Tyana Alvarado is more than a reality show contestant or the latest  firee off The Apprentice, she's also the winner of the Miss California Cougar contest in 2009.  But apart from that, Alvarado went from a big high being the project manager last week and leading her team to a victory, to a big low this week when she was fired from Donald Trump's boardroom. Under the leadership of fellow teammate Mahsa, the women's team Fortitude ultimately lost the challenge to come up with a marketing campaign for an all natural popcorn product. But when the ladies turned hostile, it was Alvarado that got the boot.

ON WHY SHE WAS FIRED INSTEAD OF HER TEAMMATE MAHSA:

Honestly, she makes better TV. I'm not crazy and dramatic like she is. I know through the process that I saw through each task, Donald Trump grew to respect me. And I saw in his eyes it was hard to let me go. I went out with a win and an amazing prize. So I think he kind of felt justified in letting me go, knowing that I wouldn't produce the great drama that is soon to follow in following this episodes.

It's not that Mahsa and I didn't get along believe it or not. I never said anything negative. So there was no footage to show of me saying anything negative. I actually was trying to win for the team and they did show a brief moment in the episode where I said I wished Mahsa would see I'm on her side. I was truly trying to help the task and it actually wasn't her pushing. The ideas came from a couple of the other girls pushing. And Mahsa actually did try to redirect and get more ideas but the girls didn't let it happen.

So, whether it's crazy and making America mad, if you get to know the Mahsa outside of the Trump show she really is genuine. She's somebody that you can count on.

ON WHAT SOLUTION SHE WOULD HAVE PROVIDED DURING THE TASK:

I actually had one it was just edited out. And Mr. Trump loved my idea. My idea was actually to do a popcorn bikini stunt. Mr. Trump's eyes lit up, he was ecstatic. He surveyed all of the men. Every man, was like, of course it would have gone viral. Everyone would have forwarded a popcorn bikini. Unfortunately, in my personal opinion, I think since there was truly no justifiable reason to fire me the best thing was to make it look like I didn't do anything.

ON HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THE SHOW:

What I've stated in every interview, what I found disappointing about The Apprentice, is that I went into it thinking it was truly a job interview.  I really was stupid enough to believe it was real. And, apparently, it was more like in Survivor.  I didn't really go into it with that "make an alliance kind of backstab, gang up on somebody" kind of thinking.  Contrary to what was seen in Episode 1, we really did not gang up on Nicole.
Everybody truly had those feelings against her. So, that wasn't like an alliance that was made.

So, I  feel that it was easiest to pick on me. When they saw a couple of people going for me, then everybody that stayed out of it went for the same person. On another note, I think people don't like to be told or made aware of their shortcomings. And the fact that absolutely no one else on the team got what a viral video was, and I did.


ON LIZA'S PARTICIPATION ON THE TEAM:

In my personal opinion, the three weakest links to me were always Poppy, mostly because of age, and not lack of life experience; Liza, not because she's not talented, she is as an individual, but she is not a team player; and Mahsa,  I don't even need to give reasons why I think Mahsa's the weakest player.

To know that those people made it further than me was a little tough. But now I have less time to make a fool of myself on television. I actually felt very betrayed by Liza and Kelly because in Episode 2, I stood up for
them when they were being accused of being the weakest links. In Episode 3 when I was Project Manager and the whole team was turning against Liza, I stood up for her and defended her. So, to come into this episode - I'm sure you saw my reaction when it came from Liza. I'm like, what?

Call me naïve, it really hurt me because I really felt that honesty and truth would prevail. And it was just all about getting further. And I don't play that way. I truly
expressed how I feel and go with what I believe.

ON MEETING RUSSELL SIMMONS:

You know, it was very emotional for me. Well, a lot of people are joking on blogs that I cry a lot. You have to realize literally my father passed away a couple of weeks before I went to shoot this show.
So every time - like when I won and I heard it was Russell Simmons and I teared up, because I thought, oh my God, this is the perfect match for me. Because what would I have done with (Steve Forbes) or the guy from (Poppy's side)?

And what I really loved about Russell Simmons and what made me emotional was Russell Simmons is self-made. My father never finished high school. Russell Simmons never finished college. I just have an associate's degree. So I truly felt bonded in the sense that we are all self-made and we all were successful to some point.

ON WHETHER SHE WOULD PLAY THE GAME ANY DIFFERENTLY:

Absolutely not. No. I thought about that, and thinking it was a game and what  would I do different. I honestly can't change who I am. I can't fake it. I can't hold back. I can't hold back my emotions. I can't hold back my opinions.  I'd end up in the same boat again.

------------------

The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 10.00 et/pt on Global TV. Catch up on full episodes here