- 7 weeks ago
Some contestants came so close to the crown on America’s Next Top Model yet didn’t quite make it to the top spot. We’re diving into the most talented runners-up who left us questioning the judges’ choices. From unique runway skills to undeniable camera presence, these finalists proved they had what it takes to win – sometimes even more than the actual victors!
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00:00The judges see a little bit something more in one of you.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:06And today, we're counting down our picks for the most talented ANTM models
00:10who came tantalizingly close to the crown
00:13and left us questioning the judges' final decision.
00:16For this list, we're considering any finalist who made it to the end
00:20without taking home the title, including those who finished in third place.
00:26Number 20.
00:27Gina Turner.
00:28Cycle 24.
00:30She built the kind of resume that makes a runner-up finish Sting.
00:34I see a very beautiful girl.
00:36With hair or without hair.
00:38You're next, I'll look fierce.
00:41Before her first elimination,
00:43she had already landed three second call-outs
00:46and won two challenges back-to-back.
00:49Those victories tested very difficult skills.
00:52Selling Jordan Dunn's athleisure in a mirror selfie
00:56and excelling in a stop-motion movement challenge.
00:59I'm the biggest fan of Gina.
01:00She's different and she stands out.
01:02And this is what I personally like about Gina.
01:05I agree with you.
01:06Gina does have a look.
01:07She's unique.
01:07Her regular call-out average was 3.45,
01:11second only to Christiana Kazakova's,
01:14and notably stronger than eventual winner Kyla Coleman's 4.17.
01:19Of course, Gina's path was anything but spotless.
01:23She hit the bottom, went home, and had to fight her way back.
01:27Still, the numbers show how often she delivered before things unraveled.
01:31Gina is the new kind of model.
01:33She's the kind of model that we want to fight for and say,
01:35this is what bold and beautiful is.
01:37Add her distinctive look and versatility across photo, video, and movement,
01:42and that runner-up finish becomes much easier to question.
01:46Number 19, Chelsea Hursley, cycle 15.
01:50Anne Ward dominated the photo panel,
01:52but this model proved herself elsewhere.
01:54I would book Chelsea.
01:56I know that Chelsea can deliver a strong American look
01:59that will work and generate dollars
02:01and that the client will be happy with her.
02:02Anne is the new sexy.
02:04Whereas Chelsea is perfect American freshness,
02:08that's horn-fed, blonde.
02:09She won three challenges,
02:11Zach Pozen's runway test,
02:13the Milan go-seas,
02:14and a one-on-one with Vogue Italia editor,
02:17Franca Tsozani.
02:18Chelsea, she's a good character.
02:20She's a strong character.
02:21She has a temperament.
02:22I think that she cannot be in the business.
02:25Yes, she did try to tell you where she was from
02:27and how she'd been doing this since she was 14.
02:29She was also considered the stronger runway walker
02:32and stood out for her fashion knowledge and determination.
02:35Anne's unprecedented five-week best photo streak
02:38made her a formidable winner,
02:40especially in high fashion.
02:42Still, Chelsea's versatility made her a compelling alternative for the crown,
02:46especially because she kept succeeding in different areas
02:49throughout the competition,
02:51right up to the very end.
02:52Chelsea, this picture is stunning, stunning, stunning.
02:56You were an actress in the face,
02:58but still holding on to the model.
02:59And I love the freckles on your face.
03:02To me, that's what beauty is about.
03:03It's about these interesting, different things.
03:05That's what makes you special.
03:06Number 18, Mame Ajay, cycle 22.
03:11Pageant experience gave her polish,
03:13but she quickly proved she was far more than a beauty queen.
03:16I am the current reigning Miss Maryland USA,
03:19but I always wanted to be a model.
03:21And so I would not give this opportunity up for anything.
03:25Her runway presence was commanding enough
03:27for Tyra to compare her final walk
03:29to her own Victoria's Secret days.
03:31And Tyra also praised her passion and drive.
03:35And I can't wait to get out into the world
03:36and use everything that I've learned here.
03:39Well, the one thing that I feel with you, Mame,
03:42is passion and drive.
