With the Season 11 of America's Next Top Model winding down to the last few girls, one starts to wonder ...Where are some of the most notable Model Alums?

Adrianne Curry , Season 1 winner way back in 2003 ( seems so long ago doesn't it?), went on to become a regular reality t.v start whore, married a "controlling" Brady and got herself a t.v show on VH1.

She now lives in California with her husband Christopher Knight a.k.a Peter Brady and rumor has it , is about to do another season of "My Fair Brady".....uh, can't wait for that ( I am being sarcastic!)

Shannon Stewart, second runner up in Season 1 and self proclaimed VIRGIN, has actually had a decent career, not spectacular, but consistently working.


She has modeled in Bridal spreads as well as done a little runway for Richard Tyler and Alice and Olivia... she signed to Elite Models and is married ( to another male model) and living in Chicago..We are proud to also announce she is no longer a virgin!lol

Elyse Sewell, another first season alum, and the resident moral authority also has had a consist ant career.


Having a very big career in China, this pic above was taken in Hong Kong , she is one of the more well traveled model alums. This is one of her ad campaigns also taken in Asia.



Sewell has modeled in Milan, NYC, China, Tokyo as well as Dior and done commercials for Sony. Due to her look, she does really well in Asian market, spending the majority of her working career there. She was most recently in the news because she dated Martin Crandall of The Shins until January 2008, when he allegedly assaulted her in a Sacramento hotel] Both Crandall and Sewell were charged with felony domestic assault, though their cases were later dismissed. Previously, Elyse told the Singapore Straits Times in an interview that she had dumped her boyfriend because he cheated on her while she was working in Japan, though they reconciled shortly afterwards. Sewell's first book, based in part on her blog, was published in Hong Kong in 2006. She appeared in multiple book signings across Hong Kong.

Yoanna House, the season 2 (2004) winner, started off well made her debut as a runway model at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2004.



But like so many other alums, she has become a lost in the t.v show host vacuum.She became the host of "The Look for Less" in 2005, replacing Elisabeth Hassleback, when she left to look like a ignorant dumb ass on "The View" and most recently hosted The N networks teeny bopper show "Queen Bees" where the mean girls are reformed so that they can win a cash prize!


Yea, this totally looks like High Fashion to me!.......

Mercedes Yvette Scelba-Shorte, the second runner up in season 2 and who should have been the winner in my opinion, has done well for herself and gained commercial success.
Having been in several different nation commercials , Applebee's, Chili's, Sear's and Payless to name a few, she became an official spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation, having publicly come out on her season as having the disease . She is currently the face of Mandy Moore's new clothing line "Mblem"

Camille McDonald, season 2 contestant and the first Original Top Model Diva is currently the model for her own line of Jamaican inspired swimwear.



In addition to modeling for her own line, she has also tapped a couple of other Top Model Alums to model for her line as well.

Shandi Sullivan , season 2 contestant and resident whore, who lost her mind when had sex on t.v with those hot Italian boys .


Shandi had the best transformation in Top Model history, turning from an "Ugly Duckling into a Swan", then came the conversation with her creepy boyfriend, when she told him that she cheated... good t.v. She is now a receptionist at a Hair Salon in NYC and has cut off her hair and gone the way of the punk rocker.


Eva (Pigford)Marcille season 3 (2004) winner and resident diva, has gone the way of second rate actress...and I use the word actress loosely!


After doing a few magazine covers and a couple of shows, she left her managers Benny Medina and Tyra Banks in 2006 and her new management promptly dropped her last name "Pigford" and went with her middle name" Marcille" She was in the Taye Diggs drama "Kevin Hill" on UPN and made a brief appearances on "Smallville" and "Everyone Hates Chris" as well as "Tyler Perry's House of Pain" where she met and is still dating one of her co-stars Lance Gross

This was taken most recently at the academy awards. She has also recently joined the cast of "The Young and the Restless" as a single mother named "Tyra Hamilton" named by the writers as an in joke of Top Model.

Ann Markley, season 3 BFF to Eva , has had a consistent modeling and t.v career, most recently, having made a brief appearance on last weeks "Gossip Girl"





Yaya DaCosta , the runner up for Season 3 and the Bad Skin, Know It All from Harlem has also gotten the acting bug.


