SIDE-STORY: Modeling Life After ANTM

Finally! I was so busy with A LOT of things recently that I don’t even know where to begin complaining. Bottom line is, I’m proclaiming my new found hatred towards anything that has got to do with bridesmaid-dress-fitting! By the way, did I mention that I absolutely looooovvveee the movie RENT before? I can’t stop playing that damn song on my head. It usually goes off when my boss is giving one of those ‘motivational pep talks’ (that I’m praying like hell he doesn’t decided to give us a quiz on).

'Five hundred 25 thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, measure a year…'

Ok, so apart from BIO anyone would probably notice my obsession with the ANTM series. Everytime I’m stressed out, I just reached for my trusted ANTM DVDs (and BIO of course, but that’s another story) and laugh at the so-called drama that’s unfolding in front of my eyes. But I kept thinking, where the heck are my favorite bitches now since I still see Russian/Brazilian/European models gracing the Vogues and Elles, as well as posing ‘fiercely’ for the Guccis and Pradas. So I did some digging, and apart from the obvious winners, here are some other ANTM alumnae that had been signed on to major modeling agencies

1. Ford Models = Shannon (Cycle 1) Eva (Cycle 3) Naima (Cycle 4)
Brita (Cycle 4) Nicole L (Cycle 5)
2. Wilhemina Models = Adrienne (Cycle 1) Elyse (Cycle 1) Toccara (Cycle 3)
3. NY Models = April (Cycle 2) Rachel (Cycle 3 Top 20) Kahlen (Cycle 4)
4. LA Models = Catie (Cycle 2)
5. Nous Model Mgmt = Mercedes Yvette (Cycle 2) Norelle (Cycle 3)
6. Boss Models = Xiomara (Cycle 2)
7. T Management = Shandi (Cycle 2)
8. IMG Models = Yoanna (Cycle 2)
9. Major Models Mgmt = Nargis (Cycle 3 Top 20)
10. Next Models = Brittany (Cycle 4)
11. Elite Models = Ann (Cycle 3)
12. VNY Model Mgmt = Rebecca (Cycle 4)
13. Geoffrey Chapman Modeling Agency = Michelle (Cycle 4)


So far, it’s safe to say that none of the ANTM graduates had manages to make it big in the fashion industry. But all’s not lost as they’re not completely out of their 12 episodes limelights just yet. Toccara (Cycle 3) is doing pretty well commercially cause I’ve seen her in numerous things. I forgot to mention earlier when I did a post on The Cut that Yaya (Cycle 3) had also appeared on the show as a working model, just like Rachel (Cycle 3 Top 20) did in Project Runway 2. And from what I’ve heard, Brita (Cycle 4) is also featured in some billboard (hah! Take that Superdiva T) I was so crushed when they sent her home during the first episode of Cycle 4. Nole Marin should get himself a mirror before calling somebody else’s fat. But what they cannot do in the States, they most certainly made up for outside, in the big bad world. Elyse (Cycle 1) is making it big in Asia and Europe, the only one gracing a major cover (that didn’t have anything to do with winning ANTM) so far. Someone also told me that Norelle (Cycle 3) is also graining popularity in Asia, particularly in Japan. It’s not surprising though, since she has what the Japanese people would call a ‘kawaii’ look (check Gwen Stefani’s dictionary for the meaning of the word). I’m pretty surprise to see ANTM very own ‘Miss Thang’ Camille (Cycle 2) in a Jamaican runway covered by Fashion TV last few seasons. And yes, she did her ‘signature walk’ although I think it didn’t came close to the much more beautiful supermodel Nadine Willis ‘walk’ (she’d graced the same runway).