Line 1:
{{short description|American fashion model|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{update|date=March 2016}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox model
Line 7 ⟶ 6:
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|04|19}}
| birth_place = [[Valparaiso, Indiana|Valparaiso]], [[Indiana]], U.S.
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name=FansOfRealityTV>{{cite web|url=http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/america-s-next-top-model-9/70129-america-s-next-top-model-9-interview-heather-12-03-07-a.html|title=America's Next Top Model 9: Interview with Heather|publisher=FansofRealityTV.com|date=12-03-07December 3, 2007|access-date=2007-12-07|archive-date=2007-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217161906/http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/america-s-next-top-model-9/70129-america-s-next-top-model-9-interview-heather-12-03-07-a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| haircolor = Brown
| eyecolor = Green
Line 16 ⟶ 15:
| website =
}}
'''Heather Kuzmich''' (born April 19, 1986) is an [[Americans|American]] [[fashion model]]. She lives in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], where she is studying [[video game design]].<ref name="WPInterview"/> She is best known for beingwas a contestant ofon ''[[America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9]]'', in which she was the fourth runner-upone of the showtop five competitors. During the show, it was revealed that Kuzmich has [[Asperger syndrome]].<ref name="BuddyInterviewParkerPublic">{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/exclusive-interview-heather-ku-14299.aspx|last=Scarpa|first=Gina|title=Exclusive Interview: Heather Kuzmich of 'America's Next Top Model'|publisher=buddytv.com|date=2007-11-30|access-date=2007-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203100331/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/exclusive-interview-heather-ku-14299.aspx|archive-date=2007-12-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==PersonalEarly life and education==
Kuzmich wasis diagnosedfrom withValparaiso, AspergerIndiana.<ref syndromename="Perry when2007">{{cite shenews was|last1=Perry fifteen|first1=Beth years|title=She's olda (mistakenlyTop reportedModel—and asAutistic thirteen|url=https://people.com/archive/shes-a-top-model-and-autistic-vol-68-no-17/ by|access-date=17 April 2023 |work=[[TyraPeople Banks(magazine)|People]] on|date=October ''ANTM'')22, around2007 the|language=en}}</ref> timeDuring her fatherchildhood, diedshe was teased for some of her behavior and not invited to many social events.<ref Shename="Perry has2007"/> statedKuzmich inwas interviewsdiagnosed thatwith itAsperger wasn'tsyndrome thewhen easiestshe timewas infifteen years old, around the time her lifefather died.<ref name="WPInterview">{{cite web| title = Interview: Heather Kuzmich of America's Next Top Model| url = httphttps://www.wrongplanet.net/article355.htmlinterview-heather-kuzmich-of-americas-next-top-model/| format = Interview| publisher = [[Wrong Planet]]| date = 2007-11-29 | access-date = 2007-12-08| last = Plank| first = Alex}}</ref> LivingKuzmich withgraduated Aspergerfrom syndrome,Valparaiso KuzmichHigh hasSchool statedin that2005.<ref shename="Potempa struggles2007">{{cite withnews approaching|last1=Potempa people|first1=Philip and|title=Readers communicationeager skillsto contact Valparaiso 'Top Model' Heather Kuzmich |url=https://www.<refnwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_a535d4a7-f5c6-5dbf-81d9-44f26c1ab24d.html name|access-date=WPInterview17 April 2023 |work=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |date=December 6, 2007 |language=en}}</ref>
While she was a student at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago, she participated in Season 9 of [[America's Next Top Model (season 9)|America's Next Top Model]].<ref name="Potempa Oct 28 2007">{{cite news |last1=Potempa |first1=Philip |title=Valpo's Heather Kuzmich a TV 'Top Model' |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/valpos-heather-kuzmich-a-tv-top-model/article_a19935a6-1596-5073-9c55-8a06ccd291ee.html |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |date=October 28, 2007 |language=en}}</ref> According to Kuzmich, she has always wanted to model. Initially, she was hesitant about trying out for the show but finally agreed to do it after a friend convinced her to watch [[America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7|Cycle 7]].<ref name="WPInterview"/>
==Participation in ''America's Next Top Model''==
Early scenes from the show included some competitors loudly whispering about Kuzmich, criticizing her, and laughing at her.<ref name="ParkerPublic"/><ref name="Perry 2007" /> According to Marie-Agnès Parmentier and Eileen Fischer in the ''[[Journal of Consumer Research]]'', she was an example of the "underdog character type."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parmentier |first1=Marie-Agnès |last2=Fischer |first2=Eileen |title=Things Fall Apart: The Dynamics of Brand Audience Dissipation |journal=[[Journal of Consumer Research]] |date=1 February 2015 |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=1228–1251 |doi=10.1086/678907 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/41/5/1228/2962093 |access-date=17 April 2023}}</ref> However, Kuzmich later said that "they didn't make fun of me that much" and that the show did not broadcast more "civilized" exchanges.<ref name="ParkerPublic">{{cite news | first=Tara | last=Parker-Pope | title=Asperger's Syndrome Gets a Very Public Face | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/health/04well.html | work=The New York Times | date=2007-12-04 | access-date=2007-12-04}}</ref>
