'America's Next Top Model' champ Nicole Fox talks about proving everybody wrong

Nicole Fox has gone from the contestant known as “Bloody Eyeball” to her new title: “America’s Next Top Model.” In last night’s finale, The Louisville, Colo., student and artist toppled Laura Kirkpatrick, the bubbly waitress from Stanford, Ken., to become the newest “Top Model.”
 
“I definitely did not always want to be a model,” says Fox, 18. “I know some girls on the show say, ‘Yeah, I tried out, because everyone always told me I should be a model.’ The same could not be said for me. I was not an attractive girl.”
 
Well, Nicole has definitely blossomed. This morning, I was able to squeeze myself into her busy interview schedule to discuss how she went from a camera-shy teen to the first "official" petite Top Model. (Cycle 3 winner, Eva Pigford, was actually just shy of 5’7”.)
 
How cool is it to be America’s Next Top Model?
Oh, it’s sweet to be America’s Next Top Model. I’m totally stoked. It’s even better now that it’s out, because, of course, this all transpired months ago and I had to keep the secret. It was insanely difficult, but I’m stoked!
 
How long did you have to keep your win secret?
I think filming wrapped up mid-June, so I don’t know. I’ll have to count [laughs]. It’s been a while.
 
Whenever anybody recognized me as Nicole from “America’s Next Top Model,” the first things out of their mouth would be, “So, did you win?” and I was like, “You can’t ask me that! I can’t say.” It was so difficult, but honestly what helped was just the perverse pleasure I got out of watching people squirm with anticipation, because they had no idea.
 
You would enjoy that! What’s the best thing about winning “Top Model”?
I think that the coolest thing that’s come out of this experience are all the girls that come up to me. Even today, I was walking on the street and little girls were coming up asking for my autograph and my pictures, which is all well and good. But the best thing is when they tell me they really look up to me and that they’re just like me. The fact that I can inspire young girls, who like me are more introverted and shy, that’s the best thing.
 
I really appreciated that the finalists this cycle were both really good people. How hard was it to go against Laura in the finale?
It was really difficult. Honestly, she had me intimidated, because I knew that she had such a great personality. She’s the demographic for “America’s Next top Model,” Seventeen magazine, and CoverGirl. As Nigel said, she’s a naturally charming, bubbly girl where as me, not so much – naturally shy, more introverted. She was definitely competition, but when I found out that she was going to be in the final two with me, honestly my first reaction was, “Whew, that’s all right. If Laura beats me, that’s all right.” She’s just so deserving and so genuine and sweet.

After watching the show, are you shocked at what some of the other contestants said about you?

Nicole is 'America's Next Top Model': Nice girls can finish first (and second)

Yes, it’s true; I have been pulling for Nicole from the beginning. Proof is in print, people! Give me some Show Tracker love… OK, fine, I’ll take some “like” too.

Everyone should be thrilled at the results of “Le Cycle 13,” since not only did Nicole win, but Laura was in the top two as well. It’s like “Revenge of the Nerds” (except with attractive people). It got a little scary there for a while, as it seemed that the “mean girls” might prevail once more. My hope is that every awkward girl out there realizes that with a little bravery, Barbie toes, a lot of makeup, a tranny runway coach and an eccentric supermodel mentoring them, they too can achieve goals beyond their wildest dreams.

The competition began when Nicole and Laura received a Tyra-mail that included scripts for the next day’s “motion camera” (as Tyra calls it) commercial. Laura instantly went into panic mode, knowing that her dyslexia would make it hard for her to memorize the script. Meanwhile, Nicole seemed a bit too happy that she would have the edge over Laura on that one.

Jay Manuel (whose mother dressed him funny with that green pea coat with its collar popped, ew), and Teyona, Cycle 12’s winner, told the ladies that they would be promoting CoverGirl’s LashBlast mascara. By the way, Teyona proved that one doesn’t need to sound natural or deliver one’s lines smoothly to be a “Top Model,” which seems to be the criticism that the judges keep throwing at both our finalists. I’m just sayin’.

Then, "Top Model" judge Nigel Barker arrives...

'America's Next Top Model': Has Miss J been demoted?

It sure has been quite a week for Miss J. Alexander news. He has a new book. He revealed that he’s a daddy. Now, reports say that he has been demoted from the “Top Model” judging panel.

