[font=Verdana,Sans-Serif] Top Model's Unbel-Eva-ble Diva
by Daniel R. Coleridge
Last week, Eva Pigford became the third girl UPN and Tyra Banks have crowned "America's Next Top Model". Whether "Diva Eva" will land a spot on the D-list like the first two winners, we don't know. We do know Pigford scored herself a $100,000 Cover Girl contract, an Elle photo spread and a Ford modeling contract — since Miss Tyra reminded us of that in every damn episode. Here, TV Guide Online quizzes the 19-year-old Los Angeleno who had the other Models weeping, "Deliver us from Eva!" That is, after the newly minted supa-starlet rings us up on her celly 45 minutes late. For a good reason, of course...
TV Guide Online: Congrats. I understand we couldn't get you on the phone earlier because you were getting free Diesel jeans?
Eva Pigford: Yeah! I love Diesel, and if you watched the show, you saw I wore a lot of Diesel. I also wore it on Letterman [on Thursday night]. So we were out shopping and called Diesel today, and they said, "Sure, have her come through and we'll give her some free stuff!" So they gave me a bag full of great jeans!
TVGO: Wow. You called and asked them for free jeans?
Eva: No, no, not at all. Far from it. We called to let them know I was coming by so someone could help me shop. Because it's kind of hectic right now. I wanted to forewarn them.
TVGO: Is that because you're a celebrity now and don't want to be mobbed? Do they close part of the store down for you?
Eva: They don't do that, but they help you out, since you're not a regular shopper. They pick out all the jeans and tops in your size, I point to everything I like, and then, they pull me to the side and put me in a dressing room. They really cater to you, so you don't have to go through [the store], you know? It's great.
TVGO: I guess all your Diesel mentions help them out, so...
Eva: Yeah, I wear it all the time, so they get a lot of play all the time. TVGO: During the casting call, Tyra called you "the black b*tch." Did you think you were out right there and then?
Eva: That was crazy, but no, I didn't think I was out of there. I knew that I made some type of impression on them. I think the girls generally knew that I didn't mean to be rude. It was a learning process with [the judges] speaking to the young ladies. The image I was projected wasn't necessarily what I wanted to come across, so I definitely changed my tactics.
TVGO: Were you trying to cause trouble with Amanda by bumping into her in the hallway?
Eva: Actually, Amanda bumped into me in the hallway. She was upset that I won the runway competition and that was her frustration coming out. I didn't bump into her; she bumped into me.
TVGO: Were you tempted to shove her back? You seem tough.
Eva: No, no, not all. I'm a very tough girl, don't get me wrong. You can say whatever you want to say, but just don't touch me. (Background noise) I'm sorry, I'm on my way to the set of [BET's] 106th & Park. You got a couple more questions, so we can wrap it up really fast?
TVGO: Sure. Janice Dickinson yelled "Love you!" as Amanda left. Think that's who she was really rooting for to win?
Eva: No, that's just how Janice is. She loves everybody. She did the same thing when Cassie left.
TVGO: What's scarier: Janice or that tarantula photo shoot?
Eva: (Laughs) Actually, Janice and the spider were equally scary. TVGO: Like the spider, Janice jumped on you after you won. Why did she hump on you like that?
Eva: That's Janice, what can I say? It's fine.[/font]