From Supermodel To Harvard: 12 Shocking Career Updates From The America's Next Top Model Season 2 Cast
America’s Next Top Model Season 2, which aired in early 2004, remains one of the most iconic and drama-filled cycles in the show’s history, setting the standard for the reality modeling competition that followed. Over two decades later, the cast members have moved far beyond the Tyra Banks-led runway, with many carving out surprisingly successful and diverse careers in fashion, media, and even healthcare.
As of December 2025, the updates on the Cycle 2 contestants reveal a fascinating journey of personal and professional evolution, proving that the $100,000 CoverGirl contract was just a starting point. From a fierce winner attending an Ivy League executive program to a runway queen becoming a registered nurse, the lives of the ANTM Season 2 cast are more compelling than ever.
The Complete America's Next Top Model Season 2 Cast: Biography and Current Status
The second cycle of America's Next Top Model featured 12 aspiring models who competed for a contract with IMG Models, a spread in Jane magazine, and a contract with CoverGirl cosmetics. The final destination for the cycle was Milan, Italy. Here is a look at the full cast and their most recent career updates.
- Yoanna House (Winner): Born April 9, 1980, in Jacksonville, Florida. Known for her dramatic makeover and high-fashion look.
- Mercedes Scelba-Shorte (Runner-Up): Born August 24, 1981, in New Jersey. Known for her strong runway walk and battle with Lupus.
- Shandi Sullivan (3rd Place): Born 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri. Known for her transformation from shy wallflower to confident model, and a major on-screen controversy.
- April Wilkner (4th Place): Born 1980 in Providence, Rhode Island. Known for her intelligence and technical posing ability.
- Camille McDonald (5th Place): Born 1980 in New York. Known for her signature walk and confident, sometimes abrasive, personality.
- Tess Carlson (6th Place): Born 1980 in Chicago, Illinois. Known for her bubbly personality.
- Jenascia Chakos (7th Place): Born 1982 in Burien, Washington. Known for her short stature and quirky look.
- Xiomara Frans (8th Place): Born 1979 in New York City. Known for her strong, exotic features.
- Catie Anderson (9th Place): Born 1983 in Willmar, Minnesota. Known for her emotional instability.
- Heather Blumberg (10th Place): Born 1981 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Known for her lack of confidence.
- Anna Bradfield (11th Place): Born 1979 in LaGrange, Georgia. Known for her mature look and early exit.
- Bethany Harrison (12th Place): Born 1983 in Houston, Texas. The first contestant eliminated.
The Top Three: From CoverGirl Contracts to Ivy League Education
The final three contestants of Cycle 2 have arguably had the most public-facing post-show careers, with each one branching out into unexpected industries and entrepreneurial ventures. Their current status highlights the diverse paths a reality TV start can lead to.
Yoanna House: The Winner Who Went to Harvard
Yoanna House, the winner of Cycle 2, famously shed her "pageant girl" look for a striking, pale-skinned, high-fashion aesthetic. Her post-show career has been extensive, including modeling for Sue Wong and Petro Zillia, and a national campaign for CoverGirl.
In a major update, Yoanna has shifted her focus toward business and media. She is actively expanding her professional portfolio through executive education at the prestigious Harvard Business School. This move demonstrates a significant pivot from pure modeling to strategic business acumen, often focusing on her own brand and media ventures.
Yoanna also served as the host of the reality show The Look for Less on the Style Network, and she has a son, Alastair.
Mercedes Scelba-Shorte: Modeling, Acting, and Advocacy
Runner-up Mercedes Scelba-Shorte, now professionally known as Mercedes Yvette, remains one of the most popular contestants in ANTM history. Her career continued strongly after the show, including appearances in magazines like Teen Vogue and signing with Nous Model Management.
Mercedes has since transitioned into acting and has been a strong advocate for Lupus awareness, a condition she openly discussed during the competition. Recent social media activity confirms her continued involvement in the industry, and she has embraced motherhood, a major personal life update for the fan-favorite model.
Shandi Sullivan: The Infamous Controversy and Quiet Life
Shandi Sullivan’s journey was one of the most dramatic transformations on the show. Starting as a shy, inexperienced model, she blossomed into a high-fashion contender, but her time in Milan was overshadowed by a highly publicized moment where she cheated on her long-term boyfriend, Eric, a moment that became one of the most shocking in *ANTM* history.
Since the show, Shandi has largely stepped away from the public eye, opting for a private life. While she is no longer actively in the high-fashion modeling world, fan discussions and social media threads suggest she has settled down and is living a quiet life away from the reality television spotlight, a choice many former contestants have made.
Surprising Career Paths: From Fashion Directors to Healthcare Professionals
Beyond the top three, many of the eliminated contestants have forged unique and unexpected careers, providing the most interesting "where are they now" stories for fans in 2025.
- April Wilkner: The Fashion Director and Reality TV Veteran
April Wilkner, known for her technical skill, has built a solid career in the fashion industry. She has reportedly worked as a fashion director for a magazine. Furthermore, April has been one of the few contestants to return to the ANTM set, appearing in multiple later cycles (8, 10, and 12) for special appearances and challenges, cementing her status as a series veteran. She remains accessible to fans, having participated in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in April 2024. - Camille McDonald: The 'Signature Walk' Entrepreneur
Camille McDonald, famous for her confident demeanor and "signature walk," leveraged her reality TV exposure into a continued career in modeling and media. She has appeared on other reality shows, including Modelville, and has been involved in several entrepreneurial ventures, using her strong personal brand to stay relevant in the entertainment sphere. - Xiomara Frans: The Model Turned Nurse
Xiomara Frans, who was praised for her exotic look, made one of the most dramatic career shifts. After her modeling career, fan reports and recent online discussions indicate that Xiomara is now working as a registered nurse in a skin or dermatology clinic. This pivot to the healthcare field is a significant and inspiring update, showing a commitment to a stable, hands-on career outside of the unpredictable fashion world. - Jenascia Chakos: The Interview Subject
Jenascia Chakos, who was eliminated after a challenging photoshoot, has recently re-engaged with the ANTM community. She has participated in multiple in-depth interviews in 2023 and 2024, discussing her experience on the show, the judging process (particularly her height being an issue), and her life post-show, including getting married. - Anna Bradfield: The Quietly Successful Model
Despite being the second contestant eliminated, Anna Bradfield had a surprisingly long post-show modeling career. She signed with The Oui Agency and appeared in several publications, including Runway Magazine and Jezebel Magazine, proving that early elimination does not always mean the end of a modeling dream.
The Legacy of the Cycle 2 Judges and Controversies
Season 2 was pivotal as it marked the first appearance of renowned fashion photographer Nigel Barker on the judging panel, who would become a long-running fixture of the show. It was also the last season to feature fashion stylist Eric Nicholson and one of the final seasons to include the famously blunt supermodel Janice Dickinson, alongside host Tyra Banks.
The cycle is retrospectively noted for its contribution to the broader ANTM controversies, including the intense pressure on the models and the focus on dramatic personal narratives, such as Shandi's cheating scandal and the judges' critiques of the models' body types. However, the lasting legacy of Cycle 2 is its strong cast, many of whom proved that a reality TV show could indeed be a springboard for a long, if unconventional, career in various fields. The class of 2004 continues to surprise and inspire fans two decades later.
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