Last update : July 30, 2010
 The season premiere of America’s Next Top Model (shown on Wednesdays at 8 pm/ ET) included a photo shoot to demonstrate all the different views of bad behavior by models. This includes everything unsavory – fighting, drug abuse, bulimia and more. But there was something else they missed – smearing of dirty panties! This is what the mega-bitch of the series, Monique Calhoun, did on her rival’s bed. She was eliminated after she missed a photo shoot and didn’t quite get previous pix right.
We caught up with Monique and asked her just ‘why’?! She let us know just how difficult it can be to live in that mansion full of models. Especially the fact that she was only allowed 10 minute showers. The next big problem was that the show’s editing was what caused her to be seen in a less than positive light, focusing on her and nobody else. The truth, according to Monique, is that the feud was started by Melrose. And if she was giving her a hard time, Monique figured she might as well have given a hard time back! According to Monique, Melrose spit on her when she was coughing, so her retaliation was to drip her bathing suit onto her. This is what led to her running around and shouting.
We also asked the executive producer of the show whether Monique had been vetted before it started. He confirmed that there was psychological testing before it started, and they even thought Monique would be a sweet girl.
He then stated that they did sit down with her and talk about physical safety. They told her they weren’t going to edit her behavior, so she needed to start taking responsibility for her own actions. Her response was simply to blame the others, and the producer says she has no self-awareness.
We also wondered whether he thought about not showing the underwear moment to the whole of America. But as he said, it was her choice and they were not censoring. He even responds to Monique’s claims of selective editing by saying if they had shown it all it would have been a lot worse!
So, if it wasn’t because of her nasty actions, what did cause her to get booted off the show? The producer stated that the one rule was that they couldn’t get physically violent and touch each other. In fact Melrose was almost booted off for pushing Monique, but they decided this wasn’t necessary.
Monique does not deny that she was the bad girl, and states that she thought she may as well be a bitch on the show. But she does object to the fact that they made her look immature, and thinks that other people could have been shown doing their dirt too.
But the producer doesn’t think that the show will be any less exciting now Monique’s gone. There are a number of strong personalities left. But Monique is certain that nobody will forget her.
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