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America's Next Top Model episodes (Cycle 1)

This article contains episode summaries from Cycle 1 of the American competitive reality television series America's Next Top Model. The first cycle aired in 2003, starting on May 20 and concluding on July 8.

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The first season of America's Next Top Model features a dynamic reality show format — in that the viewers not only witness an intense competition to find a top model but also the impact of the competition on and day-to-day lives of a diverse group of contestants. This first group of contestants included Adrianne Curry, an Illinois native who saw this competition as a chance to overcome a rough financial situation; Ebony Haith, an African-American lesbian model; Elyse Sewell, a recent college graduate who aspired to attend medical school; Giselle Samson, an 18-year-old dancer with Latina roots; Shannon Niquette Stewart, a devoutly Christian, all-American beauty; Robin Manning, another devout Christian and the only plus-sized model of this cycle; and Kesse Wallace, who was participating in the competition though her parents disapproved of her pursuit of modeling. In the end, Adrianne Curry would beat out her competition to become the first winner of America's Next Top Model.

The Girl Who Wants It So Bad

Original airdate: May 20, 2003

Eliminated: Tessa Carlson

In the first episode, the eight girls selected at semifinals were transported to New York City and escorted to a large loft apartment that they would be sharing for the first half of the competition. A subsequent two contestants were added to the group after being scouted at a separate audition. After Brazilian bikini waxes had been administered to the contestants and initial weights had been recorded, the girls headed to their first photo shoot - a bikini shoot for J. Lo swimwear set atop a Manhattan skyscraper in chilly weather. At the first judging session, the panel of judges - led by Tyra Banks and featuring Janice Dickinson, a supermodel of the 70s, Beau Quillian, a renowned fashion editor, and Kimora Lee Simmons, owner of Baby Phat fashions - evaluated each contestant's best photograph from their shoot. The judges felt that Elyse was too thin - having weighed in at 114 pounds despite being 5"10 - and that Tessa Carlson had not learned how to pose correctly. Finally, nine contestants were called forward as safe and handed their photograph, and the judges decided to eliminate Tessa.

The Girl Who Is Here to Win, Not Make Friends

Original airdate: May 27, 2003

Eliminated: Katie Cleary

In the second episode, tension erupted in the loft between the devout Christians - Robin and Shannon - and several other contestants, especially due to Elyse's atheism and Ebony's homosexuality. The second photo shoot was another bikini shot for Stuff (magazine). Katie Cleary was eliminated at panel as the judges felt that she was overly sexual in her photos, which limited her appeal as a model.

The Girl Who Gets Rushed to the Emergency Room

Original airdate: June 3, 2003

Eliminated: Nicole Panattoni

The third episode began with makeovers of all eight remaining contestants, in which some girls were more enthusiastic about their new looks than others. Later it was announced that each contestant would be posing with a guest model in that week's shoot - a snake. While this terrified many contestants, the group managed to take strong photos as a whole, and it was Nicole Panattoni who was ousted this week. Though she had taken a very good photograph, she was deemed not committed enough to the competition.

The Girl Who Drives Everyone Crazy

Original airdate: June 10, 2003

Eliminated: Ebony Haith

Next, the seven remaining contestants were challenged to polish their acting skills and collaborated to shoot a television commercial for contact lenses. The main source of drama in this episode revolved around contestant Ebony, whose partner came to visit her during the episode, much to the consternation of the Christians in the house. At judging, Giselle and Ebony were singled for their poor performance in the challenge, and Ebony became the fourth person eliminated from the competition.

The Girl Who Everyone Thinks Is Killing Herself

Original airdate: June 17, 2003

Eliminated: Giselle Samson

In the fifth episode, the contestants were challenged to impress an interviewer, and Elyse's candid and outspoken remarks won her and Adrianne the opportunity to invite Elyse's boyfriend Marty and Adrianne's mother to the loft for a brief visit. In that week's photo shoot, each model was pictured with NFL Rookie of the Year Clinton Portis, and Giselle Samson was sent home at panel because she could not overcome her low self-confidence despite her modeling talent.

The Girl Who Deals with a Pervert

Original airdate: June 24, 2003

Eliminated: Kesse Wallace

The five remaining contestants - Kesse, Robin, Elyse, Shannon, and Adrianne - were then told that they would be flying to fashion capital Paris for the remainder of the competition. Here, they had their first lingerie shoot with a male model, and each girl was given the opportunity to go on several go-sees to impress Parisian designers. Kesse Wallace was cut at evaluation for not demonstrating enough desire to continue in the competition.

The Girls Who Get Really Naked

Original airdate: July 1, 2003

Eliminated: Robin Manning

In this episode, the final four modeled in couture outfits and were asked to pose naked in their photo shoot for diamond jewelry, and Robin Manning and Shannon Stewart refused due to their personal sense of morality. Subsequently, these two contestants were called forward as the bottom two, and Robin was ousted.

How the Girls Got Here

Original airdate: July 8, 2003

Eliminated: Elyse Sewell, Shannon Niquette Stewart

In the first half of Cycle 1's finale, the three finalists were evaluated by Kimora Lee Simmons and again by the judging panel. In a surprising elimination, Elyse Sewell and Adrianne Curry - a pair that had become close friends through the competition - were placed in the bottom two, and Elyse was ousted because the judges felt her intelligence sometimes came across as superciliousness and that she had not taken to heart the judges' credence in modeling being a profession that required brains and beauty. Soon after this, Adrianne and Shannon faced off on the runway modeling Baby Phat fashions, and finally both girls faced the panel one last time. Upon evaluating both their final performances and overall aptitude and progress throughout the process, the judges selected Adrianne Curry as the winner, recipient of such prizes as a modeling contract with Revlon, a spread in Marie Claire magazine, and a contract with prestigious agency Wilhelmina Models.

Post-Season

Since the show aired in 2003, Adrianne Curry has been better known as a cast member of VH1's The Surreal Life and love interest of former Brady Bunch star Chris Knight on another reality series, My Fair Brady. It was recently announced that her wedding to Knight would be publicly televised. Without much dispute, it has been Elyse Sewell who has enjoyed the most successful modeling career of the ten contestants of Cycle 1 and arguably the most modeling success of any Top Model alumna.

Cycle 1 Contestants

(In order of elimination)

• Tessa Carlson
• Katie Cleary
• Nicole Panattoni
• Ebony Haith
• Giselle Samson
• Kesse Wallace
• Robin Manning
• Elyse Sewell
• Shannon Niquette Stewart (runner-up)
• Adrianne Curry (winner)