13 of the most iconic and groundbreaking ‘America’s Next Top Model’ contestants

Tyra Banks created the popular reality show “America’s Next Top Model. “Getty Images Many “America’s Next Top Model” contestants made names for themselves during and after the show. Isis King was the first openly transgender contestant to compete on “America’s Next Top Model.

” Keith Carlos was the first man to win “America’s Next Top Model. ” Kim Stolz was the first openly lesbian contestant on “America’s Next Top Model. “Kim in a scene from “America’s Next Top Model.

“The CW/HuluStolz wasn’t afraid to express her sexuality and even ended up kissing one of the other contestants in the limo that transported them from shoots and challenges to their house. However, at the start of Cycle 5, Tyra Banks implied that gay contestant Kim should tone down her sexuality.  “I’m gay, and I’m really proud of it,” Kim Stolz, who is a lesbian, told Banks and the other judges during her audition.

Banks replied, “I think there’s a certain thing of being proud. Like, I’m Black and proud, you know what I mean? But I’m not walking down the red carpet: ‘I’m Black. I’m Black.

‘””No, I certainly won’t walk down the red carpet and try to kiss girls on the way. That’s not what I’m going to do,” Stolz responded. Jay Manuel later criticized the incident, saying he felt uncomfortable about Banks’ remarks.

“I was in the room, and I was sitting right next to her. I remember feeling a little uncomfortable with the statement,” he told Variety in May 2020. “I could see Tyra trying to draw the parallel and what she was trying to illustrate, and I was confused by it.

Because we ask these girls to come in the room and the producers remind the girls before they come in, ‘Tell them who you are. You’re not just a pretty face. You have to have a discussion about who you are.

‘”Eva Pigford was the first Black model to win “America’s Next Top Model. “Eva Pigford in 2017. Thaddaeus McAdams/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesWhen Cycle Three aired in 2003, Pigford stood out from the bunch as the shortest contestant.

However, she soon rose in the ranks. “I was not the cute girl in school,” Pigford said in a speech after winning the title. “I came here the shortest and the one that had the most insecurities inside of them, and now I’m America’s Next Top Model.

And I get to represent all the little girls who feel the way I feel . . .

Watch out world, here comes Eva. “Pigford, who now goes by Eva Marcille, has gone on to do a number of television appearances, including a starring spot on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta. ” She now stars in the drama series “All the Queen’s Men.

“In June 2020, Marcille announced she would be exiting “RHOA,” saying, “I am thankful for the opportunity I was provided, however, after speaking with my family and representatives, I believe that what I hope to accomplish for the culture and community will be better served by focusing on other opportunities. “Danielle Evans famously refused to close her gap tooth while appearing on the show. Danielle Evans in 2006.

Evan Agostini/Getty ImagesEvans competed on — and won — Cycle 6 of “America’s Next Top Model,” receiving praise for her bubbly personality and striking photos. One part of Evans’ storyline on “ANTM” related to her gap tooth, which Tyra and other higher-ups on the show encouraged Evans to close. However, when Evans was sent to the dentist, she refused to close the gap in her teeth.

Tyra Banks later asked why she chose not to, telling her that a gap tooth wasn’t “marketable. ” In the end, Evans did end up partially closing her gap. Tyra Banks has since received backlash for the incident, with social-media users criticizing how she and runway coach Miss J.

Alexander handled the situation. Danielle Evans also made a recent statement about the incident, saying in an Instagram video, “I want to address all of those young girls. I’m gonna take this time to build up and to speak to all of my young queens who saw that episode and were truly affected by Tyra’s words .

. . It doesn’t matter if you have a gap, stacked teeth, straight teeth, it matters not.

It doesn’t matter if you’re black, brown, white, indifferent, other. What makes you beautiful is in here. “Danielle Evans, who now goes by Dani Evans, now lives in New York City and is signed with Elite Model Management.

In addition to writing a book on how to break into the modeling industry titled “The Skinny on Getting In,” Evans has modeled for Essence, Elle, Elle Girl, MetroStyle, and more. Today, she is also the designer and founder of Monrowe, a hat company based in New York City. CariDee English came out on top in Cycle Seven of “America’s Next Top Model.

” She was the first natural blonde to win the title. CariDee English in 2020. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesEnglish was the second winner to come from North Dakota.