03:44It just comes from this place of fire.
03:48And I feel your fire.
03:49Mame had striking, model-esque features
03:52and proved professionally bookable,
03:54landing every designer at the go-sees.
03:57She paired that presence with confidence,
03:59adaptability, and consistency across the competition.
04:03It was spot on.
04:04It was beautiful.
04:06And it was when they weren't even doing the shot.
04:08It was a test shot.
04:09And I was so proud of you
04:11that you were standing there poised
04:12and giving something good,
04:14even when that photographer is testing.
04:16Niall DeMarco was a compelling winner,
04:18but Mame's runway skill,
04:20marketability, and professionalism
04:22made her an equally convincing choice.
04:24You don't need Tyra Mail to know where to go next.
04:27Scan the QR code on screen
04:28to join Ms. Mojo's 24-7 livestream
04:31for non-stop pop culture fun.
04:33I've been traveling to high schools,
04:34talking to youth about actively pursuing their dreams.
04:37And I'm trying to give them the love,
04:39the affection, and attention that I didn't get to them.
04:42Number 17, Laura LaFrat, Cycle 18.
04:46One of the things I love about Laura
04:47is that she's willing to do whatever it takes
04:49to get the picture.
04:50For a photographer, that's inspirational.
04:52The camera seems to bring out her boldest instincts.
04:55Laura built a portfolio around expressive,
04:58high-impact images,
04:59and contemporary coverage noted
05:02how strongly she was finishing the competition.
05:04You're giving girls with black hair a good name,
05:06and I have to say, this is the most amazing shot.
05:08I don't even notice that you have silkworms on you.
05:11It's unbelievable.
05:12You look gorgeous.
05:13By the final Vogue Italia shoot,
05:15fashion editor Valentina Serra
05:17said she would book Laura over Sophie
05:19based on their work that day.
05:21She also earned consecutive first call-outs
05:23during the Macau leg of the competition,
05:25confirming that her late surge
05:27was more than narrative hype.
05:28A little underdog came up
05:30and fought her way through
05:31and pushed them out of the way.
05:33It really shows that, you know,
05:35the American dream is true.
05:36You can do anything you put your mind to.
05:38Runway was less comfortable territory,
05:41but her photographic confidence,
05:43individuality, and momentum
05:44made Sophie Sumner's victory
05:46far from inevitable.
05:48Number 16.
05:50Mercedes Shelba Short, Cycle 2.
05:52Mercedes!
05:56Wow.
05:59Miss, smiley, friendly personality on the runway,
06:03and that will be your strength.
06:04Some finalists shine brightest in stills.
06:07This model could command attention in motion, too.
06:10Her easy charm and commercial appeal
06:12gave her obvious marketability,
06:14but she proved more adaptable
06:16than the judges' two commercial critiques suggested.
06:19By the final beauty shoot,
06:21she had convincingly crossed into high fashion.
06:23Then came the D-squared runway,
06:25where the judges felt she outperformed Ioana.
06:28Who did you like better in the show last night?
06:30Oh, no doubt about it.
06:31I preferred watching Mercedes.
06:34Mercedes had that natural rhythm of a walker.
06:38I didn't see that so much with Ioana.
06:41Her later advertising work
06:42only validated that versatility.
06:44Ioana House ultimately took the title,
06:46but Mercedes offered personality,
06:48camera appeal, and runway confidence
06:50in a package that looked ready to work.
06:53Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
06:56Tough superhero, not tough Bronx.
06:58Yeah.
06:59Okay.
07:00I'm from Jersey.
07:01Number 15, Will Jardell, Cycle 21.
07:05You have so many people that love you and support you,
07:07not just us in this room,
07:09but millions of fans around the entire world.
07:12By the finale,
07:13this contestant had built a serious case
07:15for taking the title.
07:16He could translate his appeal across formats,
07:19booking two style fashion week shows
07:21before later topping the panel
07:23with his Mitch Stone campaign.
07:25In Soul, his MCM image became one of Kelly Catrone's
07:29favorite from her judging tenure.
07:31His Tyra Beauty commercial also drew a stronger response
07:34in contemporary coverage
07:35than Keith Carlos's in the finale.
