10. Nicole Linkletter: Cycle Five
Nicole would have placed much higher on this list if this whole Cycle we didn't have to endure Nicole's horrid Cover Girl plugs. An awful spokesperson, Nicole is little more than a pretty face; but she is quite pretty at that. Simply put, her portfolio at the end of the show was pure and wonderful, and she should have no problem getting any work where speaking is not required.
9. Toccara Jones: Cycle Three
The most radiant plus-sized model the show has ever featured, Toccara was comfortable in her skin, and it showed. The fact that she was booted off for a lack of personality was not only unfair, it was untrue. Tocarra's personality, like her bosom, runneth over. The first half of her run showcased this merrily, but the judges beat her into mediocrity, which was a disservice to all Top Model fans.
8. Danielle Evans: Cycle Six
The winner of Cycle Six, Danielle never sorted out her speech difficulties, but a sparkling personality and a portfolio full of killer shots guaranteed her the ultimate prize. Always willing to change in order to move forward in the game (remember she got her "signature" tooth gap closed?), Danielle consistently upped her game. In the end, she didn't make it higher on the list because we don't think she is as strong as some of the other contestants—but her personality was one of the best the show has ever seen.
7. Ya Ya Da Costa: Cycle Three
While Ya Ya had a nasty habit of getting self-righteous late in the cycle, her walk, her images and her line delivery was spot-on. She overcame a serious skin problem early on to truly shine late in the game. Her stint on Model led to many opportunities, including a role in the feature film Take the Lead opposite Antonio Banderas.
6. Naima Mora: Cycle Four
Naima was a wire-to-wire favorite, and ended up winning Cycle Four based on a great set of shots and a winning personality. Like so many girls on the show, she went through some personal travails during the season, dredging up the mistakes of her youth in front of an audience of millions. But she emerged resplendent and worthy (maybe not as worthy as Kahlen) to claim the ultimate prize. Love the Mohawk!
5. Eva Pigford: Cycle Three
Otherwise known as "Eva the Diva," this once stuck-up bratty girl went through a complete transformation during the course of the show and emerged as the victor. Incapable of taking a bad photo, Eva racked up an impressive collection of shots even while she was distancing folks with her sass early on. Eva has gone on to be a spokesperson for Model, she makes frequent appearances on later Cycles to share her knowledge and expertise with the noobs.
4. Joanie Dodds: Cycle Six
Taking a page from Kahlen's book, Joanie was robbed in the recently-completed Cycle Six. Her entire portfolio was beautiful, she took the competition more seriously than anyone in the house, she had a good walk and a good enough personality. Bottom line, Joanie is a beautiful and accomplished girl who takes amazing photos.
3. Yoanna House: Cycle Two
Perhaps the most successful Top Model winner, Yoanna has turned her opportunity into a job, replacing fellow reality TV celeb Elizabeth Hasselbeck as the host of The Look For Less. Yoanna's run on ANTM was plagued with some adversity, but she rose above it to be both a success on the show and after it.
2. Kahlen Rondot: Cycle Four
The world might remember Kahlen as "the girl who should have won instead of Naima." Well, that's how we remember her, anyway. It may seem odd that Kahlen would be so high up the list when she didn't become the Top Model (wait until you reach #1), but we feel that she was one of the most solid among the talent cast on the show… ever. Her pictures were always spot-on, her demeanor was pleasant, and her personality was there, but never grating. Perhaps she didn't always make for the most chaotic TV (not like the most deluded person in history—Jade), but she always made us smile.
1. Elyse Sewell: Cycle One
The word "fierce" is greatly overused on ANTM, but Elyse is the one model among all of them who truly fits the bill. Wry and above it, she is more centered than anyone who has ever competed. What sane person wouldn't crack amidst the group of Cycle One atrocities she had to endure? Smarter than a wheelbarrow full of physicists, malleable, goofy and inspired, she went on to an interesting modeling career that takes her all over the globe. Since Top Model, she has written a book (which is really more of a compilation of her livejournal posts) and maintains one of the most witty and readable blogs online. Plus, how cool is it that she dates a member of The Shins? Trust us; pretty cool.
