Laura James was born in Cambridge , New York to American actor John James and Australian model Denise Coward , second runner-up in Miss World 1978 . She has a younger brother , Philip James . Prior to being on '' America 's Next Top Model '' , James studied at Paul Smith 's College , studying Hotel Resort Tourism Management . In 2012 , James was selected to compete on the nineteenth cycle of '' America 's Next Top Model '' . In the competition she was one of the front-runners , receiving three first call-outs as well as winning three challenges for her scholarship bank . She appeared in the bottom two three times . In Jamaica , James landed in the bottom two with Nastasia after the Dream Come True photoshoot for their weak photographs but in the end , James had the higher score , leaving James to compete alongside fellow contestants Leila Goldkuhl and Kiara Belen in the finale . At the final runway at Rose Hall , James struggled with her runway walk and at panel , James was criticized for her stiff walk , yet praised for her Nine West photo . In the end , James received the highest total average of the three remaining contestants , making her America 's Next Top Model . As a result , she was offered modeling contracts with New York Model Management and L.A. Models , she became the face of America 's Next Top Model 's fragrance Dream Come True , won a spread in Nylon magazine , campaigns with Nine West and Smashbox Cosmetics , and a $ 100,000 cash prize as well as the $ 30,000 she earned from her three challenge wins to be used to pay off her college education
Miss World 1978
Miss World 1978
Laura James