America's Next Top Model/Characters/Cycle Three

Eva Pigford

Eva Marcille Pigford was a contestant and winner of Cycle 3 of ANTM.

"Eva: "I don't compare myself to anyone. I am Eva.""
 * Badass Boast
 * In the auditions:

"Ms. J: "Careful. It might fall off. Don't let that happen!"
 * During runway practice where they had books on their heads:

Eva: "It's not gonna fall.""


 * Big Entrance: In her audition.
 * Book Ends: The last scene of the first episode shows her as the last girl called to be part of the 14 finalists.
 * The Cutie
 * Dark-Skinned Blond: After her makeover.
 * Hazel Eyes
 * Heel Realization: After Tyra's Kirk Summation in the first episode, she immediately apologized to the other girls for her antics.
 * The Where Are They Now? Epilogue even showed her going further.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold
 * Lovable Alpha Bitch
 * The Napoleon
 * Red Baron: The Diva.
 * Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: With Ann.
 * Tomboy and Girly Girl: Girly Girl to Ann's Tomboy. She became the Tomboy to Yaya's Girly Girl in the final two.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Spiders?

Yaya DaCosta

After finishing in second place in America’s Next Top Model, where she is considered one of the most memorable contestants, DaCosta went on to a successful career. Yaya only appeared once in the bottom two during the competition.


 * The Ace: She graduated from an Ivy League, is shown fluent in Spanish and French, a passionate dancer, and sometimes highlights as a Cool Teacher to her mom's school. During the competition, she won five challenges and two best photos.
 * Black and Nerdy
 * Brainy Brunette
 * Brown Eyes
 * Insufferable Genius: At her worst.
 * Ironic Echo: She lectured the other girls about respect in the early episodes. Once they get to Japan, the panel lectured her regarding the same matter.
 * Ivy League: She went to Brown.
 * Nerds Are Sexy
 * Only Known By Their Nickname: Her real name is Camara.
 * The Runner Up Takes It All
 * The Smart Girl

Amanda Swafford

Before appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Swafford modeled under the name “Amanda Mellard” in Austin, Texas, where she was a somewhat established figure in Austin’s fashion community. After appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Swafford modeled for Levi’s in an ad campaign with other visually impaired models. In 2005, Swafford announced plans to write a multi-sensory book for children.

When Amanda tried out for the Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, the judges all noted that her most stunning feature was her Icy Blue Eyes. Though her stunning eyes were her assets, they could also be considered a liability as she was legally blind. But that did not stop her from wanting to participate as a cast on the show and she was called 10th during casting.

The judges were amazed by her photos, especially the un-retouched beauty shot that she took during the third week of the competition. She was never once criticized by the judges for being too old for the competition, despite her being 25 years old at the time. When she went on her go sees in Japan, she was told that she was too old by one of the designers.

She participated in the finale along with winner Eva Pigford and Yaya Da Costa, but Amanda was eliminated when she and Eva were in the bottom 2. The judges had a difficult time deciding whom to send home, as all three contestants had strong CoverGirl photos, and all 3 were considered strong contenders, but in the end, it was Amanda. One of the judges, Janice Dickinson, was a dissenting voice on the judging panel, saying, “I love you!” to Swafford when she was eliminated. She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL entertainment.

Due to her retinitis pigmentosa, she has since gone completely blind.

"Amanda: "I'm legally blind.""
 * Blessed With Suck
 * Blue Eyes: Icy Blue Eyes to be exact.
 * Hair of Gold
 * Hot Mom
 * Inspirationally Disadvantaged
 * Meganekko: Occasionally wears glasses.
 * Morality Pet: To Janice Dickinson.
 * Team Mom
 * Wham Line:


 * What Beautiful Eyes
 * Your Days Seeing Are Numbered

Ann Markley

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Ann juggled being a student at Mercyhurst College (where she was a NCAA water polo player) and a pharmacy technician prior to her participation on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3. Aside from being an aspiring supermodel, Ann is also an All-American water polo player.

Ann came close to making it to the Top 3 of America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, but was the tenth contestant eliminated from the show. During her stay in the competition, her athletic build prompted supermodel judge Janice Dickinson to bless her with the nickname, “Ann, The Man.” The judges finally gave in to Ann’s inability to produce strong and impressive photographs after the tenth photo shoot, despite Ann’s consistently strong performances on the runway.

