Exclusive: Brittany Brower talks about 'America's Next Top Model'

Brittany Brower became the first girl eliminated from America's Next Top Model's all-stars edition during Wednesday night's premiere broadcast on The CW.


On Thursday, the 29-year-old who previously appeared on Top Model's fourth season, talked to Reality TV World about her America's Next Top Model experience -- including why she left the show with frustration and confusion, what she was most disappointed about missing out on in the competition thanks to her early ouster, who she felt posed the biggest threat while she was on the show, and whether she has moved on from her original "party girl" persona.

Reality TV World: It was made pretty clear during the premiere episode that the judges liked your photo and favored it over Alexandria Everett's. So besides being shocked about your elimination, what other emotions did you experience? Were you angry or frustrated or anything like that?

Brittany Brower: The adjective I would use would be "confused" because I knew that they liked my photo and I thought I rocked it out onstage. My personality is over the top -- maybe it can be too abrasive -- but I know that that's what makes me. And I also think that that's a trait that makes you memorable. I, for a fact, know that I am memorable. I don't even know where that came from, you know?

It's like first of all, it's an all-star season. They didn't just pick names out of a hat out of almost 300 girls that have been on Top Model. There's a process to this and they knew that I was memorable. I don't get it. I still don't get it. Like, what do you mean, "Oh, no one remembered her." I know when I was walking down the runway at LA Live, fans were yelling out my name.


There were people coming up to me afterwards for photos. "Hey Brittany, can I get a picture with you?" I think it's just kind of odd that "no one remembered me" -- that they didn't say anything good or bad. I don't know. I don't buy it, but whatever!

Reality TV World: Did you ever get a better explanation about why you were eliminated besides Tyra Banks' comment that the crowd didn't really remember you?

Brittany Brower: No. What you guys saw was all that was said. So, I think that was just kind of like that shocked moment like, "Whoa, okay. I didn't see that coming," you know? Like, whoa. I still don't know, but with that said, I'm with the rest of the world out there going, "What? Huh?"

Reality TV World: Going back to what you just touched on, Tyra's statement that she eliminated you because the fans didn't remember you or were indifferent to you seemed to conflict with her earlier claim that she had brought back fan favorites and The CW's press announcement that the casting was based on who was the most memorable from past cycles. Did you ever get an explanation as to why they put you on the show to begin with, and if so, it sounds like that reasoning didn't make much sense to you, right?

Brittany Brower: It just didn't make much sense. No, I definitely was chosen and told that, "You're a fan favorite." There's only 14 girls. There's over 300 girls that have done Top Model.


There's a lot of us out there and they chose us because we were memorable, and when they released us, if you remember -- I'm sure you saw blogs or things -- quite a few bloggers and news whatever, they were guessing, "I hope they bring back Brittany from Cycle 4.

So it wasn't just like they even thought, "Oh, let's bring back Brittany." It was because when they released the all-star cast -- or when they released that they were going to do an all-star -- people talked about me and that's why they brought me in. So, honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Reality TV World: You mentioned in your final words that maybe you should have peed in a diaper in order to be memorable to people. That was obviously referring to Lisa D'Amato, so what was your relationship with her? Were you simply just cracking a joke or were you kind of taking a shot at Lisa for any reason because maybe you disapproved of that behavior or something?

Brittany Brower: No, no. Lisa is one of my besties. I love her, which is so disappointing because her and I were two peas in a pod and they didn't really show that at all. I know that they had a lot of stuff to fit into the first episode, but we were always together.

I love Lisa. I still love Lisa. Her and I hang out and do things. So, I wasn't taking a stab at her. I was just being like, "Whoa, I guess I should have peed in a diaper to make people remember me." It was kind of like a joke. I love Lisa.


Reality TV World: When the judges deliberated on your photo, Andre Leon Talley said he wished you would have dialed down your behavior a little bit and he and guest judge Nicki Minaj said you came across a little "abrasive" to them. What's your response to that and why do you think they got that impression of you?

Brittany Brower: Well, here's the thing because Nicki also said, "Yeah, but she lights up a room." I get that, but first of all, you're a contestant on the show. You're being told before you go out that you're being judged on your personality and by your fans. I was always loud and crazy Britt -- over the top Britt.

We're supposed to be the people who we are. That was the whole thing, like, we're coming back as our brand. That's what you're remembered as from your previous cycle. Well, that was me, over the top. Back in Cycle 4, [Nigel Barker] was like, "Brittany, you need to tone it down a little bit."

