About Laura
Laura Kirkpatrick as a baby on the farm.
Laura Kirkpatrick, 20, of Stanford will appear on the 13th season of the CW’s America’s Next Top Model that follows 14 aspiring models in a competition for a $100,000 Cover Girl contract and a modeling contract with Elite Model Management.
Kirkpatrick was chosen from tens of thousands of others by model and show host Tyra Banks and other celebrity judges to move into a house and compete for the grand prize. She first was chosen from auditions in Chicago, before going to Los Angeles where the show was filmed.
A graduate of Lincoln County High School who grew up on a farm in Stanford, Kirkpatrick is the daughter of Jodie Hill Jones and Greg Kirkpatrick.
To read a story about Laura’s background and interests, go to www.amnews.com/stories/2009/08/18/lin.603406.sto
Was it hard being that far away from home? Was there anything in particular that you missed? Are you glad to be home?
It was hard, I missed my family. I’m very close to them, but I was also so busy that I didn’t have too much time to think about it. But as soon as I stepped off the plane, I ran across the airport and my body was shaking. My mom, dad, sister and little brother were all waiting for me, and my grandmom had a good ol’ country meal waiting for me, and shortly after my dad put me back to work on the farm.
Was it intimidating standing in front of the judges, most of whom are celebrities?
It was crazy to see the judges. It was like I was still looking through the TV. I’m amazed I could even get anything out of my mouth in front of them.
What was it like to have cameras following you and knowing everything you do could be on national television?
In L.A., I forgot they where there. Now I look back and say, “Dang, I should of brushed my hair that morning” or “Maybe I should have put some makeup on since everyone is going to see this!!!”
Did anything from your upbringing prepare you particularly well for this experience?
I believe I’ve had a semi-hard life. My dad worked very hard to single-handedly raise my sister and I. My mom was in the Navy at the worst possible age for me and my sister. She was in the middle of a war, and I couldn’t just pick up the phone and say, “Hey, Mom, I love you and I need your help.” I’m dyslexic so I hated school, and I struggled the whole time. I remember sitting in my seat sunk down in my chair in class thinking “please don’t pick me to read out loud in class.” I believe if I didn’t go through all of that to make me strong in life then I wouldn’t have been able to handle the stress in L.A. It’s hard for anyone to become a model, but when you’re trying to be a model and your kinda short and you’re doing it on national TV, that’s a lot of stress. I’ve always been hard on myself to do better.
My blog is http://tashamaynews.blogspot.com/
Thankyou love,
Natasha
Hi Laura,
My name is Natasha Brooks and i am a australian 12 year old girl living in singapore, on americas next top model you said you wanted to inspire young girls like me and you did you are amazing and i thing that you should have one. You are a beautiful girl and i really hope that you can keep modeling and be as famous as Tyra Banks one day, DONT ever give up you are amazing and ya’ll family should be soooo proud including your grandma………….
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Love, Natasha Brooks
P.S could you leave a comment on my blog………..
Hi Laura. First, I want to say that you are beautiful on the inside and out. You have strong Christian family values. This is refreshing to me, as it seems such a rarity on television. I was really pulling for you. Second, I am a teacher. It is terrible that teachers told you that you are stupid. I am so sorry to hear that. I want you to know that we are not all that way. It hurts me to know that you suffered as a young girl, and my heart goes out to you. Your story has moved me. I know your family, especially Grandma, is very proud of the lovely young lady you are. God has a very special plan for you.
Just wanted to say I thought you were great on the show and I was very sorry that you didnt win! (I litterally stayed at the gym and worked out for 1.5 hours to watch the show
Wishing you the best of luck and I feel for you as I am dyslexic as well and its been a huge struggle. I did graduate from college and got a masters even so I know you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Keep going and I hope to pick up a mag and see you in it!
Coco
Laura, I wish you the very best in your career and will be looking out for you.
Laura! You are a great girl.
I am from China and living in Madrid, I am too busy for running my business here, and I DON’T have a lot of time to watch TV. But my Chinese friends introduced me ANTM, I start to watch the first chapter of season 1, then I jumped to the last chapter of season 1. I was just sitting in front of my computer and jump, jump, jump till when I saw you in the season 13, I see a different girl. A FARMER GIRL! But she has a refreshing face, beautiful eyes and familiar feeling. And I got shock when I see you IN the picture, you look very different, you become sometimes wild, sometimes sweet, sometimes sexy, sometimes…This is pretty amazing. I am not going to say “YOU ARE BETTER THAN Nicole”. Frist, I liked Nicole since the beginning. Second, you win yourself is more important than win her. But I finished watching full S 13 because of you, I was laughing when you won, I felt a bit sorry when you made mistake, and I was crying when you were crying at the end, like a baby girl. But I can see you have been working hard, have made progressing… I will not tell you DON’T GIVE UP, because I know you will keep going, and so far.