After having an alright run in modeling, she was recently cast in "All My Children" as as Cassandra Foster, daughter of Angie Hubbard, played by soap opera legend Debbi Morgan.And yes, just in case you are wondering... she is still just as annoying playing a fictional character, as she is playing herself.

Amanda Swafford , 3rd runner up in season 3, with the gorgeous eyes due to a degenerative eye condition that will leave her completely blind by age 30. Had some calling foul when she was voted off, even having resident bitchress Janice Dickinson saying, "I love you!" to Swafford when she was eliminated.


After modeling in a few campaigns in Moscow and Eastern Europe ( her look does well there) she has darkened her hair and chopped it off and has now faded into Top Model Nothingness!

April Wilkner , season 3 contestant and resident Asian Beauty, most known for her flirtatious chemistry with fashion photog Hottie Nigel Barker


She has a a consistent modeling career, and has been photographed by Nigel Barker as well,....with his wife doing the makeup ( his wife is a makeup artist)

Toccara Jones , contestant from Season 3 and considered to be the most successful Top Model Alum, having just graced the Cover of Italian Vogue and receiving more pages than any other supermodel in the issue!


After being voted off Top Model, she did several campaigns for a couple of Plus Size Clothing lines, and then after dropping out of the limelight for awhile, she was on VH1's popular show "Celebrity Fit Club " for two seasons, which lead her to land a game show on BET. After being selected in 2007 for Rocawear's " I will not Loose" campaign , representing the plus size division, she was tapped for the famous Italian Vogue shoot with other notable models.
Currently this issue of Vogue is the highest selling issue in history and is currently on its 3rd reprint.

Naima Mora , winner of Season 4 (2005) and mixed up , mohawk wearing identical twin, is the vocalist for the band "Chewing Pics" who are thus far unsigned.


What a waste of time and a t.v viewing season...don't cha think?

Kahlen Rondot , season 4 runner up, is currently no longer modeling.




Despite being considered as a stand-out in her cycle, Rondot struggled to get signed,which many say is because of her resemblance to Carmen Kass.

Carmen Kass

This had led her to leave the industry, although she has done some ANTM related work here.With a couple of showings on magazines and runway, she decided to call it quits and is no longer modeling .Ironically enough, although she has not won ANTM, her promotional picture is used as the shadowed "top model" on the Germany's Next Topmodel's logo. She now works as a bartender in NYC and has plans to open up her own bar......(you can't make this stuff up people!)

Keenyah Hill, season 4 contestant, and one of the first most annoying contestants , has also fallen into Model Nothingness


She is currently living in Manhattan and does "D" list work here and there.

Brittany Brower , season 4 contestant and Keenyah BFF, then frienemy, has gone the way of the pin-up!


After being told constantly,that she was too sexy, to sexy, to sexy, I guess she decided that she could at least make money off of it, instead of becoming a broke has been. After being voted off Top Model, Britney has posed in several men's magazines, most notable Maxim.

Nicole Linkletter , Season 5 Winner, and accused Granola Bar Bandit ,did the standard, Teen Magazine spreads, and She is also currently modeling for the Christian Audigier "Crystal Rock" collection.






Nik Pace, season 5 runner up, and known for being the "reserved" and somewhat "standoff-ish" contestant has done a couple of magazine ads, but nothing spectacular or any runway.






Lisa D'Amato , Season 5 contestant, also known for her odd behavior, ( talking to a shrub she called "Cousin It"



She is still as crazy as ever! After being voted off and doing the standard Top Model rounds, she criticised the producers of Top Model for betraying her trust regarding personal details of the contestant's relationship with her mother. D'Amato alleges that when she was eliminated the producers enticed her by asking what her mother would think. In addition, D'Amato said that, apart from being recognised by the general public, she has gained little from her time on the show, particularly concerning modelling work.Lisa has begun pursuing a career in music, particularly rap and hip hop. On October 8, 2007, the music video for her song "Ace of Spades" was put on YouTube.According to her Myspace, Lisa's debut album is due out in Summer 2009.

