Amanda Swafford

Infobox Model
name = Amanda Swafford

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imagesize =
birthname = Amanda Lynn Swafford
birthdate = birth date and age|1978|10|30
location = Hendersonville, North Carolina, U.S.
height = height|ft=5|in=8
haircolor = Brown
eyecolor = Blue
measurements = 33B-28-34 (US); 84-58-84 (EU)
weight = convert|108|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
dress size = XXS (EU), 1 (US)
shoesize = 39 (EU), 8 (US)
agency = Storm Model Management
alias = Amanda Mellard
spouse = Tobias O'Connell
children = Elijah Wolf O'Connell birth date and age|2002|6|7
homepage = http://www.myspace.com/missfreakyeyes

Amanda Lynn Swafford (born October 30, 1978 in Hendersonville, North Carolina) is an American fashion model and television personality. She came in third place on Cycle 3 of the reality television show "America's Next Top Model". Swafford is legally blind; she is afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. Swafford has stated that the condition will leave her completely blind by age 30. [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=169&in_page_id=11 Interview with Metro Online] Last accessed 4 September 2006] She has modeled in Moscow and Prague after the show.

Early life

Swafford's family relocated to Plano, Texas during her childhood years. She was a track and field athlete at Plano East Senior High School in 1997. In 2000, she graduated from Austin Community College, Rio Grande [ [http://www.tv.com/amanda-swafford/person/315875/biography.html TV.com biography for Amanda Swafford] ; retrieved January 30, 2008.] .

Before appearing on "America's Next Top Model", Swafford modeled under the name "Amanda Mellard" [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1855443/ IMDb page] ] in Austin, Texas, where she was a somewhat established figure in Austin's fashion community. [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A77729 Austin Chronicle] Last accessed 4 September 2006] [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A10690 Austin Chronicle] Last accessed 4 September 2006] 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. [ [http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/people/profiles/prof_oct_2005.htm Interview with Disability Now] Last accessed 9 December 2006]

America's Next Top Model

When Amanda tried out for the third cycle of America's Next Top Model, the judges all noted that her most stunning feature was her ice-blue eyes. Though her stunning eyes were her assets, it nevertheless was also her loss as she is 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. Amanda took some of the most memorable and stunning photos during her cycle. The judges were amazed by her photos especially the un-retouched beauty shot that she took during the third week of the competition. Amanda thought her biggest competitors were Ann Markley and Eva Pigford (Winner).

She wound up 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 who to send home, but in the end, it was Swafford. One of the judges, Janice Dickinson was one of the strongest opponents to the judging, saying, "I love you!" to Swafford when she was eliminated.

She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL entertainment. [ [http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/Top-Model-Memorable-Contestants-Two/130914/ Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget, II - AOL Entertainment Canada ] ]

Modeling career

Amanda has appeared on the covers of Bliss for Bride Magazine and Access Magazine, and has modeled for Levi's Jeans, Felt It! Stitch It! Fabulous! and WEBS.

References

External links

* [http://www.metro.co.uk/metro/interviews/interview.html?in_page_id=8&in_interview_id=1147 Interview with Amanda on August 15, 2005]
*fashionmodel|id=Amanda+Lynn_Swafford|name=Amanda Swafford
*imdb name|1855443
* [http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/people/profiles/prof_oct_2005.htm "A model of success"] Interview with Disability Now.
* [http://www.vogue.co.uk/vogue_daily/story/story.asp?stid=28212&date=&sid= "Partially sighted model Amanda Swafford is new Levi's girl"] Feature on "UK Vogue" website.