Michelle Babin Interview with Starry Constellation Magazine (Nov 06)
February 4, 2013
In November of 2006, Starry Constellation Magazine interviewed Cycle 7‘s Michelle Babin following her elimination and appearance on the show. Here is the text from the interview (written and posted by Jamie Steinberg):
Q) Why did you apply for the show?
A) It was kind of an on the whim thing. My sister had applied for cycle six and they called her back for cycle seven. She was going to get a chance to go to a more exclusive interview time where there wouldn’t be as many people and she asked if I could come along. I decided to go with it!
Q) What did you learn most about modeling from the show?
A) I learned a lot about modeling! I learned better ways to take pictures and the ins and outs of the industry. I learned to keep my chin up and to make sure you show your neck. Eyes are a big focus point and I learned mostly little things. I learned that you have to be confident.
Q) Do you regret going on the show?
A) No, it was a cool experience. I don’t regret it at all. It was a lot of fun.
Q) Have you come to terms with your sexuality?
A) No, I am still in limbo-land. I am working on it.
Q) Do you feel like you’re a role model for those struggling with their sexuality?
A) I guess I kind of am. I don’t think I should be since I don’t know what I want. I guess in a way I am.
Q) What did you like most about your time in Spain?
A) The country is just really beautiful. I loved the environment and just hanging out with the girls. The architecture was really amazing. That caught my attention a lot.
Q) Did you feel CariDee’s comment was clearly a joke or was it out of line?
A) I thought it was a joke. They kind of blew it up out of proportion afterwards. It, actually, seemed like a joke the whole time and then later on we left and Mr. Jay came to us, making a big deal. We thought it was no big deal and then out of the blue it was a big controversy.
Q) Do you feel your age was a disadvantage to you?
A) I think it was slightly because the older girls had a little bit more experience in life so they knew what they wanted a little more and had more knowledge of the industry. There was also an advantage since younger girls appeal more to the agencies. Being too old is a bad thing.
Q) Who did you feel was your biggest competition?
A) I want to say, personally, my twin because we had to fight against each other for the same look. Overall, I think Melrose was because she knew a lot about the industry and kind of knew the ins and outs. So, I feel she kind of had a leg up. She knew so much about fashion that it kind of put her a step ahead.
Q) Why do you feel you lacked confidence?
A) I think it was due to indecision since I wasn’t sure what I wanted. It’s easier to go for something when it’s been your dream all your life. I was kind of wavering in between so it kind of made me a little less confident because I wasn’t sure what I wanted.
Q) How did you feel having to leave Amanda?
A) I was okay with it. I wished her the best of luck and I hope she does well.
Q) Did you leave a note for anyone when you left?
A) I left everybody notes. I told Amanda that I wished her luck and said she better kick ass. I left CariDee a note saying she had better do her best and just be the persona that she is. There is no use in hiding since it’s gotten her this far. I thanked Melrose and them for dressing me up for dinner that one time because it was fun. I wished her the best and the same with Eugena.
Q) What was your favorite photo shoot?
A) I think my favorite was the stereotype shoot because it was a lot of fun on the set. Everyone was acting out their stereotypes and it was just a lot of fun.
Q) Have you maintained your new look?
A) No, I haven’t maintained the red. I kept the layers, but I haven’t really had the chance to re-dye it. I plan to, but I haven’t really done it yet.
Q) Since you were unsure if you wanted to be a model, what are you going to do now that you are no longer on the show?
A) I’m going to finish out my basketball season that I am in right now and this semester of college. Then, I think I am, actually, going to go for the modeling thing.
Q) Who do you think is going to win the show?
A) I hope my sister wins! If not, then I hope CariDee wins. My sister or CariDee are my picks.
Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A) I’d say thanks for supporting me and, hopefully, I don’t let them down!
To learn more about Cycle 7’s Michelle Babin, visit her bio page here.
Source: Starry Constellation Magazine
Source: The CW / Charlie Altuna
Michelle Babin Interview with Realty TV World (Nov 2006)
February 4, 2013
In November of 2006, Reality TV World interviewed Cycle 7‘s Michelle Babin following her elimination and appearance on the show. Here is the text from the interview (written and posted by Belinda Trotter):
INTERVIEW: Michelle Babin talks about ‘America’s Next Top Model 7′
It’s such a waste of time and space when girls get on the show and then realize that they really don’t want the life as a model after all. This is the case with twin model Michelle. A few fans were really looking forward toward having the first twin winners of ANTM. Oh well, maybe in another life time. After being eliminated from the competition, she seems a little relieved that the pressure is off and she can relax in her normal world. Michelle reveals why she lost her confidence, the gay issue and competing with her sister. Read this and much more in our exclusive interview with the fallen twin…
Q: Whose idea was it to enter the competition?
