Amanda Swafford
Encyclopedia
Amanda Lynn Swafford is an American fashion model and television personality. She came in third place on Cycle 3
of the reality television show America's Next Top Model
. Swafford is legally blind
; she is afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa
, a degenerative eye condition. In the episode of America's Next Top Model where Swafford revealed her condition to the other contestants, she stated that the condition would leave her completely blind by age 30. She has modeled in Moscow
and Prague
after the show.
during her childhood years. She was a track and field athlete at Plano East Senior High School
in 1997. In 2000, she graduated from Austin Community College, Rio Grande.
Before appearing on America's Next Top Model
, Swafford modeled under the name "Amanda Mellard" in Austin, Texas
, where she was a somewhat established figure in Austin's fashion community. After appearing on America's Next Top Model
, Swafford modeled for Levi's in an ad campaign with other visually impaired models. In 2005, Swafford announced plans to write a multi-sensory book for children.
of America's Next Top Model
, the judges all noted that her most stunning feature was her ice-blue eyes. However, her eyes could also be considered a liability as she is legally blind; retinitis pigmentosa
causes deterioration in the rod pigments of the eyes, severely limiting the ability to see in low-light conditions, which could make walking down a runway surrounded by darkness extremely dangerous. But that did not stop her from wanting to participate as a cast member on the show and she was called 10th during casting.
The judges were amazed by her photos, especially the un-retouched beauty shot that she took during the third week of the competition. Even when participating in a fashion show under low-light conditions, she was able to successfully navigate the runway without a misstep due to the glitter and glowing paint scheme allowing her to be able to see the runway's path and edges. She was never once criticized by the judges for being too old for the competition despite her being 25 years old at the time. When she went on her go sees in Japan, however, she was told that she was too old by one of the designers.
She participated in the finale along with winner Eva Pigford and Yaya Da Costa
, but Amanda was eliminated when she and Eva were in the bottom 2. The judges had a difficult time deciding who to send home, as all 3 contestants had strong CoverGirl photos, and all 3 were considered strong contenders, but in the end, it was Swafford. One of the judges, Janice Dickinson
was a dissenting voice on the judging panel, saying, "I love you!" to Swafford when she was eliminated.
She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL entertainment.
America's Next Top Model, Cycle 3
America's Next Top Model, Cycle 3 debuted on September 22, 2004. It was the first cycle to gain partnership with cosmetics magnate CoverGirl and ran weekly commercials during the show named Beauty Tip of the Week with Jay Manuel and Elsa Benitez as well as the CoverGirl of the Week contest. Also...
of the reality television show America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
. Swafford is legally blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
; she is afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
, a degenerative eye condition. In the episode of America's Next Top Model where Swafford revealed her condition to the other contestants, she stated that the condition would leave her completely blind by age 30. She has modeled in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
after the show.
Early life
Swafford's family relocated to Plano, TexasPlano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
during her childhood years. She was a track and field athlete at Plano East Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School is a secondary school in Plano, Texas serving high school juniors and seniors. It is part of the Plano Independent School District....
in 1997. In 2000, she graduated from Austin Community College, Rio Grande.
Before appearing on America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
, Swafford modeled under the name "Amanda Mellard" in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where she was a somewhat established figure in Austin's fashion community. After appearing on America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
, Swafford modeled for Levi's in an ad campaign with other visually impaired models. In 2005, Swafford announced plans to write a multi-sensory book for children.
America's Next Top Model
When Amanda tried out for the Cycle 3America's Next Top Model, Cycle 3
America's Next Top Model, Cycle 3 debuted on September 22, 2004. It was the first cycle to gain partnership with cosmetics magnate CoverGirl and ran weekly commercials during the show named Beauty Tip of the Week with Jay Manuel and Elsa Benitez as well as the CoverGirl of the Week contest. Also...
of America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
, the judges all noted that her most stunning feature was her ice-blue eyes. However, her eyes could also be considered a liability as she is legally blind; retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
causes deterioration in the rod pigments of the eyes, severely limiting the ability to see in low-light conditions, which could make walking down a runway surrounded by darkness extremely dangerous. But that did not stop her from wanting to participate as a cast member on the show and she was called 10th during casting.
The judges were amazed by her photos, especially the un-retouched beauty shot that she took during the third week of the competition. Even when participating in a fashion show under low-light conditions, she was able to successfully navigate the runway without a misstep due to the glitter and glowing paint scheme allowing her to be able to see the runway's path and edges. She was never once criticized by the judges for being too old for the competition despite her being 25 years old at the time. When she went on her go sees in Japan, however, she was told that she was too old by one of the designers.
She participated in the finale along with winner Eva Pigford and Yaya Da Costa
Yaya Da Costa
- External links :...
, but Amanda was eliminated when she and Eva were in the bottom 2. The judges had a difficult time deciding who to send home, as all 3 contestants had strong CoverGirl photos, and all 3 were considered strong contenders, but in the end, it was Swafford. One of the judges, Janice Dickinson
Janice Dickinson
Janice Doreen Dickinson is an American actress, author, fashion photographer, model and talent agent.Initially notable as a model, she has described herself as the first supermodel. One of the most successful models throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she expanded her profession to reality television...
was a dissenting voice on the judging panel, saying, "I love you!" to Swafford when she was eliminated.
She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL entertainment.
Modeling career
Amanda has appeared on the covers of Bliss for Bride Magazine and Access Magazine, and has modelled for Levi's Jeans, Felt It! Stitch It! Fabulous! and WEBS. She signed with Storm Model Management and went to New York to model.Personal life
Swafford is married to Tobias O'Connell, and they have a son, Elijah Wolf, born in 2002. Swafford frequently referred to missing her son during the competition and called him "JaWolf" when talking to him on the phone.External links
- Interview with Amanda on August 15, 2005
- "Partially sighted model Amanda Swafford is new Levi's girl" Feature on UK VogueVogue (magazine)Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
website. - http://archive.disabilitynow.org.uk/search/z05_10_Oc/model.shtml Interview with Disablility Now