Next Top Model Teen Graduates from School of Hard Knocks

We have disagreed with the judges on America's Next Top Model(Wednesdays at 8 pm/ET, on the CW) before, and we are sure to again, but dang! We have rarely disagreed with them more strongly than we did when they eliminated Brooke Miller last week on her high-school graduation day, for pity's sake! Admittedly, the 18-year-old Texan didn't exactly set off fireworks posing for a mock romance-novel cover with Fabio. But if you ask us, her Tyra Banks-shot monster pic could have ushered in a new era of zombie chic. What the heck is going on over there? To find out, we rang up the would-be CoverGirl, who continued to impress with her attitude and insights.

TVGuide.com: Were you surprised by your elimination?
Brooke Miller: I really was. I went in there feeling pretty good. And they didn't show all of it, but my panel [critique] had gone really well that week.

TVGuide.com: How hard was it to stand there and watch girls like Jaeda and Eugena who have yet to take a truly great picture pass through to the next round?
Brooke: I'm not gonna lie to you it was frustrating. I was like, "Man, they just keep giving them chance after chance. And I mess up one time, and I'm outta there."

TVGuide.com: And on your graduation day, no less!
Brooke: Well, I don't know if I really think it was a coincidence that I got eliminated that particular week. I think I could've probably gone a couple more weeks, but I think the producers might've said, "Hmm... what would have the most dramatic impact?" But it's OK. Everybody's got to go sometime, and that was just my time. I'm not scarred for life or anything.[Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Were you miffed that Tyra told you not to feel sorry for yourself?
Brooke: I think more was made of that than there really was. I only said, "I could've been at my graduation" [after being cut] because....

TVGuide.com: Because what else would you be thinking? It was crazy-ironic!
Brooke: Exactly.

TVGuide.com: Do you feel like the deck was stacked against you in the final photo shoot? I mean, what teenage girl is going to be attracted to Fabio? He's old enough to be your grandpa!
Brooke: Yeah, that wasn't exactly a highlight for me. Some of my friends were laughing, saying our shoot bordered on kiddie porn. But it makes for a great story. Definitely, no one else in my [graduating] class has a story like that to tell! [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Do you think you would have gone further in the competition if the judges had seen the way the other girls misbehaved in the house?
Brooke: Not really. I mean, first of all, I have my doubts about whether they really didn't know what was going on, especially Tyra.

TVGuide.com: She does always seem to show up for a heart-to-heart just when the drama is at its peak.
Brooke: Yeah, that's pretty coincidental, don't you think? [The judges] always say they don't know, but... I don't know if I believe them. But anyway, modeling isn't really about your personality, it's about taking great pictures. If you can't take a good picture, I don't think [casting agents] care how nice you are.

TVGuide.com: Still, I think having conducted yourself as maturely as you did, you're a lot more likely to get a booking than, say, Monique.
Brooke: Thank you. I just tried to be true to myself and not create a lot of drama just for the sake of it. I definitely didn't run around wiping my panties on anybody's bed! [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Speaking of your housemates, which got annoying fastest: Jaeda whining about her short hair, Anchal whining about her body, or Monique... being Monique?
Brooke: I'd actually have to say none of the above: It was Melrose. At the age of 23, she was [acting] like she knew it all. And I have to hand it to her she's a great model. But sometimes I'd want to be like, "Melrose, you're really good at modeling, and what you say is really valuable and helpful, but Just! Shut! Up!"

TVGuide.com: Did you get the impression during the Seventeen photo shoot that the editors would have preferred to have had you as the winner of the competition and not Melrose, who certainly doesn't look like their typical reader?
Brooke: I can't say anything too bad about Melrose, because she really did me a huge favor by choosing me to go with her to that shoot. But I felt like, ironically, that was the day that I really shined. [On] that shoot, I got to be more myself than [on] any other one. And I got to spend the day talking with [the editor in chief], and she seemed to really like me. So I hope they'll want to use me again. Melrose can go model for "Senior Citizens" magazine.

TVGuide.com: So what's next for you?
Brooke: Well, I'm enrolled in college now, studying broadcast journalism....

TVGuide.com: Wait a minute your opening question to Janice Dickinson during the Q&A challenge was, "Why are you such a bitch?", and you're studying broadcast journalism?!
Brooke: [Laughs] That wasn't really my first question! We actually had a bunch of questions that we had to ask. We talked for about five minutes.

TVGuide.com: I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't a valid question.
Brooke: She was pretty intimidating, I'll tell you that. It was a good learning experience, too. Stars aren't necessarily going to give you the interview that you want, and you have to be prepared for that.

TVGuide.com: Did Janice at least shake your hand and say thank you when it was all over?
Brooke: Well, she just kind of turned and walked away. But I said thank you.

TVGuide.com: So, modeling: yea or nay?
Brooke: I'm open to anything. If some great opportunity comes along, I might put my education on hold and take it. And if it doesn't, then I'll just finish school and get a job like everybody else.

Hey, reality-TV fans! The Oct. 30 TV Guide answers your burning questions about Survivor: Cook Islands and shares some Dancing with the Stars scoop.

Send your comments on this Q&A to online_insider@tvguide.com.