A: It was Amanda’s idea. We had been doing some modeling prior to the competition. I’m more into basketball but, I thought it would be fun to meet new people and do new things.Q: Did you guess that you would get this far?
A: I had no idea that we would get this far. I was just hoping for the best.Q: Why did you start to lose your confidence in the middle of the competition? People are still talking about your brilliant portrayal of someone with an eating disorder photo shoot.
A: I did not lose my confidence. I just felt bad for the other girls who left the competition because they wanted it so badly. Modeling was never my dream and was never a life or death situation. I felt bad for Brooke who left the show crying. It was really hard to watch because she wanted this so badly. I felt I should not be there and that another girl should take my place.Q: Why did you feel you had to reveal that you may be gay?
A: Actually we all did interviews with the director of the show. The question was asked of me and I tried to answer it honestly. I was sitting on the bed with the other girls and they asked me what happened when it was my turn to speak with the director. So, I told them what I said. Of course, that’s what they caught on camera. I really did not care if it got out or not. I think it was better that the girls hear it from me than letting it spread around the house like gossip.Q: Did you find out who Michelle is or are you still searching?
A: I’m still searching. I’m young and I have my whole life ahead of me.Q: Some people feel that you may have sabotaged yourself in order to give Amanda strength to move forward. What are your thoughts?
A: I did not consciously go into the elimination ceremony thinking that I want to be eliminated. I felt like being honest when they asked me the question.Q: What were your best and worst shoots?
A: That’s easy… The best were the editorial shoots. I think they’re more interesting. The worst was the wobbling runway. Whoever thought of that was way off.Q: What type of training did you get throughout the competition?
A: We never got any training. Our training was on set. They would show us different ways to extend your neck. I thought we would get a lot of training from Miss. J. It was weird that we did not see much of him.Q: Why did it take so long for you and Amanda to get to your go sees?
A: The editing did not show it but we actually made it to six go sees. There was a guy giving us wrong directions. I wanted to go one way and Amanda wanted to go another. I ended up being right.Q: What have you learned about yourself through the competition?
A: I now know that I have time to know myself. I can live life and have fun while getting to know me.Q: What are you going to do now?
A: I am going to finish out the season with my team playing basketball and then I am going to pursue a career in modeling.Wow! Good for her. I am glad she knows that the editorial market will be the best place for her. In time, hopefully she will have a better runway walk. Michelle definitely received valuable insight on knowing that she can take her time and live life to the fullest. It’s too bad that the girls who leave the show because their self confidence is not up to par are too late to win the competition. Thank goodness it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
To learn more about Cycle 7’s Michelle Babin, visit her bio page here.
Source: Reality TV World
Source: The CW / Charlie Altuna
Michelle Babin Interview with Reality TV Magazine (Nov 06)
February 4, 2013
In November of 2006, Reality TV Magazine interviewed Cycle 7‘s Michelle Babin following her elimination and appearance on the show. Here is the text from the interview (written and posted by Joe Reality):
America’s Next Top Model Eliminee… Michelle
It’s such a waste of time and space when girls get on the show and then realize that they really don’t want the life as a model after all. This is the case with twin model Michelle. A few fans were really looking forward to having the first twin winners of ANTM. Oh well, maybe in another life time. After being eliminated from the competition, she seems a little relieved that the pressure is off and she can relax in her normal world. Michelle reveals why she lost her confidence, the gay issue and competing with her sister. Read this and much more in our exclusive interview with the fallen twin,
QUESTION: Whose idea was it to enter the competition?
MICHELLE: It was Amanda’s idea. We had been doing some modeling prior to the competition. I’m more into basketball but, I thought it would be fun to meet new people and do new things.QUESTION: Did you guess that you would get this far?
MICHELLE: I had no idea that we would get this far. I was just hoping for the best.QUESTION: Why did you start to loose your confidence in the middle of the competition? People are still talking about your brilliant portrayal of someone with an eating disorder photo shoot.
