Once you get a chance to talk to West Palm Beach, Florida native Whitney Cunningham, who placed seventh on the eighth cycle of the popular reality TV series America's Next Top Model, you begin to understand what host Tyra Banks meant when she described her as the "full package." 
First of all, she is confident and headstrong, which is a must on these kinds of shows, almost as much as it is to take a beautiful modelesque picture. Second, she turns that confidence into drive. She has been receiving steady work as a model since leaving the show, and still believes that her goal of being the first woman to wear a size ten dress on the cover of Vogue is in reach. Third, and probably most important to television viewers, she obliterates the age-old model stereotype that to be pretty and photograph well, one must also be vapid and without a thought. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Cunningham also dreams of becoming a writer, and is working toward dual goals: a model who can express herself like no other model before her.
Cunningham recently sat down with Wikinews reporter Mike Halterman in an impassioned interview, taking hours to field questions from the reporter as well as from fans of America's Next Top Model. Always in high spirits, Cunningham shows that she is a distinct personality who has carved her own niche in the Top Model history books. At the same time, she exhibits a joie de vivre that is oddly reminiscent of earlier Top Model fan favorite Toccara Jones, who showed America just how to be "big, black, beautiful and loving it." However, Cunningham is quick to remind everyone that she isn't big at all; she is simply a regular woman.
This is the first in a series of interviews with America's Next Top Model contestants. Interviews will be published sporadically.
Mike Halterman: So, who were the people you looked up to and inspired you to pursue modeling?
MH: Did you follow America's Next Top Model before appearing on the show, and if so, who did you like?
MH: If you could quickly summarize your experience on the show, how would you describe it?
MH: What do your friends and family think of your stint on reality TV?
MH: What were some of your specific pros and cons as a result of entering this contest?
MH: Do you ever fear what negative effect the show will have on girls? 
MH: Do you think that in some way the show can lead to girls developing an obsession with how they look, their weight, etc?
MH: Did Tyra encourage a certain standard among the girls (weight or otherwise) that was unhealthy?
MH: Do you think Tyra still believes her show is about finding "the next top model" even though none of the show's winners have had that success?
MH: A fan wrote in to ask, "What struggles did you face on the show as a plus sized model?"
MH: Do you think it was unfair for Tyra to ask that [studying magazines and developing your poses] of you and Diana, considering that even though she's fuller-figured now, she has a lot more experience under her belt than you two did?
MH: It sounds like you're doing just fine for yourself. Which one fan also asked, "Have you faced adversity about your weight since being on the show?"
MH: Another fan writes: Do you feel like "plus size" models are treated fairly? (I put "plus size" in quotes because I don't believe you are "plus size"!)
MH:  Do you believe the producers for shows such as Top Model intentionally pick people who are perhaps unstable, for better television?
MH: Can you explain what types of things the producers allow you to say or not say following your departure from the show?
MH: Who selects your best photo for each panel and do you think there are ulterior motives involved?
MH: How did they decide who was going to read the Tyra Mail for the episode? Was it random, planned, or was it really who 'discovered' the note each morning?
MH: Were you forced to fake your excitement over Tyra Mail?
MH: Do you still keep in touch with girls from your cycle? If so, who?
MH: What were the pressures like in the house?
MH: Is it common for agencies or clients to contact you after seeing the show? 
MH: And do you get contacted from the guest designers that appeared on your cycle?
MH: A fan really wanted to know, "Was Dionne as funny as she was on the show?"
MH: How did you feel when Dionne and Renee only got T-shirts as a prize for winning the acting challenge?
MH: There were a lot of negative reactions from fans when Jaslene won. Do you think she was the best choice? If so, why? If not, who would have been the better choice and why?
MH: Some negative fan reactions were "How could Jaslene sell a product when she can't speak English well?" and "Model? She's not even pretty! She looks like a man!" Which, I wish I was making it up, but it's a rather loud fan voice on those points. What do you say to them about that? And following on that, do you think fans can be excessively cruel toward the contestants?
MH: You and Diana were some of the only models in this cycle who were working toward a college degree. Did you feel that you were smarter than the other girls? Did people at your college watch Top Model to see you and root for you?
MH: And on that note, a fan wanted to know if you finished your degree at Dartmouth.
MH: This past May, right?
MH: Do you plan on moving back to Florida, or are you going to continue living in New York City?
MH: Apart from your spread in Plus Model Magazine, what else are you doing now?
MH: What is your message to the girls of America who have big dreams of their own? What would you tell them?

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Former 'Top Model' contestant Whitney Cunningham defends plus size models, celebrates the "regular woman"