Lake Forest's Brittany Sullivan won first place in the CW Network's "America's Next Top Model" TV show Wednesday night, eking out two finalists for a modeling contract with Elite Model Management; a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics; and a cover photo and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine … not to mention bragging rights of being "America's Next Top Model."
Throughout the season, Ms. Sullivan competed under the alias "McKey," a self-designed variation of a name her mother almost gave her at birth. McKey brought sophistication and class to the sometimes tawdry TV show, remaining quiet and behind the scenes while competitors frolicked in hot tubs, drank with boys, bit their nails and fretted about their weaknesses and self
doubts on national TV.
"I want to be the girl who wins it all," she said during the Seuss-like runway portion of Wednesday night's show, when her hair was styled to wrap in circles around her head.
Ms. Sullivan brought her celebrity home to Lake Forest on Sunday when she attended the Heifer International Living Gift Market at Church of the Holy Spirit, where parishioner Will Humphrey shot this photo.
At the end "America's Next Top Model," McKey looked at the camera and said: "I'm so proud of myself right now. I'm just so proud right now."
Lake Forest is, too! But not necessarily surprised…In an unscientific GazeboNews poll that ran earlier this week, 74% of respondents said they thought McKey would win.