BEING MEMORABLE AS THIRD

America’s Next Top Model C16… HANNAH

By Belinda Trotter James

You can call her Hannah, the third runner up for America’s Next Top Model, cycle 16!  That’s definitely not how this 20 year old from Houston, Texas wanted to be remembered.  Actually, before Top Model she was going to school for photo communication.  “I told my mom one day that I wanted to model.  I did test shoots, tried to get an agent and then I auditioned for Top Model.  I got the call and here I am,” laughs Hannah.

If Hannah was majoring in photo communication, why didn’t she nail each and every shot?  Was it because she was in front of the camera instead of behind it?  Why didn’t the judges feel she was ready for a life as a top model?  Keep reading for all the juicy details…

When you’re in front of a panel of fashion judges, you never know what they are looking for in a photo.  The judges loved Hannah’s body of work however; it was not enough to get her past third place.  “From the judges’ perspective, I think they were afraid of my vulnerability and that I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I don’t think they were comfortable with that,” explains Hannah.  She goes on to say, “I can tap into certain emotions; happy, sad, torn and I can tap into being inspired by messages and concepts.  They did not understand that being able to tap into my vulnerability is what gives me strength.  Brittney had a hard time being sexy but I would find something to feel sexy.  I guess I did not explain it clearly to them.  I get shaky in my voice when I am passionate about something.”

The judges may have thought she was emotionally unstable because most of her clips show her crying.  Molly explained, “At some point someone breaks down.  You need a support system.  We did not talk to family everyday on how to handle pressure. The judges felt I was not ready for it.  I feel like a totally different person.  I still am true to who I am which is a confident, strong woman.  I knew rejection is part of it.  All I want is to work as a model.  I see myself doing this for the rest of my life.”

Well the first thing Hannah has to do is be memorable.  In one of her photo shoots with photographer/judge Nigel, he said that he was not inspired to take her photos because she was not memorable.  What will Hannah do to make herself memorable the next time she goes to an audition or shoots with a photographer?  Hannah thinks about it for a moment and says, “I would walk in with a smile and energize myself.  I would remember their names and be myself.   You have to realize that we spent at least six hours on set waiting our turn to shoot.  I have to remember to have a good attitude and bring energy to inspire other people.  I’m not going to go in saying, ‘I want to be memorable.’  I’m just going to be it.”

During this cycle Hannah kept making reference to the fact that she is an only child.  Was she using this as an excuse as to why she was not doing well in the competition?  "Not at all," answers Hannah.  “I feel so much love for my parents.  I was not abandoned, I did not live in a trailer park, I never had to defend myself or have a back bone or be tough,” explains Hannah.  “I‘m a happy, fresh face person who grew up in a loving household.  My parents always said to do your best 100% and do what makes you happy.”

We noticed during the course of the cycle that Hannah always had her hair in two long bushy pony tails framing both sides of her face.  She laughs and says, “I love my pony tails.  I love big hair.  I get tired of wearing it up.  I like to make it super crazy.  It’s boring to wear it down all the time.  So I like to have fun with it. I have so much hair that I can have fun with it.”

At the time of this interview, Hannah was feeling a little nervous because she would be premiering a short film that she directed at a theatre in her home town.  It’s so ironic that she loves producing films and directing, yet she could not direct herself in the commercial challenges enough to win the challenge. Other contestants ended up winning the challenge.  How did that happen?!?  “I should have been more personal, informative and have a conversation with my guests.  I did not give much information because I only had 90 seconds of time.  It was nerve reckoning and I was too concerned about the time.  Molly incorporated the person into her interview and gave a lot of information,” explained Hannah. 

From what we have seen this cycle, Hannah will have no problem having a successful career whether is in front or behind the camera. *