{{BLP sources section|date=May 2016}}
Kuzmich was one of the final five contestants on ''[[America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9]]''. At the beginning of the competition, some of the other contestants bullied Kuzmich, making fun of her "awkward" behavior and talking about her behind her back. However, Kuzmich later reported that "they didn't make fun of me that much" and that the show's producers chose not to broadcast more "civilized" exchanges.<ref name="ParkerPublic">{{cite news | first=Tara | last=Parker-Pope | title=Asperger's Syndrome Gets a Very Public Face | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/health/04well.html | work=The New York Times | date=2007-12-04 | access-date=2007-12-04}}</ref>
As the show progressed, "the on-set attitude" toward Kuzmich "softened", according to ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''.<ref name="Perry 2007" /> During the show, while filming a commercial, she "flubbed her lines", and later got "hopelessly lost" in [[Shanghai]] during an episode where she was expected to meet with five designers and managed to only meet with one, according to the ''[[New York Times]]''.<ref name="ParkerPublic" />
According to Kuzmich, she has always wanted to model. Initially, she was hesitant about trying out for the show but finally agreed to do it after a friend convinced her to watch [[America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7|Cycle 7]].<ref name="WPInterview"/>
Kuzmich became one of the top five contestants on ''[[America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9]]'' and was the viewer favorite for eight weeks.<ref name="ParkerPublic"/><ref name="ABC 2007">{{cite news |title=Medical Condition Won't Stop Model From Competing |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/story?id=3930462&page=1 |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Good Morning America]] |date=November 29, 2007 |language=en}}</ref> According to the ''[[New York Times]]'', during the show, [[Tyra Banks]], [[Twiggy]] and [[Nigel Barker (photographer)|Nigel Barker]] "marvel" at Kuzmich's "ability to connect with the camera", and she was selected by [[Enrique Iglesias]] for a featured role in a music video.<ref name="ParkerPublic"/> She also won a photo shoot by [[Matthew Rolston]] to be directed by [[Mary J. Blige]].<ref name="Potempa Oct 28 2007" />
Kuzmich's journey began when she was the 12th woman called to participate in the final 13. Early on, she was deemed to be the underdog of the competition, but this changed when she excelled in the photo shoots. At week five in which they had to pose as fashion gargoyles, Kuzmich was called late because the judges critiqued that she only took "profile" shots. With that critique the next week, while the girls had to portray recyclable material (Kuzmich wore aluminum cans), she gave all her shots face forward, causing the panel to be blown away by her stunning features. The next week, while filming a music video for [[Enrique Iglesias]], the artist was so taken by Kuzmich's haunting looks that he picked her and fellow contestant Lisa Jackson for featured roles, where both models were praised and were the first two called at elimination.
Kuzmich won nine CoverGirl of the Week awards, including one after she was eliminated.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Eventually, Kuzmich's strong portfolio could not compensate for her Asperger syndrome, which began to affect her when having to communicate with others. During week nine, a runway challenge requiring her to speak caused her to freeze up in front of the audience and negatively affect her shoot with a burning car in the desert. Tyra Banks noted that while it was a good shot, it was her weakest.
==After ''America's Next Top Model''==▼
The following week in [[People's Republic of China|China]], Kuzmich had problems delivering her lines for the CoverGirl Queen Collection commercial. Mr. Jay noted that while she looked gorgeous, Kuzmich could not say her lines well - even when he fed them line by line. Despite taking a great CoverGirl shot, she found herself in the bottom two because of her inability to deliver, even while being given help from Mr. Jay.
During the show, Kuzmich was not allowed to give interviews until after the show finale.<ref name="Perry 2007" /> Afterwards, she appeared on ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and ''[[Access Hollywood]]'',<ref name="ParkerPublic" /> and gave an interview to ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''.<ref name="Warrick 2007">{{cite news |last1=Warrick |first1=Pamela |title='Top Model's' Autistic Beauty |url=https://people.com/archive/top-models-autistic-beauty-vol-68-no-25/ |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=December 17, 2007}}</ref>
She was spared for another week, but the following week saw her yet again landing in the bottom two. That week, the women went on go-sees in [[Shanghai]], and while the other four women made it to at least three or four designers, Kuzmich got lost and ended up only making it to one. The designer praised her look and strong photographs, but criticized her runway walk as well as her lack of eye contact. She was also disqualified because of her late return. Fans were angry when fellow competitor Jenah Doucette did not offer Kuzmich a ride back because she had lost her taxi, but she explained that it was against the rules.<ref name="BuddyInterview"/> That week, the two models who Banks deemed to take the strongest photos of the remaining women - Kuzmich and Doucette - were placed in the bottom two, both for their lack of good communication. Kuzmich was eliminated and became the ninth woman eliminated.
