Sandy Young Has Her Own Look

AE: When you're modeling, you're putting on a different persona. Did you ever feel like you had to compromise yourself or is it just part of the job?
SY: Definitely I just look at it is part of the job. But as far as the make-over, I have mixed reviews. Some people liked my make-over, some people liked my hair before. Even when we walked into the makeovers, the hairstylists were looking at me, and some of them approached me and said "We loved your hair. We didn't want to do anything with your hair."

Sandy post make-over

AE: But they have to do something?
SY: Yeah and I really kind of didn't like it so much but didn't say that I didn't like it. I liked my hair beforehand. But as far as compromising, putting on earrings and make-up and evening gowns and this and that, that is what I wanted to show as a job-type thing, that I can pull it off. [Judge] Robert Moody really loved my style. I was the only one in the house he had nothing to say bad about my style.

AE: So why did you pick a cocktail dress to wear on the first casting call challenge?
SY: That was such a big mistake on my part. "Chic in the city" — my chic in the city is skinny jeans, combat boots and a tie. That's my "Chic in the city." We basically didn't have much information to go on so it was just a bad choice on my part and if I could do it over again I definitely would.

AE: I wanted to talk a little bit about your band, Who But She. How would you describe the kind of sound you guys have?
SY: I get compared a lot to Chrissie Hynde and Shirley Manson of Garbage, vocals wise. The band is more like pop rock, alternative with a little bit of electronica on there.

AE: Do you talk about the band on the show?
SY: It's funny because when it comes to modeling, I try to be really quiet about being in a band and it was the contestants on the show that were pushing me to sing. I sing a couple of times on the show, like three times. The producers were asking me to sing, too, and really wanted me to sing. I wasn't pushing it on the show, it was more like they were pushing me to do it.

AE: What's your fan base like now and do you think it'll change now that you're in a more public arena?
SY: We have a lot of young people because our music is a little punk as well. Definitely a lot of young girls and boys. A lot of punk people — I'd say our age range is 16 to late 20s. It's definitely good for the market.

AE: Do you think you will get some older fans now because of the show?
SY: Definitely, I think we'll get some older fans and that would be great. I write my own music and write from my own experience and a lot of people like and respect that.

AE: Do you hope to be seen as a style icon or are you just trying to be who you are? Like, when you dress to perform on stage, is it something you dress up for like when you're modeling?
SY: I do get a lot of praise for my style and I make a lot of my own clothes as well. As far as being a style icon, I definitely would like to be that but I stay true to myself and whatever follows after that, follows. As far as being on stage, I really don't change it up that much. I really don't. What I wear on stage is what I wear in normal everyday. I just feel like it's so much of who I am that I don't need to put on anything different and it works out really well, actually.

AE: How do you feel about the stereotype that lesbians have poor fashion or senses of style? Why do you think we get a bad rap?
SY: I know a lot of lesbians dress a certain way, and there's a lot of people that see me and say "Oh my gosh, you're a lesbian? You look so different!" and this and that. I just feel like I don't define myself as being a lesbian only — that's just a part of me. I kind of want people to see that lesbians can be different. There's so many lesbians out there that don't dress that one certain way. I kind of want to show that lesbians can be really femme in dresses. As far as a bad rap, maybe some of them do dress like that I guess!

AE: Do you think that you being on the show that has an audience with an older age range — a straight audience — will see that lesbians don't all look the same?
SY:Yeah, I want straight people to see that lesbians can be all together and not totally look like the stereotypes. And I want lesbians that are stereotypical or maybe wear jeans, flannel and short-hair because they think they have to to see you don't have to dress "like a lesbian" — you can be whoever you want to be.

It's all about being yourself — it doesn't matter what your sexual preference is.

AE: What can we look forward to now that you're done filming the show?
SY: Right now, the music's going great. We have interest from labels which is great. And basically wherever I'm supposed to be like model, sing, perform with a band, acting as well — everything! I'd like to do a little bit of everything.

AE: I know you can't say too much about it, but what can we look forward to on She's Got the Look?
SY: Basically a lot more drama.

AE: Are you involved in the drama or are you just watching the drama happen?
SY: I actually am not one that really likes drama too much, but yeah, you'll have to wait and see.

She's Got the Look airs Thursdays on TV Land. Follow Sandy on Twitter, and check out her band on MySpace.com