Born on October 30, 1984, Eva Marcille Pigford is from Los Angeles, California. She was a student at Clark-Atlanta University and was one of the youngest of the 14 Finalists in America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3. Standing at only 5 feet, 7 inches, Eva was often criticized on the show for being short, but Tyra was quick to defend her, saying that the same was said about famous supermodel Kate Moss.
Eva is an over-achiever, and although she did not mix well with the other finalists in the show, her beauty and obvious talent for modeling was what kept her alive and fighting hard. Eva likes to read Jungle, Elle and Newsweek magazines, and her favorite movie is Crooklyn.
Being the antagonist of the group did not bode well for Eva’s social life while appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3, but her perseverance and hard work paid off, as she was one of the Top 2 left standing in front of the judges.
The final challenge had her and Yaya strutting their stuff on the runway, and although both girls gave impressive performances, it was Eva who emerged victorious in the end. The title earned her the much-coveted CoverGirl contract and CoverGirl lipstick ad.
Remember her speech after winning America’s Next Top Model:
…This little tomboy from L.A. that has never been beautiful. I was not the cute girl in school. I came here the shortest and the one that had the most insecurities inside of them, and now I’m America’s Next Top Model. And I get to represent all the little girls who feel the way I feel… Watch out world here comes Eva. Ha!
Being the third winner of America’s Next Top Model, Eva automatically received contracts from Ford Models and CoverGirl cosmetics and was also featured in Elle Magazine. Since appearing on the show, Eva has gone on to work not only on the runway, but also in television, having guest-appeared in the short-lived series Kevin Hill and on Nick Cannon’s Wild N’ Out.
She also hosted BET’s Rip the Runway: Fashion Music Fusion and can be seen in the films Premium, Crossover and The Walk. Eva also appeared in Jamie Foxx’s “DJ Play a Love Song” music video, where she portrayed the artist’s love interest. Moreover, Eva has graced the covers of the May 2005 edition of Women’s Health and Fitness, the June edition of King Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, the November 2005 edition of IONA Magazine and Essence.
She has also modeled for CoverGirl, In Touch Magazine, DKNY, UNleashed magazine, Star Magazine, ElleGirl Magazine, Samsung, Applebottoms, Red by Marc Ecko and Lerner Catalog.
To top it all off, Eva has walked the runway at Marc Bouwer Fall 2005, ELLEgirl presents Dare To Be You: Wal-Mart Meets America’s Next Top Models 2005, Deborah Lindquist Spring 2006, Naqada Spring 2006, and 8th Annual ‘Models Of Perfection’ Show 2006. She has since appeared on The Young and The Restless, Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris, and one episode of The Game.
She also has been credited in film, appearing on movies like Crossover and I Think I Love My Wife. In 2009, she was chosen for a role in BET’s Played by Fame.