NICOLE LINKLETTER IS AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

Nicole Linkletter, a 20-year-old student from Grand Forks, N.D., was crowned AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL in the finale of the fifth cycle of UPN's hit dramality series. The three remaining participants completed a CoverGirl television commercial and photo shoot, after which Bre was the first girl eliminated in the finale. As Nicole and Nik moved on to the final competition, they appeared in a high-fashion runway show. While both girls gave impressive performances, the judges had to choose one winner, and Nicole took the title.

The girls participated in a national television commercial and photo shoot for CoverGirl�s True Blend Powder Foundation. While the commercial proved to be stressful for all three finalists, the judges all agreed that Nicole looked stunning on camera.

The next day, the finalists faced the judges for the 11th elimination of the competition. The judges felt that while all three girls looked beautiful in their photographs and on camera, Bre seemed to lack the consistency required to become a top model, thus eliminating her from the competition leaving only two girls to compete for the crown.

The next day, Nicole and Nik were individually photographed alongside Tyra Banks by world-renowned photographer Gilles Bensimon for a photo shoot for ELLEgirl magazine. The winner�s shoot will grace the magazine�s February 2006 cover. Later, the two faced their final challenge, a runway show for top fashion designers Nargess Gharani and Vanya Strok. During the show, Nicole impressed the judges with her versatile performance by breaking out of her young na�ve image, while Nik performed well but showed less stage presence. �I haven�t seen you this confident the whole competition,� Jay told Nicole after the runway show.

During the final elimination, the judges considered the runway performances from the final runway challenge, as well as each girl's photos from the competition. While the judges agreed that Nik is a gorgeous model who has developed a strong portfolio, they felt that Nicole�s versatility, strength and stage presence was idealistic of a top model. �One of you can truly take what America�s Next Top Model means and share that with not just America, but with the world,� Tyra said before announcing Nicole as AMERICA�S NEXT TOP MODEL.

The winner of UPN's AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL will have the opportunity to be managed by Ford Models. She will also receive a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl. The winner will additionally appear in a fashion spread in Elle magazine and on the cover of ELLEgirl magazine.

The fifth installment of UPN's hit dramality series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL follows 13 young women as they attempt to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modeling. Banks, who created the show, also serves as executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Anthony Dominici ("The Amazing Race").

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL airs Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. For more information about AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL log on to www.upn.com.