07:38Keith had star appeal,
07:39but Will had proved he could handle runway,
07:42advertising, and fashion photography.
07:44I love to see you, Will.
07:45I love your energy.
07:46And you seem a lot more confident
07:48and more sure of yourself.
07:49You really do.
07:50There's something special about Will.
07:52He's a star.
07:53That season-long versatility
07:54made the final decision debatable.
07:57Number 14, Kiara Bellin, Cycle 19.
08:00She was at her best whenever modeling demanded
08:03more than posing for a photograph.
08:04If there's anything I can be, it's a diva.
08:07I'm just like everyone else, people.
08:09Excuse me, please don't talk about me on your phone.
08:12Yeah, perfect.
08:13I know you called TMZ on me.
08:15I know you just called TMZ,
08:17and I don't appreciate it, okay?
08:19A basketball captain,
08:21Kiara credited athleticism,
08:23competitiveness, and coachability
08:24for her adaptability.
08:26She won performance-heavy challenges
08:27for Tyler Perry and Alicia Keys,
08:30booked a job at the Go Seas,
08:31and won a Jamaica tourism challenge
08:33that required filming a commercial on horseback.
08:36So whether it's swimming with the dolphins
08:37or riding horses on the beach,
08:39you're sure to have an experience you'll never forget.
08:42So take a break and come visit us in Jamaica.
08:45That looks sick!
08:46Then her dream-come-true fragrance shot
08:48earned best photo just before the finale.
08:52Laura James was formidable,
08:53but Kiara had demonstrated runway command,
08:56commercial instincts, and camera growth,
08:58making her a plausible winner
09:00in a cycle built to test far more
09:02than photographs alone.
09:03For a girl that, like, plays b-ball,
09:05to be able to capture that was amazing.
09:08What I like about Kiara, about being a model,
09:10is just, like, she's really strong.
09:12She's really inspirational.
09:13I mean, I really love her look.
09:15Number 13, Raina Hine, cycle 14.
09:18Photography was where this finalist
09:20made her strongest claim to the title.
09:22You were portraying jazz!
09:25Very cool.
09:26And you know what?
09:26There's jazz there, but it isn't just jazz.
09:28With a little bit of athletics thrown in there,
09:30for sure, it definitely looks like you're mid-run.
09:33Girl, you had 10 best shots.
09:34I don't know which one was your best.
09:35It's just one of them.
09:36Raina was consistently identified
09:37as the stronger print model,
09:39and she earned best photo
09:41in a demanding wind and rain shoot.
09:43Let's see your best shot, Raina.
09:46Gorgeous.
09:47Love it.
09:48Absolutely gorgeous.
09:49Stunning.
09:50Thank you so much.
09:50The eyes, the eyes, the eyes.
09:52It's absolutely beautiful.
09:53Even at the finale,
09:54her covergirl beauty shot drew praise,
09:56while Krista's close-up divided opinion.
09:59Like, your face is beautiful,
10:01but you're not smiling with your eyes.
10:03You're not connecting to that woman
10:05that is turning that page.
10:07Runway was Krista's clearer advantage,
10:09and her late-cycle momentum
10:11made the win understandable.
10:13Still, Raina's camera strength,
10:15fresh commercial appeal,
10:16and immediate post-show booking
10:18as the face of a Dubai retailer
10:20suggest the judges had another
10:22highly marketable winner
10:23standing beside her all along.
10:25I think that Raina would be wonderful
10:28in the English market.
10:30I said, the court is on.
10:31That's a European thing.
10:33It's not an American thing.
10:34And I felt that from the first picture.
10:35Number 12.
10:37Chantal Jones.
10:38Cycle 9.
10:39But if we're really gonna go high fashion,
10:41I think the one for me would be Chantal.
10:44One bizarre runway mishap
10:45may have obscured how competitive
10:47this finalist had been.
10:48Chantal entered the showdown
10:50after two consecutive first call-outs
10:52and held a slightly better
10:54average call-out record than Salisha.
10:56This is a dream.
10:58I've been dreaming about this right here
10:59for a long time.