Brittany "Bre" Scullark, Season 5 contestant and Granola Bar Thief Accuser, has had a consistent modelling career.



After being told that she was weaker than her other contestants when she was voted off in the finally 3 episode, she has gone on to do several print ads as well as commercials for Pantene and Target and is doing better than the other two "stronger" contestants ( Nik Pace and Nicole Linkletter)

Kim Stolz, season 5 contestant and resident lesbian has had a good careers since being voted off.



Since Top Model, she has gone on to model in the genre that she is best known for...preppy chic. She has done campaigns for Ruehl 21, Abercrombie & Fitch to name a few and continues to have a steady career.

Danielle "Dani" Evans , winner of Season 6, and resident gap tooth model, has changed her name to "Dani" by the agency and has a consistent career since winning.



She has modeled for several other campaigns before becoming the spokesmodel for Akademiks clothing line. She also has received a showcard from her agency, Click Model Management, for NY Fashion Week.She is one of only 4 girls given showcard of all 143 ANTM alumni. (The others being Jaslene Gonzalez, Megg Morales of Cycle 7 and Lisa Jackson of Cycle 9.Evans is apparently good friends with model Chanel Iman.

Joanie Dodds, Season 6 Runner Up and most notably known for have several weeks worth of teeth surgery in a matter of hours!




After modeling for GQ, Elle Girl and etc, the only time we have seen Joanie is on the Tyra Banks show when Tyra brings her back on to talk about her teeth...WE GET IT, your teeth were bad!

Nnenna Agba , season 6 contestant, and known for being the rude African contestant.




With her gorgeous face, she hasn't had a hard time finding work after the show, walking for Heatherette as well as several other designers.

Furonda Brasfield , season 6 contestant and known for giving out "Rules when dealing with me" to her fellow contestants



She has walked for some designers on fashion week as well as done some print ads, but much like the majority of Top Model Alums, that is the extent of her achievements!

CariDee Jenasia English , Season 7 Winner and known for telling Nigel to take the "stick" out of his butt has been one of the few models to come close to "Top Model" Status



In addition to making an appearance on "One Tree Hill" & "Gossip Girl" She has modelled for Wedding Style,JC Penney, and other. English is also part of the "Heart On My Sleeves" clothing campaign by Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane.

Mel Rose, season 7 runner up and known for being extremely conceited, has kind of fallen from the modeling scene



At the end of Melrose's Top Model run, she announced that she would help design clothes for former Lost cast member Michelle Rodriguez's fledgling clothing line, Ishkidada.Mel Rose has also done advertisements for Scoop NYC, Jack Rabbit Belts, and Beau Soleil Fall 2007 Collection, as well as walked the runways at London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2008 for designer Aminika Wilmot

Jaslene Gonzalez , Season 8 Winner and our Favorite Top Model of all Seasons has had a good career since Top Model.



In addition to consistantly walking year after year for several designers as well as being in various print campaigns Gonzalez strutted on the catwalk of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009 for designers Jose Duran, Indashio, Farah Angsana and Custo Barcelona. Jaslene is featured on Ryan Leslie music video "Addiction". And on the pages of YRB Magazine.She was also on the cover of Imagen Magazine in addition to being a role model for the Puerto Rican Community.

Natasha Galkina , Season 8 Runner- Up and accused Mail Order Russian Bride , has had a career overseas rather than here in the states



She has modeled in Athens, Greece and Milan, Italy, having shot fashion editorials for the magazines Cosmopolitan, Lucky, Elle, and the Greek magazine, Madame Figaro.
On a personal note, she did the best Tyra Banks Impression on her season, that I have ever seen!

Jael Strauss, Season 8 contestant and best remember for being pushed in the pool at a party by 50 Cent after she insulted him.



Living in California and doing very small print ads, she is just as crazy as always, and her career peaked on the show!

Saleisha Stowers, Season 9 Winner and one of the very few contestants that had a chance to be a true "Top Model".



