21 Iconic "America's Next Top Model" Contestants Who Are Currently Living Their Best Lives

    From Too Hot to Handle to Armani runways to Vogue Italia to Real Housewives of Atlanta to Playboy, oh my!

    Ehis Osifo
    by Ehis Osifo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Yaya DaCosta (Cycle 3):

    Yaya looking at the judges while wearing a cowboy hat
    The CW

    Yaya was the runner-up on Cycle 3 of ANTM, whom you may remember for being heavily criticized for appearing "too African" by the judges. 

    NBC

    Since ANTM, Yaya has pivoted to acting and has gone on to star in Ugly Betty, The Kids Are Alright, All My Children, and, most notably, the Chicago cinematic universe (Med, Fire, and P.D.).

    2. Cassandra Amell — FKA Cassandra Whitehead (Cycle 5):

    Before and after shots of Cassandra during her makeover
    The CW

    Cassandra was a contestant on Cycle 5 of ANTM whom you may remember for self-eliminating in the early weeks because she refused to recut her hair. 

    3. Fatima Siad (Cycle 10):

    Fatima talking to the camera in confessional
    The CW

    Fatima was second runner-up on Cycle 10 of ANTM, and you may remember her for being very opinionated and not so popular with her housemates. 

    4. Nyle DiMarco (Cycle 22):

    Nyle and Tyra dancing before the judges
    The CW

    Nyle was the Cycle 22 winner of ANTM, whom you may remember for being the first deaf winner of the series. 

    5. Matthew Smith (Cycle 21):

    Matthew talking in a confessional on ANTM
    The CW

    Matthew was a contestant on Cycle 21 of ANTM whom you may remember for being the heartthrob who stood up for Will against some of the toxic males in the house. 

    Matthew talking in a confessional on Too Hot To Handle
    The CW

    After ANTM, Matthew went on to participate in the first season of Netflix's Too Hot to Handle. 

    6. Cory Wade (Cycle 20):

    Cory talking in a confessional on ANTM
    The CW

    Cory was the second runner-up on Cycle 20 of ANTM, whom you may remember for being the first openly gay contestant on the show and for their androgynous approach to modeling. 

    7. Will Jardell (Cycle 21):

    Will looking fierce during panel
    The CW

    Will was the runner-up on Cycle 21 of ANTM, whom you may remember for being a tall legend who would wear 6-inch heels to panel. 

    8. Jade Cole (Cycle 6):

    The CW

    Jade was the second runner-up on Cycle 6 of ANTM, whom you may remember for giving us one of the most iconic lines in reality television history. 

    Jade posting for a photo at a NYLON party
    Rochelle Brodin / Getty Images

    Since ANTM, Jade has continued modeling and is currently signed to agencies in the US, Canada, and Asia. 

    Writer's note: I swear, this photo from 2014 is the most recent photo of Miss Jade that I could find/was allowed to use. 

    9. Eva Sterling — FKA Eva Pigford (Cycle 3):

    Eva posing with diamonds and a tarantula
    The CW

    Eva was the Cycle 3 winner of ANTM, whom you may remember for her iconic spider photo shoot and for being the first Black woman to win ANTM. 

    Eva spilling tea during her confessional on RHOA
    Bravo

    Since ANTM, Eva has continued modeling and starred in a few television shows. Most notably, she was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

    10. Danielle Evans (Cycle 6):

    Danielle standing before the judges during panel
    The CW

    Danielle was the Cycle 6 winner of ANTM, whom you may remember for refusing to fully close her gap after Tyra sent her to the dentist to do just that. 

    11. Chantelle Young (Cycle 21):

    Chantelle standing before the judges during panel
    The CW

    Chantelle was a contestant on Cycle 21 of ANTM whom you may remember for her vitiligo, which causes her skin to lose pigment in certain areas. 

    12. Lio Tipton (Cycle 11):

    Lio posing on the floor during a posing challenge
    The CW

    Lio was the second runner-up on Cycle 11 of ANTM, whom you may remember for their ice-skating background that allowed them to get into cool and intricate poses. 

    Cal and Jessica standing in the hallway of his apartment
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Since ANTM, Lio has come out as queer and nonbinary and uses “they/them pronouns.” While they went on to model after their time on the show, they found more success in acting and appeared in Crazy, Stupid, Love as well as Manhattan Love Story and Two Night Stand. 

    13. Don Benjamin (Cycle 20):

    Don talking during confessional
    The CW

    Don was a contestant on Cycle 20 of ANTM whom you may remember for his bitchin' tattoos.

    Ariana Grande cuddling Don Benjamin in a hotel room
    Republic

    Since ANTM, has Don continued modeling and pursuing his music career. Most notably, he appeared opposite Ariana Grande in her music video for "Into You." 

    14. Eugena Washington (Cycle 7):

    Eugena talking in a confessional
    The CW

    Eugena was the second runner-up on Cycle 7 of ANTM, whom you may remember for her fierce poses. 

    15. Elina Ivanova (Cycle 11):

    Elina posing in a photo shoot after her drastic makeover
    The CW

    Elina was a contestant on Cycle 11 of ANTM whom you may remember for her amazing photos but "inability" to "lose control" in her photos. Not to mention, she had, dare I say, the worst Ty-over of her season/ANTM history. 

    Elina standing and looking very serious with her hands at her sides
    Brian Ach / Getty Images

    Since ANTM, Elina has continued modeling in print and on the runway. 

    Writer's note: I swear, this photo from a 2013 photo shoot is the most recent photo of Elina I could find/was allowed to use. 

    16. Isis King (Cycle 11):

    Isis posing on a ladder in a photo shoot
    The CW

    Isis was a contestant on Cycle 11 of ANTM whom you may remember for being the first openly transgender contestant on the series. 

    Isis King posing on the red carpet for the With Love premiere
    Gregg Deguire / Getty Images

    Since ANTM, Isis has continued modeling and has since pivoted to acting. She's appeared in When They See Us, Good Trouble, and With Love. 

    17. Allison Harvard (Cycle 12):

    The CW

    Allison was the runner-up on Cycle 12 of ANTM, whom you may remember for her large eyes and fascination with nose bleeds. 

    18. Jeana Turner (Cycle 24):

    A hairdresser removing Jeana's wig
    VH1

    Jeana was the runner-up on Cycle 24 of ANTM, whom you may remember for being open and candid about her alopecia. 

    19. Fo Porter (Cycle 12):

    A before shot of Fo before her makeover
    The CW

    Fo was a contestant on Cycle 12 of ANTM whom you may remember for her iconic freckles.

    20. Kyla Coleman (Cycle 24):

    Kyla flipping off the actions of Donald Trump during an argument with Liberty
    VH1

    Kyla was the Cycle 24 winner of ANTM, whom you may remember for being a liberal political activist who often got into arguments with Liberty, a conservative Republican. 

    21. Last, but not least, Kim Stolz (Cycle 5):

    Tyra telling Kim to not be "too gay"
    The CW

    Kim was a contestant on Cycle 5 of ANTM whom you may remember for her "boyish" appearance and, according to the judges, appearing "too gay." 

    Did your fave make the list? If not, sound off in the comments below and they may appear in an upcoming article 👀 .