The five America’s Next Top Model finalists – Allison, Angelea, Dominique, Laura, and Lisa – had the tables turned on them in the last elimination episode of the All-Star competition when they were asked to judge their peers. Things turned ugly when Angelea overreacted to comments made by Dominique and it looked as if Angelea had lost it and was going to be sent packing.
But in a surprising decision by the judges, Dominique, who had some of the best photos in Cycle 17, became the 10th model to be sent home.
Now, PCM’s Paulette Cohn speaks to the 27-year-old mother of two to find out how shocked she was when Tyra Banks didn’t call her name, what living in the house with the other All-Stars was really like and what lies ahead for her.
How surprised were you to be going home before Angelea since your photos were ranked higher and you had never been in the bottom?
I am human, so I have to admit I was a little shocked. At the same time, I never stay stuck in the past. I am the kind of girl that once one door shuts, I know it is not over for me. I was like, “Okay, what do I do now?”
I am thankful for this opportunity. This cycle, I rocked it. From Cycle 10 to Cycle 17, it is like polar opposites. I am just glad and honored that Tyra called me back because this is really like my third time around. I did Cycle 10, and then I did Modelville – and I won Modelville and the Carol’s Daughter [spokesperson] contract. Despite that, Tyra called me back to do the All-Star season and I am glad she gave me an opportunity to come back to be remembered this time around for my sheer talent and optimistic attitude on life.
What did you think about Nigel and Tyra’s comments that they didn’t feel that they knew who you were? That you weren’t memorable?
I really want to say that everybody should have some sympathy for the judges. Being a judge is not the easiest thing in the world. I can only imagine how hard it is because from the beginning of this competition, every single girl in the house … we were all opposites of each other so judging us wasn’t easy. It wasn’t as if you could take one girl and compare her to the next because we were all so unique and different in our own right and had a different brand.
I think it is very difficult this cycle to be a judge. I am very glad I was a model and not a judge. With that being said, one of the things I can be remembered for is I know for a fact that from Cycle 10 to Cycle 17, I am the most improved girl in America’s Next Top Model history. I should be remembered for taking all the feedback that was given to me and making it work for me and not against me. That is what ties me into my brand, which is being a survivor. I am consistent with growing and evolving. You don’t know what to expect from me. I think that is a good thing.
Of all the episodes, the episode where I get eliminated, I think, was brilliant. I was watching it with friends and family who didn’t know what was going on and they were like, “Oh, Dominique, you’ve got this again! We are so proud of you.” I was, “They have no clue.” But I enjoyed watching them watch me get eliminated. It was a beautiful exit.
Angelea seemed to have a hair trigger when you were commenting on her during the judging your peers competition. What was it like in the house? Was there a lot of dissension?
What is so funny is you guys only see bits and pieces and we film 24/7. After that scene, we were in the ocean swimming and having a ball. Then we went to the club and we were dancing and enjoying the Greek culture. I think it was an amazing experience. People don’t get to see everything. I wish they could but it is unfortunate that you don’t.
I look at Top Model as a sisterhood. I told Angelea that 20 years from now we are going to look back and we are going to say, “Ooo, child. I remember when. Who knows? We may even have an ‘E! True Hollywood Story.’” You guys will get all the secrets then.
Why did you decide to do the All-Stars?
I looked at this as an opportunity and you can never be above an opportunity. I was honored that Tyra called for me to come back and, I must say, it was right on time for me. I get to show my fans how much I have grown. And I looked at it like this: walking into each photo shoot, I got to work with an amazing photographer. I got to meet amazing celebrities I probably wouldn’t have met under any other circumstance. I got to challenge myself as well as show millions of people what I can do. It is like a free ad. Why not? I enjoyed it. I was living for this opportunity. It was great. I made it work for me. It was fun.
Right now, I have a music video out. We got to do a music video on the show. Tyra challenged me to do that. Before that, I had never sung in public. A few people had heard me like my mom, but my husband had never heard me sing. It was really a freeing experience to let go, sing in front of the world, write my music and show the world the other side of me as well as perform it. Now, I have a music video out called I Am on Top of the World. And I about to drop another music video, which has a famous rapper rapping on it. I took this opportunity and ran with it. Thank you, Tyra.
What was different about the experience for you?
For me this time was different because I am more of a self-assured woman than I was before. I have a great support system at home that makes it even better, I have two beautiful children – at the time my daughter was two months old and I had a 6-year-old. I have an amazing husband and family and they were like, “Go, girl, go!”
I had fun with this cycle. I came into it willing to grow, learn and to challenge myself and not to take everything so seriously.
With a 2-month-old, how did you get the weight off so fast?
I drank a lot of water. I ate very healthy and I did some cardio, but I couldn’t do too much. I have to thank my mother for those good genetics. First of all, I looked at this as an opportunity because there are a lot of women out there who have kids and it is difficult transitioning back into work. I had an opportunity to jump back into it. Once I got the call, I said, “OK. I can do this.”
My goal is to set an example for my girls: Never make excuses for yourself. As long as you put your mind to something, you can do it. I think I accomplished that.
Who would you like to see win it?
I don’t like to say who I want because I like all the girls so much. Now that I am watching the show, I don’t know what is going to happen next. Right now it looks as if the judges are living for Lisa and Allison. They are polar opposites. But at the same time, Laura is an amazing model. If people knew what she could do behind the camera …she is a complete shock factor. So who knows who is going to take the title? Whoever takes the title it is meant for them to take the title. It is part of their story and their journey in life.
What’s next for you?
I have an album that is going to be coming out soon. Right now I am in the process of finishing up recording. I have a music video that will be out next month called Main Chick with a well-known rapper called Diamond. I plan on traveling internationally. I have done a lot of appearances and I had a lot of opportunities to meet my fans here in the States and I can’t wait to meet my fans overseas and to take my music to them.
The support has been great across the board. Whether you win Top Model or not, it is what you do afterwards that counts. I want to keep everyone posted.
In order to stay posted, you have to tune into my website: dominiquereighard.com, my Twitter is @Dominiqueantm and my Facebook is Dominique Reighard, but if you go to my website, you can check out my music video, you can download my music, you can see behind-the-scenes footage of photo shoots, plus you can check out where I am traveling and what I am doing. I still plan on doing acting. I am living my life with passion, following my dreams and doing everything I ever wanted to do. I hope this inspires someone else to do the same.
America’s Next Top Model airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
For more from Paulette, be sure to check out her blog The Hollywood Know.
Posted in The CW, TV News
By Paulette Cohn
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