Nicole’s ‘Top Model’ triumph
From Sarah Hall

NEW YORK—America’s Next Top Model winner Nicole Linkletter is ready for her close-up. Nicole, a 20-year-old student from North Dakota, was awarded Top Model status Wednesday night, beating out runner-up Nik, to land a $100,000 contract with Ford Models and an Elle Girl magazine cover alongside the reality competition’s host and creator, Tyra Banks.
At the start of the final episode, three girls remained in the running for Top Model glory. The would-be fashionistas faced off against one another by shooting a commercial for CoverGirl’s True Blend Powder Foundation. Nik nailed the commercial challenge, while both Nicole and Bre flubbed their lines on camera. Ultimately, the judges chose to eliminate Bre after deciding that Nicole had displayed more consistency over the course of the show.
The remaining two girls then went on to face their final challenge: starring in a runway fashion show for designers Nargess Gharani and Vanya Strok. Both aspiring models strutted the catwalk admirably, but in the end, judges Twiggy, J. Alexander, Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and Banks selected an overjoyed Nicole as the winner.