the insider: analeigh tipton

First came figure skating. Next came writing.  After that, an appearance on America's Next Top Model.  Now 22, Analeigh Tipton adds acting to her ever-growing list of accomplishments with an important role in this summer's Crazy Stupid Love (alongside Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carrell).

My initials spell act.  Acting has always been something that I've loved, but my father's a mathematician and my sister is studying to be a lawyer at Berkeley - I had to go the technical route, so I moved out to Los Angeles for writing.

There aren't enough strong female roles.  I really hope to make something for and about girls that doesn't really have to do with dolling yourself up and trying to impress a boy.  I'm putting an edge and strength into characters that has kind of been lacking.

I was a figure skater as a kid.  On a normal day, I would wake up every morning at 4:30 am in my tights that I'd slept in and my mom would drive me two hours to the skating rink.  I thought I was going to go to the Olympics until one day I woke up and I was tall.

See more Analeigh in the May issue of NYLON, on stands now!