Runner up - Cassi
Cassi spoke to TV WEEK after losing out to Tahnee in the dramatic final of Australia's Next Top Model.
How are you feeling in the aftermath of the finale?
Relieved! It's nice to now know that it's all over and there's no stress on me anymore.
Are you upset you didn't win?
I'm not upset I didn't win because, either way, Tahnee and I are both winners. We're both going to have good careers. We've both been recognised by agencies and that's going to help further our careers. I'm so proud of Tahnee. She's the same age as me but she holds herself so well. It's so hard to be so composed and she does that so well. I'm so proud.
How were you feeling on the night?
I'm not good at public speaking. If you watched the media interviews challenge episode – I was bad and I can get a hell of a lot worse! I'm proud of myself for holding myself together on the night. I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I kept thinking about the 1500 people that would be in the live audience. I thought the public vote would always go to Tahnee.
What was your favourite part of the show?
When the announcement was made. Not because I lost but because all that stress was picked up and gone off me. I literally felt that six months of stress and built-up worrying disappear and go.
Were you expecting to see your mum?
No! Seeing her there was amazing. I spoke to her earlier that day and she just wished me good luck. I didn't have any idea at all. I got to see my little sister and brother too so that was good. It was a bit easier with her there.
How did you react when Tahnee's nose started bleeding during the telecast?
I felt so sorry for Tahnee when she got that. It was such bad timing. I thought she was crying when she got the tissue from Sarah Murdoch but then I saw it was covered in blood! Tahnee gets nosebleeds so bad. She gets them in the sauna, on the plane so I felt so sorry for her.
How did you feel when Charlotte said she wanted you to focus on your modelling rather than get bogged down in a relationship?
My career and my relationship are two things that are very important to me. Charlotte has said since you can handle both things as long as you and (fiancé) Brad work as a team. We do. We work as a team. When Charlotte said that, it was a little bit too harsh but I love her anyway. She's my favourite person in the world anyway. I love the fact she comes out and says whatever she thinks.
How did you celebrate?
I went to the afterparty but then I got tired. I hung out with my fiancé and then relaxed and had a bath.
What was it like to speak to catch up with other girls? Was it awkward with any of them?
It was pretty good with everyone but I don't talk to Clare. We don't get along at all. I literally just don't care. We're just two totally different people. Me and Lola we've made up but we're obviously not going to be friends. We're professional. I just don't personally like her.
How far would you like to go with modelling?
The next step is working in Melbourne and maybe coming up to Sydney but hopefully not too much. I don't like travelling too much. After that, when I'm ready, I'm not in the headspace right now but in six months or so, I want to go international.
In the beginning, did you think it would be down to you and Tahnee?
Tahnee has been my biggest competitor the whole way through so being against her is the best thing. Coming second best to my biggest competitor is not that bad.
What's it been like seeing the series unfold on TV?
I kind of understand why people that make movies don't watch their own stuff. I annoy myself.
Were you surprised by anything you saw?
Yeah, I was surprised by some of the things the other girls said about me in their interviews. But then I was like, well, get over it, I'm still in Top 2 and they're not. Like, Mikarla because we were really close friends but she did explain it to me. She did it to try and get herself further in the competition. I was like, that's pretty sad but oh well. I still talk to her.
Were you worried about your friends and family seeing it?
No. I hoped they like the show. I had my nan and my dad calling me after the show every week. I get about six or seven phonecalls and twenty messages saying something about it. My family don't call me to see how I am. They've been calling me to see what happens on the show next week.
Was it bitchier than you though?
Yeah, it was actually. In the house it didn't seem like the stuff that was said was bitchy but watching it back, it looks really mean. Or noticing stupid things I've done.
What did you make of all the media attention you got?
I wasn't thinking the show was just going to star me. At the start, all the media was just about me and even I was sick of hearing about me. I just want to hear about someone else!
It was a bit The Cassie Show at times, wasn't it?
Yeah. It was really annoying. There's all these other girls on the show why is it just focused on me?
Do you have any regrets?
No really but I've learnt a lot from what happened. I've learnt to think before I talk and not to worry about the little bits and pieces but to worry about the big picture.
Why do you think you got everyone offside from week one?
I got everyone offside but I think it's because the others didn't know how to take in a different person and I am the different person. I'm totally different. I freaked them out.
Do you understand why the other girls such as Adele got upset that you said you were leaving but then changed your mind?
I can understand why they were upset but when Franky left, we all wrote her letters and she chucked them all out and she didn't write the house a letter or anything. She just was totally rude. Sure, get angry at me but don't take it out on everybody else as well.
You got upset when Lola stole your line in the ad challenge. How do you feel about her now?
I didn't watch that when it aired on TV. I still feel it was wrong of her to steal my line in the commercial and unfair but there's nothing I can really do. Her doing that was my lowlight. She couldn't make up her own line. She's said sorry but all I said was I'm not the type of person who can worry about fighting. I might dislike her as a person but I won't treat her any differently.
What did you think when you saw the cigarette incident on TV?
None of the background was shown. Mikarla only got upset because she came up from a bad interview beforehand and saw that on her bed and got even more upset. She was already having a hard day and that made her blow.
Did you like going to London?
London wasn't the best experience because the photoshoot wasn't that good. It was good and heaps of fun. The other trip to the outback wasn't that good either - the flies drove me insane on that the shoot. It was so annoying.
What was the hardest part of being in the house?
I'm so glad that part of it is over. No TV. No radio. Two 10 minute phonecalls a week. I could not believe it. Seriously, that was the hardest thing in the world.
Did anything put you off modelling?
Nothing put me off modelling but I'd never go through no phonecalls again. I couldn't live in a house with 13 girls again. I think if I ever have kids, I don't want to hear them. I won't know how to handle them.
Did you enjoy meeting Elle MacPherson?
Elle MacPherson is my number one. When we met her in London I could barely talk. She's my biggest role model. She wasn't giving us advice because she didn't want to but she was just trying to explain her career and talk about what happened to her. It was good to talk to her that way.
What do you think of comparisons to Kate Moss?
It's cool to be referred to another model but I've always hoped I have an individual look and not that I look like someone else.
what a career change. Oh well, we'll see what happens, but the drama is exciting.
