It’s not easy being the first person to be sent home but luckily for Angelia, she had some practice of being eliminated from “America’s Next Top Model.”

The 20-year-old contestant from Pembroke Pines, Fla., as well as 13 other hopefuls, were tricked into thinking they hadn’t made the cut at the beginning of the Cycle 16 premiere. Fighting back tears, the girls geared up to return home when host Tyra Banks came out and announced they would instead be staying, and dropped a curtain to reveal their new top model home – a posh Los Angeles penthouse.

“We were all ecstatic. We went crazy – girls are falling on the floor, they’re crying, I ran in place. I’ve never had that many emotions in one day,” Angelia tells CTV.ca over the phone.

Angelia went on to compete in her first runway challenge (walking a narrow runway over water in a plastic bubble) and did a backstage photo shoot with one of her favourite fashion photographers, Russell James.

But it wasn’t long before Angelia experienced that dreaded feeling of being sent home again – and this time for real.

“I was a little more prepared for it (than the first time they said I was eliminated). I’ve also been modeling for a couple years and I know every job you (audition for), you’re not going to get so I’m used to rejection.”

Angelia was sent home after Tyra said during panel that she was ‘just a pretty girl and not a model.’ Tyra also commented during the judging panel she didn’t feel any emotional connection with Angelia’s photo.

But the top model contestant disagrees completely.

“I do feel I have an emotion in my eyes. What was going through my mind (when I found out I was eliminated), was ‘I can’t believe you’re sending me home for this reason.’ I wanted a logical explanation for it.”

Not only does Angelia feel she didn’t get a good enough explanation as to why she was eliminated, she also feels like never received any tangible feedback from Tyra that will help her in her future modeling career.

“I just felt like it was a weak explanation because I have a strong portfolio and I’ve worked hard at this for a couple years so I feel like I have it now.”

Angelia adds that she didn’t get enough of a chance to prove herself.

“I know how to model and how to walk an actual runway – not in a bubble – and an actual photo shoot (not just a backstage one).”

But Angelia, who is currently studying marine biology, isn’t going to let this stop her from her dream of being a model. She is currently updating her portfolio, which consists of pictures from local photo shoots in Miami, and plans to take it to top agencies in New York City and L.A.

“I want to try and get signed with as many people as I can and just get going … (ANTM) was something I went for and I don’t regret any of it. Everything happens for a reason.”