Nicole would have placed much higher on this list if this whole Cycle we didn't have to endure Nicole's horrid Cover Girl plugs. An awful spokesperson, Nicole is little more than a pretty face; but she is quite pretty at that. Simply put, her portfolio at the end of the show was pure and wonderful, and she should have no problem getting any work where speaking is not required.
- upn.com
9. Toccara Jones: Cycle Three
The most radiant plus-sized model the show has ever featured, Toccara was comfortable in her skin, and it showed. The fact that she was booted off for a lack of personality was not only unfair, it was untrue. Tocarra's personality, like her bosom, runneth over. The first half of her run showcased this merrily, but the judges beat her into mediocrity, which was a disservice to all Top Model fans.
- upn.com
8. Danielle Evans: Cycle Six
The winner of Cycle Six, Danielle never sorted out her speech difficulties, but a sparkling personality and a portfolio full of killer shots guaranteed her the ultimate prize. Always willing to change in order to move forward in the game (remember she got her "signature" tooth gap closed?), Danielle consistently upped her game. In the end, she didn't make it higher on the list because we don't think she is as strong as some of the other contestants—but her personality was one of the best the show has ever seen.
- upn.com
7. Ya Ya Da Costa: Cycle Three
While Ya Ya had a nasty habit of getting self-righteous late in the cycle, her walk, her images and her line delivery was spot-on. She overcame a serious skin problem early on to truly shine late in the game. Her stint on Model led to many opportunities, including a role in the feature film Take the Lead opposite Antonio Banderas.
- upn.com
6. Naima Mora: Cycle Four
Naima was a wire-to-wire favorite, and ended up winning Cycle Four based on a great set of shots and a winning personality. Like so many girls on the show, she went through some personal travails during the season, dredging up the mistakes of her youth in front of an audience of millions. But she emerged resplendent and worthy (maybe not as worthy as Kahlen) to claim the ultimate prize. Love the Mohawk!
5. Eva Pigford: Cycle Three Otherwise known as "Eva the Diva," this once stuck-up bratty girl went through a complete transformation during the course of the show and emerged as the victor. Incapable of taking a bad photo, Eva racked up an impressive collection of shots even while she was distancing folks with her sass early on. Eva has gone on to be a spokesperson for Model, she makes frequent appearances on later Cycles to share her knowledge and expertise with the noobs.
- upn.com
4. Joanie Dodds: Cycle Six
Taking a page from Kahlen's book, Joanie was robbed in the recently-completed Cycle Six. Her entire portfolio was beautiful, she took the competition more seriously than anyone in the house, she had a good walk and a good enough personality. Bottom line, Joanie is a beautiful and accomplished girl who takes amazing photos.
- upn.com
3. Yoanna House: Cycle Two
Perhaps the most successful Top Model winner, Yoanna has turned her opportunity into a job, replacing fellow reality TV celeb Elizabeth Hasselbeck as the host of The Look For Less. Yoanna's run on ANTM was plagued with some adversity, but she rose above it to be both a success on the show and after it.
- upn.com
2. Kahlen Rondot: Cycle Four
The world might remember Kahlen as "the girl who should have won instead of Naima." Well, that's how we remember her, anyway. It may seem odd that Kahlen would be so high up the list when she didn't become the Top Model (wait until you reach #1), but we feel that she was one of the most solid among the talent cast on the show… ever. Her pictures were always spot-on, her demeanor was pleasant, and her personality was there, but never grating. Perhaps she didn't always make for the most chaotic TV (not like the most deluded person in history—Jade), but she always made us smile.
- upn.com
1. Elyse Sewell: Cycle One
The word "fierce" is greatly overused on ANTM, but Elyse is the one model among all of them who truly fits the bill. Wry and above it, she is more centered than anyone who has ever competed. What sane person wouldn't crack amidst the group of Cycle One atrocities she had to endure? Smarter than a wheelbarrow full of physicists, malleable, goofy and inspired, she went on to an interesting modeling career that takes her all over the globe. Since Top Model, she has written a book (which is really more of a compilation of her livejournal posts) and maintains one of the most witty and readable blogs online. Plus, how cool is it that she dates a member of The Shins? Trust us; pretty cool.