America’s Next Top Model Contestants With The Most Successful Careers

Although America’s Next Top Model claimed to be a modeling competition show, very few top models emerged from the series. The show quickly developed a reputation for problematic and dangerous photo shoots, but not so much for discovering actual models. However, there have been a few standouts from the series’ 24 seasons, or cycles, as host Tyra Banks calls them, who have established successful careers after one of the original best reality TV shows.

Over its many cycles, hundreds of aspiring models have auditioned to win a spot on the show and prove to Tyra they are America’s Next Top Model. Throughout each cycle, models took part in embarrassing challenges, horrible makeovers, and sometimes problematic ANTM photo shoots, all for the prize package that included a modeling contract and a fashion or makeup brand campaign. However, most of the show’s winners never developed much of a career after being named America’s Next Top Model. Nonetheless, some escaped the America’s Next Top Model curse.

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1 Yaya DaCosta

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3

Yaya DaCosta stood out from the competition immediately in ANTM cycle 3, and though she finished second, Yaya took some of her cycle’s best photographs. However, Yaya was hounded with unfair critiques about her being too “African” and having a strong connection to her heritage. Yaya is one of the models who has spoken out about how bad the ANTM cycles were, and though she didn’t do much in the fashion world, Yaya has built a robust acting career. With over 30 acting credits to her name, Yaya has appeared on Ugly Betty, Chicago Med, and All My Children and played Whitney Houston in the TV movie Whitney.

2 Fatima Siad

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10

Fatima Siad touched the judge’s hearts with the story of her difficult upbringing as a Somalian refugee, and when it came to the competition, her striking features and unique bone structure blew everyone away. Throughout ANTM cycle 10, Fatima produced incredible photos, but she only made it to the final three. However, after she left the show, Fatima’s modeling career took off. She’s appeared on runways for Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Giorgio Armani, and Betsey Johnson. Fatima even did campaigns for Becca Cosmetics, BGBG Max Azria, Urban Decay, Herve Leger, and Ulta.

3 Lio Tipton

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 11

Lio (formerly Analeigh) Tipton from ANTM cycle 11, consistently impressed judges with their pictures week after week. Their figure skating background gave them a unique edge when it came to body movement and creative posing. They made it as far as the top three, and though Lio didn’t see much success as a model after the show, they’ve been following their other passion, acting. On IMDB, Lio has dozens of film and TV credits to their name, including roles in Warm Bodies, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Manhattan Love Story, and A Friend of the Family.

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4 Allison Harvard

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 & Cycle 17

Allison Harvard is one of ANTM‘s most memorable models thanks to her unique, quirky look and haunting eyes. She looks like she came right out of a Keane painting and was easily one of the highlights of her ANTM seasons. Allison didn’t win cycle 12, but Tyra was so impressed with her talent that she brought her back for All-Stars season 17. Allison again lost out on the top spot, but her career in fashion didn’t stop there. She has booked campaigns with Lime Crime makeup and got2b hair products and has done most of her work in editorials in magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

5 Leila Goldkuhl

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 19

The judging on ANTM cycle 19 was needlessly complicated with scores and fan rankings. Leila Goldkuhl ended up going home in episode 5 and then rejoined the competition later and made it to the top 3. She may have stumbled on the final runway in ANTM cycle 19, but since then, Leila has done runways for Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Dior, Burberry, and Moschino. Leila even booked campaigns with Zara, Dior, and Calvin Klein Jeans and has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and V Magazine.

6 Winnie Harlow

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 21

Winnie Harlow competed on ANTM cycle 21 under the name Chantelle Young, and she didn’t do very well on the show. Despite her obvious talent and unique appearance due to her vitiligo condition, Chantelle went home in episode 4, only to return to the competition and go home again three episodes later. However, since the show, Chantelle, now Winnie, has booked campaigns with Tommy Hilfiger, appeared in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated, and has even walked the Victoria’s Secret runway.

7 Nyle DiMarco

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 22

In ANTM’s later cycles, both male and female models were allowed to compete. Reality TV star Nyle DiMarco entered the competition in ANTM cycle 22 as the show’s first deaf model, and despite the significant challenges he faced, Nyle won the season. He’s one of the series’ few winners whose careers took off after the show. Aside from being an outspoken advocate for the deaf community, Nyle has walked the runway for Armani, appeared in V Magazine, Attitude, GQ, and Nylon, and also has other acting and TV credits. He’s been on Station 19, Difficult People, and This Close, and won Dancing With the Stars season 22.

Despite all of Tyra’s promises, very few models from America’s Next Top Model saw success in the fashion world after the show. Surprisingly, some of the most successful contestants weren’t even winners, which shows just how poor of a job the show did of finding “top” models. However, there were still those who escaped the curse and built their own successful careers, no matter what Tyra and the judges had to say.

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Source: Lio Tipton/IMDB