When you search for America's Next Top Model Laura, you aren't just looking for one person. You’re actually bumping into three very different women who basically defined three specific eras of Tyra Banks’ long-running reality circus.
It’s kind of wild how much the name "Laura" dominated the middle-to-late seasons. You've got the sweet Kentucky girl who struggled with dyslexia, the high-fashion rebel who almost lost her mind in Macau, and the college student who won it all while fans were screaming at their TVs about a new scoring system.
Let's be real: people usually get them mixed up. If you're trying to figure out which one is doing what in 2026, here is the breakdown of the three Lauras and where they actually ended up.
The Fan Favorite: Laura Kirkpatrick (Cycle 13 & 17)
Honestly, if you ask a die-hard fan who the "real" Laura is, they’re probably going to point to Laura Kirkpatrick. She was the bubbly, "lovable" (her literal branding word in All-Stars) country girl from Stanford, Kentucky.
She first appeared in Cycle 13—the "Petite Edition"—where she made it to the final two against Nicole Fox. She didn't win, but she didn't really need to. Tyra loved her. The fans obsessed over her. She actually won a "Fan Favorite" poll after the show that gave her a six-month rent-free apartment in New York City. That’s basically the ANTM equivalent of winning the lottery.
Life After the All-Stars Drama
Laura came back for Cycle 17 (All-Stars), where she placed 4th. But the show was just a launchpad. She didn't just fade into the background. Instead, she pivoted into something way more personal.
Having struggled with dyslexia on camera—remember those painful teleprompter challenges?—she started a foundation called The Beautiful Minds. It’s all about dyslexia education and awareness.
Today, she goes by Laura Sioux Cianciolo. She’s living back in Kentucky, balancing life as a single mom and running businesses like "Kentucky Darling Meats" with her dad. She still models, but it’s on her terms now. She’s very open about the fact that NYC was too expensive and the "overnight fame" of the show was a total shock to the system.
The Winner: Laura James (Cycle 19)
Then there’s the Laura who actually took home the crown. Laura James won Cycle 19, the "College Edition." This was the year everything changed—the year they brought in public voting and that weird numerical scoring system that made everyone feel like they were in a math class instead of a fashion show.
Laura was representing Paul Smith’s College. She was also "modeling royalty" in a way, being the daughter of Dynasty actor John James. People were skeptical. They thought she had an unfair advantage, but her photos were undeniably strong. That "Steampunk" shot? Iconic.
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Why You See Her Everywhere Now
If you’ve been watching TV lately and thought, “Wait, is that the girl from Top Model?”—it probably is.
Laura James didn’t stay in the modeling lane for long. She’s a full-on actress now. She had a recurring role as Molly Hicks on the show S.W.A.T. and has popped up in The Young and the Restless.
Basically, she used the $100,000 prize money and the platform to build a legitimate Hollywood career. She’s now married (her name is often listed as Laura James Ecker) and lives on the West Coast. Out of all the Lauras, she’s the one who most successfully transitioned from "reality star" to "working professional."
The Rebel: Laura LaFrate (Cycle 18)
Last but definitely not least is Laura LaFrate from Cycle 18, the "British Invasion." This Laura was... a lot. In a good way. She had the dyed-red-white-and-blue hair makeover that looked like a popsicle, and she was known for being incredibly high-fashion but also incredibly anxious.
She landed in 2nd place, losing to British model Sophie Sumner. Fans still argue about this today. Many believe Laura had the stronger portfolio, especially that "Silkworm" shoot.
A Journey Through Mexico and Beyond
Laura LaFrate’s post-show life has been a bit of a rollercoaster. She spent about 12 years living in Mexico, modeling and working, but she’s also been very vocal about the dark side of the industry.
In recent interviews, she’s talked about:
- Dealing with death threats and a total lack of privacy after her season aired.
- Surviving a tumultuous relationship while living abroad.
- Finding a new passion in skydiving.
She’s recently moved back to be with her family and has transitioned into screenwriting and film. She’s admitted she doesn’t even watch TV much and hasn't seen most of her own season. For her, modeling was a "tool," not the end goal.
The Legacy of the "Lauras"
It’s interesting to see how the show treated these three women. America's Next Top Model Laura (as a search term) brings up three different archetypes of the American dream:
- The Heart: Kirkpatrick showed that being "too short" or having a learning disability didn't mean you couldn't be a fan favorite.
- The Success: James proved the show could actually produce a winner who works consistently in the industry.
- The Artist: LaFrate reminded everyone that reality TV can be traumatizing and that it's okay to walk away from the spotlight to find yourself.
If you’re looking to follow them today, your best bet is Instagram, though they all have very different vibes. Laura Kirkpatrick (Cianciolo) is very much about the Kentucky farm life and advocacy. Laura James is all about the red carpet and acting clips. Laura LaFrate is more private, focused on her "skydiving family" and her creative writing.
How to Keep Up With Them
If you want to see what they're up to right now, check out these specific avenues:
- For acting updates, follow Laura James on IMDb or Instagram to see her latest guest spots.
- For dyslexia advocacy, look into The Beautiful Minds foundation run by Laura Kirkpatrick.
- For behind-the-scenes reality truth, look for Laura LaFrate’s recent "Xperience" interviews where she gets raw about the industry.
Stop thinking of them as just "the girl from that one season." They’ve all outgrown the "Top Model" label in their own way, proving there's plenty of life after Tyra's "smize" lessons.
Next time you're rewatching old cycles on Hulu or Netflix, keep an eye on how these three handled the pressure. It explains a lot about where they are now.