Amanda Swafford was a contestant on Cycle 3 of ANTM.
Before appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Swafford modeled under the name “Amanda Mellard” in Austin, Texas, where she was a somewhat established figure in Austin’s fashion community. After appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Swafford modeled for Levi’s in an ad campaign with other visually impaired models. In 2005, Swafford announced plans to write a multi-sensory book for children.
When Amanda tried out for the Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, the judges all noted that her most stunning feature was her ice-blue eyes. Though her stunning eyes were her assets, they could also be considered a liability as she was legally blind. But that did not stop her from wanting to participate as a cast on the show and she was called 10th during casting.
The judges were amazed by her photos, especially the un-retouched beauty shot that she took during the third week of the competition. She was never once criticized by the judges for being too old for the competition, despite her being 25 years old at the time. When she went on her go sees in Japan, she was told that she was too old by one of the designers.
She participated in the finale along with winner Eva Pigford and Yaya Da Costa, but Amanda was eliminated when she and Eva were in the bottom 2. The judges had a difficult time deciding whom to send home, as all three contestants had strong CoverGirl photos, and all 3 were considered strong contenders, but in the end, it was Amanda. One of the judges, Janice Dickinson, was a dissenting voice on the judging panel, saying, “I love you!” to Swafford when she was eliminated. She was recently voted as one of the most memorable contestants by AOL entertainment.
Amanda has appeared on the covers of Bliss for Bride Magazine and Access Magazine, and has modeled for Levi’s Jeans, Felt It! Stitch It! Fabulous! and WEBS.
Since the show, Amanda has signed with Storm Model Management in New York City and Acclaim Talent Agency. And due to her retinitis pigmentosa, she has since gone completely blind.
Source: Wikipedia
Source: All ANTM
Source: Amanda’s Facebook
Source: Amanda’s Myspace
Source: Fashion Model Directory
Source: Amanda’s LiveJournal
Source: Amanda’s Friendster
Source: BuddyTV
Source: ANTM
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To see more photos of Amanda, click here.
March 29, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Is she already blind??? hopefully, she’s not…Is she signed with an agency in NY??? I dont know if she was with storm models before in London (some website says so)…
June 22, 2010 at 10:06 pm
She has since gone completely blind, which I think is so heartbreaking. She took amazing pictures and I wish her the absolute best in whatever she is doing now, which I hope is still modeling.
July 31, 2010 at 3:26 am
She’s got a Facebook page.
May 3, 2011 at 3:21 am
I know her personally and she is not blind. Just bad sight in low light. So please do not pass rumors around.
September 24, 2010 at 1:14 am
Sad to hear she has lost her sight for good. I hope it did not stop her from modeling.
September 28, 2010 at 4:45 am
I love you, Mandy!! Your fans in Ghana love you and wish you the very best in life! God Bless!!
October 6, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Her Covergirl shot was AMAZING! She had everything to win. One of my all-time favorites in ANTM.
October 8, 2010 at 11:45 pm
I totally agree with you.
November 12, 2011 at 2:20 am
me too…she was way more beauty than the others ( no disrespect to eva who is amazing) and is really so sad to hear she is now completely blind…I bet she’d kick some but if she was still modeling
August 8, 2011 at 7:32 am
i thought she will be a winner, I don’t know why but it seemed like the judges eliminated her because of her eyes problem. Can you imagine, if she’s in the top 2, when the judges compare the photos, she’ll completely win the competition! She has been the best picture in almost every photoshoot in every episode! So sad knowing she’s already blind!
(
October 13, 2010 at 10:58 pm
She is really beautiful! She is amazing. She is a real winner, but Yaya and Eva are very good models too.
October 21, 2010 at 11:21 am
Oh god, I just LOVED Amanda. I have retinitis pigmentosa, as well. She is just an inspiration. My all time fave on ANTM and not because of her disability, because of her beauty. ♥
November 2, 2010 at 9:23 am
Did you hear about the Depakote study(s)? I was curious about Amanda and through my search learned about the discovery that this commonly used old drug (for bipolar disorder and epilepsy) has been discovered to maybe stop and even partially reverse symptoms of RP. You probably know about it, but just thought I’d throw it out there. Maybe you could get a sympathetic doctor to prescribe it off-label. I would imagine the side effects could be nasty, but maybe some day they’ll figure out how to put it in eyedrops to lessen that. Just thought I’d throw it out there. I wish you the best.