Kuzmich won nine CoverGirl of the Week awards, including one after she was eliminated. She also appeared on 'Top Models in Action' of ''ANTM'' cycle 12. The short clip featured her photo shoots including the cover of ''Spectrum'' magazine.
▲==After ''America's Next Top Model''==
===Modeling career===
Kuzmich has signed to the women's division of [[Elite Model Management]] in [[Chicago]] and [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.livejournal.com/topmodel/2303647.html#cutid1 |title= Heather Kuzmich---SIGNED!|website=community.livejournal.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207122431/http://community.livejournal.com/topmodel/2303647.html |archive-date=2008-12-07}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=This is a blog. Blogs are not generally accepted as a reliable source.|date=February 2023}} A challenge win during ''Top Model'' allowed Kuzmich to participate in a special photoshoot art-directed by [[Mary J. Blige]] for ''[[Carol's Daughter]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hs.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=212550&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=8324482740&aid=-1&id=554383285&oid=8324482740 |title=Connexion |publisher=Facebook }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Kuzmich also did a photoshoot for the July 2008 issue of ''Wedding Essentials.''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=40&pos=5|title= Wedding Essentials|publisher = all-antm.net}}</ref> Kuzmich has modeled for the clothing company "Blue Eyed Girl".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=40&pos=11|title= Blue Eyed Girl|publisher = all-antm.net}}</ref> She has also appeared on the cover and inside of Spectrum Magazine, a magazine for families and individuals who have autism.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=40&pos=2|title= Spectrum Magazine|publisher = all-antm.net}}</ref> RecentlyShe shealso wasappeared featuredon 'Top Models in CycleAction' of ''ANTM'' cycle 12. The short clip featured her photo shoots including the cover of ''Spectrum'' magazine.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
In 2008, she was one of the nine women featured in ''America's Next Top Model: Exposed'' on the CW.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://0pandoras0tear0.deviantart.com/journal/17182576|title= 0Pandoras0tear0's deviantART Journal|date= 4 March 2008|publisher = deviantart.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=This looks like a blog and doesn't seem a reliable source.|date=February 2023}} She has also appeared twice on ''[[The Tyra Banks Show]]'', once in a "Where are they now?" episode and for the Fiercee awards.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
===Press===
Kuzmich received great press attention due to her autism spectrum disorder, including talk show appearances (such as being interviewed on ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and an article in ''[[The New York Times]]'').<ref name="ParkerPublic"/> She plans to continue modeling, while continuing her education at the [[Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago|Illinois Institute of Art]] located in Chicago.<ref name=BuddyInterview/> In a recent interview at a viewing party, [[Paulina Porizkova]] stated that her favorite model was Kuzmich.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_7EO0KdfHI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/F_7EO0KdfHI| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|publisher= YouTube|title = Exclusive look at the America's Next Top Model Party}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kuzmich has appeared in [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]] twice, once in October 2007<ref>{{cite news| title = Heather Kuzmich doesn't let Asperger's syndrome keep her from competing on America's Next Top Model| url = http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20151881,00.html| format = Table of contents| publisher = [[People (magazine)|People]]| date = 2007-10-22 | access-date = 2007-12-08}} Note: Full text not available at time of citation placement</ref> and the second time in December 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=40&pos=1|title= People Magazine|date = December 2007|publisher = all-antm.net}}</ref> In 2008, she was one of the nine girls featured in ''America's Next Top Model: Exposed'' on the CW, during the filming of which she became close friends with Jael Strauss.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://0pandoras0tear0.deviantart.com/journal/17182576|title= 0Pandoras0tear0's deviantART Journal|publisher = deviantart.com}}</ref> She has also appeared twice on ''[[The Tyra Banks Show]]'', once in a "Where are they now?" episode and for the Fiercee awards.
==References==
Line 51 ⟶ 46:
== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/exclusive-interview-heather-ku-14299.aspx|last=Scarpa|first=Gina|title=Exclusive Interview: Heather Kuzmich of 'America's Next Top Model'|publisher=buddytv.com|date=2007-11-30|access-date=2007-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203100331/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-next-top-model/exclusive-interview-heather-ku-14299.aspx|archive-date=2007-12-03|url-status=dead}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110422203236/http://www.asperger-syndrome.me.uk/people.htm Heather Kuzmich] Famous people with Asperger Syndrome
*{{Fashionmodel}}
Line 63 ⟶ 59:
[[Category:People with Asperger syndrome]]
[[Category:America's Next Top Model contestants]]
[[Category:AmericanIllinois Seventh-dayInstitute Adventistsof Art – Chicago alumni]]
|