AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW... DALYA

Wanting It Is Not Enough

By Belinda Trotter-James

Dalya is the 5^th girl to be eliminated from America’s Next Top Model.  In an exclusive interview we find out why she decided to enter the competition if she is an experienced model. Keep reading for all the juicy details…

We were definitely sad to see one of the best walkers of this cycle leave the show.  “It ended on a great note,” began Dalya.  “I was chosen by Tyra from thousands of girls so it was an honor to be on the show.”  Dalya already had a little bit of experience.  She would go on local go-sees, participate in fashion events and she walked in LA fashion week twice.  She would practice walking in her home every day. “I would try to book my own jobs, study the movements of the top models and put my own spin on it. I would look in the mirror every day, practice my facial expressions and shoot with fashion photographers.  My portfolio is good,” says Dalya.

Why would she spend time to participate in a competition of girls who are just starting out?  “The prizes!” she laughs. “I entered mainly because of the amazing prizes.  Some of the models today don’t get a chance to shoot with famous photographers or work with top designers and stylists.  Plus who wouldn’t want the chance to be on the cover of Italian Vogue.”

On the show Dalya mentions how she walked in LA fashion week and has experience.  It seems that the girls who mention how much experience they have are always the first group to go.  After experiencing Top Model I guess they realize that they need more experience to live up to the level of Top Model.  “I have runway experience,” explains Dalya. “I did not bring up my past right away; someone asked me.  I was proud to say it and not feel like I was bragging.”

To this day, Dalya cannot figure out why she was eliminated. “I’m still confused.  Maybe I let things get in my way.  I don’t know how I got in my own way.  From week to week my photos were good.  It did not make sense to me that I was eliminated,” remembers Dalya.

It seems that her weak points were in front of the camera.  She just looked like a pretty girl in a photo.  Her eyes, facial expression or body language did not tell a story or evoke any emotion.  “I have to be careful with my chin angles.  My bone structure is so strong that if I angle my face a certain way the pictures look crazy,” informs Dalya. In the coffee commercial and the Cover Girl commercial challenges, she was stiff and did not know how to embody the character to produce a believable commercial. “Emulating sexy is hard,” begins Dalya.  “You see it on TV but, if you’re not used to doing it, you can’t do it,” explains Dalya. “I like what Andre Leon Tally said to me about subtle being more.  I was myself in that commercial.  Mr. J said I took direction well.”

I don’t know how you read that statement but to me it sounded like model excuse #184.  Modeling is not about you. It’s about the character with sprinkles of your personality mixed into the formula.  When I asked her what she will do next, the list of things mentioned did not include acting lessons.  I said to her, “You need some acting lessons.  Make sure that’s on your list.”  There was a dump silence as if to say, ‘I’m a model; not an actress.’  However, when you are on a runway, made up in costume or whatever, you are, at that moment, an actress.  Learn to tap into the emotions so that the camera can capture it.  That’s why Tyra, Heidi, Naomi and a host of others are supermodels.

Her makeover was a hit! She loved her long locks and had the style redone months later. “I really took care of my weave.  I really liked the style.  I call it ‘Naomi hair’.  It’s long and beautiful. It helps my look because I can look harsh.  I like my look and think I can work today.  I just need to move to New York.  LA is tough for me because of my look.  I am trying to get to New York.  I hope to sign with an agency that has offices in both places and they can bring me back and forth for assignments.”

Dalya’s advice for the next group of contestants is to be yourself. “Don’t be anything you’re not.  Be 100%.  Tyra will see that and stay strong,” advises Dalya.  She has been doing her homework regarding which agency she would like to be signed with. “I would like to sign with LA Photogenic.  I looked at the models who work for them and they really do well.”

Let’s hope whichever agency she chooses, it works out.

Photo courtesy of CW11