Naima Mora
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naima Mora is a model and actress. She was the winner of the 4th cycle of America's Next Top Model.
| Naima Mora | |
[[Image: |220px| ]]Niama Mora. Winner of cycle 4. |
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| Birth name | Naima Mora |
| Born | March 1, 1984 Detroit, Michigan |
| Notable roles | America's Next Top Model Cycle 4 Winner |
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Naima Mora was born on March 1, 1984, in Detroit, Michigan daughter of jazz percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett. Her grandparents are Mexican painter Fransico Mora and African American sculptress, painter and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett.
Named after John Coltrane's song "Naima," Mora is the youngest of four sisters, one of whom is a twin sister, Nia, a photographer in New York. Along with her twin, Naima grew up in a household infused with multicultural sensibilities (her father is Mexican and black , while her mother is Irish and black).
A serious student of ballet, Mora attended Detroit's Ballet Renaissance and was enrolled in American Ballet Theatre's Detroit summer programme. Naima graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 2002.
Also worked as a coffee shop waitress, before moving from Detroit to New York to attend the school of Dance Theatre of Harlem.[citation needed] Mora decided to audition for America’s Next Top Model at the behest of her friends.
[edit] America's Next Top Model
With her mohawk and introverted persona, Naima was originally thought to be a long-shot to walk away with the title of “America’s Next Top Model”, but she proved her model ability week after week. (cast mate Kahlen Rondot was the favorite to win)[citation needed]. Nevertheless, she wound up taking the grand prize, which consisted of a fashion spread in Elle, a contract with Ford Models and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics.
[edit] Modeling/acting career
Naima and Cycle 3's Ann Markley were Trophy Girls at the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards.[citation needed]
She has made multiple appearances as a guest on The Tyra Banks Show.[citation needed]
She has appeared on the second season premiere of Veronica Mars, "Normal Is the Watchword".[1]
Mora also served as a judge at the Miss Teen USA Pageant in 2005.[2]
In 2006, she wrapped up filming on an independent film called Sarbanes-Oxley, and has made an appearance in a music video for TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me.”[citation needed]
Naima has modeled for CoverGirl, Elle Magazine, Fuego Magazine, US Weekly Magazine, IN Touch Magazine, Star Magazine, Teen People Magazine, Split Clothing, Jazz Album Samsung. She also modelled with her sister Ife for iTunes .[citation needed]
Naima's runway shows include Christopher Deane Spring 2006 Collection, Gharani Strok Fall 2005, Carlos Miele Fashion Show, Walmart and ELLEgirl Presents Dare To Be You Spring 2006, and Fashion Comedy Style 2005 (Charity Event).[citation needed]
[edit] Family
Her older sister Ife Mora, (born 1977) is a vocalist, trip-hop, and rock experimental artist of the group livemas.
Naima is the inspiration for her grandmother's 2001 black marble bust entitled Naima. Catlett described it as:
| “ | That black marble head, Naima: we have twin granddaughters who came to stay with us one summer, they were studying Spanish. I kept looking at one of them, who has a very dynamic personality. I thought I would like to do a head of her. And then it was the shape of her hair with a knot at the back. It was a whole different shape. She posed for me a little bit, to get the general shape of it. She has a little bump in her nose that I wanted to put in.. | ” |
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— Elizabeth Catlett, April 03, Vol 22 #3,Sculpture Magazine
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Naima is American, with Mexican, Indian, Irish and African-American descent.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Eva Pigford |
America's Next Top Model winner Cycle 4 (2005) |
Succeeded by Nicole Linkletter |
| America's Next Top Model |
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| Judges and personnel |
| Janice Dickinson | Twiggy | Tyra Banks | Nigel Barker | J. Alexander | Jay Manuel | Beau Quillian |
| Cycles and winners |
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Please see individual cycle articles for additional contestants |
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 | 1984 births | Living people | African American models | Mexican American models | Irish American models | Michigan actors | America's Next Top Model
