Lil Wine Africa: Where are the 2005 American Next Top Models?

Naima Mora

Naima Mora was a contestant and winner of Cycle 4 of ANTM.

With her mohawk and introverted personality, Naima was originally

thought to be a long-shot to walk away with the title of America’s Next Top Model.

Though her earlier photographs were not as strong as runner-up

Kahlen Rondot, the judges were blown away by Naima’s final performance on the catwalk.

Tyra, in particular, felt that

Kahlen was “the girl who did excellent during

the semester and kind of failed the final exam,”

while Naima was “the girl who did fair during

the semester but killed her final exam.”

Her win consisted of a fashion spread in Elle,

a contract with Ford Models and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics.

She holds the record of being the first and only Top Model contestant to be voted Covergirl of

the Week from the start to the finish of the cycle. It was also revealed in a Top Model challenge, that Naima is a vegetarian. She was recently voted

as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL.

She has been seen on television as a guest on The Tyra Banks Show, on the second season premiere of Veronica Mars, and in a CoverGirl commercial with Yoanna House.

Naima and Cycle 3’s Ann Markley were Trophy Girls at the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards. Mora also served as a judge at the Miss Teen USA Pageant in 2005. Naima was a guest host at the Ramapo College Enerve Couture Fashion Show in Spring 2006.

Naima has done print modelling for CoverGirl, ELLE Magazine, Fuego Magazine, US Weekly Magazine, Radaar Magazine, IN Touch Magazine, Star Magazine, Teen People Magazine, Split Clothing, amd Jazz Album Samsung. Naima’s runway shows include Christopher Deane Spring 2006 Collection, Gharani Strok Fall 2005, Carlos Miele Fashion Show, Walmart and ELLEgirl Presents Dare To Be You Spring 2006, Fashion Comedy Style 2005 (Charity Event), and New York Fashion Week 2007.[citation needed] She has modelled with her sisters twice: with her sister, Ife, for iTunes and with her twin, Nia, for Cycle 2’s Camille McDonald’s lingerie line, Lingerwear.

In 2006, she wrapped up filming on an independent film called Sarbanes-Oxley and made an appearance in a music video for TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me.”

In 2007, she was on the cover of U&U magazine and Uzuri magazine and was photographed by Romer Pedrome and Derek Blanks.

In 2008, she had a cover and editorial in Vicious magazine. Signed with 301 Model Management in Miami and Basic Model Management in New York City. She got a showcard for Fashion Week SS09 and walked in the Project Runway Finale for designer Joe Farris.

She is currently signed with 301 Model Management and Basic Model Management NY.

Naima was the former vocalist for the unsigned band Chewing Pics. Their EP, “Tarantula” was released on March 10, 2008. She is now a member of musical duo Galaxy on Tar. In May of 2010, they released two new singles via their label Lapdance Academy. The group is currently performing live throughout New York and touring the United States.