America's Next Top Model contestant and CU student Nicole Fox (Courtesy of Jim DeYonker/The CW)
With the new season of “America’s Next Top Model” well underway in its broadcast, it is now common knowledge that one of CU’s students is a contestant. Nicole Fox, an 18-year-old sophomore studio arts major, not only made it onto the show, but has advanced through every stage of the competition so far.
The new season, which premiered on Sept. 9, introduced a new stipulation by only allowing models under 5–feet-7-inches to compete.
“The cast for this cycle needed to be a strong one in order to make up for the height disparity,” Fox said.
This new guideline has prompted the cast to not only work harder, but also to focus harder on photo shoots instead of runway walking, as making oneself look taller in a photograph is a more reasonable feat.
She describes her experience on the show as a positive one.
“I feel that I learned a lot, and came away with many friends, and funny behind-the-scenes stories,” Fox said. “I could write a book about it all.”
Fox said that she doesn’t think that she’ll venture into the realm of reality TV again, but that she doesn’t regret her participation.
The time she spent on the set was not without any challenges. Fox said that she had a tough time when the competition first began.
“The other girls gave me a really hard time about being so quiet and shy. They started all sorts of speculation and controversy about me, called me weird, and ostracized me from the very beginning, with the exception of Ashley,” Fox said. “It took a few weeks for me to open up to them, and for them to give me a chance. But even then I was, for the most part, the loner.”
Fox has said she is proud to represent Colorado as its first resident to become a contestant on the show.
(Courtesy of Jerry Mettellus/The CW)
“I think the majority of people outside of Colorado, especially on the east coast, have a tendency to picture us as very rural and unfashionable people, not the sort to be cast on ‘America’s Next Top Model,’” Fox said. “It feels nice to change that perception and represent for Colorado!”
However, even with all of her experiences on the show, Fox is still a college student.
Fox came to CU from Louisville, Colo. and graduated from Monarch High School. She decided to attend CU because of the short distance from the mountains and her love of snowboarding and mountain biking.
She also shares similar interests with many other students.
“I do a lot of portraiture and abstract painting and sculpture. Art is really my first passion, and I hope to use modeling to support myself as an artist,” Fox said. “Other than that, I’m a big fan of motorcycle MotoGP racing, and Formula 1 racing, and go to see races whenever possible.”
Fox still has not made any set plans for life after college.
“I don’t like to set plans; I just go with the flow and enjoy the ride,” Fox said. “When it comes to modeling, I’ll just have to see what opportunities come my way and make the best of them.”
She has decided on her dream job, however, and would like to work towards it.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I will continue to paint and write after graduating,” Fox said. “So ideally I’d like to be an artist/writer/model!”
Fox wants to make it clear that she is friendly and easy to talk to.
“I am very approachable, and no one should ever be worried about talking to me randomly about just about anything,” Fox said. “Because I am quiet and reserved in class and around people I don’t know, people have a tendency to perceive me as standoffish or stuck up. That couldn’t be further from the truth! I’m just sort of shy.”
Besides being shy, Fox said she would describe herself as “easygoing, artistic and an introvert.”
CU students seemed excited and pleased that Fox was able to represent Colorado on “America’s Next Top Model.”
“It’s kind of cool that she’s putting our school out there through her modeling,” said Katy Vanden Heuvel, a freshman mathematics major.
Other students are more interested in Fox than “America’s Next Top Model.”
“Where does she live, what’s her number, and what’s her favorite flower?” said Eric Roads, a freshman engineering major.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ryan Brooks at Ryan.j.brooks@colorado.edu.
