The 80’s Mullet Kills Ford Model
By Belinda Trotter James
Believe it or not before top model this 5’5” beauty from
Los Angeles California was a professional model. “I was signed to Ford when I was 15 and
from there I evolved and grew into modeling,” reveals Ava. “I did print, commercials, music videos
and my brother is an actor.” Of
course bells went off in my head trying to figure out how did she go from being
a Ford model to appearing on ANTM only to be the 4th eliminated
contestant to leave the competition? Ava explains, “I got my Tyover… the Tyra
Mullet kind of weighed down on my confidence a bit. Although I was trying to act as
professional as possible I did not really feel the same. I mean…. It’s all good. It’s hair and it will grow back,” she
laughs.
Ava’s imagination was not playing tricks on her
hair. When Ava appeared at panel
Tyra wasn’t feeling the mullet at all as well. She told Ava she looked like a
housewife. She did look like a
throwback to the 80’s and not in a good way. It should have been an updated mullet
instead of a throwback never to comeback mullet. At that point I thought Tyra would re-do
the cut, but it did not happen.
Modeling is almost like acting and when you find yourself
wearing something hideous or having a horrible makeover, you need to turn
yourself into a different character.
Some may say that they did not feel like themselves and they would be
partially right. The half you don’t
like isn’t you. It’s your
alter-ego… playing a role just like an actor would in a film.
Thank goodness Ava did not keep the unattractive mullet
once she left the competition. “I
came back home and chopped it into a pixie”, says Ava. “My mom actually did it and I dyed it
platinum. It’s the Marilyn Monroe
affect.” You can see her new cute
cut courtesy of her mom coming to the rescue on all her social media pages.
Ava reveals that she was eliminated because her model
mullet did not suit her or fit her personality. “It was very hard to move forward after
I got my hair chopped off and also there is a lot of drama in the house,” says
Ava. “It just got to the point
where I just did not fit in. I was
just fed up with the drama. I
didn’t want to go home, but it was really intense.”
Throughout Ava’s high school years she was home schooled
because of bullying in the earlier grades.
It’s horrible when a child cannot enjoy their childhood or get a good
education and have wonderful memories because of other unhappy children who
thrive on making life hell for everyone around them. Bullying doesn’t stop in the schools; it
also takes place in the workplace.
Our family and school situations prepares us for the world which contains
evil, good, happy, dark and peaceful experiences. With each experience is a lesson which
contains answers on how to resolve social situations.
“It may have seemed like I lived in a bubble [being home
schooled] but I did have a life,” begins Ava. “I just didn’t have roommates and
that kind of contact with my peers was just a little different for me,” explains
Ava. I guess adapting to the actual
pressures of living with 13 personalities for the first time can send shock
waves to the brain. Seeing ANTM on
television in the comfort of your own home each week and actually living it
every day for 14 weeks is two totally different experiences. We can scream at the television or write
our comments on social media however, Ava and the gang had to stay in place
24/7. “Yeah, it’s pretty
different,” says Ava. “From
watching it to actually living it is definitely different.”
For those watching the contestants on television it is a
little hard to comprehend the stress levels in the house and seeing the total
breakdowns when contestants get a chance to speak to loved ones. One would think they were captured and
thrown in a hell hole prison camp.
They are young adults having a total stress meltdown because of a reality
show. Why are they so
stressed???? It ends in 14
weeks. It’s not hard core military
boot camp. This is something
contestants have been dreaming of their entire young life and now that it’s here
a meltdown starts to eat away at the dream. Is it really that bad? “Yes”, says Ava. “It’s a lot of things going on in
the house like drinking alcohol. I
did not have any connection to the outside world for two months. It was really tough and what I realize
is that it’s not like this in the real modeling world. I learned from it and definitely learned
new social skills.”
In life we sometimes wish for a do-over. Ava reveals her do-over plan. “I think I would’ve started focusing
more on myself. I was quick to
defend people all the time and I only did that because of my background. I was abused by my father and I also was
affected by bullying so that’s why I feel like I had to defend others, but at
the end of the day it is a reality TV show and if you’re not there for drama or
there to hook up, then you get sent home.”
We both laughed and I said, “People don’t get sent home for that; it’s
good TV but, they get sent home for not getting a good score from the
judges.”
I deliberately did not ask her any questions about her
abusive father; that is the past.
We must learn to let go of the past in order to move forward. We are beautiful spirits having a human
experience. Ava’s past will now
allow her to be the brave protective soul who will defend and share her
experiences and words of wisdom with those who may have a similar experience and
may not be strong enough to move forward.
It is said, “What doesn’t kill you will only make you
stronger.”
Even though Ava experienced challenges growing up she
managed to get signed by one of the top modeling agencies in the world and make
it on the number one modeling reality show competition in the top 14 on
America’s Next Top Model. That’s a
big deal! Behind the fashion
industry curtains there will be a lot of negative energy however, there will
also be an overwhelming amount of positive energy. Ava’s past made sure she will have the
strength to deal with it all. She
will have to keep reminding herself that she is worthy of all good
things.
In the show she did slip and say some things that would
make you want to say, “Huh?” She is
only 5’5” and for a moment doubted her height against every one in the
competition because they were taller.
How quickly she forgot that she was chosen by the Ford modeling
agency. “I said certain things that
I honestly don’t remember,” remembers Ava.
I don’t remember half of the things that went down because it was so out
of my realm. It was months ago and
I did say things I should not have said about myself.”
Many contestants who were eliminated from ANTM have gone
on to do great things in their career.
Ava is well on her way with a mountain of wonderful gigs. “I have a lot
of things coming up. I have New
York Fashion week gigs and being 5’ 5” that’s a huge accomplishment so I’m
excited about that and I also sing.
I just released a new song and I’m working on a reality show. So it looks like
it’s endless for me. I’m so excited
for the future.”
Ava’s advice to youth trying to find themselves is to
love themselves first. We hear that
so many times from many different people; it must work if so many testify to
this key of life. “You can never
give up on yourself,” advises Ava.
“That’s a huge thing.
When I was in the competition there were many times when I felt like a
failure and discouraged, but I’ve always learned to get back up after I fall
down. So I think that’s what it’s
all about. Learn to love yourself
and find the courage to move forward.
Follow Ava on all the social network sites http://www.twitter.com/TheAvaCapra
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