For winning her season of “America’s Next Top Model,” she won a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, a modeling contract with Elite Models, and a cover and six-page editorial spread in Seventeen magazine. In addition to a number of modeling credits, CariDee English has helped to spread awareness about psoriasis, a skin condition she lives with and once viewed as a “curse,” in both professional campaigns and on her own social media platforms. English has struggled with addiction issues in the past and was recently hospitalized after she suffered a head injury while intoxicated.

 “My relapse is heartbreaking to myself and the ones around me. I am surrounded by compassion and a wonderful team at Cedars,” English said in a statement in February 2022. “When I am released I will be spending the next 6 months at a wonderful outpatient rehabilitation center, that will support me in my recovery of addiction and support my mental health.

“Jaslene Gonzalez was eliminated while trying out for Cycle Seven but ended up going all the way in Cycle Eight. She was the first Latina winner of the show. Jaslene Gonzalez in 2019.

Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty ImagesGonzalez dominated the competition with her “editorial,” high-fashion look, becoming the second contestant and first winner to never land in the bottom two during judging. She received praise for her fiery, sassy personality and got along with a majority of the other girls in the competition. For winning the title of “America’s Next Top Model,” Gonzalez was awarded a contract with Elite Model Management, a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, and a cover and spread in Seventeen magazine.

“Every little girl has a dream to be something. My family believed in my dream as much as I did. And to be here, and after working so much .

. . I think that shows all young women if you have that drive, keep going.

The second time around, and I’m America’s Next Top Model,” she said. Following her win, Gonzalez continued with both print and runway modeling. She has appeared in Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), Seventeen, US Weekly, and more.

Cycle 8 contestant Natasha made it to the final two. Throughout the season, she was criticized for being “too sexy” and her marriage was questioned by the other girls. Natasha Galkina on “America’s Next Top Model.

“The CWWhile Natasha didn’t end up winning her season, she certainly brought the drama. She struggled to get along with a lot of the other girls and was often the subject of gossip in the house. Galkina was born and raised in Russia, but she lived in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and daughter.

Some of the girls in the house speculated whether she was a “mail-order bride” due to the fact that she didn’t wear a wedding ring and didn’t have any photos of her with her husband and child. Galkina, however, vehemently denied the rumors.  “We met like the other people, like the other people meet each other,” she said in a 2007 interview.

“It was natural, we dated for a little bit less than a year, and I got married when I was almost 20 and after the year from the date of our marriage, and I got the beautiful baby and I was very, very happy with him. “However, Galkina and her husband split in 2009. She has since changed her name to Natalie Gal and is still modeling.

 Whitney Thompson was the first plus-size model to win “ANTM” back in 2008. Whitney Thompson. Brad Barket/Stringer/Getty ImagesDuring her time on “Cycle 10,” Thompson was criticized for being too “pageant-y,” and the judges wondered whether the blonde model could pull off high-fashion looks.

However, Thompson proved her critics wrong when she won against Anya Kop, becoming the first plus-size model to take the title. Of every “America’s Next Top Model” winner, Thompson appeared in the bottom two the highest number of times — she narrowly scraped by in the competition four times. According to her Instagram profile, Thompson Forrester, 34, is still modeling, in addition to being a lifestyle blogger and mother.

The former winner, who is a vegan, also currently owns her own restaurant, Copper Vault in Springfield, Tennessee, which claims to feature locally sourced food and craft beers, and is vegan and gluten-free friendly. Isis King was the first openly transgender contestant to compete on “America’s Next Top Model. “Isis King.

John Sciulli/Stringer/Getty Images for Ketel One Family-Made VodkaKing’s season aired in 2008 and brought transgender representation in the media to a whole new level. In the first episode of Cycle 11, multiple contestants made disparaging and transphobic comments about Isis King, the first transgender woman to ever compete on “America’s Next Top Model. ” Isis spoke to Hello magazine in 2021 about what it was like to watch her season years later.

“As hurtful as so much of that was to watch for me back then, if I was to change any of that back then, I might not have had the strength I needed 14 years later to be who I am now,” King told the publication. “I had to go through that unfortunately but it helped push the conversation forward on a global scale. That is a moment in history and it all started with me believing in myself and following my heart.

“After the season, King became a fan favorite and ended up returning for the All Stars season, where she was eliminated in the third episode.  McKey Sullivan, the winner of Cycle 11, used her boxing background to make her photos stand out. McKey Sullivan during the final judging on “America’s Next Top Model.

“The CWSullivan struggled right out of the gate but used her boxing background as an advantage when it came to her posing. After delivering some of the best photos in the competition and never placing below fifth, Sullivan landed the winning spot as America’s Next Top Model. McKey Sullivan is one of seven winners who never landed in the bottom two.