And this is the whole thing. I'm coming out there trying to make an impression and we're having to rock the crowd. I wasn't going to come out there and just be like, (Begins whispering) "Hi, I'm Brittany from Cycle 4, remember me?"

That's not me. I'm coming out there like, "It's Brittany b-tch!" Because that's what I was like -- What I am like. So, I mean, I don't know.


Reality TV World: Why did you want to go back on America's Next Top Model and what were your goals for competing on the show again?

Brittany Brower: Well, a few things. No. 1, I've opened up a medical spa here in Los Angeles and I've gotten where I've wanted. I've been doing a lot more hosting work and want to do hosting. So, it's not like I was trying to go back and be this high fashion model, which is not the point of the show. It's more on branding.

And so, I wanted to go to that next level of helping to make more of a brand for myself and hosting is my main priority. That's what I really want to do in life. That's what I love. I love personality things. I'm not like this little girl trying to fit into a size double zero -- like, I want to host the show. So I just thought, "Hey why not. It's one more thing to be on TV and more press."

Reality TV World: Although you were only on the show in its premiere episode, how would you say the all-stars edition was different from your first experience on the show? Because based upon the first panel, it doesn't really sound like modeling ability is going to be the sole criteria in choosing the show's winner.

Brittany Brower: Right. It still has its similar things. There are still the photo shoots, still things like that. You're judged on your photo. I don't know. The only thing that's different is just the way that all of us felt coming back on. We all kind of felt like -- no one felt the same way it was the first time around.


No one had that, "Oh my God! We're going to be on TV! Oh my God, I'm so excited!" None of us were like that. We're like, "Alright, been there done that." Everyone was coming back for their own personal reasons, for their own personal gain.

Reality TV World: What did you do this time around to step up your game in comparison to your first stint on America's Next Top Model?

Brittany Brower: I would just say that this time I was a lot more calm. I really wasn't nervous. I was a lot more confident. We saw where that got me, obviously. But yeah, I don't know. It was just kind of -- I didn't have that nervousness that I had the first time around.

Reality TV World: Like you said, your persona from your first season on Top Model was the "party girl." Would you say the "party girl" image still describes you very well right now or do you think you've moved on from that stage in your life?

Brittany Brower: Oh, I've absolutely moved on. Don't get me wrong, I still like to have a great time and I'm really stoked. I love being out. I love being surrounded by people and that's never going to change. I don't care how old I am. That's just in my personality. That's just me. But yeah, I'm obviously not -- I still want to have a good time, but that's not my life.

I have a business. I just started my own modeling company, which is Brittany Brower models. I started it about six months ago where I'm actually training young new girls. So, I've grown up a lot. But I was on the bar after the elimination making it rain with other people's money. (Laughs) So, maybe if anyone has any photos of that, that would prove otherwise.


Reality TV World: Since Alexandria got to stay in the competition although she had fans that apparently hated her and you got sent home because you didn't have extreme criticism one way or another, do you find that strange at all? Meaning, do you agree that it's actually worse to have people not talk much about you than to be hated by people when you're a star?  

Brittany Brower: Well, I just don't buy any of it though, actually. I don't -- I can't answer that question in fairness because I don't believe it. I don't. I know that when I walked down the stage some people were yelling. I don't know who they were asking that didn't know me or didn't say anything. I honestly don't.

I find it hard to believe that me coming out there yelling onstage, "It's Brittany b-tch," and talking about the medical spa and me being like, "Oh, I'm a little bo-curious," because I love botox and yada, yada yada.

I had a lot of controversial things to say, so I just don't really believe that absolutely every single person they talked to did not have anything to say about me. I don't know. I guess I'm a little biased, but I just don't believe it.

Reality TV World: What did you think about the live judging panel addition to the show? Did you like it, dislike it, or wish they had included it much earlier in past Top Model seasons?

Brittany Brower: I loved it. I love being in front of people and just feed off that energy. It was awesome.


Reality TV World: Do you think there's a disconnect between what the judges are looking for in your photographs when they pick out your best picture for panel versus what you would normally pick out for yourself? 

Brittany Brower: Well that's always the same. All of us Top Model girls have always said that. We're like, "Can I see the photos? Can I see if that was definitely my best shot?" But we just have to take Tyra's word on it that that was our best shot, but who knows.

