Saleisha Stowers

Infobox Model
Name =Saleisha Stowers


caption =
birthname = Saleisha Stowers
birthdate = birth date and age|1986|1|10
location = Los Angeles, California
height = height|ft=5|in=10 [ [http://www.elitemodel.com/details.aspx?frm=&modelid=253541&picnum=0&city=NY&subid=4668&mainsubid=4668&indx=3] Elite Model Management]
haircolor = Black
eyecolor = Brown
measurements = 33.5"-26.5"-37.5" (US) [http://www.elitemodel.com/details.aspx?navbtn=1&city=NY&modelid=253541&pic=015.jpg&subid=4668&mainsubid=4668&indx=9 Elite Models] ]
dress size = 4 (US)
shoesize = 10 (US)
agency = Elite Model Management
L.A Models
alias =
spouse =
homepage = http://www.elitemodel.com/details.aspx?navbtn=1&city=NY&modelid=253541&pic=072.jpg&subid=4668&mainsubid=4668&io=111&indx=2

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

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, and her mother had bipolar disorder. Therefore, she lived with her grandmother in Madera, California. When she was 14, she attended Camp T-Zone, Tyra Banks' self-esteem camp just for girls. Saleisha worked as a receptionist in Los Angeles. Before appearing on Cycle 9, Saleisha was signed with Photogenics Model Management and had also appeared in a commercial for fast-food restaurant Wendy's, with actor Tom Lenk. She had modeled for DOMIJ clothing. [ [http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=5 All ANTM - Print Work/Saleisha Stowers ] ] 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. Saleisha appeared in the "Welcome Back" music video, and had an ad for 24hour Fitness. [http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=23She also modeled for Especially Yours wigs, and was featured in a fashion spread for InTouch Weekly. She was recruited for "America's Next Top Model", which she subsequently won.

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, producing better photos. 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 fluidity. 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 Spritzers, 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.

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". 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 had 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". [citeweb|url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/top-model-saleisha-stowers-defends-prior-tyra-banks-relationship-6264php|work=Reality TV World|title='Top Model' Saleisha Stowers defends prior Tyra Banks relationship|author=Rocchio, Christopher|date=2007-12-14|accessdate=2007-12-15] [ [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=c40a8f75-b186-4613-94f1-cddfb07ddbf7 E! News - Saleisha Tops Top Model, Cue the Carping - Tyra Banks ] ] [ [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/americas-next-top-model-the-ch-14734.aspx America's Next Top Model: The "Cheating" Controversy ] ] [ [http://www.eonline.com/gossip/hum/detail/index.jsp?uuid=60ee8913-dfb1-404e-8a33-2ec77f104a79 The Hum - America's Next Top Speech Impediment ] ]

Post Show Career

Print Work

Saleisha currently has a Metro Style campaign along with fellow winners, Jaslene Gonzalez, Dani Evans and Whitney Thompson. Stowers was on the cover of "Seventeen" as part of her prize. She has appeared on the cover of "Paper Doll Magazine" [ [http://www.paperdollmag.com/index.php/paperdoll/beauty/C323/saleishastowers_sp08/ PaperDoll - Shopping, Stores, Fashion, Beauty, Home Design ] ] , had a cover and spread in "Florida International Magazine" [ [http://fashionivy.blogspot.com/2008/02/saleisha-for-florida-international.html Fashion Ivy: Saleisha for Florida International Magazine ] ] and had spreads in the January 2008 issue of InTouch Weekly [ [http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/america-s-next-top-model/67199-saleisha-cycle-9-a-191.html#post2738918 Saleisha - Cycle 9 - Page 191 - Fans Of Reality TV ] ] , OK! Magazine [ [http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/america-s-next-top-model/67199-saleisha-cycle-9-a-229.html Saleisha - Cycle 9 - Page 229 - Fans Of Reality TV ] ] ,the July 2008 issue of Essence Magazine. [ [http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/24720850.html ohnotheydidnt: ANTM 9'S SALIESHA MODELS FOR THE JULY ISSUE OF ESSENCE ] ] ,Jam Style. [http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=45] and had a four page spread in an issue of Macy's. [http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=40] She has modeled for Gilt Groupe [http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=54&pos=44] and Baby Phat [ [http://www.all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=6 Saleisha's All-ANTM Portfolio] ] .

Runway

Saleisha has walked for Tibi in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008. [ [http://community.livejournal.com/topmodel/1902043.html#cutid topmodel: Saleisha for Tibi 2008 (Today) ] ] , Peter Som's Bill Blass Fall 2008 Collection at Saks Fifth Avenue on April 2 2008 [http://popsugar.com/1520930] , Carson Kressley's Safilo USA Spring/Summer '08 Designer Eyewear Fashion Show at Vision Expo East on April 12 2008 [ [http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls=312196&nbc1=118 Wire
] ] , Jose Duran for NYC fashion week, which also showed on her My Life as CoverGirl commercials, a GenArt Fashion Show for Jennifer Mary, Billabong's 2nd Annual Design for Humanity fashion show in Los Angeles [ [http://www.rtvgames.com/showpost.php?p=373277&postcount=1315 Reality TV Games - View Single Post - Saleisha ] ] , and Pamella Roland at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009. [http://www.rtvgames.com/showpost.php?p=439050&postcount=1772] [http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/510/saleishagenartfashionshug7.jpg] 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 a mock Versace runway show.

Other

Saleisha is currently signed to Elite Model Management and L.A. Models: "Runway Division". [ [http://www.lamodels.com : l.a. models : ] ] She has appeared on the Tyra Banks Show multiple times. This includes the time when 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 which aired on April 30, 2008 [ [http://lipstickbitches.blogspot.com/2008/04/shes-already-dug-hole.html Lipstick Bitches: She's Already Dug The Hole ] ] and the "Fiercee Awards" along with past ANTM contestants that aired on May 14th. [ [http://concreteloop.com/2008/03/events-tyras-1st-annual-fiercee-awards » EVENTS: TYRA’S 1st Annual Fiercee Awards // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM' - 'GLOWIN' IN THE DARK' ] ] [http://popsugar.com/gallery/view/1520965?page=0,2,0] Stowers attended the premiere of "Polanski Unauthorized", the "Vavoom Upfront party" with Caridee English and finale with past ANTM alums. [http://web.wireimage.com/images/tnm/15802226.jpg]

References

External links

* [http://cwtv.com/thecw/americas-next-top-model09-saleisha Saleisha profile on the CW website]
*fashionmodel|id=Saleisha_Stowers|name=Saleisha Stowers
* [http://www.topmodelgossip.com/exclusive-interview-with-the-winner-of-americas-next-top-model-cycle-9-saleisha-stowers/ Interview with Saleisha Stowers where her former involvement with Tyra is addressed]
* [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/saleisha-cooper-wins-america-next-top-model-ninth-season-6254.php Reality World TV Article on Saleisha Stowers] [Reality World TV Article on Saleisha Stowers]
* [http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/exclusive-interview-saleisha-s-14770.aspx Stower's Interview with BuddyTV]
* [http://weblogs.cw11.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/2007/12/and_the_winner_is_saleisha_sto.html CW11 Morning News Blog on America's Next Top Model winner Saleisha]
* [http://fashionista.com/2008/01/saleisha_is_really_pretty_isnt.php Saleisha Is Really Pretty; Isn't Walking Fashion Week']