This morning, rumors spread claiming Alexander has been replaced by the supreme diva, Andre Leon Talley, Vogue’s editor at large. The New York Daily News claims that sources on the “Top Model” set say that Alexander will turn in his judging role and return to his former one as the contestants’ runway coach for Cycle 14.

The article also claims that former supermodel and fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons will permanently assume the fourth judging spot. You know, the one with the curse on it? Past victims include Janice Dickinson and Paulina Porizkova.

A rep for the CW has denied to Show Tracker that Simmons and Talley will be joining the show. He was not able to confirm or deny Miss J’s demotion, though.

What would “Top Model” be without Miss J’s elimination gimmicks like this cycle’s growing sleeves? Who will meanly mimic the girls when they’ve done something ridiculous? If it’s true, Miss J, thank you for the memories.

-- Jethro Nededog (follow me on Twitter @TheRealJethro)

Related:

Countdown to ‘America’s Next Top Model’: Four, three, two…

Wanna be on ‘Top’? ‘Top Model’ judge Miss J’s new book may tell you how

Full ‘America’s Next Top Model’ coverage on Show Tracker

Photo: J. Alexander. Credit: Dan Neville / The New York Times

Countdown to 'America's Next Top Model': Four, three, two...

This is the first time Tyra has ever done an "America's Next Top Model" cycle especially for the shorties. And with the next cycle returning to the 5-foot-8-or-taller requirement, this may be the last. Which gals will make it to the walk-off, and which ones will lose the chance of a lifetime? It’s clear from this week's episode that the contestants knew what’s at stake if they didn't bring the fierceness.

This week’s challenges really tested all the skills they’ve learned so far. The first challenge was all about movement: The contestants had to learn a hula/hip-hop fusion dance routine. They were then tested on their ability to model with multiple distractions: barefoot on jagged volcanic rock with waves crashing behind them. Oh, and, by the way, they also had the added pressure of knowing that this week, two of them would be going home. So how did the women fare this week?

Nicole: Despite the lack of social grace and low self-esteem with which she came into the competition, Nicole has been consistently blowing the judges away. Will this be her first stumble?

If you remember the Benny Ninja challenge, dance is not Nicole’s strong suit. Guess what? She hasn’t gotten any better. Offbeat and unable to remember the dance moves, she looked like a fish out of water, flip-flopping like she was struggling for air. I wanted Miss J to throw her back in and put her out of her misery. Of course, instead of saving the girl from further embarrassment, Miss J proceeded to mimic her by doing the entire routine just as she had. Oh, Miss J, you’re a mean queen.

In the final photo shoot, Nicole made up for botching the dance challenge...

UPDATED: Wanna be on 'Top'? 'Top Model' judge Miss J's new book may tell you how

Every week, we watch J. Alexander serve up the realness as part of the “America’s Next Top Model” judging panel. Today, the “runway coach extraordinaire” (as Tyra Banks calls him) releases a new book: “Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power.”

“How does a six-foot-four, Bronx-born black gay male become Queen of the Catwalk?” states the book’s description. “In one word: attitude.” Would you expect any less?

Simon Spotlight Entertainment, the book’s publisher, says the book will cover Miss J’s rise from sewing drag on his grandmother’s machine to showing in drag, and finally snagging the coveted judging spot on “Top Model.” Along the way, the book promises to share not only Miss J’s life experiences but also the grooming and style lessons he has learned.

But what do we really want to know? Dish, right? The book promises to deliver on that too. According to the publisher, Alexander “dishes on the celebrities he's worked with so intimately and offers a glimpse into the world of 'ANTM.' ”

Are you sold? What can a 6-foot-4 drag queen teach you? Let us know below.

UPDATE: Us Magazine reports that Miss J announced that he has a 7-year-old son! The announcement was made on "The Tyra Banks Show" earlier today. He's not the biological father, but Alexander says he's still involved in the boy's life. Wouldn't you love to be invited to dinner at their house?

I'm sure the timing of this announcement has nothing to do with Miss J's book launch today, right?

