Tyra Says She Isn't That Mean

In anticipation of the America's Next Top Model finale, which airs tomorrow night, Zap2It's Kate O'Hare interviewed Tyra Banks during a break from casting for the next season of ANTM (yeah!). Tyra says the Tyra you see on ANTM is not the real life Tyra.

She says who she is on ANTM is more of a character: "That is not who I am in real life. People who come to my talk show laugh, because they say they watch 'Top Model,' and that's who they thought I was, but it's a reality-show character." Tyra admits that her ANTM character is completely over the top:

"She's almost a caricature of herself," Banks continues. "There's a certain voice that I use when I say, 'I have five photos in my hand.' It's really funny. I would never give modeling advice in the tone that I give it to the girls, but it's just something that works for the show. The advice is the same that I would give, but I would just give it differently in real life."

Tyra also discussed how she juggles her talk show and ANTM at the same time: "I do have to focus on one show at a time," she says. "I try not to cross back and forth too much. I do one day of 'Top Model,' then a full day of the talk show."

And luckily, Tyra offers some tidbits on the Top Model finale. She says that: "I know we took the fashion show to the next level, added a lot of theatrics, shall we say, to the fashion show. They had to pull out their acting caps. They didn't just walk up and down a runway. I'm over that."

My vote for the winner of Top Model tomorrow night is Melrose. I know that she is a beyotch, but the girl wins all the challenges! I think she's got the right look, skills and mentality to make it in the modeling business. And I definitely think Caridee will be in the final two with her.

Who do you think will win?

Photo from The CW.