Nicole Linkletter was named the top model of America’s Next Top Model’s fifth cycle in the season finale Wednesday night.

As the Top Model, Linkletter takes home a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, an ElleGirl cover with Top Model host and producer Tyra Banks and a photo spread inside the magazine, and a contract with Ford Models.

In the season finale, the top three — Linkletter, 19, Nik Rhodesea, 21, and Bre Howard, 19 — shot a CoverGirl commercial and a national print ad. Though Linkletter stumbled over her lines (and then blamed it on the lighting) it was Harlem native Howard who was sent packing.

Linkletter and Rhodesea were then each photographed with Banks for an ElleGirl cover by photographer Gilles Bensimon. Linkletter’s winning photo will be on ElleGirl’s February 2006 issue.

The final two models took to the runway with past Top Model winners Naima Mora and Eva Pigford in one last fashion show for London designers Vanya Strok and Nargess Gharani.

The judges felt Linkletter was a stronger competitor than Rhodesea, who was criticized for having a bland personality and just one pose.






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