Janice Dickinson's Model Behavior

Janice Dickinson's Model Behavior
Janice Dickinson knows a thing or two about modeling — just ask the self-proclaimed first supermodel — so it is no surprise that she's putting her skills to use on The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Tuesdays at 10 pm/ET on Oxygen). TV Guide talked to the loose-lipped ex-supermodel about her new show, getting dissed by Tyra Banks and her strong gay following...

TV Guide: Tell us why you should have your own modeling agency and your own show about it. Janice Dickinson: I’m ready for anything because I’ve been there, done that. I can help these kids. I have credibility in the industry for over 32 years — over 3,000 covers in every magazine in every country in every language. I became a model because I love what I do. I love everything to do with the lighting, the fashion, the film, the photography, the clothes. It’s the only thing I can give back to an industry that fed me like a Vampirella.
TV Guide: What’s the best advice that you give them?
Dickinson: To have something to fall back on after they become models. Let’s face it, there’s a short shelf life in this industry. Cindy Crawford was smart and became The Mole Inc., but most models are just vapid nothingness.They’ve been endorsed by their parents, teachers, boyfriends, peers. They became empty shells. You have to have it upstairs.
TV Guide: Everyone doesn’t agree with your claim that you are the world’s first supermodel. Defend your title.
Dickinson: I’m the first one to coin the term. Back in 1979, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, there were categories. Lauren Hutton didn’t do catalog; she did Revlon or runway. I became a cover girl and an editorial model, and then I became a runway model. It just didn’t work that way. Then I started working for Revlon as a spokesperson. Then I did catalog. I was at the top of the food chain. I solely raised the rates. I just wish I was working now. Gisele Bundchen hops down the runway for one passage and makes $85,000.

TV Guide: What’s the real story behind you leaving America’s Next Top Model?

Dickinson: I got the boot from the teeny tiny [executive producer] Ken Mok. He called me the day before [the item] ran in the papers that I was replaced. I went on every TV show and said, “It was a great experience; it taught me a lot. I wish Tyra well.” But you know what? At her last wrap party, she thanked everyone but me. She has me on her talk show talking about incest, sex, drugs, rock and roll. So I go, “Why is it that you can’t look at me and say, ‘Let’s go out for coffee?’” She was like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said, “Why didn’t you thank me? That really hurt.” “Oh, I forgot.” What is it? Jealousy? I don’t know.
TV Guide: So what did you learn from being a judge on ANTM?

Dickinson: Nothing. They learned from me! I’m still on the show! They can’t let me go. I am the show. When they replaced me with Stumpy — I mean Twiggy — the ratings went down. [Editor’s note: According to the Nielsen ratings, this is not true.]
TV Guide: Any lessons from being on The Surreal Life?

Dickinson: "The Surreal Toxic Life" juxtaposes people to create havoc. I did it purely for the money, to keep my daughter in private school. Omarosa kept calling me a crackhead. She attacked my single-parenting skills. Omarosa is pond scum.
TV Guide: Let’s talk about how great you look on the cover of your new book about dating, called Check, Please!

Dickinson: Everything about the cover photo is retouched and digitally enhanced to make me look good. Hey, I fool the camera. I’m a liar, a magician. I’m 51 years old. Without the fake t---, the plastic surgery and the face-lift, there’d be a middle-aged gray-haired lady staring at you.
TV Guide: What made you stand out as a young model?

Dickinson: Back in my day, everyone was this apple-pie, girl-next-door type — blue eyes, blonde hair. I had sloppy ethnic features, skinny minis, no breasts. I wasn’t in vogue. If it weren’t for the late great [makeup artist] Way Bandy, and the late great [photographers] Richard Avedon and Francesco Scavullo, I wouldn’t be here. They saw something in me that the populace didn’t. Gay men made me who I am.