# CariDee English
**CariDee English** (born 1984) is an American fashion model and television personality who won Cycle 7 of the reality competition *America's Next Top Model* in December 2006[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). Born in [Fargo, North Dakota](https://www.edgepedia.org/fargo-north-dakota), she worked as a photographer before competing on the show, and afterward became a spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation, a host on MTV and Oxygen, and a working drummer[2](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-caridee-english-winner-of-americas-next-top-model/) • [3](https://parade.com/tv/americas-next-top-model-where-are-they-now).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Fargo, North Dakota, United States[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english) |
| Signature win | Cycle 7 of *America's Next Top Model*, finale aired December 6, 2006[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/225191/caridee-english) |
| Prize package | $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, a modeling contract with Elite Models, and a *Seventeen* cover with a six-page editorial[5](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-now-winners-americas-next-153849367.html) |
| Health | Psoriasis diagnosed at age five; she has said it at its worst covered 80 percent of her body[6](https://blog.providence.org/toyourhealthblogs/talking-psoriasis-with-caridee-english-and-dr-kassabian) |
| Advocacy | National Psoriasis Foundation spokesperson from 2007; held a congressional briefing on psoriasis on June 11, 2007[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english) |
| Hosting | Co-host of MTV's *Scarred*; host of Oxygen's *Pretty Wicked* (2009)[7](https://ads.eonline.com/news/1428625/americas-next-top-model-winners-docuseries-where-are-they-now) |
| Music | Drummer in the duo LUVnENGLISH with celebrity DJ Lindsay Luv; music student at Berklee announced in 2024[3](https://parade.com/tv/americas-next-top-model-where-are-they-now) |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California[8](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caridee-english-a3155546) |
## Early life and psoriasis
English grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and worked as a photographer there before appearing on television[2](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-caridee-english-winner-of-americas-next-top-model/). She has said she was diagnosed with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that produces red, scaly patches on the skin, at the age of five, and that at its most severe it covered 80 percent of her body; her mother also has the condition[6](https://blog.providence.org/toyourhealthblogs/talking-psoriasis-with-caridee-english-and-dr-kassabian). She has described the psychological effects as harder to bear than the physical ones, recalling that she wore long sleeves for 15 years so people would not stare[9](https://www.healthawareness.co.uk/dermatology/how-americas-next-top-model-beat-the-odds/).
**Early setbacks.** The disease nearly ended her modeling career before it began. At 17 she joined a modeling agency while hiding her psoriasis behind layers of makeup, but the makeup washed off during a photo shoot by the ocean and the agency fired her[10](https://www.thelist.com/260937/where-caridee-english-from-americas-next-top-model-is-today/). She has also said she took a job as a hospital janitor because the position came with health insurance that allowed her to start a psoriasis medication[11](https://www.ifpa-pso.com/resources-tools/psoriasis-in-the-spotlight). By the time she won *Top Model*, a dermatologist had prescribed an injectable medication she gave herself once a week[2](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-caridee-english-winner-of-americas-next-top-model/).
## Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model
English applied to the show by downloading an application online and attending an open call in [Minneapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/minneapolis), auditioning against 6,000 other girls[2](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-caridee-english-winner-of-americas-next-top-model/) • [10](https://www.thelist.com/260937/where-caridee-english-from-americas-next-top-model-is-today/). During the cycle she received five consecutive CoverGirl of the Week awards, earned three first call-outs for her photoshoot performances, and won the acting challenge, which brought a guest role on the CW series *One Tree Hill*[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). She was also criticized during the cycle for an impulsive, crude joke directed at judge and fashion photographer [Nigel Barker](https://www.edgepedia.org/nigel-barker-photographer) during a bullfighting photoshoot in Barcelona; she has said Barker joked back and was never really angry[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english).
The finale aired on December 6, 2006[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/225191/caridee-english). English defeated runner-up Melrose Bickerstaff, with [Eugena Washington](https://www.edgepedia.org/eugena-washington) in third place; the judges said Bickerstaff had the better final runway walk but not better photographs[12](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2006/12/top-model-7-caridee_wins/). Her prize was a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, a modeling contract with Elite Models, and a cover and six-page editorial spread in *Seventeen* magazine[5](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-now-winners-americas-next-153849367.html). She was the second *Top Model* winner from [North Dakota](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-dakota), after Nicole Linkletter of Cycle 5, and the first natural blonde to win the title[5](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-now-winners-americas-next-153849367.html).
## Modeling and television career
After the show, English appeared in the weekly "My Life as a CoverGirl" segments on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw) and in 2007 featured in a CoverGirl Eyewear advertisement alongside Cycle 6 winner Danielle Evans[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). A trade feature later noted that she was only the second *Top Model* winner to renew her CoverGirl contract, after Cycle 6's Dani Evans[13](https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-91208008-OPP-19.pdf). Her magazine work has included *Seventeen*, *Healthy Living*, *Runway Magazine*, and *Allure*, and her runway credits include [New York Fashion Week](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-fashion-week), L'Oréal Fashion Week in Toronto, Honduras Fashion Week, and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). She became the face of Ray-Ban sunglasses in 2013[7](https://ads.eonline.com/news/1428625/americas-next-top-model-winners-docuseries-where-are-they-now).
**Television and film.** English co-hosted MTV's *Scarred* and hosted the Oxygen reality series *Pretty Wicked* in 2009[7](https://ads.eonline.com/news/1428625/americas-next-top-model-winners-docuseries-where-are-they-now) • [14](https://runwaylive.com/caridee-english-interview-runway-magazine.html). Her acting credits include a guest role on *Gossip Girl* in 2007 as Bart's date[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/225191/caridee-english) and a part in the 2017 comedy film *Supercon*[15](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/caridee-english/credits/3000165606/).