There has been controversy regarding her eligibility to appear on the show. The show's rules state that a contestant must not have appeared as a model in a national advertising campaign during the last five years. Stowers appeared in a 2006 commercial for Wendy's. There is debate among viewers of the show over whether the commercial for Wendy's could be considered an advertising campaign, which would make Stowers ineligible to compete in America's Next Top Model. The CW said in a statement that Stowers did disclose her participation in the Wendy's spot, and "after reviewing the commercial, it was determined that her appearance did not amount to "modeling" experience, and therefore did not exclude her from participating in the show". Several blogs and news outlets have speculated that her past relationship with Banks (her participation in Banks' T-Zone camp and her past appearances on Tyra's television shows and her appearance as a model on The Tyra Banks Show and Cycle 6 of America's Next Top Model), may have influenced the selection of the winner.
Stowers continues to be a fixture during fashion weeks, consistantly walking for different designers during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks.

Whitney Thompson, Season 10 Winner and also toted as the winner that will bring ANTM to the end with the crowing of her as the winner.



With Thompson being crowned as the first "Plus Size" Top Model , alot of people and critics alike have questioned the validity of ANTM and Tyra Banks. This was the point that Top Model solidified itself as being a reality show instead of a legitimate Modeling competition. She has gone the Catalog route by having print ads for plus size retailer "Silhouettes" as well as making an appreance recently on Tyra Banks Show modeling Fall Outfits ( and didn't get that big of an applause when introduced, mind you)

Anya Rozova, Season 10 Runner Up and who many believe should have won the show, having had better photos, has done alright for herself after the show



Anya has done work for the clothing lines Tibi and Habitual. She also walked for Nuj Novakhett and Julian Louie at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009.

So what have we learned from thei Top Model Alum Recap? That Top Model is a vehicle for mediocrity and not for modeling. Also out of the 150 + contestants, only about 5 of them have gotten close to the "Top Model " moniker.

Maybe it's time for Tyra to hang it up! According to an insider, when asked recently whether she was stopping the show, she replied " I thought about it, but No, I am not"...so we can look forward to more reality star has beens...

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD THIS SEASON BE THE LAST SEASON OF "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"?

So I got tickets to the Tyra Banks Show and I thought that it would be fun...little did I know that , there is alot that goes on at the show!



This is not from my actual show taping
About a week before the actual day of taping, I received a phone call asking me to confirm my information. Then I was asked, what I did for a living and I asked why they needed to know all that. And to that they replied, that they like to know who is in the audience.....this was warning #1 of what was too come!
They then sent me this list of don't for the Tyra Show that I have posted below



THIS IS FROM MY ACTUAL SHOW TAPING!I HAVE CROSSED OUT SOME OF THERE COMPANYINFO.......I AM NOT TRYING TO GET SUED!

After reading this, it almost felt like she wanted her show to be Top Model Glamorous. The attire is BUSINESS UPSCALE!...yes, that is what they said, I am not making this up and it is Strictly Enforced. Absolutely no shorts, sneakers, rain/snow boots (UGGS
included), sequins, hats, jogging suits, velour pants, and NO LOGOS of any kind. The logos I can understand.... but what got me was that the show does reserve the right to deny entry to anyone dressed inappropriately. Almost like this is some exclusive nightclub. You know that Tyra has the bad habit of making every conversation some how about her and this even extends to her list that she sends out to ticket holders.....do we see her big pose on the background? So big, that you can barely even read it.

So once you get there, (since she tapes twice a day, I went to the morning taping and you must be in the building by 9:30 am.) You are given a card with a number and are ushered down the back ramp and after standing in line you come to a table with several Big Security Guards!


Obviously , these are not the actual guards!

They check your ID( must be state issued, only take Passport or License) and then make you hand over your purse for them to search. Now we have all traveled via airplane and understand why the lines are long at the security check point, but these guys make Airport Security seem lax. They THOROUGHLY check your bags and any little pockets or bags/openings that you have in your purse, and after I mentioned that to the guy, he said,

"Yes, I can even tell you when your period is happening".

Now, that is funny, but at the same time a ridiculous. These guys were literally picking up and looking around the tampons and other things in women's purses as if we are going to stash a shank inside of the Applicator! You then have to put your cellphone in a Tupperware container ( did I mention, that they take your cell phone?) and then they put them in zip lock bags will giving you a number to claim your cellphone at the end of the taping. Once that happens you go through metal detector, where another one of these................