11:01Congratulations.
11:02You're still in the running
11:03towards becoming America's Next Top Model,
11:05and you're a finalist.
11:07The judges also saw both editorial edge
11:09and mainstream accessibility in her.
11:12Then her dress accidentally tripped
11:14a stilt performer during the final runway,
11:16briefly rattling her
11:18while Salisha delivered the stronger walk.
11:20I was in character, you know,
11:22I knew I had to keep walking,
11:23but at the same time, like,
11:24I know I broke character
11:26because I felt like,
11:27oh my God, I wanted to go, like,
11:29apologize and pick him up
11:30and, like, help him.
11:31That stumble mattered.
11:32But Chantal had already shown
11:34enough photographic strength
11:35and versatility
11:36to make the final choice
11:37far less obvious
11:38than the runway suggested.
11:40Number 11.
11:41Kaylin Rondot.
11:42Cycle 4.
11:43Kaylin.
11:47Kaylin, I'm so proud of you.
11:49You represent facing adversity
11:52and being able to get past that.
11:54And I admire you
11:55because sometimes
11:56I'm not as strong as that.
11:58Long before the finale,
11:59this contender had built
12:00one of the season's
12:01strongest photographic records.
12:03Kaylin earned three first call-outs,
12:05never landed in the bottom two
12:07until the final three,
12:08and finished with a better
12:09average call-out
12:10than Naima Mora.
12:12At final judging,
12:13the panel gave her the edge
12:14for her season-long portfolio,
12:16while her covergirl image
12:18also impressed.
12:19You've never looked like that.
12:20That just reeks
12:22covergirl, baby girl.
12:23Kaylin, where is this girl?
12:26Why isn't this smile, like,
12:27planted on your face
12:28from the moment you walk in?
12:30Naima decisively owned
12:32the last runway,
12:33giving the judges
12:33a reason to crown her.
12:35Still, if consistency
12:36behind the camera
12:37carried equal weight,
12:38Kaylin had done
12:39more than enough to win.
12:40I'm very inspired
12:41by Kaylin's photos.
12:42I think she rocks a photo.
12:43Kaylin has given
12:45Top Model
12:45one of their best portfolios.
12:47Number 10,
12:48Joni Dodds, Cycle 6.
12:50I've loved your film, Joni.
12:51It was spicy.
12:53Look at her facial expression.
12:54Look at her eyebrows.
12:55She's really working her face.
12:56And you did so many
12:57different expressions.
12:58When it came down
12:59to the wire in this cycle,
13:01Joni and Danielle Evans
13:02made for an extremely
13:03strong top two.
13:04In the final deliberation,
13:06the judges even stated
13:07it was the hardest win
13:08they'd had to call.
13:10This is the toughest one
13:10we've ever had.
13:11I don't think the girls'
13:12portfolios have ever looked
13:13this good at this stage before.
13:15Really?
13:15No.
13:15I agree.
13:16But despite her loss,
13:17Joni had an absolutely
13:18stellar track record
13:20in the competition.
13:20During the six weeks
13:22before the finale,
13:23Danielle had one
13:24first call-out
13:25while Joni came out
13:26on top
13:27a record-breaking
13:28five times.
13:29The first name
13:30that I'm going to call?
13:35Joni.
13:35And while Danielle
13:37killed the final runway walk,
13:38the judging panel
13:39admitted that Joni
13:40had a chameleon-like quality
13:42that would make her
13:43a successful model.
13:44Yeah, that's the one thing
13:45about Joni,
13:46chameleon.
13:46And it is so important
13:48as a model
13:49to be a chameleon,
13:50but to still look
13:51like yourself.
13:52If ever there were
13:53a time to declare a tie,
13:54this would have been it.
13:56Number nine,
13:57Melrose Bickerstaff,
13:59Cycle 7.
14:00I think Melrose
14:00did a great job.
14:02Amazing timing,
14:03a lot of confidence,
14:04and it just looked
14:04natural for her.
14:05There's no question
14:06that Cycle 7's winner,
14:08Carrie D. English,
14:09is a talented model
14:10who was well-liked
14:11by fans.
