America’s Next Top Model All-Star Eliminee

CAMILLE McDONALD

The Successful Signature Walker

By Belinda Trotter-James

ModelocityOnline.com

In an explosive, exclusive interview with America’s Next Top Model All-Star, Camille McDonald she reveals why her performance looked so bad on the show.  When I found out Camille was going to be on the show, I was so excited because she is the girl that coined the phrase, “This is my signature walk that will make me famous.”  Miss Jay tried to change her walk but she always insisted that she was not going to change her signature walk.  In cycle 2 Camille was the confident, cocky diva of the show.  I was looking forward to hearing about all the wonderful things she has done with her life since cycle 2. 

I wanted to know that she pursued her dreams and made it happen.  However, ANTM producers chose to show the ugly side of the industry.  By the time Camille left the show the edited version we witness portrayed Camille like a brand new, clueless, 33 year old model.  At one of the crazy photo challenges she could not give us the image of being proud while eating a hot dog.  What the… (Well, that was a crazy hotdog eating challenge. LOL.  Thank goodness for these interviews.)  Camille sets the record straight on a few things that came up on the show…

Whew!  I was so relieved to know that she is doing well and anyone who wants to pursue a modeling career can have it if they go after it.  So, let’s find out the real deal with Camille’s short All-Star stay on America’s Next Top Model… Well, before I could ask a question Camille started talking, LOL… I love it… Here we go!

Question: Some of the girls received wonderful packages from their family.  Camille received a box of bills.  She was not a happy camper.  It made it seem like she was a broke, wannabe model who needed Top Model to revive her career so that she can pay her bills!  I thought she started a lounge wear line after leaving cycle 2. OMG!

Camille Replies: I have several investment properties.  In this bad economy, everyone is feeling hard times and because of that I do have a lot of expenses.

My father passed away and my mother and I had to pay for all his expenses.  Therefore the clothing line had to be shut down.

Question: Camille mentioned at least 4 times on the show how old she is and that she cannot compete against these young girls anymore.  This is her last chance to be a star.  OMG!  I know that ANTM does not help the girls with their career after they leave the show but, Sheesh, Camille did not make use of her 15 minutes of fame?

Camille Replies: The fashion industry is fickle and age oriented.  No one will tell you their real age.  I said my age once on the show but the editing made me look like I said it at least four times, she laughs.  I could not believe what I was watching.  I try to live a stress free life.  I exercise; I cooked for the entire house.  I’m trying to brand myself but the show makes it look as though I’m going backwards.  I can’t afford my fans to see me looking negative and unproductive.

       If Camille needed a gig to get money to pay her bills, the CSI opportunity was perfect but instead we see Camille’s nerves getting the best of her as she was shaking like a leaf during the scene.

      Camille Replies: I was shaking because I was acting nervous about being around a dead body.  I wasn’t shaking because I was nervous and did not know what to do, she laughs.  Acting is not my thing but I think I did a better job than Lisa.  She cursed on set a few times and that’s a no-no.   So, I go home and she doesn’t.

Question:  Why do you think you were eliminated?

Camille Replies: I faded out in the background.  I thought there would be more branding development.  I know why I was eliminated but, well…  (We’ll leave that question alone.)

Question:  Why did you come on the show?

Camille:  America’s Next Top Model was not pitched to us a correctly.  Branding was my #1 goal for being on the show.  I wanted the world to know who Camille McDonald is.  I wanted the world to see my talent and how much I have grown mentally, spiritually.  I have traveled all around the world and walked for some of the top designers, shot with L’Oreal, Lancôme, I’ve been to Japan and many other amazing places.  They have our resume on file.  They know what we have done.  This show was supposed to develop us as a brand.  Being on the show may have done more damage to my celebrity status.  I can’t have that!  I am extremely disappointed with the edit. This show should have been a vehicle to solidify my celebrity status.  Every day I had a beauty routine and made the girls get up for my boot camp.  I love to cook so I made the girls some very good, healthy meals.  They did not show any of what I did in the house. We were not paid for the first show [cycle 2].  We cannot fight over how we were portrayed on the show because it costs money to get lawyers.  I had to go out on my own to make things happen and put a team together to build my brand.

 Question:  What do you want those who watched the show to know about you?

Camille:  I’m not just doing this so people can recognize me on the street.  I need to be that woman of color that’s out there doing things.  It’s a job and a business to me.  The last thing I want people to think is that I’m not doing anything.  I spoke to the show producers and told them how I wanted to be portrayed and as you see that did not happen.

       If its one thing Camille is good at, it’s being the center of attention in a photo.  At the Express photo shoot she looked lost and brand new.  Aaaauuugghhh!  Where’s our diva Camille?  What did ANTM do with her?  The girl we saw on the show must have been an imposter.  So I asked her about the Express clothing line photo shoot with the male models…

 Question:  What about the photo shoot with the male models.  Why did it appear that you forgot everything when it came to posing with other models?  Were you nervous?

Camille:  Absolutely not!  The executives from Express gave me amazing comments of how I was the only one who followed creative direction very well.  That’s because I studied marketing and I know what I’m doing.  But they did not show that to you.  You have to remember that it’s a reality show and they need shock value. 

Note to readers:  Well, it worked because I was definitely shocked.

Question:  What can the fans look forward to seeing from you in the future?

Camille:  I’m coming out with a shoe line.  Since I have the signature walk, it makes sense to have signature shoes, Camille laughs.  I will also have a cook book featuring dishes from all the different places I’ve travelled to during my assignments

My fans can see how fierce I can be on my new website, www.camillemcdonald.com.

 Question: With all that you have been through in your modeling career over the years what is the one model tip that you can pass on to aspiring models?

 Camille:  Stay strong, positive, focus and you must be grounded.  I went back to get my education because I aspire to be an icon.  You must be business minded to be in the fashion world.  This is a business.  Models like Iman, Cindy, Heidi and Naomi are business women. These women show us that there is hope and growth in your modeling career.

Fans can keep in touch with Camille through her website, twitter and face book @camillemcdonald.   Her website will have amazing products for you to purchase.

You can see her bio on the site to read all about the many modeling jobs and people she has worked with over the years.   It’s good to know that she still has the signature touch.

 Photos courtesy of CW/MPRM

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