Loading...
Follow Zap2it:
ZAP2IT ON THE SCENE
'America's Next Top Model's' Chelsey Hersley: 'Ann took better pictures than I did'
Imagine watching the finale of "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 15 with the two finalists in the same room? Zap2it did just that at The CW's finale viewing party. There were a lot of giggles from the two contestants during the screening and then some tears when we watched the winner get announced. Afterward, we spoke to runner-up, Chelsey Hersley, about what it was like to watch Ann Ward take the prize again.
"It was kind of hard reliving the moment again," Chelsey, 22, told us. "I was surprisingly more calm than I thought I would be watching it. It was a lot harder the first time."
The entire finale seemed like a close race. So when Ann was named the winner, Chelsey looked pretty blindsided. Since the finale's taping, she says she has been able to work through her disappointment.
"I had time to realize I made it to the final two," she says. "I'm the runner-up to 'America's Next Top Model.' I think that's a huge accomplishment. I'm really proud of myself."
Now that she has had time to process it, we wondered what Chelsey thinks gave Ann the extra nudge. "I think the Cycle is more elevated, more high fashion," the Idaho native says. "And I find myself to be very high fashionable and editorial, but Ann took amazing pictures. When it came down to it, Ann took better pictures than I did."
Regardless of whether she won or not, we'll always remember Chelsey's confidence while others (including Ann) buckled at times under the pressure of the competition.
"I went through a lot of hard times when I was uncomfortable and unconfident in myself," Chelsey says. "And I learned to develop a thick skin... You have to believe in yourself before others will believe in you."
Chelsey also got one of Cycle 15's more controversial makeovers when host and judge Tyra Banks had the gap between her front teeth widened. Yet, Chelsey says Tyra and the show's producers made sure she really wanted it beforehand and Chelsey showed very little hesitation.
"If [Tyra] believes in me and is willing to make that drastic of a move in order to help my career," she says. "Then I will do whatever it takes, because that's what I wanted."
So, what's next for Chelsey? She says she'll be moving to The Big Apple after the holidays to take advantage of her newfound fame. "Now that my name is out there," she explains. "Now it's up to me to knock on the doors and make the hard work come to life and come to a success. So, I'm ready to get out there and work."
And as for Ann, Chelsey has some advice for her former competitor. "I just want her to keep her chin up," Chelsey says. "Because she's a little bit more inexperienced when it comes to the tough criticism. There will be criticism and I just want her to remember that no matter what, you just got to be yourself and be confident in yourself."
Do you think the judges made the right choice? Should Chelsey have won?
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: Jethro Nededog, Zap2it; The CW
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Advertisement
What's Hot Right Now
Sign in to connect with Zap2it:
Rewards Challenge Members
Top Users from the Past Week | All-time
Zap2it Elite Sheet
Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
I'm super glad Anne won. Chelsea is forgettable.
Chelsey is charming and hardworking that I'm really so touched by her determination and passion to career.My feelings, the judgets chose Ann because she needs this glory to make her future path smooth, but Chelsey will make her dream come true all by herself! Proud of you, Chelsey!Show that they are wrong!
chelsey should have won hands down. she's much more experienced, has the whole package (where ann does NOT) and she has the best personality. plus chelsey is WAY prettier.
Chelsey should have won. She has the whole package even though she may not be as high fashion as Ann. Ann is too mentally vulnerable. She cries in almost every episode and needs constant reassurance. She's a good role model for other girls who have been bullied, but she didn't deserve the win.
i dun like the both of them to win, first of all, chelsey is too common looking for vogue italia and IMG, but she's definitely a better model than ann. ann is absolutely high fashion looking but she's always not sure, when she talks she's always like: I suck in acting,so i am so nervous. if she's nervous about everything, then there's a lot for her to be nervous of in the future.
either way, they're great, i love 'em both, i think they're a great and profesional model. i mean, after all, they're just human being, u know? no one's perfect but they are unique in their own way.
I absolutely loves Chelsey, I thought she was an amazing model, but i think they chose Ann because they know that Ann isn't capable of going out to the world and doing it herself but Chelsey is. Chelsey will make herself known in modeling.!
I thought the right person won. Chelsey thought she was a know it all and it did think she was as pretty as she thought she came across in pictures. Before she put her judgement on everyone else and what they were doing wrong she should have looked at her self first. Just because you have more experience doesn't mean your the best clearly!! Ann was not skating by as she put it. Some what of a catty uncalled for unlady like comment. Time to grow up and the bad thing is Chelsey was a few years older and Ann conducted herself with more class then Chelsey when it came to critizing others maybe Chelsey should have taken a few lesson's from Ann on style and grace.