CariDee Jenasia English (born May 22, 1985
in
Fargo,
North Dakota) is an American
fashion model of
Swedish and
Norwegian ancestry. In December 2006 she won
Cycle 7 of
America's Next Top Model.
Her prize was a $100,000 contract with
CoverGirl Cosmetics, a modeling contract with
Elite Models, and a six-page fashion editorial and cover for
Seventeen magazine. She is the second
ANTM winner from
North Dakota, the other being
Nicole Linkletter of
Cycle 5.
Early life
She was named by her brother, after
Carrie from
Little House on the Prairie and her grand-mother whose name is Dee
[Exclusive Interview: CariDee English, Winner of America's Next Top Model].
CariDee stated during the cycle that she worked as a photographer before appearing on
America's Next Top Model. She has suffered from
psoriasis for 15 years
[ Merrin, Tara Ambition pays off for CariDee English Calgary Sun. Published December 10, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2006.] and believed her dream of becoming a model was unattainable. However, a doctor recommended
Raptiva, a drug that CariDee injects weekly in order to help control the skin disease. Although it is effective, it cannot cure the disease.
[Koumpilova, Mila Fargo’s English comes out on ‘Top’. The Forum. Published December 7, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2006.]
CariDee was an actor in the sketch comedy group known as The 4th Option which performed weekly in the old East Gate Lounge in Moorhead Minnesota. On December 13, 2004 she sang with the Willy Waldman Project.
CariDee was a listed model with the Academie Agencie in Fargo North Dakota since 2001. She attended the Millie Lewis Actors Models and Talent Competition in 2002 and was placed with Mega Models in Miami Florida for the summer of 2003 and returned to Fargo at the end of the summer.
On Top Model
As winner of the acting challenge in
Cycle 7, CariDee had an opportunity to guest-star in an episode of the hit
CW series
One Tree Hill (which airs immediately following
Top Model).
[The Internet Movie Database. "One Tree Hill" All These Things That I've Done (2006). Retrieved January 5, 2007.] Compared to past acting challenge winners, CariDee had a bigger role in that episode as she had multiple scenes, while the previous challenge winners only had one. Also, during that same episode, she mentioned, in an emotional outburst during the acting challenge, that she knew about stress and had attempted to kill herself earlier in life because of it.
She was criticized for making an impulsive yet crude joke to fashion photographer and ANTM judge
Nigel Barker during the
bullfighting photo shoot in Barcelona, asking him "Did you just remove that from your ass from the last panel?" in regards to a large stick Barker was holding. However, CariDee has stated that "he actually joked back" and was never really mad. In panel, she took out a note and apologized to Barker.
While participating in the "Water Nymphs" photo shoot, she suffered
hypothermia, symptoms from floating in icy cold water for a long period of time; CariDee has attributed it to her drug's side effects, which include lowering of the immune system.
[Fans of Reality TV forums. Interview with CariDee. Retrieved December 20, 2006.]
There was a small bit of controversy regarding her on the show as well. She was shown speaking to her boyfriend on the phone in one episode. In the next episode, when the girls were overseas in Barcelona, she was shown passionately kissing one of the male models the girls worked with. CariDee was interviewed saying that during that point, she and her boyfriend were seeing other people, and had since gotten back together.
Throughout the competition, the judges found much controversy in CariDee's personality, which was considered notably more outgoing than that of the other contestants. She was noted for her striking comparability to
Rebecca Romijn and
Karolína Kurková. In the early stages of the cycle, her personality was considered fun and outgoing, most notably during her "hiding dizzily" at a panel challenge. Later on, however, the judges began to express concern that it may be a little too bombastic. Because of this, the judges were unsure as to whether she was the person they wanted to represent Top Model, noting in the cycle's finale that she was sometimes too unpredictable and unstable.
In early 2008, CariDee was voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL Entertainment Canada. With a flawless face and classic beauty, they said she was the first contestant everybody knew would win since the first episode.
[Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget - AOL Entertainment Canada]
After Top Model
Modeling
CariDee signed on as spokesperson for the
National Psoriasis Foundation to spread awareness about psoriasis and encourage others to seek treatment. As a youngster, CariDee says she felt "cursed" with
psoriasis. She experienced taunts and embarrassment. Today, her "curse" is her cause. "Psoriasis awareness is very important to me. I want others with the disease to know they are not alone. I want to inspire them to live their dreams," she said.
CariDee was featured on the front page of
Social Life and
Cover magazines with
Top Model alumnae
Naima Mora and
Dani Evans.
She modeled looks of the Spring in
InTouch magazine, and appeared on the weekly "My Life as a CoverGirl" segments on
The CW. In 2007, she was featured in an ad for CoverGirl Eye-wear alongside cycle 6 winner Dani Evans
[All ANTM - Print Work], with her, Dani and Jaslene Gonzalez being the only Top Model winners to have their contracts renewed
She was in the Winter 2007 issue of Knit.1 Magazine
[All ANTM - Print Work], the February 2007 issue of Seventeen
[All ANTM - Print Work] [All ANTM - Print Work], the March 2007 issue of In Touch
, the Spring 2007 issue of Social Life
, the April 2007 issue of Cover
and on the cover of "Inked Magazine" for Fall 2007
.
She has modelled for Wedding Style
,
JC Penney, Stephenson Denim
, Johnny P. Shoes
, American Salon
and Matrix Professional Colors
.English is also part of the "Heart On My Sleeves" clothing campaign by
Aubrey O'Day of
Danity Kane.
[Heart On My Sleeve]
She has also been featured in a markgirl video as a make-up model
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r4emZ6tlDM].
She has also appeared on the finale of the eighth cycle of
America's Next Top Model opening the runway show and also gave advice to the final three contestants of the following cycle.
Her other runway credits include
J.C. Penney, Snoopy in Fashion
[community.livejournal.com/topmodel/1679549.html#cutid1], GM Style Auto Show
[community.livejournal.com/topmodel/1427910.html#cutid1] and Honduras Fashion Week
[community.livejournal.com/topmodel/2266637.html#cutid1].
Television work
CariDee had a cameo appearance on
One Tree Hill as a prize for winning the acting challenge
CariDee also appeared in a small role on
Gossip Girl.
She is set to host and produce a show on
MTV, which begins shooting in April 2009
[America's Next Top Model | 'Top Model' Favorites: Where Are They Now? | Photos | EW.com]
Television
