Tahnee spoke to TV WEEK moments after she won the title of Australia's Next Top Model!
Congratulations on your big win. How are you feeling?
Thank you! I'm tired. It's really weird. I still can't believe it. It's strange. Everyone is congratulating me and saying how proud they are. It's such a blur and I can hardly remember most of the night… except the nose bleed.
Oh, you poor thing! Can you believe that happened on your big night?
I know. Of all the nights and I get it on the finale of Australia's Next Top Model. I thought people would be turned off cos it's gross but I still won. It's not serious. I had one once in the house in the sauna. I think it's when I get really hot because I don't get them often. I've had a few.
How were you feeling apart from that?
I was so nervous. I felt sick. It wasn't so much for the result. I was more nervous because it was live and nothing could be changed. If it wasn't live then nobody would have known I had a blood nose! Oh well.
Could you believe it when Sarah Murdoch read out your name?
In my head I thought she was going to say Cassi so when she said Tahnee, I was so shocked.
What did Cassi say to you at that point?
She said, "I knew it, babe. Congratulations!" She was really nice. Before the show we said to each other, we're both winners because we're the Top 2. You can't get much better than that. She's going to get a lot of work. She was really happy for me.
How did you celebrate afterwards?
I went to the after-party and spoke to everyone. I saw my family and then I went to bed! My family are really proud and excited.
What was it like to catch up with other girls? Is there ill-will with Franky?
Everyone was fine and happy that I won. All the girls were really excited especially Franky. She was really nice to me. From the start, she'd say she thought I'd win but I thought there was no way.
What does the prize mean to you?
It's so weird. I can't explain the feeling. I'd completely forgotten about the money and the whole prize. I haven't had a chance to think about anything. I never, ever expected to have $20 000 in my bank account just to spend like that. I've got not idea what I'm going to spend it on.
What's your plan for the future now?
I would love to be a successful model. I want to do something else in a few years in the same industry like fashion design or photography. I want to go all the way with modelling. I'm never going to stop. If I can go all the way into my 40s like some other models then of course I'll do it.
Was the experience bitchier than you expected?
There were moments where I look like such a b*tch and I got a bit upset after watching a few episodes. I'm a normal 17 year old girl and out of the competition I b*tch and my friends b*tch about me and we get into fights and it's completely normal. But this is caught on film and it looks bad. When you watch yourself bitching about someone, you realise that it's so unnecessary but it's so hard not to.
Were there some things you wish they didn't show?
We were in the house for three months and there were moments in the house where I would b*tch. I bitched about someone 4 times in the whole three months and all of them got shown! It looks so much worse. I was a bit worried about them but I can't help it. I wouldn't want people to think I'm a b*tch because I'm not.
Anything you were surprised to see?
Some things. There was nothing Franky said that hurt me but there were certain things that she said and did that I didn't expect. It was almost like I knew a different Franky to the one I saw on TV. If I didn't know any of the girls, I don't think I'd like Franky as she's portrayed on the show.
Did you find it hard to get along with Cassi from the beginning?
No, it was quite easy. There were times where I would step in and say something I thought was necessary but I can sit down and talk to her. I got to know her quite well because we were in the longest together. I enjoy her company but, competition-wise, there were moments where I'd get angry at her and be annoyed by her.
Why do you think she clashed so much with everyone else?
I think it was because on the first day of entering the house it was all about her and she talked so much that we knew everything about her. I'm not kidding, she talked so much. Later, when she had violent reactions to thinks, it was so unnecessary and pointless that's where us girls thought she went wrong. There was no need for it.
So why do you think she got so far in the competition?
Her photos each week were one of the best. She's got the look and the body but if I was her and in the position of seeing amazing shots and being told every day that I could make it big but all you have to do is change your attitude, I would. I would try so hard. She did try and she did get better but I think she could have tried a bit harder.
Did you expect it would be the two of you at the end?
Not at all. To be honest, I didn't think I would make it. From day one, I thought Clare was going to win the competition. I knew Cassi would make it quite far because all the judges like her. She's amazing. Me, I thought I'd probably make it Top 8 and that's about it so I wasn't expecting it at all. People have said really nice things to me that I've been an inspiration to them because I'm not the stick-thin girl and I've proven I can go far. That's what I wanted. I wanted to show young girls that you can make it not being the really skinny, skinny girl.
What was your lowlight of the whole thing?
The media conference. I get nervous just thinking about it. I was embarrassed and I felt like crying. I didn't want to go home but it turned me off the media.
And the highlight?
The catwalk challenges that I won. I won the Alex Perry catwalk show and also the $10000 catwalk one.
What was the worst elimination for you?
They were all nerve-wrecking. But when the final two were being chosen out of me, Clare and Cassi, I just burst into tears. I don't normally show much emotion but I bawled and cried. I couldn't help it but I was so nervous and let it all out.
Which judge were you most scared of?
Charlotte Dawson. She's so intimidating. She's so beautiful and she says it how it is. She just freaks me out.
Did anything about the experience put you off modelling at all?
Not at all. I thought it would. There were moments when it was really hard but it didn't turn me off. It obviously shows this is what I want to do.
How did you feel about Cassi wanting to go home at times throughout the competition?
It was really annoying, to be honest. There are 13 girls in all of Australia who got to be in the competition and she constantly complained. There's proof she wanted to go home. There were so many girls like Georgi and Maddy who tried to hard, who went home but someone whinging who kept having amazing photos.
Did you ever think Cassi should be disqualified?
Yeah, I think Cassi got off very easily. It is a modelling competition and she does take amazing photos and she does have the skinny body so she'll work a lot but you can't just have the body and the face, there's so much more to it. At times I think maybe she should have been eliminated. Franky went and I think Cassi should have gone that week because she was complaining again that week that she wanted to go. It was just annoying to continue to see her go through.
Who will you stay in contact with?
All of them, but Maddy's my favourite. I text Cassi every now and again.
Anyone you won't bother with?
There's some girls I won't. Certain people like Mikarla, I'm not sure if I'd contact. I'm not sure if she's the type of person I'd hang out with to.
What's it been like watching yourself on TV?
I don't really like it. It's weird. I love the show but I can't watch it the same anymore. There are moments where I wonder why I said something or did something or why I had my hair like that.
Were you worried about what your friends and family might think?
Not really because I was being myself on the show. It's exactly how I am at show.
Are you glad you were a part of the series?
It was amazing. It's definitely an experience I'll remember forever. Especially living with all the girls. I loved it.