After her appearance on the show, Ann became highly successful as a model in the fashion industry.


 * The Chew Toy: Especially around Jay Manuel.
 * Does Not Know Her Own Strength
 * Green Eyes
 * Hair of Gold: Post-makeover.
 * Hot Amazon
 * Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: With Eva.
 * The Runner Up Takes It All
 * Tall, Dark and Bishoujo: Pre-makeover.
 * Tomboy and Girly Girl: Tomboy to Eva's Girly Girl.
 * You Go Girl

Norelle Van Herk

As a finalist on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, Norelle was the only competitor among the fourteen girls who came into the competition with braces on her teeth. Her braces were removed as a part of her makeover for the show.

Although her overall performance was impressive, her blunders in the Tokyo photo shoot and her difficulty walking on the runway were what compelled the judges to make Norelle the ninth contestant to be eliminated. Her photo shoot for T-Mobile went well, but was not well enough to keep her on the show for another week.


 * Adorkable: Especially before her makeover.
 * Beautiful All Along
 * Catgirl: She's a Hello Kitty fan and does the "cat pose" quite often.
 * The Cutie
 * Genki Girl
 * Green Eyes
 * Modesty Bedsheet: The Japan episodes showed her sleeping topless or nude.
 * The Pollyanna
 * Raven Hair, Ivory Skin
 * Shiny Midnight Black
 * Tagalong Kid

Nicole Borud

Nicole Borud is a bisexual fashion model from Seattle, Washington, and was a former punk rocker before she auditioned for America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3. She is a graduate of Magic City Campus High School, where she was a member of the Art Club, the Latin Club, the French Club, the Drama Club and the National Honor Society. She is originally from North Dakota and only had $400 in her possession when she made the trip to Seattle.

For the ninth week of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3, the remaining girls, including Nicole, were flown to Tokyo in order to shoot a Japanese commercial for Campbell’s Soup. Although all the girls had a difficult time, most especially with learning their lines (which were in Japanese), it was Nicole whom the judges felt did not come through the commercial enough, thus making her the eight contestant to be sent home.


 * Bi the Way
 * Gray Eyes
 * My Friends and Zoidberg: During the top 6, her Fatal Flaw was not being able to stand out.
 * Red Headed Heroine

Toccara Jones

Toccara was the eighth contestant eliminated on the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model, where she won “Covergirl of the Week” five times. She was voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL Entertainment.


 * Big Beautiful Woman: The show's Trope Codifier.
 * Big Fun
 * Gag Boobs
 * Genki Girl
 * Graceful Loser
 * Go Out With a Smile
 * Jiggle Show
 * Large Ham
 * Sassy Black Woman
 * Shocking Elimination
 * Small Name, Big Ego: At times.

Cassie Grisham

Cassie Ann Grisham is from Norman, Oklahoma. Before becoming one of the 14 finalists on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, Cassie was majoring in International Business at Oklahoma University.

On America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, it was revealed that Cassie was suffering from bulimia. Tyra offered to give her counseling, but she refused it, choosing to deal with the condition on her own. However, it was not Cassie’s condition that made her the sixth person to be eliminated from the competition. Rather it was the lack of “fierceness” in her photos and her apparent disinterest that drove the judges to send Cassie home.


 * Abusive Dad: Her father is a top-notch Jerkass.
 * Blue Eyes
 * The Cutie
 * Hair of Gold
 * Hooker With a Heart of Gold: She uses to be a stripper before joining the competition.
 * Ms. Fanservice
 * Tall, Blonde and Bishoujo
 * Trademark Favorite Food: Diet Coke.
 * The Unfettered

Kelle Jacob

This New York City, New York native has her own art gallery, which she named after her father. Her interests aren’t only limited to art, as she is also a fan of beauty. During her initial interviews, she mentioned that her friends called her a “white girl in a black girl’s body.” She also mentioned that her family was very well off. She also gained some controversy over her remarks regarding her appearance in photographs, saying that she felt she had a simian-looking jawline.

