America's Next Top Model Finale: One Girl Wins and One Falls—Literally—Out of the Running

Which college girl had what it took to be on top this season? And who stumbled twice on the runway?!

By Natalie Finn Nov 17, 2012 5:50 AMTags
America's Next Top Model, Top 3Angelo Sgambeti/CW

One beautiful young lady has graduated to top-model status.

Student athlete Kiara Belen, Dynasty scion Laura James and lucky Leila Goldkuhl, eliminated weeks ago but brought back by the fans, were the last aspiring stars standing heading into the season finale of America's Next Top Model: Cycle 19 tonight.

With no Cover Girl contract on the line, the finalists were tasked with photo shoots for new sponsors Nine West and Nylon magazine, after which they had to strut their leggy stuff in a haunted house-themed runway show.

So, who managed to "reclaim her immortal smize"? (No, seriously, that's what Tyra Banks actually said.)

Sadly, not Leila, who fell on her butt while descending a short staircase to the runway, and then, despite vowing to "focus on what's in front of [her]," stumbled at the end of the runway and ended up on her knees on the grass.

"Oh, this is my worst fear!" Kelly Cutrone can be heard groaning from the audience, while photo shoot creative director Johnny Wujek couldn't help but exclaim, "Aw, damn, girl!" when he witnessed the posing debacle through the monitor.

Jez Smith/CW

Leila, who had super-strong photos, sadly couldn't recover from that, leaving Kiara and Laura as the frontrunners.

But though Kiara had gone from struggling to swag throughout the course of the competition, the title went to Laura. (Who totally looks like Olivia Wilde, right?!)

"Oh, my God, you have no idea!" Laura sobbed into Tyra's arms. "I've been dreaming of this for such a long time."

She wins $130,000, including $30,000 in challenge prizes for scholarship money, a spread in Nylon, a contract with LA Models and NY Model Management and campaigns with Nine West and Smashbox Cosmetics. Laura, the winner of the show's first-ever college cycle, will also be the face of the first ANTM fragrance, Dream Come True.