So last week, I participated in a conference call with Ebony, who turned in fierce photos for the most part on "America's Next Top Model," but got too drained with the show and quit after Tyra was about to send Ambreal home instead of her.

Ebony, it turned out, had tried out for "ANTM" two times unsuccessfully before making it on. Here's what she had to say about her experience:

On when she realized she was going to quit:

The decision I made was not a spur-of-the-moment type of thing. It's something that I was thinking about for a long time before I did what I did. I discussed it with Lisa. Lisa told me I shouldn't do it. She told me I should wait it out and see how far I make it. I just did not want to be there any more. I didn't have a desire for it. I really didn't care for being America's Next Top Model. I didn't care half as much as the other girls did, so I didn't think it would be fair for me to stay there when I didn't really care for it much.

On what made her lose her desire:

You know what? It was a reality show. From watching the show, I thought it would be something totally different. I really missed my family. I was extremely homesick. I never got used to the cameras following us around 24-7 and the microphones. I never got used to that. It was uncomfortable. Mainly, I really, really missed my family.  And in a reality TV show, it's like another world. ...

For some reason, going into the house, I was joyful and happy like I am now but for some reason they didn't show any of that footage. But going into panel, I never felt comfortable. I don't know. I didn't feel like I could be myself. I didn't feel comfortable and it showed. They described it as being attitude-ishness, but being on the show it screamed out nervousness. I was just really nervous for some reason. My lips would quiver. I would get real nervous when she would call my name to stand up in front of panel. I just couldn't relax. ... I don't know why I was so nervous. To this day, I don't know. I was just so nervous walking in front of them. ...

On her changing personality: 

Going into the competition, I thought, "Well, this is a reality show, so they're going to want a drama queen and someone who kicked up crap. So I created that person and was confronted by Tyra about it, which I totally deserved because I was out of control. So I told myself, "If I get to stay in the house, I'll just be myself." I got to stay in the house and I got along with the girls. ... I was trying to be whatever. I thought being the drama queen would get me more attention and get me on the show. That's one thing I regret. I wish I had portrayed myself throughout the whole competition. 

On her future in modeling:

When I left the show, I just had it in my brain that I didn't want to get into modeling. The whole reality show just turned me off from that. But after a while, I was like, "You know what? It was just the reality show that I wasn't really feeling." So I'm definitely interested in modeling. I'm not sure I want to make a career out of it. Nursing, right now, is my passion. I'm in school right now studying that. But I don't know. Maybe things may change later on down the line. But yeah, I'm interested in modeling.

On her other regrets:

I regret not speaking up as much. I was so quiet. Like when they told me what I needed to work on, I could have spoken up more, I think. ... At the time of the show, I felt like they were attacking me, but as I watched the show, I did look a little dry coming into panel, so no, I felt they (criticisms by panel) were accurate.

On her relationships with the other girls:

I got along with everybody. Everybody was awesome. There were no fights I was involved in. 

On why she didn't just quit immediately:

I was mostly worried about what my father would say. I didn't want my father to be disappointed in me. That's mainly the reason I stayed as long as I did. But after a while, I just told myself, "You're not happy. Why stay in a situation where you're not happy?" So I went to a truer road with myself and not worry about what other people might say or think, and that's what why I did what I did.

On what really went on between her and Tyra:

Stuff was definitely cut out, cut and paste, but I can't talk about that, unfortunately. A lot of stuff was cut out. Due to confidentiality reasons, agreements that I signed, I can't talk about anything that wasn't shown. ... When she called me a "quitter," I was a little upset. But after a while, I realized that people are entitled to their own opinions. If she thinks I'm a quitter, that's fine. In a sense, I did quit. So in a sense, I am a quitter. But I realized that wasn't my passion and I was so over the whole reality-TV-show thing. So it really doesn't bother me. People have their opinions. I have my opinions of her but that doesn't matter. I'm happy now.  ...

I hugged the girls. After Tyra said what she said, I asked if I could say goodbye to the girls, and she said yes. And I hugged the girls. And I came back. And I told Tyra I was sorry for wasting her time. She said what she said and I turned around and left. But they didn't show that part, of course. That's fine, though.

On who Ebony is rooting for to take the title:

I wish all the girls the best. They were all wonderful and have great potential and they all deserve it, or at least, all can win. But unfortunately, there can only be one winner. Whoever wins, I'm going to be just as happy. I wish the girls who didn't win the best. I wish them the best in future endeavors.

On Ebony's likes and dislikes:

I like wearing the expensive, couture gowns, the Christian Dior shoes and the expensive stuff. I disliked being away from my family and not being able to talk to them as much, and the cameras following you around. That was just annoying to me after a while.

On what she learned about herself:

I learned so many things, but I think the most important thing I learned is family is so important. Money isn't everything. Before coming on the show, I was the most shallow and materialistic person I knew. I wanted luxurious cars, a real big house, makeup, designer clothes. Here I was in a $15 million home in the Hollywood hills surrounded by the most lavish things and I wasn't happy. All I could think of was my family. I was wondering about my dad, what my mom was doing, I was wondering if they missed me, because I certainly missed them. I'm going to say that I learned that family is so important.

On the best advice she received:

The best piece of advice I got was to smile, and now I can't stop smiling. Working on that show, I never really smiled. I didn't realize how silly I looked until watching the show. And now I just can't stop smiling. I'm just so happy.

On what she might have done differently:

I don't think I would have tried out if I knew a lot of things I learned being on the show.

On what got her to try out:

The first time I went out I was 19 years old. ...  I loved Tyra. I was her biggest fan. I thought she was going to be at the audition, so I went. Of course, she wasn't there and I didn't make it. The second time I tried out was when I went away for school at Memphis and I didn't make it either. I forgot about it after the second time. But my father, he works at the Chicago Tribune, and it was in the newspaper that they were holding auditions in Chicago. He said, "You need to go down." I was surprised I made it. I was really excited. ... I wanted to be a supermodel like Naomi Campbell and Tyra. That's what I wanted. I still am interested in modeling. I'm just not interested in reality TV shows. 

On meeting Tyson Beckford:

Oh my God, Tyson Beckford, I always wanted to meet him. I always thought he was so hot. I was in the kitchen making toast, and I turned around and he was just standing there, and I was so shocked. It was so awesome. He's really nice and he's really hot. (Laughs) He's really nice. He's a sweet guy.

On her friends' and family's reaction:

A lot of people are very supportive of the decision I made. I spoke to my father after the show, and he's like, "Well, you're still my America's Next Top Model." A lot of people are supporting my decision and are happy for me. To have even made it that far is a really big thing out of 20,000-plus girls who auditioned for the show. So that's a really big thing.

On her advice to potential ANTM" contestants:

Go in there with an open mind and be prepared for a lot of pressure and stress.

On the clip from Ebony's audition video:

You know what? It was bad. When they showed it, I cried. It was like I passed away or something, the funeral music and slowing up when I walked away. It was really sad. I teared up. A lot of people called, and  they were like, "Oh, my God." I was waiting for them to show the "Rest in Peace." It was really sad. I was really surprised when they showed that because they didn't do that for any of the other girls.

On whether she gave her all during the shoots:

I went into the photo shoots to try to give it a bang every week. Sometimes I failed at that. But no, there wasn't a time into a photo shoot, intentionally not trying to do well.

- posted by Raoul