Reality TV World: Were you happy with the photo they selected for you during the premiere episode?

Brittany Brower: Sure, it was alright. Again, the whole photo shoot was supposed to be our persona. So, of course, I'm going to be like, "Hey! Brittany! Yeah! Party!" But yeah, it was fine.

Reality TV World: Had the fans given you more feedback and you got to stay in the competition, how far do you think you would have made it based on your skill, experience and talent compared to the other girls?

Brittany Brower: With the years of experience that I have, I have grown up a lot. Honest to God, it's about branding. I'm sure every girl would say it, but I definitely 100% percent thought that I was going to be there until the end... like by far. There's so many parts of the competition that I wish I could have been a part of. I'm like, "Ugh, really? I could have done that. I could have nailed that."


I don't have a small personality. I am creative. I know I have a great runway walk. I've done plenty of runway. So, obviously I got taken out of the game way too early and didn't get to show anything.

Reality TV World: Was there any specific aspect of the competition you were looking forward to? It sounds like you were looking forward to the hosting challenges.

Brittany Brower: One hundred percent the hosting thing. Are you kidding me!? I completely got robbed. When I found out there was going to be hosting, that that was one of the prizes and it was going to be about TV hosting, I was like, "Are you freaking A kidding me? I didn't get to go to that part of it?"

I love doing that part. I love it, love it, love it. I feed off that. That's just like how a singer likes to sing, an artist likes to rap or whatever -- or a clothing designer likes to design, a model likes to do runway or take pictures. No, I love hosting. I love it. I feed off of it. That's my thing.

So, to be taken out before that -- obviously I've made it really clear on my pre-interviews that I'm so excited about hosting and yada, yada yada. So, yeah, to have that get taken away and not be able to be a part of that challenge really blew.

Reality TV World: While you were on the show, who did you see as being your biggest competition and why?


Brittany Brower: I honestly definitely think that I would have been there more with Lisa. Lisa's really got a huge personality too. We're really similar. We'll do anything, and I mean anything. It would actually be pretty interesting to see her and I go off on a daring competition to see who would finally bow out, because we'll pretty much do anything or say anything.

She's really creative as well and she has her own personal style. She's really good at rapping and singing and that kind of stuff too, so she definitely would have beaten me in that category even though I do love to sing some karaoke Cher. But yeah. I think that she definitely would have been my largest competition.

Reality TV World: When you entered the house, was there anyone you were really surprised to see or disappointed to see would be joining you as part of the all-stars cast?

Brittany Brower: Surprised? Not really. I gotta be honest with you. I really didn't watch a lot of other seasons. To me, when I watch Top Model, it brings back stress from me on Cycle 4 or whatever. So, I don't watch a ton of reality anyway. That's terrible to say, but yes. I didn't know a few of the girls. But again, not to sound repetitive, I was definitely really excited to see that Lisa was in the house.

Reality TV World: Was there anyone in the house that you worried you might clash with at some point? I know you said you didn't really know the girls, but obviously some of them can come across as having some very strong personalities right off the bat. And besides Lisa, was there anyone you were looking forward to becoming potentially good friends with? 

Brittany Brower: [Allison Harvard] and [Laura Kirkpatrick]. I loved Allison and Laura and a lot of the other girls. [Shannon Stewart] is a sweetheart and I loved her. I loved a lot of the girls. So, yeah. I definitely made some good friendships while I was in there.


Reality TV World: So you don't think you'd end up clashing with anyone for any particular reason?

Brittany Brower: Yeah, I thought that [Camille McDonald] and I would have maybe ended up clashing a little bit -- possibly maybe even -- I like [Bianca Golden], but I don't know. We probably would have ended up butting heads because she's got a really strong personality that can tend to go toward the negative side.

I'm not a negative person at all. I'm all about, "Let's have fun! Let's go out! Let's do fun stuff and get crazy! Yada, yada yada." And of course in a house full of 14 girls, you're always going to get drama and I'm sure there would have been a few cat fights in there.

Reality TV World: What's next for you? What are your plans for the near future?

Brittany Brower: Well, I'm really going for my hosting. I already do some stuff for Fox, like correspondent work, and I just want to keep continuing that and maybe host my own show! Move over Tyra!

And I already run my own school -- Brittany Brower Models -- which is like a boot camp thing I've been doing for years even way before the first Top Model. I started off doing it in Tallahassee and so I'm kind of bringing it to the West Coast now.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski