The Life of A Top Model

Nine “cycles” into Tyra Banks’ search for America’s Next Top Model, the dozens of tall, long-legged contestants who have vied for the title can start to blend into a single, amorphous girl. Fully aware of the ephemeral celebrity that now eliminates only the most unforgettable reality-television alums, the would-be models leverage scandalous behavior, fainting spells, catfights and calculated confessions of eating disorders against each other in a war for maximum screen time.
            Jaslene Gonzalez, the winner of ANTM Cycle 8, is also wielding a revelation. But rather than using it to bolster her own fame, the former admissions counselor from Chicago is sharing her experiences in order to raise awareness about teenage domestic violence. A few months after winning the coveted Top Model title, Gonzalez disclosed to Seventeen magazine that she was previously in an abusive relationship, which ended only shortly before she auditioned for the show’s Cycle 7. “Before I got into that relationship, I had a good head on my shoulders and walked with my head up high,” Gonzalez told the magazine, “but during that relationship, things went down little by little. Mentally I gave up.”
            Gonzalez credits her penchant for perseverance for getting her out of the relationship—as well as for her win on ANTM, which came after she failed to make the semi-finals in Cycle 7 but promised Banks she’d be back. This fall, Gonzalez signed on as the spokeswoman for Liz Claiborne’s Love Is Not Abuse campaign, which promotes a free curriculum schools can adopt to arm students with knowledge of how to prevent, recognize and stop violence in teenage relationships. “There is so much muscle behind this organization,” Gonzalez says, adding that her own experience is not the only reason she chose to become involved with the campaign. “When someone is in an abusive relationship, their life could be at stake. You’re really talking about somebody’s life. And if attaching my face and my voice to this cause could help save somebody’s life, then what could have more value?”
            In addition to her official role as spokeswoman for Love Is Not Abuse, the 21-year-old says connecting with America’s youth in general is very important to her. “I get stopped on the street and get nothing but love. People find me very inspiring because I’m a CoverGirl and part of this group of models who all come from different backgrounds and careers,” she says. “They really admire my perseverance and the fact that I came back for a second audition after being eliminated and won the show.”
            As someone who considers herself a counselor by nature in addition to her professional background in the field, Gonzalez is inclined to try and serve as an inspiration. For this reason, she is particularly proud that she is the first Latina to win the competition. “I’m not your girl next door, but I’m your girl down the block in your hood,” she famously exclaimed on the show. Today, Gonzalez remains equally excited about that fact. “It is such a great honor,” she enthuses. “It’s a great opportunity to show people that no matter where you come from or who you are, you can achieve your dreams. And it’s a great way to show people what we Latinas are made of.”
            As she made clear she would when she conquered the hearts of the judges with her work ethic and will to win, Gonzalez has been giving her new title her all. “I just shot ‘My Life As A CoverGirl’ [the advertising spot that was part of the grand prize], and I’ve been on the cover of Vanidades and Seventeen,” she says. “I’ve been to the Latin GRAMMYs, and I was nominated for a Teen Choice Award. My life has been so fabulous since I won, and I’ve just been working a lot and trying to become a better top model.”
            The former ANTM devotee’s only regret might be that she hasn’t had much time to tune in to Cycle 9. “Before this all happened, I used to watch the show with my mom, and we never missed it. That’s why I decided to go on it,” Gonzalez says. But though she can’t catch the series on a regular basis, Gonzalez does have a favorite: Heather, a college student with Asperger syndrome (a form of autism) who is out to prove that beauty encompasses imperfections.
The choice is unsurprising. As future winners join the ranks of the Top Models, Gonzalez’s legacy will likely be her instinct to champion the underdog. Either that, or she will be remembered as the girl who threatened to tear runner-up Natasha Galkina’s hair out if Galkina was crowned Top Model.