement shoot was fun. There was music playing, I was getting into it." Kesse was also one of the lucky gals to visit Paris. "I loved Paris. It was so beautiful. Just knowing I was there was wonderful. I definitely recommend Paris."

It was in Paris that Kesse was eliminated. "It was time." When asked why this Tyra look-alike was cut, she said "I've always heard I looked like Tyra, even before the show. But when Tyra said it, the first week...wow." She doesn't believe it had anything to do with why she was eliminated. "It was a versatility issue. They need someone to do all different types of modeling, which I understand. They really have to focus on what they want in America's Next Top Model."

We tried to get out of her who she thought would win. "I don't know. That's the hardest question. All of the girls are going to get something from this." We couldn't even get her to say who she wanted to win. (Laughing) "I just don't know!" Instead we asked if any of the eliminations really surprised her. "Yes, Katie. I was surprised she left so early."

Kesse has absolutely no regrets, and wouldn't have changed a thing. Now that they are looking for the next round of models, we asked Kesse if she had any advice for the future girls. "Go into this 100%. Don't half step at all. You have to go in believing 'I'm going to win' 'I'm going to do everything I can to win' You can't be wishy washy at all." We also think that any future girls should take Kesse's lead and go into a house full of women with a very open mind. It worked for her, and was one of the reasons we liked her so well. After nearly 3 weeks of close living quarters, Kesse still talks to Robin and Shannon all of the time. Kesse hopes for a reunion after the show ends so she can catch up with the rest of the girls.

What's next for Kesse? "I want to do a lot. Modeling, acting, maybe singing." She is waiting for the show to come to a close before moving on. She is still living in Arkansas, but looking to move very soon. We're waiting for Kesse to take on the world with a smile and her sweet demeanor. We hope she never loses that!