Saleisha Stowers

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Saleisha Stowers
Birth name	Saleisha Stowers
Date of birth	January 10, 1986 (1986-01-10) (age 22)
Place of birth	Los Angeles, California
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [1]
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Measurements	33"-24"-36" (US)[2]
Dress size	2 (US)[2]
Shoe size	10 (US)[2]
Agency	Elite Model Management L.A. Models, Women's Runway Division
Official website

Saleisha Stowers (born January 10, 1986), is an African American fashion model who became the winner of Cycle 9 of America's Next Top Model.

Contents 1 Early life/modeling career 2 America’s Next Top Model 3 Controversy 4 Post Show Career 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early life/modeling career

In her Seventeen Magazine interview, Saleisha stated she had a rough life growing up because both her parents were drug addicts, with her mother also being bipolar. So she lived with her grandmother. Saleisha was a receptionist in Los Angeles. She attended Camp T-Zone, Tyra Banks' self-esteem camp for girls when she was 14. Before appearing on Cycle 9, Saleisha was signed with Photogenics Model Management, a successful modeling agency in Los Angeles which has also signed Cycle 7's contestant, Eugena Washington, and had also appeared in a commercial for fast-food restaurant Wendy's, with actor Tom Lenk. She was also an extra in an episode of the TV series Ugly Betty and on two episodes of the Tyra Banks Show, modeling for Rami, Project Runway season four contestant. She has also modeled for Especially Yours wigs, and was featured in a fashion spread for In Touch magazine. She was recruited for America's Next Top Model, which she subsequently won.

[edit] America’s Next Top Model

Saleisha entered the competition with a lot of confidence and high self-esteem. Her bubbly, positive personality and her strong walk won the judges over. But the judges in the beginning felt she relied too much on her commercial look, so they gave her a Louise Brooks inspired black hair weave to edge her out. She struggled in the beginning with her photos, but once in the bottom two for the first time, she got a wakeup call and started improving. She received 2 first call outs, but 2 bottom two appearances. Saleisha also won 3 challenges. In the final deliberation, the judges were impressed with Saleisha’s command on the runway and for her fluditry. She won against Chantal Jones.

Saleisha is the fourth woman of African American heritage who has won America's Next Top Model. Prior African American winners being Eva Pigford of Cycle 3, Naima Mora of Cycle 4, & Dani Evans of Cycle 6. She is the second ANTM contestant from Los Angeles, California to win, the other is Eva Pigford of Cycle 3.

As part of her prize, Stowers won a contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics which features her campaigning for WetSlicks Fruit Splitzers, and appeared on the cover of the February 2008 issue of Seventeen magazine. She has also won a contract for representation with Elite Model Management. Like previous winners of ANTM Stowers appeared in weekly segments of My Life as a Covergirl during the running of America's Next Top Model Cycle 10.

[edit] Controversy

Since Stowers's win, there has been controversy regarding her eligibility to appear on the show. The show's rules state that a contestant must not have appeared as a model in a national advertising campaign during the last five years. Stowers appeared in a 2006 commercial for Wendy's. There is debate among viewers of the show over whether the commercial for Wendy's could be considered an advertising campaign, which would make Stowers ineligible to compete in America's Next Top Model. The CW said in a statement that Stowers did disclose her participation in the Wendy's spot, and "after reviewing the commercial, it was determined that her appearance did not amount to "modeling" experience, and therefore did not exclude her from participating in the show" although her modeling contract with Elite model management was shortened.^[3] Several blogs and news outlets have speculated that her past relationship with Banks (her participation in Banks' T-Zone camp and her past appearances on Tyra's television shows and her appearance as a model on The Tyra Banks Show and Cycle 6 of America's Next Top Model), may have influenced the selection of the winner. Saleisha has also been a National Spokesmodel for Especially Yours wigs for more than a year before the show ran as well as appearing in an episode of the hit US sitcom Ugly Betty. ^[4][5][6][7]

[edit] Post Show Career

Saleisha is currently signed to Elite Model Management and L.A. Models Runway Division. ^[8] She currently has a Metro Style campaign, along with fellow winners, Jaslene Gonzalez and Dani Evans.

Saleisha along with Tyra Banks, Jaslene Gonzalez, Claire Unabia and Michael Bloomberg planted a tree on April 10 in New York City in honor of Earth Day and the filming aired on April 30, 2008 on the Tyra Banks Show.^[9] Saleisha has also attended the Fiercee Awards along with past ANTM contestants that aired on the Tyra Banks Show on May 14th.^[10][11] Stowers was at the premiere of Polanski Unauthorized. Saleisha attended the Vavoom Upfront party with Caridee English and Jaslene Gonzalez. ^[12] She also was at the CW Upfront party for the Cycle 10 finale party with past ANTM alums. ^[13]

Stowers was on the cover of Seventeen Magazine as part of her prize. She has also appeared on the covers of Paper Doll Magazine^[14] and Florida International Magazine.^[15]

Saleisha has walked for Tibi ^[16]. Stowers has walked for Peter Som's Bill Blass Fall 2008 Collection at Saks Fifth Avenue on April 2.^[17] She has also walked for Carson Kressley's Safilo USA Spring/Summer '08 Designer Eyewear Fashion Show at Vision Expo East on April 12.^[18] Saleisha walked for Jose Duran for NYC fashion week, which also showed on her My Life as Covergirl commericals. Saleisha has also walked in a GenArt Fashion Show for Jennifer Mary. ^[19]Stowers appeared on the finale episode of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10 to give encouragement to the final three, and she opened for the mock Versace runway show.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Saleisha profile on the CW website
• Interview with Saleisha Stowers where her former involvement with Tyra is addressed
• [2]^[1] - Reality World TV Article on Saleisha Stowers
• Stower's Interview with BuddyTV
• CW11 Morning News Blog on America's Next Top Model winner Saleisha
• Saleisha Is Really Pretty; Isn't Walking Fashion Week'

Preceded by Jaslene Gonzalez

America's Next Top Model winner Cycle 9 (2007)

Succeeded by Whitney Thompson

v • d • e America's Next Top Model Current Judges & Personnel Tyra Banks • J. Alexander • Nigel Barker • Paulina Porizkova • Jay Manuel Cycles: Former Judges 1-4: Janice Dickinson • 1: Beau Quillian • 1: Kimora Lee Simmons • 2: Eric Nicholson • 3-4: Nolé Marin • 5-9: Twiggy Cycles: Winners 1: Adrianne Curry • 2: Yoanna House • 3: Eva Pigford • 4: Naima Mora • 5: Nicole Linkletter • 6: Danielle Evans • 7: CariDee English • 8: Jaslene Gonzalez • 9: Saleisha Stowers • 10: Whitney Thompson Please see individual cycle articles for additional contestants.