Saleisha Stowers (born January 10, 1986), is an American
fashion model and the winner of the
ninth cycle of
America's Next Top Model.
Early life and modeling career
In her
Seventeen Magazine interview, Saleisha stated she had a rough life growing up. 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.,
and d.e.m.o.
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
24 Hour Fitness.
She 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.
[Cycle 9 Episode 1] 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.
[Cycle 9 Episode 4] She struggled during the third week, and consequently landed in bottom two with contestant Victoria Marshman. But she was spared, and she started improving, producing better photos. She received 2 First Call-Outs and 2 Bottom Two appearances. In one of the challenges, she won an ad for
Old Navy In the final deliberation, the judges were impressed with Saleisha’s command on the runway and for her fluidity. She won against
Chantal Jones.
[Cycle 9 Episode 13]
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
There has been controversy regarding Stowers's 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 five years prior to production. Stowers appeared in a 2006 commercial for
Wendy's, and despite the fact that she appears only in one ad, that one ad is part of a national-level campaign. The CW issued 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.
Post show career
Saleisha is currently signed to
Elite Model Management and L.A. Model Management
Print work
Saleisha currently has a Metro Style campaign along with fellow
Top Model alum,
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,
had a cover and spread in
Florida International Magazine and had spreads in the January 2008 issue of
InTouch Weekly,
Magazine,
the July 2008 issue of
Essence Magazine,
Jam Style.
and had a four page spread in an issue of
Macy's.
She has modeled for
Gilt Groupe and
Macy's catalogue online.
She has also modeled for
Dereon,
,
,
and Love Tease
for Macy's. Saleisha has a campaign with Garage Clothing for their Spring 2009 line.
She has also appeared in Modern Bride for the February/March 2009 issue.
Runway
Saleisha has walked for Tibi in
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008,
Peter Som's Bill Blass Fall 2008 Collection at
Saks Fifth Avenue on April 2, 2008,
Carson Kressley's Safilo USA Spring/Summer '08 Designer Eyewear Fashion Show at Vision Expo East on April 12, 2008,
Jose Duran for NYC fashion week, which also showed on her My Life as
CoverGirl commercials, a GenArt Fashion Show for Jennifer Mary,
2nd Annual Design for Humanity fashion show in Los Angeles,
and Pamella Roland at
New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009.
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. Saleisha walked for Beach Bunny Swimwear
and Lana Fuchs
in
Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009. She also appeared on the
Tyra Banks Show for the episode titled
Tina Knowles modeling in a
House of Dereon fashion show.
Other
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
and the
Fiercee Awards along with past ANTM contestants that aired on May 14.
Stowers attended the premiere of
Polanski Unauthorized, the
Vavoom Upfront party with
Caridee English and
Jaslene Gonzalez, and the
CW Upfront Party celebrating the
Cycle 10 finale with past ANTM alums.