— Jethro Nededog (follow me on Twitter @TheRealJethro)

Related:
‘America’s Next Top Model’: Mind over splatter
‘America’s Next Top Model’: Goodbye L.A., aloha controversy
Full ‘America’s Next Top Model’ coverage on Show Tracker

Photo: Judges J. Alexander and Nigel Barker on “America’s Next Top Model.” Credit: The CW

'America's Next Top Model': Mind over splatter

This week on “America’s Next Top Model,” Tyra forced the contestants to face some pretty common phobias: the fear of heights, the fear of drowning and, as I’ve observed from many of my gal pals, the fear of wearing bikinis.

Every week, I pay special attention to the dynamics among the contestants. The “Top Model” cameras wouldn’t be in the house if there wasn’t something we could learn about how much personal issues can seep into our professional lives. This week was especially telling. With all the other mean girls eliminated, Sundai has become “Ms. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde.” She has resolved herself to being friendly while she’s around the other girls, but once she’s in her solo interview, she trash-talks a storm. Of course, we all know this kind of hate stems from insecurity. Judging from her life bouncing around in orphanages, we can understand why she refuses to open up with the other girls when they show genuine interest in her history. Her inability to adapt will definitely affect her while modeling.

Erin, the last of the “mean girls” left in the house, has been in the bottom two at judges’ panel for two weeks in a row now. Instead of listening to the judges’ feedback on how she needs to push harder in the photo challenges, she dwells on the idea that she’s their “golden child.” Has this kitten used up her nine lives?

In their modeling lesson this week, Victoria’s Secret angel and almost “petite” model (at 5 feet 8 ) Marisa Miller gave the contestants tips on how to model swimsuits. I’m not quite sure how necessary this was for our contestants. After all, none of them fill a bikini like Miller does, and I’m not sure any of them would be cast to model swimsuits any time soon. Regardless, it was amusing to watch the contestants work what their momma gave them. It got a little uncomfortable when Marisa had the girls roll around in the sand, then pose while washing it off. When Erin got onto her knees under the shower, I thought two things. First, I thought, “Girl, nobody showers like that. Get up!” Second, I wondered just how uncomfortable her parents must be at the moment. I was waiting for Miller to stop the madness. Instead, she encouraged it. I guess that’s how models wash off sand from the beach. Go figure.

Afterward, the gals met up with Miller and judge Nigel Barker for the first photo competition. ...

'America's Next Top Model': Goodbye L.A., aloha controversy

Before I get into the details of the show, what kind of Show Tracker would I be if I didn’t address the controversy that has been brewing around this week’s “America’s Next Top Model”? In the final photo challenge, Tyra transformed each contestant into some combination of two nationalities and the media have called foul. I know. It’s not even sweeps week, Tyra!

All kidding aside, the media have been buzzing over this all week. From the looks of some of the articles, they hadn’t even seen the show and jumped to calling the shoot “blackface.” What a loaded term!

Unlike our culture here in the States, which still obviously shows major discomfort when it comes to race, even as we currently have a mixed-race president, some cultures actually celebrate the beauty of difference. I’m quite familiar with the term “hapa,” which Tyra used as her inspiration for this week’s final photo shoot. My mother is half Italian American and half Filipino while my father is from Guam, a Pacific Island and American territory.  We actually lived for some years in Hawaii where the term, as Ms. Tyra explained, is used frequently to describe people of mixed race. In the Pacific Islands, the term doesn’t carry anywhere near the kind of baggage that “blackface” does in the continental U.S.

On the other hand, I’m not naïve enough to think that Tyra’s transformation of the contestants’ skin color in a TV show doesn’t contain some similarities to the idea of performing in “blackface." I just choose to believe that by styling the ladies as they did in this photo shoot, Tyra and the producers sought to celebrate the beauty of mixed-race people, not to stir up the obvious racial prejudices that some of my media colleagues were so quick to invoke this week.

What do you think? Sound off below with your thoughts. With that out of the way, let's get back to the show.

Even though Rae left us last week, her influence in the house has remained. The women seem to be finally getting along, except for Brittany. She just can’t seem to loosen up like the other girls have. That will come back to haunt her.

As the girls arrived home after last week’s elimination...

'America's Next Top Model': The contestants have to come up with personalities

This week’s “America’s Next Top Model” tested how well the contestants could think on their feet and express themselves on-camera. I know what you’re thinking: “But, they’re already pretty!” Right? It’s totally unfair, but according to Tyra, “This isn’t ‘America’s Next Top Still Model,’ it’s ‘America’s Next Top Model.’” So true, Tyra. Thank you for setting us straight.