Then comes by and runs a hand held detector over you, just to make sure that they didn't miss anything. Once all clear and they feel that you are not packing heat! You are giving a piece of paper and a pen and asked to take a seat in this big underground room will alot of chairs and several flat screens that constantly play clips of the Tyra Show ( are you as sick of Tyra right now as I am at this point?) You are then made to wait there until they bring you inside for taping.
While there, you have to fill out the paper that they gave you, which as it turns out is a "Release", that states, the show is able to use your image for anything and at anytime FOREVER! And that they can do what ever they want with it. Also, by signing it , you CANNOT SUE the Tyra Show for ANY REASON! So if you fall and hurt yourself, you are not able to sue, or if a piece of equipment falls on you, you are not able to sue!..You are basically singing away your rights to safety and identity!
One of the workers from the show, tells you to have your ID ready while they come around and Initial the "Release" so that they can make sure that the release and the ID match and is signed and filled out! While they are checking ID's several otter employee's from the show are asking for participants needed for upcoming shows .....

FYI, they wanted Fashion Disasters and people who can't cook...I wonder if she counts? Because I haven't seen her turn on the stove in one episode of that Hills Show . And the other one can't design her way out of a paper bag....did you see her clothing at Kitson selling, buy one get on free?



One thing that really bothered me was not that the bathrooms for right in the room , but the fact that the doors were left open and not allowed to be closed, so that everyone could see you using the Bathroom, ( men and women) , they could see you in the stall and washing your hands, and etc....why the hell would you do that ? No privacy what so ever!
Now, its about 10:45pm ( after abt 2 hours of waiting) and they start to call people to stand in line by numbers ( this is the number on the cards that they gave you when you came in). You stand in line to board a huge freight elevator with about 40 other people and head to 4th floor studio. Once we get to the studio , we are told to follow this pink lined walkway around the back to be seated. When we get on actual set, we are asked how many in the party and set by the Audience Coordinator. We actually sat in the front row. Once everyone is seated and the studio is full the gay Audience Coordinator ( AKA AC) tells us the rules and to give energy and that everyone will be on camera, but if you start to cry, you will definatly be on camera ( big surprise).
The AC takes 4 people from the audience and plays a game of Pop Culture Q & A and whatever person gets it right, get more camera time ( so that is why during the show and going in and out of the commercials, that they show certain people for the show....they are the ones that won that little contest). In addition to the extra camera time, they also get a CD and T-shirt... by the way , the CD was the the less talented and pretty sister as well as Coat Tail Rider......


So now its 11:20am and the show is about to begin taping, we all jump up as taping beings and Tyra comes out.

The show is taped in 20 minute increments. Also, one thing to note is that Trya not only has a TelePrompter but she has 2 people on the side, with CUE CARDS! and while she is talking to them, they write questions to ask during the interview.....For someone who is big on learning your lines ( reference ANTM) she obviously needs all the help she can get....
Also, if she messes up, then we have to do another take, this show we had to do 3 takes at one segment...very tedious! In addition, during the 90 second commercial breaks she doesn't stay on stay, once they go out, she immediately rushed backstage, and stands until time for next segment, almost like she doesn't want anyone bothering her. Also, when she is on stage , three of these guys

Are on the stage at all times....and I mean ALL TIMES! When she is taping, they are on the sides ( out of shot) but as soon as she is on stage, they are right there! I found this was odd, since ....well I will just say it, she is no Naomi Campbell, but there was a rumor that she had a stalker ( don't know if that is true ) but it would make sense that they were that close if that is the truth.
Taping ended at 12:30pm ( 3 1/2 hours later) and she comes out and the stylist takes a picture of her in her outfit ...she even made sure the stylist got the shoes in the picture. and then they take a picture of her jewelery.
She then sat on the chair on stage and said that when she has a few minutes, she answers questions, so she did a Q & A for about 10 minutes, then walks off because she said she wanted to have lunch with her Mother who was in town. Then we are ushered out the door and on our way!


