Reality Show Losers Turned Winners

Shandi Sullivan
The Show: America's Next Top Model 2
Place: Third place to winner Yoanna
From Loser: From the moment the ugly duckling walked onscreen in the first episode of the second season of America's Next Top Model, you couldn't help but root for her -- in a feeling-sorry-for-her sort of way. The other girls made snarky comments to the cameras, like, "I can't ever see her as a top model," but Shandi, she of Walgreens "can I get a price check on aisle five?" fame, just slouched and laughed along. Then she got her makeover, and with a little hair color, contacts and confidence, the girl began to blossom, going from geek to chic. During her transformation, we heard about her cold and distant parents, watched in horror as she cheated on her boyfriend and ultimately came to relate to the insecure beauty who couldn't look in the mirror and see what was in front of her. Though she impressed photographers, casting directors and designers alike, her lack of confidence proved to be her undoing -- we sat there with mouths agape as Tyra informed her that in fact she wouldn't be crowned America's next top model, leaving that slot open for eventual runner-up Mercedes and winner Yoanna.

To Last Laugh: Guess what, Tyra? You're wrong! Yoanna may have edged out feistier Mercedes and funkier Shandi, but rumor has it that she's quickly developed a reputation for being a diva. (Come on, girl. When your last name is Evangelista or Crawford, you can get away with it, but when we can't even remember what the hell your last name is, you have no right throwing snooty fits.) Shandi, meanwhile, has smoothed the waters with her boyfriend, Eric, and packed her bags for New York, kissing Walgreens goodbye once and for all. E! News reported that IMG, the modeling agency that reps Tyra (and Yoanna) has signed Shandi on for a top contract. Considering how much she impressed the fashion world during her stint on the show, her bookings sheet will probably be bursting in no time flat. And given that ANTM judge Nigel called her his muse, we're pretty sure she's well on her way.

Next: Colby Donaldson