Winner of Cycle 3 – Eva Marcille

Birth name: Eva Marcille Pigford

Other name(s): Eva the Diva, Eva Pigford, D-Eva, Eva Diva

Date of birth: October 30, 1984 (1984-10-30)

Place of birth: Los Angeles, California

Height: 5 ft 6.5 in (1.69 m)

Eye color: Green

Measurements: 32-23-32 (US)

Agency: L.A Models, Ford Models

Eva Marcille (born October 30, 1984) is an American actress, TV host and fashion model, who most recently played the role of Tyra Hamilton on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. She started her career by winning the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model; she was the first African American contestant to win the program.

She was previously credited by her birth name, Eva Pigford. In an interview with B. Scott, she changed her name for acting purposes; Marcille is her middle name, an amalgam of “Marjorie” and “Lucille,” her grandmothers’ names.

Eva Marcille Pigford was born in Los Angeles, California to a Puerto Rican father and African American mother. She attended Raymond Avenue Elementary School, Marina Del Rey Middle School, and Washington Preparatory High School (2002).[citation needed] She attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia; however, she left the school shortly after winning the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model.

Marcille was the winner of the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model, beating fellow contestants Yaya Da Costa and Amanda Swafford. Her prizes included a CoverGirl cosmetics contract, a spread in Elle, and a modeling contract with Ford Models.

Marcille has appeared on the cover of Brides Noir, Women’s Health and Fitness (May 2005), King magazine (June 2005), IONA (November 2005), and Essence magazine. Her other modeling credits include CoverGirl, DKNY, Samsung, Red by Marc Ecko, Jewel magazine, In Touch Weekly magazine (June 2005), King magazine (November 2005), IONA, UNleashed magazine, Star Magazine, Elle, Elle Girl, Applebottoms, Lerner Catalog, Avon Campaign 4 and Rolling Out. Eva’s runway shows include the Marc Bouwer Fall 2005, Elle Girl presents Dare To Be You: Wal-Mart Meets America’s Next Top Model 2005, Gharani Strok Fall 2005, Deborah Lindquist Spring 2006, Naqada Spring 2006, 8th Annual ‘Models of Perfection’ Show 2006, and L.A. Fashion Week’s Monarchy Collection Fall 2007.