ANTM Interview: Elina Ivanova

Yesterday, I interviewed the most recent eliminated contestant from America’s Next Top Model, eighteen-year-old beauty Elina Ivanova. She talked to us about her control issues, her controversial makeover and all the drama surrounding her in the house.

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Full Q&A is below the jump!

Tell us how you got involved in Top Model.

I just returned home to Seattle from school. I went to tech school in Orlando. I applied for everything I could get my hands on. This year was the first year I was eligible for Top Model, because I had just turned eighteen. I sent in a tape, got a response and it just escalated from there.

What do see in yourself that would make you a top model?

I’ve had a passion for modeling since I was 10. ANTM is a great opportunity to introduce myself to industry. It seemed like fun and saw it as a challenge to bring myself out of my comfort zone. The show definitely did that and it was a lot of fun.

What made you stand out as an applicant?

I sent in a video explaining why I wanted to be there and showed I was confident. I said I was there for a different reason. I was there for my passions that I wanted to be involved in and bring some exposure to my causes after this. I said I had a lot more to bring to the table than a pretty face and that’s what they want. They want people who are passionate about being a model and using being a model to the best of their abilities to do the best the can. By being a model, I can bring exposure to the causes I care about and that’s important to me.

What was your favorite part about being in Amsterdam?

My favorite thing was that it reminded me of Ukraine. It was a great way to connect with Europe again. I hadn’t been back in a while. Amsterdam is very free and has a wonderful atmosphere. I had a wonderful time.

Have you had a chance to clear the air with your housemates since the show ended?

Nope! I haven’t had that opportunity yet. I would like to see a lot of girls and talk to them outside the competition. It would be different—the cameras are off and the tensions are off and we could get to know each other in a different way. However, I am in touch in Clark and talk to her occasionally.

What’s next for you?

I plan to keep pursuing this career. It’s just something I love to do.

How do you feel about the judges’ constant comments about your restraint and control issues?

Oh god, that was really frustrating. It was the first time I really heard that. The first couple photo shoots I didn’t get that critique then all of a sudden, it was the only thing I heard. You can’t receive that strong of a response from everyone in panel and everyone on set and not try. I was trying very hard and tried to improve as much as possible. I didn’t know what to do that I tried to get as much explanation as I could so I could improve that but I never figured out exactly what the judges wanted from me and it was hard to improve.

You always seemed very confident about your performance and your photo shoots. Why?

Going into every shoot, I tried to bring my best and work with whatever I had. I said I was confident because I felt I did the best I could do. As for the last photo shoot, I was surprised from the commentary by Jay and Tyra because when I was shooting on the ladder with the extreme look, I was getting a lot of positive feedback. It puzzled me and it still puzzled me to this day.

Do you feel that the judging process was fair?

No. That constant control thing was ridiculous. I think I did deliver consistently. I do have a lot of potential as model and that control thing was blown up. It didn’t get in the way of my modeling much as they claim.

So, do the judges play favorites?

I can’t say. I don’t know. But it wasn’t fair.

What would you have done differently, looking back?

I would let go more, whatever that means. But I did they best I could and I had a lot of fun. I learned a lot and left the competition with a lot of things I want to work on, both as a person and as a model.

Early in the show, you said you like to wear pants because they don’t conform to gender roles. Can you elaborate?

My whole thing with gender roles is that I don’t like anything that restricts or puts limits on me. I think they way that men and woman are expected to dress is very limiting and if you dress outside that realm, its looked at as odd and as what’s not expected. So I try to wear things that are not gender specific.

How did you feel about the Angelina Jolie references?

Angelina is an incredible woman. I look up to her very much and I would love to me her and work with her. I really appreciate the comparison, she’s amazing.

Tell us about your control issues.

I wish we would have had one-on-one chance to talk about it so I could explain it. I’m not controlling, but my main issue is being too self-conscious. I hold back because I’m afraid of looking silly or failing or trying something new. I hold myself back because I’m afraid for putting forward a certain image or failing.

In Amsterdam, you received a lot of negative feedback about your tattoos. Do you think they will be an issue in the future?

I got them when I was taking some time off modeling. I went to school and didn’t think I would return to modeling. But now, I haven’t had many problems with them because you can cover them and they are easily airbrushed. A lot of models have tattoos and the show just went overboard with it. I don’t think it will be a problem in the future.

Your makeover was one of the more interesting makeovers. Did you keep it after the show?

I didn’t keep it. I took it out as soon I got home. I did get used to it, but it was very painful to have that braiding and it left a lot of marks on my scalp. I also returned to my normal hair color.

Do you feel that ANTM is overrated in terms of the exposure it gives to aspiring models?

Looking at the track record of the girls who preceded me, it’s really what you do and how you portray yourself and how you put yourself out there. It’s a huge experience and a wonderful opportunity, but it’s really what you do with it. You could be America’s next top model or you could be nothing. Some girls from ANTM have amazing careers. You need to make it bigger than what is given to you and work with it.

Which photo shoot was your favorite?

My favorite one was the ladder. It was wonderful to hang off the hot air balloon. That was crazy.

Tell us about the conversation you had with Brittany about your mom.

Obviously, a lot of that is very personal. But I was just expressing my opinion. Brittany is very close to her mom and has a hard time understanding how or why people wouldn’t get along with their own mother or have as close a relationship as she does. I didn’t do it in the best way, but I expressed some negative feelings about my mother. No one knows what goes on between a mother and daughter. I hope that Brittany could trust that what I said came from a certain, personal place and could respect that. She has no idea what went on between me and my mother and she should respect that, regardless of how inarticulate it comes out. I shouldn’t have to elaborate about personal things I’m uncomfortable talking about simply because she doesn’t understand there are more types of experiences than hers.

A lot of the girls were upset when you agreed to do the holiday fashion spread. Why did you agree to do it?

Some of the girls thought I was hypocritical because I don’t celebrate religious holidays in my personal life. I later explained to them that I’m not against or morally opposed to holidays. I think if its what you want to celebrate in your personal life, that’s okay and I respect that. That’s why I thought it was okay for me to do the shoot. If I was against holidays for whatever reason, I wouldn’t have done the shoot. For example, if it was an ad for milk or for meat, I would not do it because I’m against those products and do not support them. But I’m not against holidays in any way, I simply don’t celebrate them for personal reasons.

Who would you like to see win America’s Mext Top Model?

I’m rooting for Marjorie. She has a lot of potential, she just needs to work through her nerves. She was the closest person to me in the house. She’s a smart woman and an incredible lady.

Thank you for speaking with us today Elina!

You’re welcome!