Hi Laura,
I seen you on the Tyra show! Your AWESOME!!!
P.S. My friend says hi Laura!
-Raina
Laura tú debiste ganar no la aburrida de Nicole
jueces tontos!
OMG laura i think you should have won the compatition and your very sweet and cool and calm and dont listen to the dumb teachers and retarted people that is hationg on you and your strong and beuatiful so dont let that ruin the chance of you being a model. OK being dixlexic must be kinda hard and i cried for you and even thoe you dont know me you rock and i love you! love tara
Laura!!! I just watched Season 13 all over again, and I loved it when you said “little baby CATS!” because they are my favorite, too! You are so cute, sweet and beautiful! I am so glad to see that you are doing well! God bless you, girl. I wish you the very best in your modeling career!
you don’t know how much you mean to me. =]. i love you so much . your so happy =]. i want to have that happiness you have. i’m from the country too . and teachers have called me stupid also .
. i’m not dyslexic . but you give me a reason to move on and try to chase my dream of becoming a model .
-Love Ruthie
What a nice surprise on Wednesday night to see Cycle 13 start again. It was around this time last year (2009) that you were actually off on your exciting adventure (or soon to be!). I still watch your face as the names are called and you are in terrible agony … 12 names called, only 2 names to go … number 13 … Tyra says Laura and then the smiles come. I can only imagine what was going through your head … had come so far, wanting to be picked so bad. After your name was called you were one happy person to be sure. I still felt sorry for the girls that didn’t get picked … I always fill sorry for the ones that get sent home … A year ago most of us had never heard of you till Cycle 13 started in September … your family and friends knew you and very soon the world would get to meet Laura, farm girl from Kentucky! Good luck and Happy Birthday in June … you were in Hawaii last year (2009) for your birthday eating Spam cooked by the girls. What an adventure !!!
LAURAA! i loveeeeee your spirit about everything. i knew you would make it very far in the competition and i feel like your bubbly personality just makes everything about you 100 times better, i hope you best of luck in your future. love youuu
From a 17 year old short girl from Kentucky…. I love you, Laura!!!!! =) Good luck.
I am writing for my 7 year daughter who LOVES you…she would wait for the chat session this season just to see you…is there anywhere she can write and get an autographed photo of you. She routed for you all last season! Good Luck in your modeling career
Hi Laura
i really love you since the very begining of the shows, and you are such a sweet girl. i love your smile and you smile which can brings me a lot of energy! once you appear, you bring happiess to the room, so great to have you on the show and you always look gorgerous! So happy u r a model now. love u!
fans from Hong Kong
Greetting Ms. Laura My name is shawn norman and i read your story about dealing with dyslexia. I have dyslexia and I’m writting a book how i made it to college with it. I just start my own foundation Call I can Succeed foundation it to help people with learning disability live there dream. out. i would like to join with you and fight for this.
shawn normn
norman_shawn@hotmail.com
Laura,
You were my absolute favorite last cycle, and one of my all time favorites on the show! Keep updating this blog, it’s so much fun to read about what you’ve been up to! I hear you plan to model in Germany – I was just there and it’s the most amazing place. I wish you the best of luck, and keep being yourself no matter what, that’s your strongest asset!
I loved you on ANTM and thought you should have won. Good Luck
Laura,
Please get in contact with me if you will be in Kentucky or can be in Kentucky August 14 2010. I would like to talk to you about being a special guest at the Southern Model Expo and Entertainment Convention my Company host in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We are currently looking for people like you take part that are from Kentucky.
Thanks
Magnum
I loved you on ANTM. You are so beautiful and such an inspiration…
you are such an amazing inspiration to girls everywhere. wish you all the love, luck and laughter in the world. you are definatly a model to watch, wish you had won! xoxo
I’m in Australia, where the last episode has just aired! Laura, you are such a beautiful and down-to-earth girl and I believe that you are the perfect role model for women, young and old, as well as the most gorgeous model and person! I wish you success and amazing things and I look forward to following your career!