McKey now shares five children with her boxer husband, Sam Alvey. Lisa D’Amato placed sixth on “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle Five, but went on to win the “All Star” season. Lisa D’Amato hosts “America’s Next Top Model All Stars” celebration at Chrystie 141 on December 13, 2011.

Robin Marchant/Getty ImagesAt 30, D’Amato became the oldest winner of “America’s Next Top Model. “For winning Cycle 17, she received a fashion spread in Vogue Italia, a cover and spread in Beauty in Vogue, a blog post feature on Vogue Italia’s website, and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl. Unlike previous seasons, there was no modeling contract included in the prizes.

D’Amato’s win was controversial, as were the conditions the contestants allegedly worked under during the season. The original winner of the “America’s Next Top Model All Stars” season was Angelea Preston, but she alleged that “ANTM” illegally revoked her win in that season because she had previously worked as an escort. D’Amato also said that appearing in both seasons was a “traumatizing” experience and that she lost 15 pounds during the “All Stars” season because the contestants were so afraid of gaining weight that they would avoid on-set catering and spending the money they were allotted for groceries.

 Keith Carlos was the first man to win “America’s Next Top Model. “Keith Carlos attends the “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 21 premiere party. Rachel Murray/Getty ImagesAfter an injury derailed his football career, Carlos got onto the 21st season of the show and eventually became the first male winner of “America’s Next Top Model.

” Among his prizes for winning was a contract with NEXT Models. Keith Carlos has gone on to have success both as a model and an actor. According to Carlos’ IMDb page, the male model has scored a number of high-profile modeling campaigns, including ads for Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sears, Diesel, Lucky Brand, Guess, Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Men’s Warehouse, True Religion, Walmart, Fashion Nova Men, and Giorgio Armani.

Carlos has also walked the runway for top designers like Betsey Johnson, Civil Society, and August Getty. In addition to his role as Danny on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” you might also recognize Carlos as the leading man in Cardi B’s music video for her song “Be Careful. “Cycle 21 contestant Winnie Harlow went on to become one of the most successful “ANTM” alumni in the show’s history.

Winnie Harlow attends the 2022 Met Gala. John Shearer / Contributor / Getty ImagesWinnie Harlow, who competed under the name Chantelle Brown-Young, made history as the first contestant with the skin condition vitiligo to compete on the show. Harlow was cast by Tyra Banks herself after the host came across her on Instagram.

She also made history as the first and only Canadian to be cast on “America’s Next Top Model. “Harlow was criticized by other competitors for being over-confident, especially after receiving a makeover that judge Miss Jay referred to as the “greatest weave in Top Model history. ” Harlow was originally the second girl eliminated, but won the “comeback series” and ended up placing sixth overall.

After coming in sixth place, Harlow went on to become a very successful model. She has had covers or spreads in magazines like i-D, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Elle, and Vogue Italia. She also the Met Gala four times and boasts 10 million followers on Instagram, making her the most-followed “ANTM” alumna.

Nyle DiMarco stands out not only as the second male model to win “ANTM,” but also as the show’s first and only deaf winner. Nyle DiMarco attends the “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 22 premiere party. Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesThroughout the competition, DiMarco delivered incredible photos week after week.

The male model used both his phone and an on-site translator to communicate with his fellow contestants and the judges.  However, DiMarco admitted that not being able to use American Sign Language with the other contestants and those around him was difficult. “The competition, and especially living with the models in the house, was undoubtedly a lot of fun, but it was also pretty tough.

The inability to use my language, American Sign Language, and the lack of communication, information access, and the general connection to the world was difficult,” he told People. “It truly did take a toll on me mentally . .

. I even cringe now when I watch myself on ‘ANTM’ being all alone. “Nyle DiMarco went on to win season 22 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and is an advocate for the deaf community.

DiMarco served as the executive producer on two Netflix docuseries focusing on the deaf community in the US, “Deaf U” and “Audible. ” DiMarco’s memoir “Deaf Utopia: A Memoir — and a Love Letter to a Way of Life” became a New York Times bestseller after its release in April 2022. DiMarco also come out as sexually fluid in 2017.

“Growing up, I never felt the need to come out, especially being a Millennial. We just did not care who showed up at the doorstep. When stardom hit, I immediately saw the wave of questions to my sexuality.

It made me feel closeted for the first time, so when somebody asked, I casually replied because sexuality shouldn’t be a big issue,” he told Paper. Read the original article on Insider.