Exclusive Britain's Missing Top Model Interview: Kellie Moody

4 months ago 23rd Jul 11:32

Kellie was the favourite to win from the start of Britain's Missing Top Model and sailed through the first 3 rounds but viewers were left shicked last night as judges eliminated her from the competition.

Female First caught with Kellie to find out how she felt about her sudden departure.

Kellie, 24, has been deaf since birth but her struggles with school bullies haven't quenched her determination to succeed in everything she tries. The qualified make-up artist was name Miss Deaf UK in 2007 and has tried her hand a bit of part time modelling but was she ready for the challenges of Britian's Missing Top Model......

What first made you decide to go on Britain's Missing Top Model?
I always am interested in new challenges and people said to me when I grow up that I should be a model. I thought maybe this could be my chance.

Someone from love production heard about me and found me through my bebo website and miss deaf uk website, he asked me if I would be interested in applying and I thought why not? I have always wanted to be model and thought it may be my chance to give it a go. So I did apply and had 3 interviews with them, and I got through to the final 8. When I received a text from them saying I got through while I was shopping in Birmingham with friend, I screamed because I was so excited!

Was the show what you expected?
No, I thought the show would be about a disabled model proving that they could do modelling work not about what disability the individual had. The judges thought I would not be a good role model for disabled people because I am deaf and my disability is not showing.

I never thought they would be looking for a model with a physical disability.I hope that outside the show I can be a good role model for disabled and maybe even able bodied women.

How do you feel about being eliminated?
I was shocked because I always performed well in my tasks and was never positioned in the bottom two places in the eliminations. I feel that in the 4th show in which I was eliminated I could not express my feelings about the tasks in the same way that others could, if they had performed not as good as they had wished, because I am deaf and that maybe the judges did not understand what I was trying to say in my defence.

I was disappointed but, at least I had the chance to be on the show and do some modelling work. I am not the type of person who is always moaning and feeling sorry for myself and I don’t agree with what Lara said about me not trying because I did try and that I was over compensating for my disability.

On this week's show you were told you had to try and speak during the casting...how did you feel about this? Did you think it was fair?
I felt that when I had to do a speaking part there was no help available to me, I understand that Sophie is in a wheelchair and would have a disadvantage on the catwalk but at least she was given support by Ian on the show. I have never done anything like television advertisements before and it was hard for me.

I asked if I could use sign language in my advert but was told I could not do this. I understand being a model you need to be able to adapt to various types of work and be professional at all times, if I were to do this again I would again just try to give 110% as always. You were also seen saying how you felt your disability wasn't as visible as with the other girls...how do you think this affected your chances on the show?
Before the show I never thought about how my disability was any different to anybody else’s disability and never thought that the judges would be looking for a good role model in a physically disabled girl. I am disabled and if I were modelling they could say that I was deaf. At the end of the show you seemed quite disheartened about your chances of being a model....will you continue to pursue a modelling career?
After this experience in some way it made me want to be a model even more but, I think about what my skills are in life and that it is in make up and I want to be successful in this area. The show labelled me as a make-up sales girl but, I am a qualified make up artist. Who do you think deserves to win Britain's Missing Top Model?
I feel that all disabled girls out there who applied or have taken an interest in the programme are winners because maybe they feel that they deserve a chance to feel special in this life.

Catch Britain's Missing Top Model on BBC Three, Tuesdays, 9pm.

Caz Moss- Female First