‘America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 22 Cast: Bello Sanchez Believes His ‘Future Is Wide Open’ [EXCLUSIVE]
Bello Sanchez is that model with piercing eyes that people have either loved or hated on the latest cycle of America's Next Top Model. He might have gotten into verbal spats with just about everyone in the house, but he can certainly strike a fierce pose.
(Photo : Jono Photography)
The Cycle 22 contestant is quite tenacious and passionate, having auditioned at multiple casting calls for the show before finally making it on the series. He may not have walked away the winner (he was eliminated along with Courtney DuPerow during the eighth episode and wasn't successful in being the comeback model), but says he still feels victorious.
Enstars chatted with Bello about life after Top Model so far, if he regrets doing the show and what advice he has for apsiring catwalkers.
Enstars: Some past contestants have regretted being part of America's Next Top Model after the fact. Do you feel the same way?
Bello Sanchez: Some people see the glass as half full, others [see it] half empty. To me the show is a platform. What I decide to do with it is up to me. It's a blessing and it's now my turn to maximize my brand off of that.
Have you remained in touch with Tyra Banks or any of the others from the industry that you have met through filming the show?
I have. I just saw Kelly Cutrone in New York for New York Fashion Week and I've also stayed in contact with all the judges actually, and a few of my castmates.
You may not have won the title this cycle, but you have gone on to work within the industry. You were just in Jessica Sutta's music video for her single "Bottle Bitch". How did it come about?
Oh, I won the title alright. I won the title the moment I signed that contract. I met Jessica through one of my booking agents, Leo Madrid. He also directs music videos and connected the dots. I love him.
You also recently attended New York Fashion Week so how was that experience overall? What was your favorite part of the experience and why?
This is my fourth or fifth year actually doing New York Fashion Week. One of the highlights for this year was sharing the catwalk with Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima while Drew Barrymore watched from the front row.
What advice do you have for future model hopefuls?
My advice is to "remember why you started." Often times we lose our drive and our passion. If we can just mute the world and remember what was it that made us "want" this moment we can go far. People have asked me if I ever thought that all of this would happen and I said, "yes" because I told myself every single day that I would make this happen. My motto is "speak it into existence" and I want to remind other hopefuls that if it can happen for me, it can happen for them too.
What is coming up next for you?
The show was only the beginning. Aside from making the video with Jessica and walking at New York Fashion Week, I hosted parties at Wet Republic in Las Vegas with superstar DJs Hardwell and Calvin Harris. I've been taking meetings for modeling and acting in Los Angeles. This week I'm walking for Brendan M Combs at RAGTRADE Atlanta then coming back to Los Angeles to walk for Marco Marco at Los Angeles Fashion Week. Brendan's pieces have a sleek, modern edge while Marco Marco is one of the most amazing, fantastical designers out there. He dresses the biggest pop stars in the business and if you've seen people like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Adam Lambert and Britney Spears on tour, you've seen his work. The future is wide open and I'm speaking it into existence.
America's Next Top Model Cycle 22 airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.
