The Shocking Truth: 10 Jaw-Dropping Facts About America's Next Top Model Cycle 4 Cast And Where They Are Now In 2025

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 4, which first aired in 2005, remains one of the most iconic and, in retrospect, controversial seasons in the history of the reality TV franchise. As of December 12, 2025, nearly two decades after the season finale, the lives of the contestants continue to fascinate fans, revealing paths far removed from the high-fashion runways of Paris and South Africa where they once competed.

The season is perhaps best remembered for its dramatic challenges, the infamous "ethnicities" photoshoot, and the unexpected, yet deserving, winner. While the show promised a contract with Ford Models and a CoverGirl campaign, the real-world careers of the Cycle 4 cast have proven that success in the industry often requires pivoting, reinventing, and even leaving the modeling world entirely to pursue passions in music, entrepreneurship, and activism.

ANTM Cycle 4: Full Cast Biography and Current Status (2025)

The fourth cycle of America's Next Top Model featured 14 contestants competing for the title. Here is a look at the full cast and their updated careers as of 2025, highlighting the surprising directions many have taken:

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• Naima Mora (Winner): A multifaceted artist, Naima continues to model and has expanded into acting, appearing in TV series like Veronica Mars and the 2024 series Diarra from Detroit. She is also an author, speaker, and musician, often focusing on model coaching and artistic independence.
• Kahlen Rondot (Runner-Up): Known for her striking look and tragic personal story during the show, Kahlen largely stepped away from high-fashion modeling after the competition. Reports suggest she has pursued entrepreneurship, previously running a bar in Brooklyn and currently operating a coffee shop in Minneapolis.
• Keenyah Hill (3rd Place): Keenyah has transformed her career into a platform for coaching and mentorship. She works as a pose coach and modeling mentor, holding modeling workshops and maintaining a significant social media presence with nearly 180,000 Instagram followers. She recently stirred controversy after threatening legal action against a content creator.
• Brittany Brower (4th Place): Brittany has remained active in entertainment, often appearing in reality TV and talk shows, sharing behind-the-scenes insights into her time on ANTM.
• Christina Murphy (5th Place): After the show, Christina pursued acting and commercial modeling.
• Michelle Deighton (6th Place): Michelle transitioned to professional wrestling and later appeared on the reality show Wife Swap.
• Tatiana Dante (7th Place): Tatiana has maintained a low profile, focusing on her personal life and occasional modeling work.
• Lluvy Gomez (8th Place): Lluvy became a fan favorite for her personality and has done commercial work, often engaging with the ANTM fan community.
• Rebecca Epley (9th Place): Rebecca continued commercial modeling and has focused on family life.
• Tiffany Richardson (10th Place): Tiffany is infamously known for the moment Tyra Banks screamed at her. She has since used her platform for motivational speaking and acting.
• Noelle Staggers (11th Place): Noelle has worked in commercial and print modeling.
• Brandy Rusher (12th Place): Brandy had a brief modeling career post-show before stepping away from the public eye.
• Sarah Dankleman (13th Place): Sarah has maintained a private life since her elimination.
• Brita Petersons (14th Place): Brita was the first eliminated contestant of Cycle 4.

The Enduring Controversy of Cycle 4's Most Problematic Shoots

The legacy of America's Next Top Model Cycle 4 is inseparable from its controversial moments, which, when viewed through a 2025 lens, highlight the problematic nature of early 2000s reality television and the fashion industry's historical lack of diversity sensitivity.

The Infamous "Ethnicities" Photoshoot

One challenge stands out as the most problematic in ANTM history: the "Ethnicities" photoshoot, where contestants were assigned different ethnic groups and had their skin darkened or altered to fit the stereotype. This episode, titled "The Girl Who Is Special," has been widely criticized for promoting blackface and cultural appropriation.

The controversy surrounding this episode was so intense and enduring that streaming platforms like Hulu eventually removed it from their lineup, recognizing its troubling content and the show's "troubled legacy." This move underscores the ongoing conversation about accountability for past media content and the evolution of social standards since the cycle aired.

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Kahlen’s Tragic Grave Shoot

Another moment that drew intense criticism was the photoshoot where Kahlen Rondot was required to pose in a grave, just days after she had received news of a childhood friend's passing. The emotional distress Kahlen experienced was palpable, and the decision by the production to proceed with the shoot, despite the circumstances, sparked debates about the ethical treatment of contestants on reality television. Tyra Banks's team later claimed the shoot was planned before the tragic news reached Kahlen, but the timing remains a dark spot on the cycle’s history.

Naima Mora: The Unconventional Winner and Her Post-ANTM Evolution

Naima Mora's win was a significant moment for the franchise, representing a shift away from the typical commercial model look favored in earlier cycles. Her unique, androgynous aesthetic and quiet confidence allowed her to edge out the more technically polished Kahlen Rondot in the final runway challenge held in South Africa.

From Runway to Rock Music and Acting

After securing the CoverGirl contract and the Ford Models representation, Naima did not simply fade into obscurity. While she continued print modeling for publications like ELLE Magazine and Us Weekly, her passion quickly expanded beyond the traditional fashion world. Naima is a dedicated musician, having been a part of the rock band "Galaxy of Tar."

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In recent years, Naima has successfully transitioned into acting, demonstrating her versatility. Her appearance in the 2024 series Diarra from Detroit confirms her commitment to building a career in the entertainment industry that is not solely reliant on her ANTM title. She has also become an influential voice in the modeling community, often sharing her experiences and advocating for artists to be proactive in managing their own careers.

The Untold Stories: Pivots and Entrepreneurship After Tyra Banks's World

For many contestants, the true success story lies not in the high-fashion jobs they booked but in the ability to pivot and leverage their reality TV fame into stable, non-modeling careers. The long-term careers of the Cycle 4 cast serve as a powerful case study in the fleeting nature of reality TV fame versus lasting entrepreneurial spirit.

Kahlen Rondot’s Quiet Life in Minneapolis

Kahlen Rondot, the fan-favorite runner-up, is a prime example of this pivot. Despite her immense talent and stunning portfolio, Kahlen struggled to gain traction in the post-show modeling world, partly due to her striking resemblance to established supermodel Carmen Kass. Rather than fighting an uphill battle, Kahlen chose a path of entrepreneurship and a quieter life outside the spotlight.

As of 2025, Kahlen is reportedly living in Minneapolis and running a coffee shop, a stark contrast to the international modeling career promised by the show. This career shift demonstrates a conscious choice to prioritize stability and personal fulfillment over the often-volatile world of high-fashion modeling.

Keenyah Hill: From Body Shaming to Business Mogul

Keenyah Hill, the second runner-up, faced significant scrutiny and body-shaming during her time on the show, a recurring theme that has since been criticized as a failure of Tyra Banks's mentorship. However, Keenyah has turned her experience into a professional asset. She has established herself as a credible pose coach and mentor, helping aspiring models navigate the industry she once struggled in.

Her recent public controversy involving legal threats against a content creator showcases that she remains a relevant, outspoken figure in the digital landscape, leveraging her platform to protect her image and brand. Keenyah's journey from contestant to modeling mentor and online personality highlights the power of self-reinvention in the wake of reality TV exposure.

In conclusion, the cast of ANTM Cycle 4 has proven that life after "Top Model" is rarely a straight shot to superstardom. Instead, it is a complex journey filled with career pivots, artistic exploration, and the continuous effort to define success on their own terms, far removed from the judging panel of Tyra Banks, Janice Dickinson, and Nigel Barker.