When she heard Tyra was planning a cycle for short models only, Kara Vincent flew to Chicago directly from Costa Rica, where she was studying Spanish.

But after several weeks of flying through the competition, it’s all over for Kara and her chances at being named “America’s Next Top Model.”

Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Kara is a long-time fan of the reality series. Now that she’s had some time to “recover” from her elimination, she’s hopeful that she can find a career in the fashion industry.

CTV.ca talked with Kara about her breakdown after being eliminated, and what she thought was the strangest photo shoot.
 
Hi Kara! First of all, I have to say I’m surprised that you didn’t go further in the competition this season!

Oh yeah?

What do you think went wrong?

I think the judges thought I lost focus -- which I don’t think is necessarily true. But on the last photo shoot, I took a horrible photo, so it wasn’t a shock to me.

Did you get any indication while you were doing the shoot that it wasn’t going well?

I felt like it wasn’t going great, but I was hoping a couple shots could save me. I felt like the photographer wasn’t inspired by what I was doing, so I had an inkling it was coming.

When you were eliminated, you were pretty upset right?

Yeah, sure!

Do you still feel that way now?

No, definitely not. Thinking back to it, I was shocked I cried so much. I have recovered, my wounds have been healed, and I’m ready to move on.

Will you continue to model then?

It’s something I’m interested in pursuing if I can make it happen. I want to focus on print work, especially with my height.

What aspect of the show did you find the most challenging?

The photo shoots, and overcoming strange situations. The horse shoot was one of the strangest: we were topless and had hair extensions, and there was a jockey. There were so many elements, it was bizarre. But it was fun!

What did you think about the way you were portrayed on the show?

I feel like viewers only sawing me saying bad things about Nicole, all mashed up into one episode. That wasn’t my experience in the house. We had a lot of fun, and I wish they showed more positive things of me, but I guess that doesn’t make for good television, so…

I’m calling you today from Toronto, up here in Canada, where Jay Manuel hosts “Canada’s Next Top Model.” What was your impression of him?

I loved Jay. He was honest, and in the last shoot I was doing, he came over and said, “I’m going to let you know that this is not going too hot and you need to step it up. I can tell you are trying but it is not enough.” I think he’s helpful.

So why did you decide to get into modeling in the first place?

I’ve always been interested in fashion. I’ve always read fashion magazines, and go vintage shopping and make cool outfits. I’m short, so that kept me from putting all my energy into getting into it. I’m feeling way more positive now after the show.