Kiara Belen Biography

Kiara Belen (born March 16, 1990) is an American fashion model and is best known for being a runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 19.

Biography

Early life

She was born in Red Bank, New Jersey but raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to being on America's Next Top Model, Kiara went to University of California, Irvine, studying Sociology in Education.

The oldest of seven children, Kiara had a difficult childhood, suffering from neglect and abuse. She was a mother to her younger brothers and sisters, and dedicates her successes to her siblings. Kiara is not only an athlete and model, but an excellent singer who is now trying her hand at acting. She coaches basketball in Las Vegas, but is hoping to relocate to LA to pursue her modeling/acting/singing career.

America's Next Top Model

In 2012, Kiara was selected to compete on the nineteenth cycle of America's Next Top Model. In the competition she was not one of the front-runners, but receive one first call-out and also winning four challenges for her scholarship bank. She appeared in the bottom two once with Victoria Henley after the river rafting photoshoot for their lackluster photos but Kiara had the higher score with little over a point apart, leaving Victoria to be eliminated. It can safely be said that Kiara was the most improved, and a silent threat to Laura who never recognized her as a threat until the very end. She finally got the first call-out in episode 11 at their Dream Come True photoshoot. She also competed alongside with fellow contestants Laura James and Leila Goldkuhl in the finale. At the final runway at Rose Hall, Kiara proved that her runaway walk was the best. During final panel, her photo was criticized for being too average, yet praised for her strong runaway walk. In the end, Laura received the highest total average of the three remaining contestants, beating her and Leila and making her first runner up to the competition.

Post America's Next Top Model

On November 17, 2012 Kiara took part in " Back at 1 : The Return Of the Worlds First Supermodel with Janice Dickinson for designer Daniel Magana with photographer Hasson Harris .This same shoot Kiara partnered with Male Model Tosh Yanez.