Contestants With The Most Successful Careers

May 2024 · 5 minute read

Most of the contestants on ANTM saw their careers flop, but there were some who escaped the Tyra curse and found success after being on the show.

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 the show.

Over its many cycles, hundreds of aspiring models have auditioned to win a spot on the show and prove to Tyra that they are America’s Next Top Model. Throughout each cycle, models took part in embarrassing challenges, horrible makeovers, and ridiculous photo shoots, all for the promise of a prize package that included a modeling contract and fashion or makeup brand campaign. But most of the show’s winners never developed much of a career after being named America’s Next Top Model. Some former winners have said the fashion world saw them as reality TV stars more than models and never took them seriously. But there were some who escaped the America’s Next Top Model curse.

Cycle 3 - Yaya DaCosta

In Cycle 3, Yaya DaCosta stood out from the competition immediately, 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 problematic the show was, 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, All My Children, and played Whitney Houston in the TV movie Whitney.

Cycle 10 - Fatima Siad

Fatima Siad touched the judges hearts with her 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 cycle 10, Fatima Siad produced incredible photos, but she only made it to the final three. However, after she left the show was when Fatima’s modeling career really took off. She’s appeared on runways for Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Giorgio Armani, and Betsey Johnson, and has secured campaigns for Becca Cosmetics, BGBG Max Azria, Urban Decay, Herve Leger, and Ulta.

Cycle 11 - Analeigh Tipton

Cycle 11’s Analeigh Tipton consistently impressed judges with her pictures week after week. Her figure skating background gave her a unique edge when it came to body movement and creative posing. She made it as far as the top three, and though Analeigh didn’t see much success as a model after the show, she’s been following her other passion, acting. Under the name Lio Tipton on IMDB, Analeigh has dozens of film and tv credits to her name, including roles in Warm Bodies; Crazy, Stupid, Love.; and Manhattan Love Story, and has three more projects currently in production.

Cycle 12 & Cycle 17 - Allison Harvard

Allison Harvard is one of America’s Next Top Model’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 seasons. Allison didn’t win cycle 12 but Tyra was so impressed with her talent that she brought her back for the All-Stars season, cycle 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.

Cycle 19 -  Leila Goldkuhl

In a desperate attempt to remain relevant, the judging on cycle 19 was needlessly complicated with scores and fan rankings. Leila 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 cycle 19, but since then has done runways for Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Dior, Burberry, and Moschino. Leila has booked campaigns with Zara, Dior, and Calvin Klein Jeans, and has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and V Magazine.

Cycle 21 -  Winnie Harlow

Winnie Harlow competed on America’s Next Top Model cycle 21 under the name Chantelle Young, and she didn’t do very well on the show. Despite her obvious talent and unique look due to a condition called vitiligo, Chantelle went home in episode 4, later returned to the competition, and then went home again three episodes later. However, since the show, Chantelle, now Winnie Harlow, 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.

Cycle 22 -  Nyle DiMarco

In America’s Next Top Model’s last few cycles, both male and female models were allowed to compete. In cycle 22, Nyle DiMarco entered the competition 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 actually 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 Banks’ promises, very few models from America’s Next Top Model actually 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 actually did of finding “top” models. But there were still those who escaped the curse, and built up their own successful careers, no matter what Tyra and the judges had to say.

Next: Tyra Banks Addresses Hate From America's Next Top Model Clips

Source: IMDB, Models.com, Fatima Siad/Instagram, Allison Harvard/Instagram, Leila Goldkuhl/Instagram, Winnie Harlow/Instagram, Nyle DiMarco/Instagram

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