14:11But although
14:12her fellow competitor,
14:13Melrose,
14:14wasn't always
14:15the most lovable contestant,
14:16she had confidence,
14:18personality,
14:19and individuality
14:20in spades.
14:21Oh, oh my gosh,
14:22she looks great!
14:24Melrose worked it,
14:25and she looked confident,
14:27even while wobbling.
14:28And with three top performances
14:30and two stints
14:31in the bottom,
14:32her track record
14:33was pretty similar
14:34to Carrie D.
14:35Melrose also stood out
14:37by showing a diverse skill set.
14:39Janice Dickinson!
14:40So, what made you
14:41the original supermodel?
14:43Well, I coined the term
14:44back in 1979.
14:45And you're the original
14:46ideal beauty for this.
14:48But I coined the term!
14:49You coined the term, girl!
14:50She was great
14:51at interviewing
14:52Janice Dickinson,
14:53used a dining table
14:54as a catwalk,
14:55and was good
14:56at attending go-sees.
14:58The model
14:58that impressed
14:59the designers
14:59the most
15:00was
15:03Melrose!
15:03Yay!
15:04In the finale,
15:05Carrie Dean
15:06nailed her covergirl photo,
15:07but Melrose's
15:08runway walk
15:09was stronger,
15:10and the judges
15:11acknowledged
15:12her other strong qualities.
15:13We're chastising Melrose
15:15for the thing
15:15that we ask
15:16from all these girls,
15:17which is intelligence,
15:19knowledge of this industry.
15:21Love her or hate her,
15:22her tireless work
15:23should have secured
15:24her the win.
15:25Number 8.
15:26Yaya DaCosta,
15:27Cycle 3.
15:29Yaya blew me away.
15:30Every frame
15:31was
15:32an ad campaign.
15:34Admittedly,
15:35Yaya DaCosta
15:36was a divisive contestant.
15:37While she demonstrated
15:38a natural talent
15:39for posing
15:40with little experience,
15:41the judges
15:42criticized
15:42what they saw
15:43as her condescending attitude.
15:45Yaya takes
15:46a beautiful picture
15:47effortlessly.
15:48She's bringing
15:49something from inside.
15:50But the other thing
15:51that Yaya brings
15:51from inside
15:52that is so ugly
15:53is that superiority,
15:56condescending attitude.
15:57She excelled
15:58through most
15:58of the competition
15:59and attracted
16:00high praise
16:01for her photographs
16:02before struggling
16:03with challenges
16:04in Japan.
16:05Despite her setbacks,
16:06she had as many
16:07first call-outs
16:08as the winner,
16:09Eva Marcille.
16:10First name
16:11that I'm going to call.
16:17Yaya.
16:17Yaya also appeared
16:18at the bottom
16:19fewer times.
16:20Although some judges
16:21advocated for her
16:22in the finale,
16:23she was still edged out
16:25by the undeniably fierce
16:26Eva.
16:27Eva.
16:32Despite her loss,
16:33the entertainment industry
16:34picked up on
16:35Yaya's obvious
16:36star power.
16:37She would go on
16:37to nab a lead role
16:38on NBC's
16:39Chicago Med.
16:41Look at them.
16:44I'm guessing
16:44they'd do it all again.
16:46Number seven,
16:47Molly O'Connell,
16:48Cycle 16.
16:50Brittany Klein's win
16:51came as a surprise
16:52to some viewers.
16:53Brittany!
16:59Although her fellow
17:00competitor Molly
17:01was put through
17:02one of the show's
17:03worst ever makeovers,
17:04she dealt with it
17:05professionally.
17:06It's coming from my salon,
17:08this extension.
17:09What is that?
17:10Twisted Sister?
17:11She went on to have
17:12more best photos
17:13in the weeks leading up
17:13to the finale
17:14than the winner.
17:15I love this picture.
17:16Very cool.
17:17Very interesting.
17:18Your face,
17:19I totally believe you.
17:20I see all the jewelry,
17:22I see all the accessories.
17:22You've sold the price.
17:24I also see your face.
