What makes a person beautiful? ET gets the answer from "True Beauty" judge/supermodel Cheryl Tiegs.

ET: With all the reality shows that you have been invited to participate in, why did you pick "True Beauty"?

Cheryl: This is near and dear to my heart. It is something that I believe in very strongly. I have been invited to do other reality shows. I actually called them up and said, 'This is so important to get this message out to the American people. It is just not outer beauty.' I have seen perfectly featured girls come and they just disappear because there is nothing going on inside. I firmly believe it is 50/50, inner beauty-outer beauty. You can not discount inner beauty.

ET: You say that, but then there are models like Naomi Campbell, who throws phones at people, and still have a successful career.

Cheryl: She does. But she has a personality. She is smart in the way she has handled her career.

ET: Another really smart model is Tyra Banks, who along with Ashton Kutcher, was one of the executive producers on this series. What was it like working with them?

Cheryl: I think they each added something unique that they represent. Ashton, certainly, in the hidden cameras and seeing what people are like without them knowing they are on camera. And Tyra, I love her. She wants to better the American people. Between the two of them, it was a great combination.

ET: This series doesn't have a modeling contract as the grand prize, but do you think that is what the contestants are hoping to achieve at the end? Or to launch an acting career?

Cheryl: I think so. Some of them were just willing to go home and be a better person -- as good as they can. And maybe they will just start spreading their good energy around town. Some of them do want to, yes, become actors or models. I don't think that should have been their goal. The goal in life should be to become the best that you can be. That is why we don't just want people to watch it from their easy chair, but to say, "I can do acts of kindness." We can all use the inspiration. I know it upped my goodness and kindness level. I come from Minnesota, so I tend to be that way anyway.

ET: What do you think about the trend for models to be a size 0 and all the plastic surgery stars are getting these days?

Cheryl: It is not for me. I think you can tell when someone has had too much surgery. You can do too much, but there is nothing the matter with making the most of who you are: making sure your hair is healthy, making sure your skin is healthy, putting on a little makeup, putting on clothes that flatter your body, being kind and good to others and having a sense of humor. It is all one package. We can all up the ante in certain areas. Having too many face lifts is not beautiful to me. I don't condone it, but I don't condemn it.

ET: Why should people watch the show?

Cheryl: People should watch it to, again, better themselves. What can I do to make myself a better person, or more interesting? When I finished college, my agent said to me, "Cheryl, don't ever stop learning and educating and growing, because that is the key to beauty." I think it is.

"True Beauty," which is hosted and judged by Vanessa Minnillo, along with Cheryl and judge Nole Marin, premieres on Monday, January 5, 2009, 10:00 p.m. on ABC.