ANTM just finished airing in Australia and Loooooooved you!!!! You were mine and my family’s favourite model… So down to earth and so beautiful at the same time… Good luck with everything
Much love from oz XOXOX
Hi Laura!
and i can promise you that you’ll not only be popular in the U.S but also here in Sweden!
I just wanted to say that you are such an inspiration for me! You are so strong and so beautiful! I hope everything is going well with you and your modeling life
Good luck!!!
xoxo
Hey Laura. Loved you on the show. You were my fav from the begining. I know what its like being small town country girl with little opertunities. I’m so proud that you got yourself out there and look where you are now. Congrats girl and keep doing your thing. Being true to yourself will always pay off.
hi laura:)
i am your big fan!!!!!!!
i love u so much
you have perfect face and personality.
you are so pretty and cute
i love your grandma’s clothes. haha lol
support you~ go laura
xoxo
Hi
ANTM has just finished over here in the UK. you really made me smile and laugh along with you when you laughed. so inspiring to women everywhere, wish you had won the show. all the best for the future hon! xoxo
Hey laura,
ANTM has just finished airing over in the UK. I just wanted to say I wish you had won you are an amazingly beautiful woman and have a killer walk. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Love Jordan
xxx
Hi Laura – as you may have read cycle 13 just finnished here in UK. I thought you were brilliant. Had many good laughs thanks to you and actually you are such an inspiration to even me at 29 in that actually nice girls can still get somewhere in this world. Hope it all works out for you. Maybe your Grans designs will be huge now! Best wishes, South African living in London…
ANTM has only just finished here in Australia, Laura you rock.
I was extremely disappointed you didn’t win but I know there are great things to come from you.
You go girl.
Laura!
Well done for making it so far on ANTM. Its just finished in the UK and you did so well.
Your so sweet and I know your gonna be a great model.
Your a role model.
Sophie
Hi Laura!
We loved you from the start, it’s only just finishing here in the UK
(Cycle 13) really congratulations.
Good luck for the future
Matthewwwwww , England (:
Hi Laura ! My friend Katie and I are big fans of u. I made up a song about you . You were amazing on antm. You were my favorite from the start. I loved your photos and walk. Good luck in the industry!
Go Laura! My friend Alyssa and I looooved you on ANTM! You should have won! We talk about you every single day. Good luck!
heyy laura,
i love you, your so beautiful and thought you were amazing on antm. You and nicole were my favourites from the start!!
i have never watched a final where i could not choose the result!!
Keep doing what you’re doin’ and i hope to see you in magazines soon!!
Milly, London England
Laura you were a joy and delight to watch on Top Model last cycle. I was pulling for both you and Nicole. You had such southern charm and realness to you! I wish you all the best in your career and if you are ever in NYC again, hey you might still be here, I could take you to the best Chinese or pizza or burger!
Hii Laura! You are amazing! You an amazing role model for us country folks who want to get into the fashion industry! XOX
LAURA you are soo pretty I love you so much! you are really cute and nice ! love ya!
Danville’s got yo back!
Hi laura! i just wanted to say that i LOVE you and how amazing and sweet you are and you totally should have won the show! but i read that you get to have an apartment in new york for a while to pursue modeling opportunities and that you’re moving to germany maybe?? wow! that is so amazing and i hope that i see you on runways everywhere! much love! xoxo kate
UR SO AWSOME
hey im ur #1 fan i live in stanford to im so glad i got to leave u a message DONT GIVE UP
Dear Laura,
You rocked antm and you are beautiful. Continue to pursue your dreams!
Saima and Janine
Hey Laura!
I just finished watching ANTM on youtube, since Im currently living in Germany and cant really understand whats going on TV.
I just wanted to congratulate you on your wonderful job, you seem like the nicest girl. I wish you success in everything you do
hey laura! I think you are down to earth and i never saw you have a bad attitude on the show. You were always so positive. I live in texas so we can kind of relate on being country:) I think that you should have won!
Hi Laura!
I absolutely love you I am only 10 years old but you are my ultimate role model! You are Americas Next top model to me!
Hey Laura,
You and my daughter Paula Gustins went to LCHS together– We and ALL of Stanford are SO PROUD of you! Every time I go to Wally World I think of you using the frozen foods as your runway!
Keep it up, ya’ll! DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
XO