Kelle was sent to the bottom two with Ann Markley during the sixth week of America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3. Although Tyra criticized them both for not bringing their great personalities into their pictures, the judges decided to take out Kelle, believing that she had less potential as a model. After being eliminated, Kelle remarked that she’ll try hard to build her career on her own, but did not seem overly optimistic.


 * Butt Monkey
 * The Chew Toy
 * Spoiled Sweet
 * Valley Girl

Jennipher Frost

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Jennipher was working as a bartender before her appearance on ANTM.

Her time on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3 didn’t last very long as she was the fourth contestant eliminated by the judges. During her short stay in the competition, Jennipher frequently had confrontations with Eva Pigford because of the latter’s attitude. She also did not mix well with Ann Markley, with whom she almost engaged in a fight. Part of the makeover that Jennipher received from the show was a haircut, which she did not enjoy, as she was even seen crying after the hairstylist gave her a shoulder-length hairstyle. The fifth challenge for the season was to pose with roller skates on for a Dooney & Bourke accessories ad. The photos that were taken of her did not impress the judges at all, cutting her journey to the top short.


 * Celebrity Resemblance: With Jessica Biel.
 * Hair of Gold: After her makeover.
 * Hazel Eyes
 * Insane Troll Logic
 * It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time: Mooning the panel with ANTM written on her butt was supposed to be a joke. The panel members, obviously, were not amused.
 * Rapunzel Hair: Pre-makeover.
 * Spell My Name With an "S"
 * Statuesque Stunner
 * Tall, Dark and Bishoujo: Before her makeover.

Kristi Grommet

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Kristi was a student at the New York University during her appearance on the show. Her first real modeling gig was on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3.

Kristi was memorable for coming into initial auditions wearing her senior prom dress, which was made from an American Flag.

The fourth week in America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3 had the models posing for Lee Jeans ads with hair extensions braided into their hair. Kristi Grommet may have had the looks and the body, but her lack of confidence during the challenge was what made Tyra and her fellow judges cut Kristi from the competition.


 * Hair of Gold
 * Hazel Eyes
 * Only Known By Their Nickname: Her real name is Laura.
 * Wearing a Flag On Your Head: Well, it was actually an American flag dress.

Julie Titus

Julie Ann Titus is from Kent, Washington and was a student at Bellevue Community College during her appearance on the show. She is of Indian descent and wants to project a new image for the Indian woman. Julie made her television debut as one of the 14 finalists in America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3.

Julie seemed to have a promising start, but during the third photo shoot in America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, her performance fell short of being excellent to the judges. Furthermore, at the panel, Julie admitted that the reason why she joined the show was to gain more exposure as a clothes designer rather than a model. The revelation ultimately led to her elimination.


 * An Elimination In The Limelight
 * Diabolus Ex Machina: Exposing her true intentions of joining.
 * Freudian Slip
 * Rapunzel Hair
 * Token Minority

Leah Darrow

Before being chosen as one of the 14 finalists in season 3 of America’s Next Top Model, Leah Darrow was working as a sales associate. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, but was born on a small farm in Oklahoma.

Although it’s clear that Leah possesses the physical attributes of a model, she was the second to be cut on America’s Next Top Model on Cycle 3. Her removal from the show was brought upon by Leah’s plain and unimpressive photo shoot. The photographer remarked that Leah did not make eye contact with the camera and Tyra Banks commented that she did not position herself well in the pictures. After being eliminated, she walked away from the room without bidding the others farewell, but vowed to keep on pursuing her dream to become a professional model.


 * An Elimination In The Limelight
 * Farmers Daughter
 * My Elimination Is Just The Beginning
 * Nice Cap

Magdalena Rivas

From Worcester, Massachusetts, Magdalena was a student of the University of Massachusetts, where she majored in nursing.

Joining America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 did not necessarily put Rivas’ modeling career into high gear as she was the first one eliminated from the 14 finalists. She did get a little taste of what professional models go through everyday when they were flown from New York to Jamaica to do their very first photo shoot.


 * An Elimination In The Limelight
 * Celebrity Resemblance: With Zoe Saldana.
 * Hospital Hottie
 * Rapunzel Hair
 * Tall, Dark and Bishoujo