Top Model Interview: Brittany Markert

I chatted with the most recent America’s Next Top Model eliminee, 21-year-old math nerd Brittany Market. Brittany talked about her surprising elimination, her surprising best friend and lots more!

Full Q&A is below the jump!

How did you get involved with Top Model?

I’ve been modeling for four years. It’s always been my creative outlet and it’s where I go to distress. I love performing and becoming a different character. I have a couple website dedicated to my modeling. Right when I was about to graduate and have to think about getting a job, a casting director saw my websites and emailed me, letting me know that they were doing a 5’7” and under cycle and that they would love to meet me. I didn’t believe them and thought it was a joke. I went to meet them, just in case, and it turns out they were legit. I went to the casting in San Francisco and made it to the final round. A few weeks later, I got a call and was told I have three days to get ready and to head to Los Angeles for the semi-finals.

Were you surprised by your elimination?

I was completely shocked. I had no idea it was going to happen. I achieved everything I wanted to artistically with that shoot, it was my favorite pictures during my time on the show, and my feedback wasn’t overwhelmingly negative. I had no idea it was my time to go. During my time at the house, elimination was so stressful. I used to have nightmares about it. I knew my time was coming and that I’d need to prepare for it, but I wasn’t ready to go then. I was also worried about how they were going to portray my exit, but it was quite graceful. They didn’t make me into a bitch or anything.

Why do you think they kept Erin over you?

Erin has an interesting high-fashion look and the judges clearly believe in her potential. I know it’s a reality show and that drama needs to play a part in their decisions. I think eliminating me over Erin was dramatic and unexpected. But it’s still hard for me to think about and part of me still doesn’t understand it.

Do you feel you were portrayed accurately?

It was so interesting to see how they edited me! I was pretty neutral the entire show. I didn’t get a lot of screen time and they didn’t show enough to like nor dislike me until last night. In the last episode, it was like since I was getting eliminated, they needed to amp up the dislike so my elimination could be validated. But there’s a lot they didn’t show. I was silly and goofy around the house, but that wasn’t shown at all.

What was the deal with you and Erin?

I looked like we were totally fighting in that episode! Erin and I got along really well. As the episode was airing, I even texted her. She chose me to go along with her on the helicopter ride. If we weren’t friends, why would she do that? Towards the end of the competition, we were together 24/7 without a break from each other, from the camera or from the show. I was exhausted and everything irritated me. I was complaining about everything, we all were! I tried as often as I could to go outside and just be by myself, but it was difficult.

Who were you closest with in the house?

Nicole was my best friend in the house. But they didn’t show us talking once! If you watch the show, you have no idea we are friends! But we hung out everyday and spent a lot of our down time together.

What’s Nicole like?

She’s awesome. I love her. We just clicked and became friends immediately. She’s intelligent and humble, an all around great girl. She’s socially awkward, but nowhere near to the level they played it out on the show.

Did you keep your makeover?

I absolutely loved the dark hair. I still have it. After the show, it started to fade, so I went to the salon to have it re-darkened. It’s darker than it was on the show now and I love it.

What photo shoot was your favorite?

It’s so hard to say which one was my favorite! I guess it was the horse photo shoot. I loved the make-up, the styling and the clothes, or lack of! The stylist had a book of Helmut Newton photos for inspiration and he’s one of my favorite photographers. I’m familiar with his work. I was just into the whole concept. I also loved the very last photo shoot I did, the one with Tyra. That photo was my favorite throughout the whole competition.

What photo shoot was your least favorite?

Definitely the Make Me Tall shoot, the one when I ended up in the bottom two. I don’t know what happened on that set or where that photo came from. It’s terrible and I’m embarrassed to have that circulating around the internet for people to see.

Who would you like to see win the competition?

Nicole was my best friend in the house and I’d love to see her win. She’s a beautiful girl and her look is so high fashion. But if Nicole doesn’t take it, I’d want Laura to win. She’s an all-around CoverGirl and completely has the look that CoverGirl and Seventeen want. Plus she’s so sweet, no one cannot not like her.

What are your future plans?

I’ve been counting down the days until I’m free of this show and can get back into modeling! I’m so inspired and motivated now. I’m going to throw myself into modeling and start the process of meeting with agencies and getting jobs and see where that takes me.

Image: Pottle Productions Inc