If you were glued to UPN in late 2005, you remember the hair. Those golden, voluminous curls were everywhere. Erika "Nik" Pace didn’t just walk onto ANTM Cycle 5; she glided. Honestly, looking back at that season two decades later, it’s wild how much she dominated the visual landscape of the show while being edited into the background of the "drama." While the season is often remembered for the "Granola-Gate" incident or Kim Stolz’s groundbreaking run as an out contestant, Nik was the silent engine of high fashion that kept the cycle's credibility alive. She was the quintessential "cool girl" before that was even a TikTok aesthetic.
Nik was 21 when she entered the competition. She was from Atlanta. She had this ethereal, feline quality that the judges—especially Twiggy and Nigel Barker—couldn't get enough of. But if you watch the show back now, you notice a weird tension. The judges constantly praised her photos, yet there was always this nagging critique about her "personality" or her being too "robotic." It’s a classic reality TV trope we’ve seen a million times since: if a contestant is focused and professional, the editors label them "boring" to justify a loss.
The Performance Gap: Nik Pace vs. The Field
Let's be real for a second. Nik’s portfolio during ANTM Cycle 5 was arguably one of the strongest in the first ten seasons of the franchise. Period.
Her "Country Couture" shot with the bird? Art. Her "Secret Deodorant" photo where she had to look like she was caught in a private moment? It looked like a genuine high-end editorial. She won three challenges. She was called first at panel multiple times. In almost any other cycle, she would have walked away with the CoverGirl contract and the Ford Models deal without a second thought.
But Cycle 5 was a strange beast. This was the season of Nicole Linkletter. Nicole was the "English Rose" archetype—pretty, thin, and very much the look that was dominating the mid-2000s runways in Milan and Paris. While Nik had the edge, the athleticism, and the "it" factor, Nicole had the specific look that brands like CoverGirl were thirsty for at that exact moment in fashion history. It’s one of the most debated finales in the show's history because, on paper, Nik outpaced (pun intended) almost everyone.
The "Wild Boyz" shoot is a great example of Nik’s professionalism. While other girls were freaking out about the chaos of the set, Nik stayed locked in. She understood that modeling isn't just about being pretty; it's about holding a shape while everything around you is falling apart. That’s a skill you can’t really teach. You either have that spatial awareness or you don’t. Nik had it in spades.
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The London Shift and the Final Runway
When the top girls headed to London, the vibe changed. The pressure cooked everyone. This was where we saw the infamous "Bollywood" shoot. Nik looked like a literal goddess. Tyra Banks even commented on how her skin looked like it was lit from within. It’s hard to find a bad photo of her from that entire trip.
Then came the final runway. It was a weird one.
The theme was a fractured fairy tale, and the models had to walk in these elaborate, somewhat theatrical garments. Nik’s walk was fierce. It was rhythmic. It had soul. Nicole’s walk was... fine. It was a standard runway stomp. Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander seemed split, but the decision ultimately felt like it was made based on "commercial viability" rather than the body of work produced over the previous ten weeks.
Why the "Personality" Critique Was Always Unfair
We need to talk about the "no personality" edit. It’s a trap that many Black contestants on Top Model fell into. If they were loud, they were "angry" or "divas." If they were quiet and focused, they were "dull" or "clinical." Nik was caught in the latter. She wasn't there to fight over stolen snacks or scream in the limo. She was there to work.
In hindsight, her "boredom" was actually just maturity. She was a professional in a room full of people who were often there for the "experience." It’s sort of funny to watch the judges beg her for more "spark" when her photos were already screaming. A photo is the personality in modeling. If the camera captures it, why does it matter if you’re not a stand-up comedian in the makeup chair?
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Life After the UPN Cameras Stopped Rolling
A lot of people think that if you don't win ANTM, your career is over. For Nik, that wasn't the case at all. In many ways, not being tied to the restrictive winner's contract might have helped her.
After ANTM Cycle 5, Nik signed with Fusion Model Management in New York. She actually worked. Like, really worked. She appeared in Elle Girl, Vibe Vixen, and Essence. She did campaigns for brands like L’Oréal and SoftSheen-Carson. She didn't become a household name like Gigi Hadid, but she carved out a legitimate career in an industry that is notoriously difficult to break into, especially for reality TV alumni who often carry a "stigma" of being "just a TV girl."
She also transitioned into motherhood and has shared bits of her life on social media over the years. She’s stayed relatively low-key, which honestly fits her brand. She was never the one chasing the spotlight for the sake of fame; she was chasing the craft.
The Legacy of the "High Fashion" Runner-Up
Nik paved the way for a specific kind of contestant: the one who is "too good" for the show.
Think about Anya Rozova (Cycle 10) or Molly O'Connell (Cycle 16). These are models who dominated their seasons but lost to a more "relatable" or "commercial" winner. Nik was the blueprint for that frustration. She proved that you can lose the title but win the respect of the actual fashion industry.
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Her influence is still felt in the "ANTM fandom" today. If you go on Reddit or Twitter (X), Nik is consistently cited as one of the biggest "robberies" in the show's run. People still post her photos as inspiration for curly hair routines or "clean girl" makeup looks. She has a timelessness that Nicole Linkletter—as great as she was—doesn't quite capture in the same way.
What We Can Learn From Nik’s Journey
Looking back at the whole ANTM Cycle 5 saga, there are a few real-world takeaways that apply to more than just modeling.
- The "Best" doesn't always win the "Game." The show is a TV production first and a modeling competition second. Nik was the best model, but Nicole was the better "character" for the story they wanted to tell that year. That happens in corporate jobs, too. Sometimes the promotion goes to the person who fits the "vibe" rather than the person with the best stats.
- Professionalism is a long-term play. Nik’s lack of drama might have cost her the win, but it gained her a career. Agencies want models who show up, do the job, and don't cause headaches.
- Know your market. Nik excelled in high fashion and edgy editorial. The show was leaning into "CoverGirl," which is about as "girl next door" as it gets. Knowing where you fit in your industry is half the battle.
If you’re a fan of the show, go back and watch the "Secret" shoot or the "Plastic Surgery" shoot from that season. Ignore the judges' comments for a second and just look at the images. Nik Pace wasn't just a contestant; she was a pro who happened to be on a reality show.
To really appreciate what Nik did, you have to look at the context of 2005. Diversity in high fashion wasn't where it is now. For a girl with big, natural curls and a fierce, unapologetic look to dominate the way she did was a massive deal for viewers at home. She gave a lot of people permission to see themselves as "high fashion" rather than just "commercial."
Your Next Steps for an ANTM Rewatch
If this trip down memory lane has you wanting to dive back into the UPN/CW archives, here’s how to do it right:
- Watch for the Editing: Pay attention to how often the cameras cut to Nik during drama. You’ll notice she’s usually in the background, literally just minding her business or practicing her walk.
- Compare the Portfolios: Look at Nik's final portfolio side-by-side with Nicole’s. Try to strip away the "storylines" and just look at the work as if you were an editor at a magazine.
- Check out the Post-Show Work: Google "Nik Pace Fusion Models" or "Nik Pace Essence Magazine." Seeing her work outside the confines of Tyra’s "weekly themes" shows you just how capable she really was.
Nik Pace remains a gold standard. She didn't need a crown to prove she was a model. She just needed a camera.
Actionable Insight: When pursuing a career in a creative field, remember that "the win" is often subjective. Focus on building a portfolio that stands the test of time rather than chasing the immediate approval of a single "judge" or "boss." Like Nik, your work can eventually speak louder than any "personality" critique ever could.