MICHELLE: I did not loose my confidence. I just felt bad for the other girls who left the competition because they wanted it so badly. Modeling was never my dream and was never a life or death situation. I felt bad for Brooke who left the show crying. It was really hard to watch because she wanted this so badly. I felt I should not be there and that another girl should take my place.QUESTION: Why did you feel you had to reveal that you may be gay?
MICHELLE: Actually we all did interviews with the director of the show. The question was asked of me and I tried to answer it honestly. I was sitting on the bed with the other girls and they asked me what happened when it was my turn to speak with the director. So, I told them what I said. Of course, that’s what they caught on camera. I really did not care if it got out or not. I think it was better that the girls hear it from me than letting it spread around the house like gossip.QUESTION: Did you find out who Michelle is or are you still searching?
MICHELLE: I’m still searching. I’m young and I have my whole life ahead of me.QUESTION: Some people feel that you may have sabotaged yourself in order to give Amanda strength to move forward. What are your thoughts?
MICHELLE: I did not consciously go into the elimination ceremony thinking that I want to be eliminated. I felt like being honest when they asked me the question.QUESTION: What were your best and worst shoots?
MICHELLE: That’s easy, The best were the editorial shoots. I think they’re more interesting. The worst was the wobbling runway. Whoever thought of that was way off.QUESTION: What type of training did you get throughout the competition?
MICHELLE: We never got any training. Our training was on set. They would show us different ways to extend your neck. I thought we would get a lot of training from Ms. Jay. It was weird that we did not see much of him.QUESTION: Why did it take so long for you and Amanda to get to your go sees?
MICHELLE: The editing did not show it but we actually made it to six go sees. There was a guy giving us wrong directions. I wanted to go one way and Amanda wanted to go another. I ended up being right.QUESTION: What have you learned about yourself through the competition?
MICHELLE: I now know that I have time to know myself. I can live life and have fun while getting to know me.QUESTION: What are you going to do now?
MICHELLE: I am going to finish out the season with my team playing basketball and then I am going to pursue a career in modeling.Wow! Good for her. I am glad she knows that the editorial market will be the best place for her. In time, hopefully she will have a better runway walk. Michelle definitely received valuable insight on knowing that she can take her time and live life to the fullest. It’s too bad that the girls who leave the show because their self confidence is not up to par are too late to win the competition. Thank goodness it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
To learn more about Cycle 7’s Michelle Babin, visit her bio page here.
Source: Reality TV Magazine
Source: The CW / Jim De Yonker
Michelle Babin Interview with Reality News Online (Nov 2006)
February 4, 2013
In November of 2006, Reality News Online interviewed Cycle 7‘s Michelle Babin following her elimination and appearance on the show. Here is the text from the interview (written and posted by Phil Kural):
“I Always Had Someone There I Trusted” – An Interview with America’s Next Top Model 7′s Michelle
Michelle was sent packing this season on America’s Next Top Model because the judges felt she didn’t have enough passion. Was that the case? Did Michelle want this more than we were shown? Find out right here what she has to say!
As a set, the twins made it all the way to the final five together, but Michelle was sent home over her sister (both were in the bottom two) because she had less desire to win the competition. I had a chance to talk with Michelle about her time on the show, and although I was expecting her to be fun and crazy like she was on the show, it was a pretty tame interview. I almost felt like she didn’t want to talk! Nevertheless, Michelle did answer some important questions for me, so here you go!
RealityNewsOnline: Hey, Michelle! First, let me thank you for taking time out of your day to talk with me today. Did you watch previous seasons of the show and was your main motivation for trying out for the show because your sister was?
Michelle: I saw episode of the show here and there. Mainly just the first and sixth seasons though. My main motivation for applying wasn’t simply because my sister was, but I’ll say that I never would have done so on my own since it never crossed my mind until she was doing it!
RNO: It was made clear to the viewer that you weren’t passionate about modeling, but understood you had a talent. Would you have continued in the competition had your sister not been picked to be in the house?
Michelle: Oh yeah, I definitely continued on. I would have felt bad had Amanda not made it into the house, but there is no way that I wouldn’t have still tried to win the thing.
RNO: Did you find that being part of the “twins” in the house was more of an asset or a liability? Was it ever used against you?
Michelle: I’d say that it was a little of both. It was an asset because I had my sister with me. I always had someone there I trusted. It was a liability because I always had to worry about not only myself, but my sister as well. I do think that the judges used it against us at times, comparing me to her and her to me, but I guess that was to be expected.
