by Mike Bandy

Last night on ANTM All-Stars, Laura, the super lovable Southerner with the heart of gold, was eliminated from the competition. After a deliberation that may have been the lengthiest in Top Model history, the judges decided that Allison's quirkiness was enough to keep her in the competition, and that Laura had gotten a bit lost since her last time around on the show. We caught up with Laura to talk about her time in the competition, who she's rooting for in the big finale, and what's coming up next for her.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: On last night's episode, you said that things like this don't happen to people where you're from, and that people all over the world know who you are. What is it like to come from such a small town and be a celebrity? Do you get recognized a lot when you visit?
A. Laura: Oh my gosh, yeah! When I go home it's crazy! I can't even go to WalMart! I have to take time out to talk to people and then make sure I can get everything done that I need to! These people take time to tell me how much they love and respect me, and that's such an honor, because some girls are not well liked. I'm so thankful that I'm not one of those girls!

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: A lot of the judges criticism this cycle focused on how you're sweet and bubbly in person, but too sexy in your photos, and a lot of them said that same thing back in Cycle 13, how you "turn it on" in photos but you're sweet in person. What was it like to hear criticism like that? It seems like it worked well for you in Cycle 13, but not so much this time around.
A. Laura: It's kind of a confusing critique because girls grow up thinking they want to be sexy, but then the judges don't want that. It's almost like, "Dang, what do you want from me?!" Being sexy isn't really bad, so I didn't know what to do.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Your branding word this cycle was "Loveable" Tell us - what does the word loveable mean to you, and how do you live up to that brand every day?
A. Laura: When I got the brand "loveable", I thought it suited me! My heart if full of love for everyone, I can't possibly hate anybody! It's easy [to live up to] because this is me!

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Most (if not all) of the outfits you wore to panel this season were made by your grandmother, Wanda Sue, and they were amazing! Tell us - does Wanda Sue sell her creations, and if so, where can our readers check her out?
A. Laura: Almost every single outfit I wore was hers, the one I got eliminated in wasn't though! I also wore Allison's dress one time, but for the most part they were all hers. She does sell her stuff, and a lot of dresses I wore on the show are for sale! Since the show I've opened my own T-shirt brand, and you can find her clothes on the site as well. You can find it on grumbagebylaura.com.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: If you could have brought back anybody from Cycle 13 to compete with you this time around, whom would you have brought back?
A. Laura: To compete, probably Jen! I know we would have had a blast. Since the show we've been really close, so I know if they brought her back on, we would have had a blast, and they would have had so much fun footage!

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Now that the highlights episode is over with - is there anything that wasn't shown on television that you wish was shown?
A. Laura: Well, I didn't get to see the highlights episode because I was at a photo shoot, but I have it DVR'd, so I gotta catch up. I know that the girls' personalities really shining wasn't shown. Some of them were the funniest girls ever and you'd never known it because it didn't get shown. There could be a whole ‘nother show with just the deleted scenes.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: Who are you rooting for to win the whole thing?
A. Laura: It's hard to say! I was really close to Allison and Lisa. Lisa was like a mother figure to me, although watching the show you probably wouldn't know that! I would say Allison because we were the most alike - we stayed away from the drama and ran to each other when something happened.

Q. Mike, RealityWanted: What's coming up next for Laura?
A. Laura: Um, well, mostly my t-shirts, and my dyslexic foundation (called The Beautiful Mind, it helps dyslexic kids get scholarships), and modeling. I want to get on Dancing with the stars! It's such a long shot, but I LOVE that show. I won the dancing challenge back in my cycle...I think I'd be fantastic at it!

(Image courtesy of the CW)