October 30, 2010 at 10:47 pm
I love her!!! Amanda – the best!!!
November 19, 2010 at 3:53 am
It is real sad to hear she has gone completely blind. I know you will still make it out there. You have what it takes. Your eyes are stunning. Best of luck to you.
December 1, 2010 at 2:03 am
I went to high school with Amanda, and I remember her being incredibly nice to everyone. I never knew about her condition, so it terrible to find out this way.
You are just as amazing now as you were then. Take care!
December 24, 2010 at 1:34 am
That last photo is weird.
December 29, 2010 at 8:16 pm
I really loved Amanda, I was so sad when she was eliminated and even more to learn she’s now completely blind.
At least she had a pretty good career while it lasted. The Levi’s concept was genius, and it put Amanda to the front scene.
January 14, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Is there a foundation or organization that supports models in this type of condition? Did she obtain any form of insurance policy …Modelling needs to advance in that directions too? What happens to a model when their priced assets becomes liability?
January 20, 2011 at 7:25 am
Its absolutely mind boggling that a stunning girl with absolutely stunning eyes is now blind… the story is so sad, but she is still beautiful nonetheless… She had great intentions it sucks that she was subjected of being bad for slipping out that Cassie had an eating disorder but I still found her to be a purely good hearted person with a quirky sense of humor.
February 7, 2011 at 5:12 am
I liked her; I think she could’ve been one of the most successful from antm. I don’t think she intentionally meant to tell everybody about the eating disorder thingy. At least she got over it and kept on modeling.
March 25, 2011 at 8:22 am
I was just looking at her Facebook profile, and judging from her comments on some of her friends’ photos, it doesn’t sound like she’s actually completely blind yet.
I just wondered if we’re presuming that she’s completely blind because she turned 30, or if it was actually announced somewhere.
May 16, 2011 at 5:09 am
I loved Amanda she ahd the face of a true top model a soul that is virtue and an inspiration to all of those legally blinds that they also do have career in modelling… I loved her beauty shoot it is so stunning she’s so pale and they eyes very icy blue very cool…..
June 1, 2011 at 8:28 pm
I like her a lot however, Ugh every time I play her baby episode with the “born to the minute on 9/11″ and how perfect he is: of course he is perfect, he is HER baby. It’s a little nauseating. I do feel bad about her blindness. Had to vent that one out though.
July 5, 2011 at 12:03 am
Like Amanda Swafford
July 5, 2011 at 12:06 am
She’s a princess; very cute.
July 19, 2011 at 1:02 am
Actually, I’m pretty sure the statement that she is blind false. She regularly updates her facebook, comments on her friend’s photos, and posts many of her and her son. That indicates that she sees just fine.
August 10, 2011 at 5:08 am
I absolutely loved Amanda, she seemed to be so down to earth, a person you could trust and know that she wasn’t going to back stab you the minute you turned away. I am so sorry to hear about the complete loss of her eyesight but she was so determined that I can only hope and pray, she is still able to ‘model’, for she has a haunting look, one that the world loves to see in photos!
August 18, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Amanda is somebody I definitely get along with, she is ridiculously stunning! I’m also Praying for her eyesight to return!
August 20, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Looks much better as a blonde than a redhead
September 17, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Amanda was definatly my favorite on ANTM Season 3. It’s heartbraking that she is now completley blind. I love you Amanda and wish you all the best in the future!
October 15, 2011 at 2:21 am
my all time fave model from ANTM.love u amanda
December 17, 2011 at 1:14 am
She may have gone blind, but with the maturity she had in handling her condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if she saw the beauty of the world in ways that even us visual unimpaired people can only dream of.
May she live a happy life.
December 17, 2011 at 6:25 pm
And they chose Eve over Amanda? Heartbreaking….
January 2, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I’d hate to be “that guy” but would she really be all that great if she didn’t have those ice blue eyes?