## Psoriasis advocacy
English began working with the National Psoriasis Foundation in 2007 as its spokesperson, and she has called psoriasis awareness the most significant modeling job of her career[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english) • [16](https://www.hercampus.com/school/cu-boulder/cameras-and-catwalks-conversations-with-americas-next-top-model-winner-caridee-english/). She held a congressional briefing on psoriasis on June 11, 2007, opened the foundation's Walk for Awareness in San Diego on January 13, 2008, and appeared on the cover of *Allure* as part of that work[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). "Psoriasis awareness is very important to me," she has said. "I want others with the disease to know they are not alone. I want to inspire them to live their dreams"[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english).
Her own treatment changed in October 2009, when she started the injectable therapy ustekinumab (Stelara), which she said cleared nearly all of her psoriasis after only two shots[17](https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/living-psoriasis). In 2012 she appeared in the award-winning multi-channel Stelara "Seasons" advertising campaign, built around the idea that her ability to keep modeling showed the treatment worked[18](https://www.jamesgillespieportfolio.com/work/stelara-seasons).
## Music and recent work
English is a drummer and performs with celebrity DJ Lindsay Luv in the drum-and-DJ duo LUVnENGLISH[3](https://parade.com/tv/americas-next-top-model-where-are-they-now). She studied at the Musicians Institute from 2013 to 2015[8](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caridee-english-a3155546), and in 2024 announced on Instagram that she had enrolled as a music student at [Berklee College of Music](https://www.edgepedia.org/berklee-college-of-music)[19](https://www.thelist.com/2115442/where-notable-americas-next-top-model-contestants-are-now/). She has continued to model, including a Sephora campaign in 2025, and still works as a photographer with a separate Instagram account for that business[19](https://www.thelist.com/2115442/where-notable-americas-next-top-model-contestants-are-now/). Reflecting on the show twenty years later, she said she did not reach the cover of *Vogue* but considered her modeling career successful, and that she chooses to look back with "kinder eyes"[3](https://parade.com/tv/americas-next-top-model-where-are-they-now).
## Personal life
English lives in Los Angeles[8](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caridee-english-a3155546). She has spoken publicly about struggling with drug addiction and body dysmorphic disorder[1](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english). In February 2022, after being hospitalized with a head injury suffered while intoxicated, she issued a statement describing her relapse as heartbreaking, saying she would spend the following six months at an outpatient rehabilitation center supporting her recovery and mental health[5](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-now-winners-americas-next-153849367.html).
## References
1. [CariDee English, VALÉORINE](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/caridee-english)
2. [Exclusive Interview: CariDee English, Winner of America's Next Top Model, BuddyTV (December 14, 2006)](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-caridee-english-winner-of-americas-next-top-model/)
3. [America's Next Top Model Winners: Where Are They Now?, Parade](https://parade.com/tv/americas-next-top-model-where-are-they-now)
4. [CariDee English, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/225191/caridee-english)
5. [WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The winners of America's Next Top Model, Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/where-now-winners-americas-next-153849367.html)
6. [Talking Psoriasis with Caridee English and Dr. Kassabian, Providence To Your Health Blog (May 12, 2017)](https://blog.providence.org/toyourhealthblogs/talking-psoriasis-with-caridee-english-and-dr-kassabian)
7. [America's Next Top Model Winners, Docuseries: Where Are They Now, E! Online](https://ads.eonline.com/news/1428625/americas-next-top-model-winners-docuseries-where-are-they-now)
8. [CariDee English, LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caridee-english-a3155546)
9. [How America's next top model beat the odds, Health Awareness](https://www.healthawareness.co.uk/dermatology/how-americas-next-top-model-beat-the-odds/)
10. [Where CariDee English From America's Next Top Model Is Today, The List (October 13, 2020)](https://www.thelist.com/260937/where-caridee-english-from-americas-next-top-model-is-today/)
11. [Psoriasis in the spotlight: an interview with CariDee English, IFPA](https://www.ifpa-pso.com/resources-tools/psoriasis-in-the-spotlight)
12. [Caridee wins America's Next Top Model, cycle 7, reality blurred (December 7, 2006)](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2006/12/top-model-7-caridee_wins/)
13. [Top Model Favorites: Where Are They Now?, magazine page filed with USPTO TTAB record](https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-91208008-OPP-19.pdf)
14. [Runway Exclusive Interview With CariDee, Runway Magazine (November 9, 2009)](https://runwaylive.com/caridee-english-interview-runway-magazine.html)
15. [Caridee English List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/caridee-english/credits/3000165606/)
16. [Cameras & Catwalks: Conversations With America's Next Top Model Winner CariDee English, Her Campus CU Boulder](https://www.hercampus.com/school/cu-boulder/cameras-and-catwalks-conversations-with-americas-next-top-model-winner-caridee-english/)
17. [Living with Psoriasis, HealthyWomen (CariDee English first-person account)](https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/living-psoriasis)
18. [Stelara DTC Seasons Campaign, James Gillespie Portfolio](https://www.jamesgillespieportfolio.com/work/stelara-seasons)
19. [Where The Most Notable America's Next Top Model Contestants Are Now, The List](https://www.thelist.com/2115442/where-notable-americas-next-top-model-contestants-are-now/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Clothing, textiles, and domestic crafts › Fashion and commercial models › Fashion and runway models*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license