Dani Evans Career Update: How the ANTM Winner Built a Fashion Business After Reality TV

Dani Evans won a $100,000 contract in 2006 and now runs her own luxury hat company called Monrowe. This shows how she moved from TV fame to real business success over 20 years.
By Newsroom | Fashion, Entertainment |

The career of Dani Evans, the winner of America's Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 6, has recently come back into the public eye following a new Netflix docuseries. While many reality television stars disappear after their initial fame, Evans has maintained a steady presence in the fashion world for nearly twenty years. Her journey serves as a case study on how winners of early 2000s reality shows navigated the gap between television fame and the strict requirements of the high-fashion industry. The current discussion focuses on how she was treated during the show and how she transformed that platform into a lasting career as a model and business owner.

Where Is 'America's Next Top Model' Winner Dani Evans Now? - 1

Timeline of Key Events and Industry Transitions

The professional path of Dani Evans moved from a small-town setting to the global stage through a series of specific milestones:

Where Is 'America's Next Top Model' Winner Dani Evans Now? - 2

  • 2006: The Cycle 6 Victory – Evans won the competition despite physical hurdles, including a severe dehydration episode in Thailand that required hospital treatment.

  • 2006–2009: The Contract Phase – After her win, she secured a $100,000 CoverGirl contract and signed with Ford Models, which was a standard prize for the series.

  • 2010–2020: Industry Persistence – She moved to New York and signed with Elite Model Management and Click Model Management, walking for designers like Jenni Kayne.

  • 2020–Present: Business Ownership – Evans launched Monrowe, a luxury hat brand, and expanded her work into photography and content creation.

  • 2024–2025: Retrospective Analysis – Her participation in the Netflix series Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model provided a platform to discuss her experiences with show producers and judges.

Documented Evidence of Professional Development

Official records and interview data highlight the specific achievements and obstacles in her career:

Read More: Maura Higgins Gets Big Victoria's Secret Deal After US TV Show

Where Is 'America's Next Top Model' Winner Dani Evans Now? - 3
CategoryDetailsStatus
Primary AgencySigned with Ford Models, Elite, and ClickVerified
Key CommercialsFeatured as a "Top Model in Action" for CoverGirlVerified
Business VentureFounder of Monrowe NYC (Luxury Headwear)Verified
Health RecordsHospitalized for dehydration during filming in ThailandVerified
Recent MediaFeatured in Netflix docuseries (2024/2025)Verified

"I decided to play the game and got my gap closed," Evans stated in a recent interview, reflecting on the pressure she faced from host Tyra Banks regarding her physical appearance.

The "Aesthetic Mandate" and the Tooth Gap Debate

One of the most discussed moments in the history of the show involved the demand for Evans to close the gap between her front teeth. This event highlights the tension between a person's natural look and industry standards of the time.

Where Is 'America's Next Top Model' Winner Dani Evans Now? - 4

  • The Producer Perspective: Judges, led by Tyra Banks, suggested that a tooth gap would limit her ability to secure high-end fashion contracts. They offered speech lessons and dental work to make her "more marketable."

  • The Contestant Perspective: Evans initially resisted, stating she wanted to keep her natural look. She eventually agreed to a partial closure to remain in the competition.

  • The Long-term Signal: While the show presented this as a necessary career move, Evans has since questioned if the pressure was more for television drama than for her actual professional growth.

Overcoming the "Reality TV" Stigma

In the mid-2000s, coming from a reality show was often viewed as a negative by high-fashion houses. Evans has noted that professionals in the industry sometimes looked down on contestants from the show.

  • Proof of Work: To counter this, Evans moved to New York and focused on building a "real" modeling book that did not rely on her TV fame.

  • Performance Consistency: She earned "CoverGirl of the Week" multiple times during her cycle, which suggested she had a strong appeal to commercial brands.

  • The Probing Question: One might ask: Did the "reality TV" label make her career harder, or did it provide the financial safety net needed to survive in New York? Evidence suggests she had to work harder to prove her skills to elite agencies.

Evolution into Entrepreneurship and Design

In recent years, Evans has moved from being the face of other brands to building her own. This transition is a common path for successful models looking for career longevity.

  • Brand Ownership: Her company, Monrowe, focuses on "dope brims" and luxury hats. This shows a shift from modeling clothes to designing accessories.

  • Creative Control: She uses social media to control her own story, stating that it allows her to create her own "narrative" rather than letting TV producers do it for her.

  • Multidisciplinary Skills: She is currently active as both a model and a photographer, diversifying her income and skill set.

Professional Insights and Analysis

According to reports from Essence and BODE Magazine, Evans is viewed as one of the most successful winners because of her resilience. Observers note that her ability to handle criticism about her Southern accent and her teeth showed a high level of "mettle."

Read More: Strictly Star JB Gill's Wife Finds 'Weird' Messages from Other Parents

Industry analysis suggests that while the show focused on her "flaws," Evans used the prize money and the initial contract as a "gateway" rather than a final destination. Her current work as a designer and photographer is cited as proof that she successfully transitioned out of the "reality star" category and into the "fashion professional" category.

Summary of Findings

The evidence shows that Dani Evans has successfully navigated a long career in an industry known for being short-lived.

  • Career Stability: She is one of the few winners who maintained representation with top-tier agencies like Elite for years after the show ended.

  • Personal Agency: Her recent comments in the Netflix docuseries show a woman who has reconciled her past on television with her current identity as a business owner.

  • Next Steps: Evans continues to run Monrowe and participate in fashion projects. Her story remains a primary example for those studying the impact of reality television on professional industries.

Primary Sources and Context

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Dani Evans doing for work in 2025?
Dani Evans is currently running her own luxury hat brand called Monrowe NYC. She also works as a professional photographer and creates content for various fashion brands.
Q: Why did Tyra Banks tell Dani Evans to close her tooth gap on the show?
In 2006, Tyra Banks told Dani that a gap in her teeth would make it hard to get high-fashion jobs. Dani agreed to close the gap partially to stay in the competition and eventually win the show.
Q: Which modeling agencies did Dani Evans sign with after winning ANTM?
After winning Cycle 6, Dani signed a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl and worked with Ford Models. Later, she moved to New York and signed with other top agencies like Elite Model Management and Click Model Management.
Q: What is the name of the Netflix show featuring Dani Evans?
Dani Evans appears in the 2024/2025 Netflix docuseries called Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model. In this show, she talks about her experiences with the judges and how the show affected her life.
Q: How much money did Dani Evans win on America's Next Top Model?
Dani Evans won a modeling contract worth $100,000 with CoverGirl cosmetics in 2006. She used this prize and her fame to build a career in the fashion industry that has lasted for nearly 20 years.