Divorce at 18 made me stronger, says America’s Next Top Model winner
She was famously known as the girl who got married and divorced at 18.
Indeed, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 20 winner Jourdan Miller made no secret of her allegedly abusive relationship on the show last year.
It was an incident that left her emotionally scarred, she said.
Shortly after she bagged the coveted top prize in the US reality modelling series, Miller revealed that her ex-husband wrote her a surprise apology letter.
Miller, 21, told The New Paper yesterday: “He wrote me a long letter to apologise for everything.
I think he knew (for a long time) what he did, he just didn’t think I would become famous.”
The 1.8m-tall beauty, who is in town for Digital Fashion Week Singapore 2014, said she was grateful for the letter.
Despite the torment during her younger days, the Los Angeles-based model said she has no regrets.
“I am glad that I was able to go through something so tough at such a young age because it has made me stronger,” Miller maintained.
MARRiED
These days, there is a special man in her life who has given her renewed hope in love - her husband.
They tied the knot in last December, shortly after her win.
“All those phone calls I made on the show were with him. He actually pushed me to join in the first place,” Miller revealed.
Is she happy?
“1,000 per cent!” was her immediate answer.
Indeed, it was tough for her to move on after her first marriage.
“I told my husband when we started dating that I did not want a relationship. I wanted to figure out who I am first. But he respected it and still pursued me. Now we are happily married,” said Miller, grinning from ear to ear.
She calls her husband, who works in the construction industry in her hometown of Oregon, her pillar of support.
A plus point?
According to her, he has dashing good looks and checks all the boxes.
“He is not a model but he can be. He is handsome, manly and supportive,” Miller gushed.
The couple, who is looking to build a home together in Oregon, is exploring the possibility of having children in the future.
She said: “Maybe in three to five years when I can do what I want to do and still take care of a baby at the same time. There are plans, but I am still deciding at which point of my career it would be ideal.”
NO LONGER SHY
After her ANTM win, Miller landed a US$100,000 (S$127,700) Guess ad campaign, a Nylon magazine spread and a contract with Next Model Management in Los Angeles.
Since her victory, Miller said it has been day after day of almost “non-stop photo shoots”.
The model, who has been in the industry since she was 15, added that she has grown to become a “social butterfly”.
“I used to be really shy and quiet, but now I embrace the attention,” Miller said.
The bubbly model also hopes to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel and model for Yves Saint Laurent some day.
But for now, she is taking is one step at a time. Miller said: “I saw a photo of mine on the Vogue website the other day and was so surprised. It was not an editorial, but it still meant something.
“I am grateful because I think my dreams are slowly coming to life.”
"He is handsome, manly and supportive."
- Jourdan Miller, on her husband’s qualities
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