Exclusive Interview With Angelea Preston from Americas Next Top Model All Stars Cycle 17
Jeremy: First off I would like to say thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I have watched you from the past seasons you were on Americas Next Top Model and always wanted to sit down and interview you so that you for that. I will start off the interview by asking you, how are you, how are things going for you?
AngeleaPreston: Aw thank you Jeremy, I am doing fine I just have a lot of projects in the works right now. I have progressed from cycle 12 to cycle 14 to now an All Star. People may not see a big progression but I have definitely been working and progressed from cycle 12. But everything has been going good, I been on my grind and on my hustle.
Jeremy: So you are back on Top Model for the third time to obtain the title as Americas Next Top Model All Star. Since you have been on the show on 2 separate cycles and kind of know how the system works what was your mindset like going back into it the 3rd time?
AngeleaPreston: Since it was my 3rd time back I kind of thought I knew what to expect and just the protocol of everything and how it was going to work but this season proved to be very hard because we did not know what to expect. A lot of us thought because we were veterans of Top Model that we knew what to expect but we did not know what we were getting ourselves into. But over all it was a very fun experience this season. Cycle 14 I did not have fun because I was so focused on winning and I was so new to the experience but this time I really just had fun. I was great.
Jeremy: What was that feeling like when you left the first time. Where was your head then?
AngeleaPreston: When I left the first time and saw the last episode of Cycle 14 I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to do. I knew that I definitely wanted to be in New York City so I went to a lot of different agencies and they all told me no but I just kept trying and I kept pushing and eventually I did get signed, But it is nothing like I would have expected. Cycle 14 and after it aired I thought it was going to be so easy for me, I was like, I am going to do this and do that and it’s going to be so easy because I have this TV Exposure and it was not easy at all and I still grind. I feel like that’s where a lot of people get it confused because they think you have this notoriety for being on television that things are going to come easy but being on top model you have to work so much harder because the industry does not take you seriously, so, it has been an up-hill climb. I am still on my hustle, working and grinding.
Jeremy: So what was it like watching your-self grow on reality TV?
AngeleaPreston: Well there is a lot of things I can say about reality TV. Reality TV is very one-sided. So when I watch myself on TV I am kind of like “ Why did they put this in there “ because I know how the public is going to view me and it is so weird because reality TV is not really reality it is one big fantasy because they portray you as this one type of character and that’s what sucks.
Jeremy: So who would you say you are the closest to on the show?
AngeleaPreston: I love Allison, that’s my girl. I talk to all the girls though, I talk to bre, Bianca, Isis, Shannon, Im cool with all of the girls but the person that I feel most connected to in the house is Allison.
Jeremy: How is it constantly being pulled in different directions artistically, being told to change this and that, be more you and then be more professional, this and that, what emotional toll does that take on you.
AngeleaPreston: Well the thing with Americas Next Top Model is that it is not a really representation of the real modeling world. In the modeling world, Yes, you do get criticized and told to change this and that, your too tall, too skinny, too short, too big but with Top Model, it is more of a reality show so what they do is, they try to pin point your weaknesses and strong points and they prey on that.
Jeremy: I know being on the show I know it can be draining sometimes just doing shoots after shoots and so many opinions and emotional rollercoaster’s, what do you do to stay focused and keep that tunnel vision?
AngeleaPreston: Damn these some good questions (Laughs), Well, what I do basically is, I take it like a grain of salt. I am in the industry and I get criticized by a lot of people and I just take it as its just someone’s opinion and peoples opinions do not hurt me and it is not going to make or break me and I dust it off. Top Model gave me the opportunity to put my name out there but it doesn’t determine my success. Tyra, Nigel, Andre and everyone else’s opinion are just opinions and they do not decided how far I make it in this industry, its kind of like “ I respect your opinion “ because you guys are professionals and have work your way to where you are now and I respect that but it is still just an opinion.
Jeremy: What has been the most memorable thing that Tyra Banks has said to you?
AngeleaPreston: One thing that always stick with me was on cycle 14 when I was eliminated and Tyra told me that I wear my heart on my sleeve and she said that was not a bad thing but in the industry it is kind of a bad thing because you never want to show people too much, you never want to show them exactly how you are feeling, what your thinking, and what moves your trying to make and that is the issue that I did have and that I still have today. With me, whatever emotions I feel, I express them, but I guess in her eyes it’s not the right thing to do all the time in the industry and I agree with that.
Jeremy: What has been your favorite shoot that you have done so far on the show?
AngeleaPreston: I really loved the pink hot dog although I loved my picture it was just a super-challenging shoot for me. I had a really hard time during that shoot, like I was crying it was crazy but I loved the concept it was dope, I got my make up, I was looking fierce and I felt so fabulous doing that shoot.
Jeremy: Being on Top Model you get too meet a lot of celebrities and influential people in this industry, who was your favorite person to meet and interact with?
AngeleaPreston: So far I would have to say Latoya Jackson, I could not believe I met her, the Jacksons are huge in my family and so meeting her was unbelievable.
Jeremy: Has your opinion of Top Model / Tyra and the people on the show changed after being on the show?
AngeleaPreston: Well, what I will say is before I was a contestant on the show I was always saying I did not want to be on the show, I want to make it as a model without having Top Model say that they made me. Then I said ok well let me go apply for the show because Tyra could really put me on in the industry. So after doing cycle 12, cycle 14 and now 17 my opinion of the show has changed because I feel like, what are the words I can use, I feel like the show portrays like they care about us girls and that they want to see us succeed and they want to help us but in reality it is all about making that money and making that buck because if they really wanted to see us girls succeed we would get phone calls after the show. From what I hear, Tyra used to help the girls back in earlier seasons after the show and she does not do that now. The thing with Tyra is that we do not have communication with her, the whole time we were filming, the only time we saw her, was at panel. This is a business to her and I respect that but what I do not respect is that the show is about helping girls and giving them opportunities when 9times out of 10 it actually shuns away opportunities from girls because people do not want to work with us and then the people that are giving us this opportunity through Top Model they are only giving us opportunities during the show but when its done and there is no more taping that are like “ Don’t call me, you don’t know me, if you see me at this party ill say hello and that’s it “ So honestly I lost A lot of respect for the show.
Jeremy: So with all that being said what do you have coming up now?
AngeleaPreston: Well this year is going to fabulous and so is next year (laughs). I was just in a film called “ Breathe “ with Robin Givins and it premiered at the American Black Film Festival and is going to be on DVD soon. I am excited about that because it was my first major acting role. I am recording music and always shooting and building my book and you will be seeing a lot more of me. Make sure you check out my website www. AngeleaOnline.com
This was a awesome interview