17:25Molly could also keep
17:26an easygoing personality
17:28in times of high pressure.
17:29By contrast,
17:30Brittany was the center
17:31of much drama,
17:32even at photo shoots.
17:34Brittany,
17:34why in front of the client?
17:35I didn't confront her.
17:37I wasn't like,
17:38oh, you didn't deserve to win.
17:39I didn't say that
17:40whenever they were doing that.
17:41I was talking with them
17:42and she overheard
17:43and I'm not gonna...
17:44But the client hurt.
17:44And while the judges
17:45would go on to punish
17:46future finalists
17:47for falling during
17:48the final runway show,
17:49Brittany did so
17:50and managed to score
17:51the win anyway.
17:55Even the judges admitted
17:57that Molly's portfolio
17:58was superior.
17:59But the fierce blonde
18:00still didn't take home
18:02the crown.
18:03Gorge.
18:03This is an amazing
18:04editorial photograph.
18:06I think that it's very dramatic
18:07and I think you look wonderful.
18:08Number six,
18:09Lila Goldcool,
18:11Cycle 19.
18:12Well, I think this picture
18:13is stunning.
18:15With a zombie photo shoot,
18:17it's important to
18:17be that zombie
18:18and portray that.
18:19Don't forget that
18:20you are a model
18:21and I think you've
18:22meshed the two
18:23to perfection.
18:24In the show's
18:25college edition,
18:26Lila stood out
18:27for her bubbly personality,
18:29tenacious attitude,
18:29and signature smile.
18:31Since the judges
18:32thought she had
18:33great potential,
18:34it was shocking
18:34to see her get
18:35eliminated five episodes in.
18:40Brittany.
18:42But the fashion
18:43student's social media
18:44score allowed her
18:45to return.
18:46While Lila notably
18:47had an accident
18:48during the final runway show,
18:49her last photo
18:51was acclaimed
18:51and she was beloved
18:53by the editor-in-chief
18:54of Nylon magazine.
18:55Nylon loved Lila.
18:57I spoke to the editor-in-chief.
18:58I said,
18:59who do you love?
19:00He said,
19:00Lila, Lila, Lila.
19:01She went on to show
19:02that she had
19:03what it took to win.
19:04But her high fashion features
19:05and track record
19:06that was arguably
19:07more consistent
19:08than winner Laura's
19:09only got her third place.
19:11If high fashion
19:12went on a date
19:14with commercial
19:15and they got
19:16a little frisky,
19:19this is what
19:20they would have created
19:21nine months later.
19:21Thankfully,
19:22since her loss,
19:23she's enjoyed
19:24one of the most
19:24prolific careers
19:25of any top model alum.
19:27Number five,
19:28Jenna Doucette,
19:29Cycle Nine.
19:31Jenna embraced
19:32the creative today.
19:33She gets her body.
19:35She doesn't self-analyze.
19:36Top model can be
19:37frustrating at times
19:38for the judges'
19:39shifting criteria
19:40of what makes a winner.
19:41Cycle Nine exemplified
19:43this with Jenna.
19:44Although the panel
19:45admitted she took
19:45amazing photographs,
19:47she came under fire
19:48for an ostensibly
19:49prickly personality.
19:50Jenna just came off
19:51looking snotty,
19:53a little over
19:54the situation,
19:55and that is something
19:56that Jenna should
19:57really watch out for.
19:58But she argued
19:58that her personality
19:59was just misunderstood.
20:01In the dramatic finale,
20:03Tyra admitted
20:03that while winner
20:04Sal had modeling
20:05experience,
20:06Jenna had one of
20:07the show's strongest
20:08portfolios of all time
20:09with little experience.
20:11And we have Jenna,
20:12a girl with hardly
20:13any experience
20:14with modeling,
20:15but walked into
20:16this competition
20:17taking photos
20:17that rivaled
20:18the top models
20:19of today.
20:20Given the high praise
20:21she received,
20:22it was downright confusing
20:23that she was not only
20:24not given the top spot,
20:26but she wasn't even
20:27allowed to compete
20:28in the finale.
20:29Number 4.