It seems that Kara’s elimination last week has finally broken up the “mean girls” mafia in the house. Oh, there are still haters left like Erin, whose pale skin and blond hair remind me of the creepy kids in “Village of the Damned,” and Sundai (but you’d be mean, too, if Tyra gave you Kate Gosselin’s hair). Everyone else seems to be getting along. It may have helped that Rae has gotten closer to Nicole. As the resident mom of the group, it appears as if she has snuffed out the bullying.

Tyra called everyone in her black book to show up for the first challenge of the episode. First, “The Insider” host Lara Spencer and the host of “Celebrity Fit Club” Ant gave the girls a quick lesson on “thinking on your feet.” Each girl interviewed Ant as he portrayed a catalog of multiple personalities, from bored actress to male chauvinist, in an effort to teach the women how to keep an interview going despite the curve balls thrown their way. I’m not sure how realistic the activity was. In my experience interviewing celebrities, there are only three personalities I’ve had to deal with: Those that don’t want to talk, those who talk too much, and those who are under the influence of something (if you catch my drift).

In this playful “off-camera” activity, the ladies all seemed to do pretty well (by the way, I’m pretending as if this isn't a reality show and that they’re not always on-camera). The only person who seemed to falter was dear Nicole, who was thrown off when Ant went completely off-topic about her hair. Nicole’s grade for thinking on her feet? “F.”

In the real challenge...

'America's Next Top Model': The contestants fight to stay on top

This week’s “America’s Next Top Model” was all about fighting for what you want. Yet, before the actual challenges began, the contestants were already fighting one another.

Just because Bianca and Ashley are gone doesn’t mean that the "ANTM" “mean girls” went with them. In fact, Kara and Sundai seemed to double up on their efforts to make up for their fallen sisters. The object of their ridicule? Nicole (aka “Bloody-eyeball"), who is probably the most harmless girl in the bunch. OK, so Nicole isn’t the most boisterous person, but the fact is she has worked the camera consistently all season save for last week. The problem with being good is that expectations become inflated, and it's all that much more obvious when you falter. The real test comes in getting past that bad moment and fighting back. Nicole really didn’t do that badly last week, in my opinion, but of course the vultures began circling as soon as they saw a sign of weakness.

In the “go-see” challenge, the contestants were paired up and then tasked with hitting up five prospective clients in four hours. Any Angeleno knows that’s close to impossible. Shoot, getting from Hollywood to West Hollywood alone takes half an hour. To top it off, they had to drive themselves with only a road map for reference. The challenge would come down to speed and ingenuity. Despite the roadblocks, most of the gals fared well. Nicole seemed to have found her old self and looked gorgeous doing it. She even rocked a commercial audition, despite the fact that she comes off like she’s on prescription sedatives most of the time.

Brittany and Kara were hellbent on winning the challenge at all costs. At one point, Brittany refused to tell Nicole and her partner, Laura, where the client was located, despite the fact that they were just there. Nicole and Laura (who couldn’t figure out how to use a parking meter, but neither does half of L.A.) whizzed through three “go-sees” and were the first back to Wilhelmina. The only ones who didn’t make it back on time were Sundai and Rae. In a scene that was eerily similar to being called to the principal’s office, Wilhelmina President Sean Patterson gave the tardy pair a lecture and sent them to sit in the hallway. I’m pretty sure I saw Sundai giggle as she let herself out.

Patterson and petite model Lauren Shiohama then gave the girls some client feedback ...

'America's Next Top Model': Cycle 7 winner CariDee English adds rock star to her resume

It’s certainly commonplace for models to date rock stars, but models becoming rock stars? That’s a twist. This week, the winner of “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 7, CariDee English, told Zimbio.com that she’s embarking on a music career. 

“This is set in stone,” English said. “I sing, I play guitar, drums…I'm really fully emerging into music. Going full into that.”

While other media outlets are reporting that she’ll be recording with alternative rock band Better Than Ezra, it’s unclear from the interview whether that’s true or if she’s working with the band’s bassist, Tom Drummond, on a separate project. Drummond and Better than Ezra were unavailable for comment.

It seems English has already gotten her feet wet in the studio...