The Blonde Leading the Blonde

Did anything juicy, cool, or funny happen at the house that you wish would have been included in the show?
Everything was really funny! I played guitar a lot. I wish some of the songs we did making fun of — I mean, some of the songs about some of the other people's personalities would have been shown more.

What do you think was the cruelest challenge of the season? I vote the ''acting lesson,'' which was designed to make everyone sob. There had to be a point where you all just looked at each other like ''What the hell is going on?''
The one I was really apprehensive about and like ''Why would we do this?'' was that wobbly-runway shoot in the third episode. I know fashion can be crazy, but that was just way out there and a little bit unrealistic. It was a danger for us girls and also for the designers' clothes, with the water.

Speaking of water, did Tyra pour the ice cubes into that pool in Barcelona herself, or did she get a lackey to do it?
[Laughs.] I didn't see any ice cubes floating, but I knew that it was that cold because of the competition. It was really difficult. I didn't want to quit. I'd rather be dragged out than quit.

And then the judges told you two different things: ''Fight through it'' and ''Know your limits.'' What's a girl to do?
It was a catch-22. I couldn't have won either way.

Was the comment you made to Nigel about having a pole up his ass really that big a deal? He didn't seem that offended, at least to me.
When I said that, he actually jumped back and said, ''No, look, it was a stick I removed from your ass'' — from before, you know, at the last panel. It was just a joke, and he joked back, and then they made something out of it because you should never act that way towards a client. He's a very, very sweet man, and I commend him for forgiving me. But we both knew it was just a joke. I can understand why they used it to stir things up a little bit. It got in my head, and I melted down.

What's it like not living in a house with floor-to-ceiling photos of Tyra? She's so Bankable!
I miss that. I love Tyra! She doesn't take herself too seriously, which is so refreshing in the modeling world. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be talking to you. I'd be back in Fargo doing God knows what.

What's up next for you?
I'm moving to New York, and I'm gonna live in the Elite models' house. Because I'm an Elite model, which is awesome! I want to take [the title] America's Next Top Model to the next level. Commercials, high fashion, everything....I'm going to try, try, try. I know Tyra believes in me.

Just don't let them shorten your name to plain ol' Cari, okay?
No, definitely not! No Cari, no Car, no C.D. I'll always be CariDee.

Got something to say about this season of America's Next Top Model? Click over to our season finale TV Watch and tell us what you think about CariDee's win.