Tiffany responds to SooToday.com's Tertia coverage

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

************************* Mr. Helwig:

I'm responding in regards to the news article written by you on SooToday.com.

I am Tiffany Alonzo, the model you wrote about in your article.

I am writing to you to explain the reasons behind the comments written between Kerbie and myself.

After receiving comments, messages and e-mails regarding another contestant's alleged cheating in the contest, I was also sent comments and emails regarding alleged cheating by Tertia [shown].

This of course naturally angered myself, other contestants and voters and I was told that Guess had been notified about the situation.

I admit, the comments made by Kerbie and I were uncalled for but were also between the two of us.

I feel awful for saying what I did, as I said it out of anger over the "cheating."

If you watch the contest closely you will see the other contestant's votes mysteriously skyrocket when someone is ahead of her.

She did this with me and now I see her doing it to Tertia.

I was told Tertia was doing what the other contestant was doing, so this of course made me mad that not one but now two contestants were cheating.

I shouldn't have reacted to the allegations to Tertia but I'm human and I did, as the others that were aware of the situation.

It isn't right to talk badly about someone you do not know, but in all fairness I am not the only one on earth to do this.

I have received many e-mails from strangers letting me know that my name and web address were posted in your online news story defaming myself and Kerbie (with her MySpace link also posted).

We may have called Tertia a name, but we did not create a forum, chat or webpage defaming her and linking her weblink.

If I could, I would formally apologize to Tertia for my words.

I repeated what I had read and she didn't deserve it.

As I said, it was my reaction to hearing that she too was cheating.

I'm sure Guess will be resolving any issues regarding these accusations.

I would like to ask that you please remove my weblink along with Kerbie's MySpace link as I feel it is unneccessary to defame us for jokingly calling someone a name during a conversation.

We may have called her a name but we did not send others to jump in or agree.

It was simply a conversation between the two of us and we did not broadcast the allegations in an online news story or likewise.

In conclusion, I am in no way jealous or have hate for any contestants.

I simply want the model with the most genuine votes to win, as I'm sure you, Tertia and her family/friends would agree.

I thank you for not only taking the time to read my e-mail but for bringing to my attention that my words about Tertia were unfair.

However, I do not agree with posting my name and weblink in your story.

I have already taken the steps to delete any words against Tertia as Kerbie has as well.

I wish Tertia and the other contestants the best of luck and I hope their genuine votes rise above those who are cheating.

Thank you once again and Tertia has my formal apology.

Sincerely, Tiffany Alonzo

PS: Please note that I have received a couple of harassing emails from recipients claiming they found me through your news story. I do not want this situation to have to get bigger than it is, especially when harassment becomes an issue.

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