America’s Next Top Model picked Dallas woman Ann Ward as winner

by Sarah Blaskovich

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We'll be honest: We didn't see it coming.

The finale of America's Next Top Model, cycle 15, featured two remaining contestants, Chelsey and Ann. Ann Ward is from Dallas and was put in the “quirky” model category because of her tall frame, stick-out ears, and teeny tiny waist. Chelsey has a gap in her teeth but still carries that “perfect American girl” look that several of the judges commented upon.

Of note, four DFW women were featured in the show from the beginning.

From the beginning of Wednesday night's episode, Ann was framed as the underdog. Case in point: Chelsey has modeling experience and has wanted to be a “supermodel” since age 3; Ann recently got interested in modeling. Chelsey was called “commercial”; Ann was called “editorial.” Chelsey is talkative; Ann is awkward. Chelsey won three challenges; Ann won none. And from this untrained eye, it seemed that Chelsey's photo and videos from the finale were more polished – more like the typical models we see in American magazines.

Their tasks in the final episode included: a Cover Girl photo shoot from each model, a Cover Girl commercial with the two of them together, a runway walk at a Roberto Cavalli event, and an interview with a high-up at IMG Models.

Ann tells the camera: “If I win America's Next Top Model, I hope that I can really inspire everybody who's been picked on, just for appearing different, because you can always find a positive side to everything.”

That proved to be an inspiring moment when Ann won the final competition over Chelsey. Cavalli called Chelsey's photo “too beautiful” and other judges said they liked Ann's pain and fear, which was evident in her photos. While Chelsey was again put into the “perfect American girl” category, judges agreed that Ann has the strongest ability to be a star because her face is fresh and new. They were also surprised by Ann's personable style and acting ability in the Cover Girl commercial, a piece that surprised us too.

As winner, Ann gets a spread in Italian Vogue, a spread in Beauty In Vogue, a cover of Beauty in Vogue, a feature in Vogue.it, a contract with IMG Models, and a $1,000 $100,000 contract with Cover Girl cosmetics. (Got all that?)

We felt proud to watch Ann, the model who didn't seem to even have a chance at winning, to do just that.

Says Ann: “Being on America's Next Top Model and actually having an advantage to be unique is just a great thing.”

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