Now Tyra has been very candid about the makeup that she wears to look like this, but I and several others by there comments , was floored by the amount of makeup caked on her face in person! When you see her on t.v she looks made up, but not overly done. When you see her in person on the taping, OMG! She has so much Makeup on it;s astounding... I don't know how her skin can breathe!
Even if you don't like Tyra she is a pretty girl and in person, she looked just like a Black Barbie doll, with the hair and makeup.....
I just wish the who taping experience was better.
Everyone who came out of the show, just looked like ....well when you ride a roller coaster and just didn't meet your expectations...so I don't think if I have another opportunity to go, I will be at another taping of the Tyra Show and listening to alot of the other audience members while riding in the freight elevator after taping.....neither will alot of other people!

P.S...wether you like Tyra or not , you have to give her props for stretching her Vicky Secrets modeling into other careers...of course this is helped by the blatant self promotion in every interview and talk show that she does

Tyra Banks Show airs at 5pm weekdays on My9

So the new season of America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 ,kicked off on Wed and at this point, its no longer a model competition, but sadly it has just become another entertaining reality show.
In 11 seasons Tyra Banks has yet to produce a true top model, that can hang with the likes of Maggie Riser, Kate Moss, Liya Kebede or even an Omyra. Most have fallen into oblivion, others have had very moderate success in other areas, but only a rare few have have success at being an actual Model. Only three ANTM winners have the potential to be super stars, that being Caridee, Saleisha and my personal favorite ..............

Jaslene.....One of the very few "Models" that ANTM has produced. Even the great Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who commented on ANTM and Project Runway in the September 2006 issue of Harper's Bazaar, slammed it as "trash that is funny for five minutes if you're with other people. If you're alone, it's not funny. Those girls will never be the next Gemma Ward. There is no justice in the fashion business." Ward was discovered in Australia's Search for a Supermodel, a similarly-themed model reality show that was created before ANTM and aired in Australia in early 2003. Lagerfeld also served as a photographer for the French version of ANTM .


I think that they really "jumped the shark" when they made Whitney Thompson the winner of Cycle 10.. I love the fact that they have plus size modeling, but out of the two of the finalist, she was not the best model. Out of all of the plus size models that have been on this show, she may have gotten the furthest, but is the least liked. She photgraphs older and every face is the same, ...that vacant stare with the half opened mouth...on all of her porfolio pictures...the girl is only in her early 20's and looks like she is 35 .






In fact , of the the 140 + contestants on that show, only 4 girls (The girls being Jaslene Gonzalez of Cycle 9, Megg Morales of Cycle 7 and Lisa Jackson of Cycle 9 and Danielle (called Dani Now) Evans of Cycle 6)have gotten a Fashion Week Show Card, to walk the runways....for those of us that don't speak fashion, you must be "Runway Ready" and approved by the agency before they send you out On the go sees for Fashion Week, which means in shape , slim , trim and starving.

This new crop of "models" is forgettable , but does have a few stand outs, whether for the drama or actual model potential .

Isis is are resident transgender, who I think will blow all of the away....the only problem is , she won't win...not because she isn't good, quite the opposite, she is fantastic, but being transgender, some bigoted people may have a problem working with her on photo shoots, when she tries to book a gig. People might say that they are open minded, to your face, but in reality they are not.. Several girls are already hating on her, due to jealousy, most notably Clark and Analeigh..... I wish her the best.


Sheena Queen of Harlem and our little Kimora Lee Simmons ( don't tell her I said that). I can't tell you how much I love Sheena...oh , she will never be a Top Model, but the girl has got flava and is very real. I think she will at least make it to the middle of the competition, but will definitely be eliminated. Something also tells me she may get into a fight during the season ( oh please lord, make it so!)...tell me that doesn't look like Kimora



Clark our own little Moral Authority, already in the first episode she has solidified herself as a bigot, slight racist ( and I am being generous by using the word slight) and a gossipy hater. She can't stand that Isis is in the house, has already made comments about people not like that in the south ( which I highly doubt) and claims to be the best in the competition...this coming from a girl who didn't take a good picture.
My Favorite quote from her is "What is Bureaucracy ?"......Did I mention she is from a Red State?


Next weeks episode should be even better as several of the house guest question Analeigh about being a racist.... good t.v!