Ouch! Top Model 4's First Cut
The
fourth season of
America's Next Top Model is underway, but sadly, it's already over for
Brita Petersons. After taking the fall in a freakish fashion photo shoot, the Southern California-based model/waitress was the first finalist to go. Before another mannequin wannabe is eliminated in tonight's episode (8 pm/ET on UPN), the embittered Brita tells TVGuide.com why she wishes she'd thought twice before signing up for Miss
Tyra's snarky sideshow.
TVGuide.com: At the end of last week's episode, you said you regretted doing Top Model.
Brita Petersons: In a sense, I do, because I did get cut first. And I signed a contract that has conflicted with modeling and acting work that I had been doing. I also think it's bad publicity when they say, "You're a beautiful girl, but you can't model." That definitely misrepresented me.
TVG: What sort of modeling had you done prior to appearing on this show?
Brita: I've done a lot of print ad work and a little bit of runway. Nothing that I've ever gotten a lot of exposure for, obviously, but it paid the bills! [Laughs]
TVG: What's the biggest gig of yours that we might recognize?
Brita: I have done runway stuff on TV shows where I pretended to be a model. I was one of the models in a runway show on Summerland. [Editor's note: Lori Loughlin's character, Ava, is a fashion designer on the WB drama.]
TVG: So you can legitimately call yourself a model.
Brita: I'm sad. I got cut so early, therefore, I didn't get the publicity I was hoping to get. And ironically, I was offered high-paying jobs, but I had to turn them down because I was on the show. I'm still out of the running through the end of the show.
TVG: Meaning you can't book any modeling gigs until after Top Model's done airing? That's rough.
Brita: Yeah, it's been a rough time. People think I was just a waitress before that, but that was not my main source of income.
TVG: How did you feel about the judges' criticisms?
Brita: It's a little frustrating because they were talking about how my body looked bad at the photo shoot. I knew that and I actually asked if I could move [positions], and Nole said no. Then later, he told me, "You need to know how to move your body." I just shut my mouth, figuring it's a reality show and you can't really do anything about it. Whatever. That's what I signed up for, though I didn't realize it was more of a reality show than a competition.
TVG: Your makeup at the photo shoot was crazy, but that wasn't your fault.
Brita: Sarah — that's one of the other contestants who's also a makeup artist — told me I looked horrible before the show. What can I do? I'm just a model, I do what I'm told. That photo shoot sucked.
TVG: Was Sarah just being bitchy to you about your makeup?
Brita: No, no, not at all. She was being sincere. I definitely got along with Sarah — I liked all the girls.
TVG: Were you surprised the judges picked that wacky Brandy over you?
Brita: I already knew I was going home at that point. I was just annoyed because I know how the business is. They like the shock factor of the audience thinking one person's gonna go but it's really the other one. I felt a little bit set up and just wanted them to get it over with.
TVG: Nole criticized you for being 25. That's old? You don't look ready for Depends ads just yet.
Brita: On the show, when Nole asked me how old I was, I asked him to guess. He said 19 or 20. But I'm 25 and, unfortunately, the age matters more than what you look like. It's silly.
TVG: Finally, did you mind that Janice kept calling you "Frieda"?
Brita: She was just being contrary. That's her role. They didn't make any Brita water-filter jokes, but the fans have been doing that online.