RNO: At any point did you think the other girls viewed having twins in the competition as unfair? Did anyone voice these concerns to you?
Michelle: Yes, some of the girls had a problem with it at first, especially during the semi-finals. However, I told them that they were born with their look and I was born with Amanda!
RNO: Do you regret picking Melrose to accompany you during the clothing challenge? Did she at least share a few things that she won? After all, she only won them because of you!
Michelle: Well, I wouldn’t say I regret picking Melrose. She did actually share the clothes with myself, Amanda and CariDee, but that was never shown. The editing so far has been great, and although they are showing Melrose as a big villain, she really is a nice person.
RNO: Did you have a feeling that the judges would put you in the bottom two with your sister and did you think you had a chance of staying over her?
Michelle: I kind of knew that for the past three eliminations, I was beginning to be on thin ice. You start to realize when your time was coming and I knew it would be me. As far as having Amanda next to me, I think once again that it was expected to happen.
RNO: You revealed something very personal about yourself on the show. Do you look back and regret telling the other girls about your confusion over your sexuality on camera?
Michelle: No, I don’t regret that at all. I actually told one of the casting directors about it first, but ended up telling the girls a little bit later. I don’t think anyone was bothered by it at all, aside from what you saw on the show.
RNO: It almost seemed as if you were a bit relieved when you were eliminated from the competition. Was that the case?
Michelle: I wouldn’t say that I was relieved that I was sent home. I was very disappointed about it. I was just happy that Amanda would continue in the competition.
RNO: Did it make it tougher or more frustrating for you when other girls would question your commitment to the competition and how did you handle the stress?
Michelle: Well, I obviously didn’t handle the stress too well since I ended up getting sent home! Na, I tried to show them that I just didn’t care what they thought. It did hurt when people would say to me that I didn’t want to be there, but I knew what I wanted, and couldn’t really listen to them.
RNO: I’m sure it’s a given that you are rooting for your sister to win, who else do you think has a good chance of winning the competition? Is there anyone else you are rooting for?
Michelle: Of course I’m rooting for my sister, but I’m also rooting for CariDee as well. She really does have a great look!
RNO: Why did you tell the judges that you felt CariDee had the most potential of the group over your sister, or even yourself? Is that something that upset Amanda, or that you wish you could have changed?
Michelle: Amanda wasn’t really all that mad. The reason I didn’t say my sister had the most potential was because at that time, my sister wasn’t acting like herself and her photos weren’t as strong as they were before. I felt that CariDee really did have the most potential and was putting forth the most effort.
RNO: I asked Jaeda two weeks ago about Melrose intentionally going out of her way to make the other girls look bad in front of the judges. Do you think it was Melrose’s intention or was she just trying to play up how much she practiced?
Michelle: I don’t think it was Melrose’s intention to make the rest of us look bad, I just think that she was trying to make herself look better, which in the process made it look like we weren’t doing as much as her. That’s up to her how she wants to present herself to the judges, but I don’t think she was going out of her way to make the rest of us look bad.
RNO: So what have you learned from the experience? Do you see yourself trying to get into the modeling industry or is it just not for you?
Michelle: I really do want to pursue modeling, and I plan on doing just that once the show has finished airing. We’ll have to see!
RNO: What are your other plans besides modeling? What else would you like to accomplish?
Michelle: Mainly to just finish school and get an education. That’s important to me.
RNO: Is there anything you would like to add or say to fans of the show? Do you have a MySpace page or any way that fans can get in touch with you?
Michelle: I don’t have a MySpace page yet, mainly because it’s against the rules of the competition and we aren’t allowed to. I’ll probably put one up after the show is finished. I do want to thank my family and friends, and everyone that has been so supportive of me!
RNO: Thanks, Michelle!
To learn more about Cycle 7’s Michelle Babin, visit her bio page here.
Source: Reality News Online
Source: The CW / Jim De Yonker
Jael Strauss Candid Photos
February 4, 2013
To learn more about Cycle 8’s Jael Strauss, visit her bio page here.
Source: Jael’s Myspace
Source: Jael’s Facebook
Jael Strauss for Peace Project Productions
February 4, 2013
To learn more about Cycle 8’s Jael Strauss, visit her bio page here.
Source: Peace Project Productions
