I Auditioned For America's Next Top Model — and Here's What Happened

I'm not sure how I first found it — a link click here, a forum scan there — but after spotting a casting notice for America's Next Top Model, I couldn't shake the thought of auditioning.

"Mom!" I shouted into the receiver after frantically dialing home from college. "They're doing a short season of ANTM and I have to try out! You have to come with me!"

The show, which had been my guilty pleasure since its start, planned on switching things up for season 13, accepting ladies under 5'7", rather than over. Since I'm 5'0", this tweak in qualifications meant the stars had finally aligned: it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I could walk a runway, pose for editorials, and meet. Tyra. Banks.