20:30Christiana Kazakova
20:31Cycle 24
20:42The 24th cycle
20:43of top model
20:44removed the upper
20:45age limit
20:45for the first time
20:46and aimed to celebrate
20:48a wider range
20:49of appearances.
20:51Christiana shined
20:52as a 32-year-old
20:53plus-size model
20:54who placed third
20:55but won us over
20:56with a striking look
20:57and bubbly personality.
20:58She also had
21:00as many first call-outs
21:01as the winner Kyla
21:02and boasted
21:03a whopping
21:03six challenge wins
21:05to boot.
21:06You are so bubbly
21:07and so beautiful.
21:08As a person
21:09looking at a magazine,
21:10I want to be taken
21:10on a journey.
21:11And you took me
21:12to this like
21:13amazing, crazy
21:14slumber party
21:15where you guys
21:15are playing dress-up
21:17and he called.
21:18But Christiana
21:19was upset
21:19by a twist
21:20in the penultimate episode.
21:22Gina Turner
21:22was saved
21:23after elimination
21:24by designer
21:24Philip Pline
21:25and made it
21:26to the final two.
21:27I don't know you,
21:28kiddo.
21:29you were saved
21:30by a very famous,
21:32very influential designer.
21:34However,
21:35we think Christiana's
21:36track record
21:37and body positivity
21:38should have merited
21:39her consideration
21:40as a finalist.
21:41Number three,
21:43Nick Pace,
21:44Cycle 5.
21:45When Nicole Linkletter
21:46was chosen as the winner
21:47over runner-up Nick
21:48in Cycle 4,
21:49some fans were confused
21:50by this outcome.
21:52Nicole.
21:53Nick was undeniably fierce
21:55with a strong presence
21:56and consistency
21:57week-to-week
21:58that her competitor lacked.
22:00This is one of the competitions
22:01that could make me
22:02a top model
22:03or a supermodel
22:04and it means so much to me.
22:05It's a blessing
22:06just to be here
22:07and it'd be
22:07an even bigger blessing to win.
22:09Even the judging panel
22:10admitted that she was
22:11an excellent model
22:12right out of the gate.
22:13Viewers also took a liking
22:14to the Atlanta native
22:15and she was voted
22:17fan favorite six times
22:18across the competition.
22:19But in the finale,
22:21some judges focused
22:21an awful lot
22:22on Nick's bouncy walk.
22:24I thought you looked amazing.
22:26It was a little bit
22:27bouncy for me.
22:29I agree with Twiggy.
22:30It did me take away
22:32from the strong high fashion.
22:34Despite having more
22:35best photos
22:36and obvious editorial
22:37and commercial prospects,
22:39she still wasn't the winner.
22:41Ford models would later
22:42see her talent
22:43and sign her.
22:44For me, Nick,
22:45you did the best job of all.
22:46As far as the poses
22:47were concerned,
22:47they really actually
22:48looked photographically
22:50beautiful.
22:51You just look good.
22:52Number two,
22:53Anya Rozova,
22:54Cycle 10.
22:55It was fantastic
22:56to see Whitney Thompson
22:57make history
22:58as the first plus-size winner
23:00on top model.
23:01Whitney!
23:02However,
23:03fans had expected
23:04Anya Rozova
23:05to secure the win.
23:06She had a stronger record
23:07than Whitney
23:08during the competition.
23:09Love it.
23:09Bravo!
23:10I look at you first
23:11and then I notice
23:12the meat around you
23:13and the whole thing works.
23:14This is the first
23:15fashion picture I see.
23:15It's fabulous.
23:16In all but one week,
23:18Anya was called
23:19before the winner.
23:20She also enjoyed
23:21five top placements
23:22compared to her competitors' one.
23:24And while Whitney
23:25was in the bottom
23:25a whopping four times,
23:27Anya was never up
23:28for elimination.
23:29From shot one,
23:30her very first shoot,
23:31she looks great.
23:32Angles.
23:33Angles everywhere.
23:34Angles, darling.
23:35Angles.
23:35The hands of the head,
23:36the long leg,
23:37you know,
23:37here again,
23:38hand over the head,
23:40you know,
23:40arm up.
