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Model Behavior Not Enough For Tampa Hopeful

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By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 28, 2007

TAMPA - Janet Mills says if she had been more of a drama queen and prima donna, she might have stayed longer on 'America's Next Top Model.'

The 22-year-old who aspires to walk down runways and pose for magazine covers is back at her south Tampa home. She can finally speak about what happened during her time on the current season of the modeling competition series.

'It was a good experience because I got to do something I had always dreamed about,' she says. 'It helped me focus, so now I am pursing a modeling career. I think people saw that I am serious, professional and I will work hard.'

The episodes were taped earlier this year so Mills has had time to adjust to what viewers are just now seeing. Mills was one of 13 young women selected for the ninth season. She was the fourth to be sent home. Her last episode aired Oct. 17.

Mills, who had no modeling experience prior to being selected for the reality series on The CW, says that although she did as well as some of the other wanna-be models, she didn't stir up trouble.

'I wanted to get things done so I didn't cause a lot of drama,' she adds, noting that if she had, then 'they would have kept me around for a bit longer.'

'But everybody's got to go at some point, and I think that this season they are looking for a high-fashion model, and that is not my look,' she says.

At least she didn't do anything to embarrass her family or the hometown folks back in Bainbridge, Ga.

Mills, who is 5-foot-8, says she is a little shorter and slightly broader than many of the contestants this season.

'In past seasons, I might not have been considered 'short,' but this season half the women are over 6 feet tall and very thin,' she says.

Mills says her look is more suited to catalog modeling or fitness. 'They just didn't see me as what they want. I may not be a high-fashion model, but there are plenty of places that I could fit in.'

Born and raised in Bainbridge, Mills attended Georgia State University in Atlanta. Not passionate about pursing any profession, she came to St. Petersburg to study at the Aveda Institute, a beauty school that trains cosmetologists, hairstylists and spa technicians.

She has lived in Tampa for two years. She was working at a south Tampa spa as an aesthetician prior to going on 'America's Next Top Model.' She has decided not to return to spa work.

'I am going to see what happens with my modeling career,' she says.

Wax On

Her most memorable moment from the show was shared by former model Tyra Banks, who co-produces 'Top Model.'

'Not that many people know what an aesthetician does so I thought it would be fun to simulate the Brazilian wax for Tyra,' she says. 'I was the No. 1 downloaded video the next day for AOL, and so I thought that was pretty cool. No matter what you get downloaded for, you get recognition.'

From the outset, Mills appeared to be more mature than the other contestants.

Jenah, an 18-year-old student from Farmington, Conn., called her the 'house mom' after she scolded the other young women about keeping their shared quarters clean.

She has said the filth was disgusting: yogurt that was running down the side of the cabinet onto the floor; milk that had congealed into something else; dishes piled in the sink.

She says sharing a $12 million mansion was a privilege that some of the others didn't appreciate.

Show Emphasizes The Negative

As far as the modeling competition goes, Mills says she thought she had shown improvement with each episode. 'I listened and then I applied myself.'

But on the fourth episode, posing instructor Benny Ninja appeared to have trouble getting Mills to show the proper emotional range that he expected. She and the other models were learning to pose while jumping on a trampoline.

'Janet's problem is she has a harder time trying to get into these poses,' explained Benny. 'She was uncomfortable with what she was doing.'

Later in the same episode, Mills was shown having problems in expressing anger for a pose. Ann Shocket, editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine, criticized her as 'all over the place.'

And then later, Mills was shown having problems at a photo shoot, where she was dressed in mostly dark clothing but was wearing white underwear.

Mills points out that some of the other models also struggled with similar issues. But the show was edited to emphasize her problems.

'I think a lot of what they show has to do with making the reality more dramatic,' she says.

'All of us obviously have the potential to be models - they chose 13 girls out of 30,000 - so there's definitely a place in the modeling industry for us,' Mills told reporters during an Oct. 18 telephone news conference.

She says the toughest part of being on the show was being apart from her boyfriend, Air Force Sgt. Grant Jacobs, who was deployed to the Middle East while Mills was sharing a mansion in Los Angeles with the other contestants.

Being separated from him weighed heavily on her, but after she left the mansion, they were able to spend two weeks together in Hawaii, she says.

Not How She Sees Herself

A couple of things surprised her. She never realized that her Southern accent was so thick until she heard herself on television. And she was taken aback by the judges comparing her to Liza Minnelli.

'I don't see that and I've never heard that,' she says. 'I've been told I look like Winona Ryder.'

Mills says she is rooting for contestant Lisa to win 'Top Model.' 'She is really down- to-earth,' Mills says.

She also likes Chantal, who, in her opinion, has the right look for high fashion. But she says the judges seem to favor Heather.

Mills had a modeling assignment in Miami this weekend, and she wants to try acting. 'An actor doesn't have to look 17 forever,' she says.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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