Chances are you’ve heard of Clay Aiken or Jennifer Hudson. Chances are even better that you’ve heard of Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, or Carrie Underwood.  They became famous because of American Idol. The only stated prize most seasons for winning American Idol is a record deal. No guarantees of becoming the next hottest singer. No promise of a certain number of records sold. The show is NOT called “America’s Next Top Singer.” It’s “American Idol.” An idol, by definition, is something that is adored, often excessively or blindly. The millions of Americans who watch the show religiously and vote each week for their favorite singer make the name of the show fit perfectly. And most people aren’t surprised when an old idol fades off the scene and new one is erected in the position of honor.

However, there is a show out there that does promise its contestants lasting fame.  America’s Next Top Model. In this case, however, the show may be misnamed. 12 seasons have shown. 12 women – or girls, depending upon your viewpoint – have heard week after week, “You are still in the running to become America’s Next Top Model” (complete with Tyra’s ridiculously long pauses between each word). And on the last week, a winner is picked and they must assume that the fame and money can’t be far behind. Sadly, not a single one of the winners has gone on to become a “real” top model. Where are the twelve now?

Adrianne Curry, the first winner, caused shock and amusement when she publically called out Tyra and told the world she didn’t receive the Revlon contract she was promised. She was quoted in People as saying “We trusted Tyra, but we’ve all been screwed over.” The high point of her modeling career was her two Playboy covers, and she is currently married to the child star of The Brady Bunch, Christopher Knight. While Playboy pays its models, I certainly don’t think posing naked for half of the world qualifies as being a ‘top model.’ The only other cover she ever booked was in a Mexican magazine called Max.

Season 2 winner Yoanna House managed to book a cover with Psychology Today in the United States. Instead of modeling, she went on to find mild fame as a television host, hosting Style network’s The Look for Less and N’s Queen Bees.

Eva Pigford did make a mild mark in the modeling world, making four covers and modeling for Wal-Mart during New York Fashion Week, among other things. She also broke with Tyra, firing her as her manager. She claims the “break” was due to Eva’s new interest in television and film. She now goes by the name Eva Marcille and hosted My Model Looks Better than Your Model. In 2009, she signed a long-term contract with the soap opera The Young and the Restless. Modeling at its finest?

The season 4 winner was Naima Mora. Naima Mora is currently active as the lead singer in a band called “The Chewing Pics.” She also managed to book one cover, which was Cover magazine- in China.

Nicole Linkletter, from season 5, is probably the most successful of all the winners. She is still modeling, and is appearing as the model for Burberry Prorsum’s pre-fall 2009 collection. In the past, she booked covers with Elle girl and Women’s Health and Fitness, among others. She has appeared in many print ads and fashion shows. While perhaps not living up to the title of “America’s Top Model,” she certainly parlayed the experience given by ANTM into a successful modeling career.

Danielle Evans, who now goes by Dani Evans, was the season 6 winner and also found some success in modeling. She won a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl, which Cover Girl renewed- an honor they haven’t bestowed on any of the other winners. Dani has also walked in multiple runway shows. She claims that being “America’s Next Top Model” doesn’t help in the fashion world though. She told The New York Post, “But when it comes to the fashion industry, it’s like a joke.” She also stated that Tyra did little to help her career after the show was over. Despite multiple print ads and runway shows, Dani has booked only two covers, both for very minor magazines.

Season 7 winner Caridee English won a cover shoot for Seventeen as part of her reward. That was the most famous magazine she graced. Her only two other covers were Social Life Magazine in the United States and Cover in China. Her few runway credits include walking the runway for J.C. Penney, the GM Style Auto Show, and Honduras Fashion Week. Her major goal right now is promoting her career as a rock singer.

Jaslene Gonzales, season 8 winner, has achieved a great deal of fame among Latina magazines and designers. She has booked fifteen covers, including the Seventeen cover that was part of her reward for winning. Among the other fifteen: Latina and Urban Latino. She has also appeared in multiple fashion shows.

The winner of season 9 was Saleisha Stowers. The only covers she booked besides the Seventeen cover included for winning was with Paper Doll and Florida International. She reappeared on a later season of ANTM to encourage the contestants. She has walked the runway multiple times, and in 2009, appeared in a Taco Bell commercial.

Whitney Thompson claimed the title of “America’s Next Top Model” during season 10, the first and only plus-size model to do so. While MSN named her one of 2008’s “Most Influential People,” it was due to her plus-size and not her subsequent successfulness. She has walked the runway and been featured in a few magazines. The only cover- besides the Seventeen cover- was for Jacksonville Magazine, which happens to be near her own home in northern Florida.

It is a bit early to tell if season 11 winner McKey Sullivan or season 12 winner Teyona Anderson will find lasting fame as models. Thus far, both have appeared on the cover of Seventeen as part of their winnings. McKey appeared on one other cover: Forest & Bluff, a magazine for the residents of the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities. She has also been working with the Make a Wish Foundation. Teyona Anderson booked a cover with Glamour (South Africa) and walked the runway in the Arise Cape Town Fashion Week and took part in the South African Fashion Week.

Season 13 is currently airing, and is not looking more promising than any previous season. In fact, it seems even more ludicrous and Tyra’s latest attempts at “keeping things interesting” are horrible.  The twist this season is that Tyra has only cast girls who are shorter than 5’7,” despite the fact that most models tend to be tall. Tyra is claiming she is going to change the fashion world, and open it up to all women. Maybe she should try opening the fashion world up to her previous contestants.