23:41This is an educated model
23:42straight off the bat.
23:43To top it all off,
23:44judges sometimes had issues
23:46with Whitney's personality.
23:47But Anya's strong performance
23:49still wasn't enough
23:50to overcome
23:50her fellow competitor.
23:52As entertaining
23:53as the show was,
23:54it could be downright frustrating
23:56for the clear frontrunner
23:57to miss out
23:57on the all-important title.
24:00Then I look at Anya.
24:01Anya is probably
24:02one of the most
24:03high-fashion girls
24:04we have ever had.
24:06Before we unveil
24:07our top pick,
24:08here are a few
24:08honorable mentions.
24:10Natasha Galkina,
24:11Cycle 8.
24:12The judge's repeated praise
24:14made her a credible finalist.
24:16Natasha is just
24:16one of the funniest people
24:17I think Natasha's
24:19a great face.
24:20Natasha has gorgeous features.
24:21It's undeniable.
24:22What interests me
24:23with Natasha
24:23is her ability
24:24to be a quick study.
24:25No matter what she hears,
24:26she picks it up
24:27and she runs with it.
24:28And I think Natasha
24:28has a great future.
24:30Samantha Potter,
24:31Cycle 11.
24:32Commercial appeal
24:32and high-fashion photos
24:34made her seriously versatile.
24:36And she showed us
24:36that she's actually
24:37very capable
24:38at doing high-fashion pictures.
24:40Sam does present
24:41as a very healthy
24:43sort of California girl
24:45and she photographs
24:46like a high-fashion model.
24:48Which is very unusual.
24:50What you see
24:50is not what you get.
24:51Laura Kirkpatrick,
24:53Cycle 14.
24:54Fan-favorite charm
24:55and strong runway skills
24:57made her hard to dismiss.
24:58Because Laura to me
24:59doesn't necessarily
25:00look like a model
25:00in person.
25:01No.
25:01I just see a really
25:03pretty girl
25:03and a sweet girl
25:04and then you put her
25:06in a picture
25:07and it's like,
25:08dang!
25:09And you put her
25:09on a runway
25:10and it's like,
25:10padau!
25:11Amazing!
25:12It's so interesting
25:12how she transforms.
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25:33Oh, you so would.
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25:41Number 1
25:42Allison Harvard
25:43Cycle 17
25:44Fans can't talk
25:46about contestants
25:46who were robbed
25:47on Top Model
25:48without talking
25:49about Allison.
25:50And I have to tell you,
25:51you did such a good job.
25:54You can be
25:55a commercial model too
25:56and I never thought that.
25:57Well done.
25:58That first run
25:59established her
26:00distinctive wide-eyed look
26:01and wonderfully
26:02offbeat persona
26:03as one of the cycle's
26:04most memorable presences.
26:06But she was edged out
26:08by the fantastic
26:09Tiana Anderson.
26:10America's next
26:12top model
26:13is
26:21Tiana!
26:22So when Allison
26:23returned for the show's
26:25only All-Stars season,
26:26many viewers had high hopes
26:28and she delivered.
26:29You've always been
26:30one of the most
26:31photogenic people.
26:32I would stop
26:32on this page
26:33in the magazine.
26:34Lisa D'Amato,
26:36who was declared
26:37the winner
26:37after Anjali Preston's
26:39controversial disqualification,
26:41had loads of personality
26:42but lacked both
26:43polish and consistency.
26:48Allison performed
26:49just as well
26:50as she did
26:50on her stellar
26:51first appearance
26:51on the show.
26:56It felt like
26:57an unusually cruel
26:58twist of fate
26:58for her to place
26:59as runner-up twice.
27:01Understandably,
27:02the model's fans
27:02took issue
27:03with this all-important
27:04season's outcome.
27:05I'm just so grateful
27:06for all the support
27:07from the fans
27:07and from people
27:08who reach out to me.
27:09It's just,
27:09it's overwhelmingly flattering.
27:11Which contestant
27:12had the best portfolio
27:13of the entire series?
27:15Drop your pick
27:16in the comments.