If you spent any part of 2006 glued to a CRT television watching Cycle 6 of America's Next Top Model, you know the name Joanie Dodds. You probably also remember the teeth. Or the "krumping" photo. Honestly, it’s hard to find a fan of the show who doesn't have a soft spot for her. She wasn't just a contestant; she was the blueprint for what the judges called "the girl next door who can deliver high fashion."
While Danielle Evans ultimately took the crown—and let's be real, Dani is a legend—the debate over whether Joanie should have won still rages on Reddit threads and TikTok comment sections decades later. It’s one of those rare TV moments where both finalists were so good that choosing one felt like a crime against the other.
The Dental Transformation That Defined a Season
Let’s talk about that dental surgery. It's easily one of the most intense "makeovers" in the history of the franchise. Joanie came onto the show with a significant "snaggletooth" that she’d been insecure about for years. Producers didn't just give her a haircut; they gave her a whole new mouth.
The reality was much more grueling than the ten-minute segment showed. Joanie has since shared on various podcasts, including her own and interviews with Oliver Twixt, that the process was basically a dental marathon. She spent something like 12 hours in the chair for the first round. She had four teeth pulled. She was on laughing gas and Novocaine for so long that she was literally shaking the next day.
"It was a cosmetic fix to an orthodontic problem," she once mentioned, noting that because they did it so fast, she still deals with a permanent overbite.
Despite the physical toll—and the "Ugliest Cry" award Tyra later gave her for her reaction to the pain—Joanie has always maintained she’s grateful. For a preacher’s daughter from Pennsylvania, a $30,000 dental overhaul was something she never could have afforded on her own. It changed how she smiled, how she posed, and arguably, how she saw herself.
Why Joanie's Portfolio Is Still the Gold Standard
If you look back at the photos from Cycle 6, Joanie’s consistency was almost terrifying. She didn’t just take "good" photos; she understood the assignment every single week.
Think about the "Future Careers" shoot where she played a Beverly Hills housewife. Or the "Crying" shoot. Most girls just looked like they were having a bad day, but Joanie made it look like a Renaissance painting. Then there was the elephant shoot in Thailand. While other girls were struggling to stay on the animal, Joanie looked like she’d been born in the jungle.
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She ended the competition with the best "call-out" average of the season. She was never in the bottom two. Not once. In any other cycle, that would have been a guaranteed win. But she was up against Dani, who had a walk that could stop traffic and a personality that the cameras absolutely loved.
Basically, Joanie was the better technical model, while Dani was the better star. It’s a nuance that fans still argue about today.
Life After the Runway: From High Fashion to High-End Carpentry
What most people get wrong about Joanie is thinking she just vanished after the finale. She actually had a solid run in the industry. She signed with Nous Models in LA and even did a stint in Hong Kong and Milan. She worked. She booked jobs. But the fashion industry in the mid-2000s was a different beast.
She’s been very open about the pressure to stay at a "Size 0." At one point, her agency expressed frustration when she gained a little weight, which is a story we've heard from almost every ANTM alum. Eventually, Joanie decided to pivot. And her pivot was probably the coolest one in the show's history.
She went back to her roots. Growing up as a "preacher's kid" who helped her dad with home repairs, she actually knew her way around a toolbox.
The Trading Spaces Era
Around 2018, Joanie (now going by Joanie Sprague) reappeared on our screens, but she wasn't wearing couture. She was wearing a tool belt. She joined the reboot of TLC's Trading Spaces as a carpenter.
It wasn't a gimmick. She’s a legitimate, licensed contractor. She also co-hosted Run My Renovation on the DIY Network. Watching her handle a power saw with the same grace she used to walk a runway is genuinely impressive. She even started her own business, Neat Freaks LA, focusing on organization and "handy girl" jobs.
Where Is She Now?
As of 2026, Joanie is still very much in the public eye, though in a much more grounded way than her reality TV days. She’s married to Chris Sprague, and from all accounts, she’s living a life that feels authentic to who she always was—the girl who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
She’s also become a voice for body positivity and honesty regarding the "dark side" of reality TV. She doesn't bash the show, but she doesn't sugarcoat it either. She’s talked about the "hypnosis" segments that didn't work and the weird ways producers would try to manufacture drama.
Joanie's Impact on the ANTM Legacy
Why does she still matter? Because she represents the "working model" reality. Not everyone becomes Tyra or Gisele. Most people in the industry have to find a second act. Joanie found hers in a way that empowered other women to pick up a drill and fix their own houses.
She also proved that you can be "the nice girl" on a reality show and still be the fiercest competitor in the room. In a season dominated by the chaotic energy of Jade Cole (the "undiscovered supermodel"), Joanie was the steady, professional anchor.
Next Steps for Fans and Creators:
If you’re looking to follow Joanie’s journey today or learn from her transition, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Check out her Instagram: She’s very active and often posts "behind the scenes" photos from her ANTM days that never made it to air.
- Support women-led trades: Joanie often advocates for women in construction. If you’re interested in that path, look into her past DIY Network segments for actual, practical building tips.
- Rewatch Cycle 6 with a critical eye: Instead of just looking at the final photos, watch how Joanie takes direction during the shoots. It’s a masterclass in professional modeling that still applies to anyone trying to build a brand on social media today.
Joanie Sprague might have been the runner-up on paper, but in terms of longevity and reinventing herself, she’s in a league of her own.