Exclusive: 'Top Model: Guys & Girls' third-place finisher Cory Hindorff talks (Part 2)

Cory Hindorff finished the twentieth season of America's Next Top Model in third place during The CW's finale broadcast of the first-ever Guys & Girls edition.


Cory, a 6' 2 1/2" 22-year-old wedding singer from Philadelphia, PA, was defeated by runner-up Marvin Cortes and winner Jourdan Miller.

In an exclusive interview with Reality TV World on Tuesday, Cory talked about his Top Model: Guys & Girls experience. Below is the concluding portion of his interview. Click here to read the first half.

Also, to begin reading our exclusive interviews with Jourdan and Marvin, click here and here.

Reality TV World: Did you kind of feel like Rob was against you all season? Even the other judges would joke around about him being a "hater." What's your opinion on that?


Cory Hindorff: I think that he embodies the exact opposite type of male model in regards to me, and I think that that is why he didn't really understand the world that I come from. I don't think that he had a personal vendetta out for me, but I feel like he just didn't really understand the art that I was trying to create, and I don't think he understood what I was trying to say by being on the show, no.

I think he was sort of in that industry mentality because he is in the industry, so that's his conditioning and that's what he is sort of trained to believe. And I'm cool with it, honestly, there was going to be some people liking me and some people hating me. It's totally cool. I don't think he hates me. I just think that he didn't quite understand what I was trying to do when I wasn't portraying my butch manly Cory.

Reality TV World: Tyra admitted to Jourdan when she won that she really, really wanted a guy to win the whole thing. Did you feel any bias throughout the season towards the guys? I don't know if you felt sometimes the judges might've been a little easier on the guys or maybe just a little harder on the girls because of that?

Cory Hindorff: Huh, I don't know! I think in the judging portion of the show, I was so nervous the entire time that I was just focused on myself (laughs) and the support they were giving me. Yeah, I did not really -- I don't know. The pressure was so intense and like my heart was just pounding a billion miles a minute and I was just like, "I can't even focus!" So yeah, I don't know! (Laughs)

Reality TV World: In the final photo shoots and such, was there one area where you did feel comfortable in the clothing and comfortable in your own skin? Because I remember there was a scene when you were telling Marvin that you kind of felt like the clothes were just being put on you rather than you truly wearing the clothes, you know, embodying what's behind them.


Cory Hindorff: Yeah, definitely. For like that whole week, I felt like that. Two weeks before that, however, I modeled for the rice paddies photo shoot. I remember talking with the designer and he was talking about his vision for the clothes and I remember him watching my shoot and being so supportive of how I was modeling the product and how I was showcasing his work. He really, really loved what I was doing.

So, you know, after getting that affirmation from the photographer and really working with him on that level, I was like, "You know what? I could try to make it as a commercial model or I could try to make it as a high fashion model."

And I don't really have any interest in portraying this commercial, hoity-toity all-American man, but that's when I started to become honest about the clothes that I was wearing. I was just like, "You know what? This isn't me," and I made it known at that point, because I know that there are things out there that are me. And I know there are clients like me and there needs to be models like me in order to sell to those clients.

Reality TV World: I was going to ask you something about that. Going forward in your modeling career, are you only going to try to book shoots that allow you to be yourself or are you going to keep trying to be versatile and book masculine shoots as well?

Cory Hindorff: I think versatility is key, especially if you're somebody who wants to make a change in the industry, you know? And I actually just shot my first campaign for a suit company, J.D. Suits, and that'll be out, and I'm walking for them in Fashion Week in February too. I'm definitely still doing masculine menswear and sort of putting my own little twist and flare on it just to progress [the industry] that small amount.


I definitely want to be someone who helps progress the industry. I don't want to be somebody who just recycles what has already been done. I want to contribute to it and give it life and new exciting things. I don't know. (Laughs) I'm definitely doing everything and remaining versatile.

Reality TV World: Mike Scocozza switched from your team to Jourdan's catwalk crew when the $1,000 money offer came up. Although you joked around with him about it, how did you really feel about that? Were you super close with Mike in the house?

Cory Hindorff: Oh my God, it's so funny, because right before that episode aired, he called me and was like, "Cory, I'm about to look like an assh-le on television and I want you to know ahead of time I'm so sorry and I think you're so amazing." And I'm just like, "Okay, whatever Mike, whatever."

And his family lives in Philadelphia too, so he's actually going to be visiting soon for like the holidays and everything. And he's like, "We got to get together," but I don't know. I think his heart is still in the right place. He's a sweet guy.

He's just, you know, a dick, an assh-le. (Laughs) I don't really know what else to say! I love him though; We're still friends. I really don't know what else to say. I do love him though. We're friends. (Laughs)


Reality TV World: You mentioned you were trying to make it in the modeling industry prior to appearing on the show. How long exactly was that and what were you doing before Top Model?

Cory Hindorff: For two years I've been pounding the pavement, working with a nonexclusive agency... I don't know if they're still active, but it's a small agency located in Philadelphia. I was with them just booking voluntary runway stuff.

I think it actually paid nothing too major, so yeah, the experience comes from that and it's not an awful lot actually. So if it seemed like it was a whole lot on the show, it's really not.

Above is the concluding portion of Cory's exclusive interview with Reality TV World. Click here to read the first half. Also, to begin reading our exclusive interviews with Jourdan and Marvin, click here and here.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski