The gruelling weeks of Tyra’s model boot camp paid off for one hard-working young woman from Detroit. Deemed “undeniably beautiful and undeniably edgy” by Tyra herself, Naima was the smooth-skinned, soft-spoken, be-mohawked winner of America’s Next Top Model. Along the way she outlived her toughest competitors by consistently winning challenges and pulling out the fierceness for key photoshoots. She edged out the superphotogenic Kahlen by aceing a runway show that required the girls to stomp through a coin fountain in designer clothing. In our conversation today, she shows her characteristic mellow personality and insightful outlook.

Thank you for speaking with us today, and congratulations on your win!

My pleasure, and thank you very much!

So you won in South Africa, but couldn’t tell anyone when you went back home. What was it like waiting for the show to air?

It was really hard; really really hard. For a minute no one even knew I was on America’s Next Top Model, then the show came out and everyone saw me on the billboards and ads and wanted to know if I’d won.

I understand you have a twin sister, could you tell her at least?

Yes, her name is Nia and she’s a photographer. It’s been a pleasure to work with my sister. But yeah, my sister knew, and so did my mom and my dad, but we were all SWORN to secrecy.

Had you watched the show before, and did you know what to expect?

I knew that it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was absolutely thrilled about it, but you really don’t know what you’re going to get into until you’re there.

How did the show differ from your expectations?

I don’t like to hold expectations ahead of time because then you can’t enjoy something because you have what it’s supposed to be like already set in your mind, you know? I went totally open-minded and I wanted to embrace the experience. It was hard, it was really, really hard, but I had a wonderful, wonderful time, it was a blast.

Who were you closest to in the house?

I made a lot of good friendships. All the girls were very sweet, very eccentric characters, but that’s how the artist is. (Laughs) The best friendship I made in the house was with Kahlen, and it was very odd because we ended up being the last two standing. I couldn’t have chosen anyone better to experience that with. No one could challenge me more than Kahlen.

Brittany joked that the other girls hoped you would “stink at something” so they would have a chance to win a prize. How do you think you won so many challenges?

Being in the competition I really had to learn to believe in myself and not give up before I tried. So I tried very hard, and it paid off.

You’re a trained dancer, which was a hindrance for previous Top Model contestants. Do you think it helped or held you back?

(Laughs) Well, yes, Tyra mentioned that a lot. I would say that it definitely helped me a lot, because they said a lot of times that I had a very graceful movement. One of the last episodes, Tyra said to me at the panel that I had learned very well to find a balance - someplace between dancing and modeling that comes out very dynamic.

What was your favorite photoshoot?

I’m very proud of several photographs that I took. They were all very emotional, and they got harder and harder because I wanted to grow and learn something from the previous ones. I have three favorite photoshoots, actually. The first one, I was green with envy. It was really trippy, being in the grave, but at that point in the competition, the state of mind that I was in, I was really concentrated [sic] and wanted to give a lot of myself. And the photo came out beautiful, with the greens and the blacks.

The second was when we did an ad for Caress. It was fun, I had to step outside of myself and really dance and have a fun time. The guys around me were so flirtatious, and I enjoyed that. The photograph came out beautiful. Jay Manuel said it was liking a watching a movie and watching the wonderful actors come to life. That was a beautiful comment he made.

Those photos are great, but my most favorite of all was the Covergirl photoshoot that we did - that is, the ad itself. It was hard that day going to photoshoots and commercials and learning lines, but I was in that judging panel, when they showed me my picture, and I just started to cry. I couldn’t believe that my face was on a Covergirl ad. I potentially had that power to become a Covergirl ... and here I am!

Looking around at the other girls, who did you feel was your biggest competition?

I felt that Kahlen was my biggest competition. She is an extremely technical individual and I learned a lot from watching her competitive nature. She would analyze details - I learned a lot from her about that. She photographs amazingly. And her personality, I felt like she was my friend and my competition.

Were you surprised at panel when Tyra said she didn’t have a feel for your personality?

No, I wasn’t surprised at all. I’m a quiet individual, I’m humble, and a lot of times I tend to be shy. I understand what Tyra was telling me. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a high voltage personality, it was that I wasn’t expressing myself and they didn’t see the confident side of me. I had to learn that belief in myself and bring it strongly from within in order to demonstrate to them that I believe that I’m beautiful.

It seemed that you worked on trying to change that impression.

I worked really hard, it was one of the hardest thing that I had to accomplish it the competition. Learning a belief in myself, learning to have confidence and courage and bravery in myself. I know that so many people are looking up to me, and I know that in order to grow to the next level of my humanity I have to do so.

Were the last challenges the hardest? What did you think when you saw the runway was under water?

Ooooh, oh my God, it was amazing! We went to a place called Table Mountain earlier that day. It’s so high up, we took an [air tram] up the mountain. We were up there middday, and the clouds were beneath us, and when they brought us through the clouds, I was thinking of how I was walking in a cloud ... and then I got to walk on water. It’s very ethereal, and I’m very much into that.

You outshone your competition in the filmed commercial. Are you interested in pursuing a acting career? Would you rather model, or act or dance?

I would love to act, but my main career goal right now is becoming a very successful model, and if acting is going to help my modeling career, then why not?

Do you think you’ll ever get rid of the mohawk?

Well, I’m not really a self-critical person, but I analyze myself a lot, and I did take in what the judges were telling me. On several occasions, Janice Dickenson complained about the mohawk. (Laughs) But I understand what she meant by versatility, and it’s very important for a model to become versatile, and when you are young in life to be able to sell as many different products that you can. So I’m growing it out a little bit so that I can still style it like a mohawk, but I can do different things with it now.

Do you read what people are saying about you online?

Um, I can’t sometimes. I don’t want other people’s opinions to influence my opinion of myself. But, I appreciate people who support me. They are part of my success right now, and I appreciate it so much.

Do you have any advice for girls out there thinking of trying out for the show?

Yeah, totally! Be yourself, embrace yourself, love yourself, and it’s going to shine through. Be confident and knock ‘em dead!


Thanks to Naima for being her gracious self and to UPN for granting us the interview.

Naima
Age: 20
Height: 5’9”
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Coffee Shop Waitress

The judges always believed that Naima had a uniqueness about her in terms of her persona and style; but, they were waiting for her “real” self to emerge and shine. In the final hours, when Naima stepped up to the plate to show she really did believe she was beautiful inside and out, the title of America’s Next Top Model belonged to her.

Congratulations, Naima! You were one of my favorites!

Thank you!!!

One of the things that seemed to help you with a lot of your action shots was the fact that you are a dancer. Tell us a bit about your dance background. What inspired you?

My step mom helped me out with it because she’s a dancer and encouraged me to keep doing it. But, I got into dance really early, like in elementary school, and didn’t get very serious about it until high school. I felt like it really helped me out during the show. Tyra had mentioned that dancers in the past were too dancery, but I remember her telling me that I found a nice medium between dancing and modeling, and how to move around gracefully.

On the show, you frequently alluded to your past and how you wanted to separate yourself from it. What did you change the most about yourself?

I don’t think it was something I changed; I think it was more something I found. There was a lot of confidence I had to gain almost overnight, and if I wanted to win, I had no choice. So, I had to find that confidence in myself, and be very brave and very courageous, as well as give myself completely during photo shoots and in front of the judges panel. I basically learned to accept Naima and everything that I went through, and really love myself, regardless of my past.

In the beginning of the competition, who did you think would be your biggest threat?

Brittany. She’s just so outgoing and loud spoken, and I’m completely the opposite. I’m more soft spoken, a little more humble. I’m not the kind of person that likes to brag about myself. But, being able to say “I’m beautiful” is quite different. That’s where confidence contrasts with cockiness.

What was the most difficult experience or moment you had on the show?

It was when we were filming in South Africa and I was on the chopping block — that’s what we called it, the “chopping block.” Tyra had told me that if I wanted to go on in the competition, I had to show the judges who didn’t believe in me that Naima is beautiful, and that I believe that, and that I want others to believe that. That was the hardest thing for me — to pull so much from within me and share myself completely with everybody.

The judges continued to tell you that they wanted to see the real Naima. How would you describe yourself?

LOL. I’m a little shy sometimes and soft spoken. I’m a poet. I think I’m outgoing, but in a quiet kind of way. I don’t mind not being in the spotlight. I enjoy myself and my experiences for what they are. I don’t always have to be center stage.

I read this news article the other day that said you vowed never to take part in a reality series again. It quoted you as saying that going into the competition you thought it would be a good career opportunity but now you are older and wiser. Could you elaborate on this statement?

Oh yeah, sure. I wasn’t too keen on the idea of a reality TV series because of past reality TV shows and how people allow themselves to be portrayed and how they go crazy and wild. I didn’t want to be made a fool of. Once I took the chance to go out and audition for the show, they called me back and things just clicked. I realized that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I can make a career out of this. I don’t have to make it that crazy nonsense that everybody goes into; my experience is individual, and it’s only going to be about me.

It was hard. It was really really hard. It was also beautiful. I enjoyed it, and I found a lot of myself. But, I wouldn’t do it again … I wouldn’t do it again.

What is the most exciting thing you’re looking forward to in your career this next year?

The photo shoots, of course. I can’t wait to start shooting photographs and seeing the results of my work and my hard efforts. I can’t wait to get on the runway. I’m a performer; I love it. The adrenaline that you feel right before going on stage — I’ve never experienced anything like that before.

But, I also want to do a lot of fan-based activities where I can actually give back to those people who voted in for me week after week.

All of the viewers seemed to really connect with you on the show. Why do you think that was?

I’m honest. I don’t know … I’m a kind person, I’m forgiving. I don’t judge others and try not to judge myself. I don’t know … I’m always told that people can relate to me, but I’m just being me.

If a young girl wanted to get into modeling and asked you for advice, what would you tell her?

To be very strong. To believe in herself, embrace and accept herself. And, go for her dream and believe. I mean, I moved to New York a couple of years ago and I went to see agencies then, and nobody ever wanted to take me. But, I kept going back to them, and I knew that if it didn’t work out for me, it would work out eventually. And so, I was working as a waitress because that was the only way I knew how to make money at the time and no modeling agency wanted me, and then America’s Next Top Model came for me, and look at me now — I’m a Cover Girl! That belief in yourself can really take you a long way.

You frequently wore a Mohawk during the competition. If you could style any of the judges’ hair into a Mohawk, whose hair would you choose?

Janice. I’ve been asked a lot about Janice making comments about how she didn’t like my Mohawk. But, she just wanted me to have more versatility. It’s very important for a model to have a lot of versatility and change with the trends and latest fashions, so I know what she meant. She’s a great person; I love her. It would be fun to see her with a Mohawk.
Naima
Age: 20
Height: 5’9”
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Coffee Shop Waitress

The judges always believed that Naima had a uniqueness about her in terms of her persona and style; but, they were waiting for her “real” self to emerge and shine. In the final hours, when Naima stepped up to the plate to show she really did believe she was beautiful inside and out, the title of America’s Next Top Model belonged to her.

Congratulations, Naima! You were one of my favorites!

Thank you!!!

One of the things that seemed to help you with a lot of your action shots was the fact that you are a dancer. Tell us a bit about your dance background. What inspired you?

My step mom helped me out with it because she’s a dancer and encouraged me to keep doing it. But, I got into dance really early, like in elementary school, and didn’t get very serious about it until high school. I felt like it really helped me out during the show. Tyra had mentioned that dancers in the past were too dancery, but I remember her telling me that I found a nice medium between dancing and modeling, and how to move around gracefully.

On the show, you frequently alluded to your past and how you wanted to separate yourself from it. What did you change the most about yourself?

I don’t think it was something I changed; I think it was more something I found. There was a lot of confidence I had to gain almost overnight, and if I wanted to win, I had no choice. So, I had to find that confidence in myself, and be very brave and very courageous, as well as give myself completely during photo shoots and in front of the judges panel. I basically learned to accept Naima and everything that I went through, and really love myself, regardless of my past.

In the beginning of the competition, who did you think would be your biggest threat?

Brittany. She’s just so outgoing and loud spoken, and I’m completely the opposite. I’m more soft spoken, a little more humble. I’m not the kind of person that likes to brag about myself. But, being able to say “I’m beautiful” is quite different. That’s where confidence contrasts with cockiness.

What was the most difficult experience or moment you had on the show?

It was when we were filming in South Africa and I was on the chopping block — that’s what we called it, the “chopping block.” Tyra had told me that if I wanted to go on in the competition, I had to show the judges who didn’t believe in me that Naima is beautiful, and that I believe that, and that I want others to believe that. That was the hardest thing for me — to pull so much from within me and share myself completely with everybody.

The judges continued to tell you that they wanted to see the real Naima. How would you describe yourself?

LOL. I’m a little shy sometimes and soft spoken. I’m a poet. I think I’m outgoing, but in a quiet kind of way. I don’t mind not being in the spotlight. I enjoy myself and my experiences for what they are. I don’t always have to be center stage.

I read this news article the other day that said you vowed never to take part in a reality series again. It quoted you as saying that going into the competition you thought it would be a good career opportunity but now you are older and wiser. Could you elaborate on this statement?

Oh yeah, sure. I wasn’t too keen on the idea of a reality TV series because of past reality TV shows and how people allow themselves to be portrayed and how they go crazy and wild. I didn’t want to be made a fool of. Once I took the chance to go out and audition for the show, they called me back and things just clicked. I realized that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I can make a career out of this. I don’t have to make it that crazy nonsense that everybody goes into; my experience is individual, and it’s only going to be about me.

It was hard. It was really really hard. It was also beautiful. I enjoyed it, and I found a lot of myself. But, I wouldn’t do it again … I wouldn’t do it again.

What is the most exciting thing you’re looking forward to in your career this next year?

The photo shoots, of course. I can’t wait to start shooting photographs and seeing the results of my work and my hard efforts. I can’t wait to get on the runway. I’m a performer; I love it. The adrenaline that you feel right before going on stage — I’ve never experienced anything like that before.

But, I also want to do a lot of fan-based activities where I can actually give back to those people who voted in for me week after week.

All of the viewers seemed to really connect with you on the show. Why do you think that was?

I’m honest. I don’t know … I’m a kind person, I’m forgiving. I don’t judge others and try not to judge myself. I don’t know … I’m always told that people can relate to me, but I’m just being me.

If a young girl wanted to get into modeling and asked you for advice, what would you tell her?

To be very strong. To believe in herself, embrace and accept herself. And, go for her dream and believe. I mean, I moved to New York a couple of years ago and I went to see agencies then, and nobody ever wanted to take me. But, I kept going back to them, and I knew that if it didn’t work out for me, it would work out eventually. And so, I was working as a waitress because that was the only way I knew how to make money at the time and no modeling agency wanted me, and then America’s Next Top Model came for me, and look at me now — I’m a Cover Girl! That belief in yourself can really take you a long way.

You frequently wore a Mohawk during the competition. If you could style any of the judges’ hair into a Mohawk, whose hair would you choose?

Janice. I’ve been asked a lot about Janice making comments about how she didn’t like my Mohawk. But, she just wanted me to have more versatility. It’s very important for a model to have a lot of versatility and change with the trends and latest fashions, so I know what she meant. She’s a great person; I love her. It would be fun to see her with a Mohawk.