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Stanford woman in final 2 of 'Top Model'

By Mary Meehan mmeehan1@herald-leader.com

Pottle Productions Inc

Laura Kirkpatrick of Stanford is one of two finalists on America's Next Top Model. The winner will be named next week.

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A Kentucky waitress is one step closer to becoming America's Next Top Model.

Laura Kirkpatrick, 19, of Stanford became one of two finalists on The CW's hit reality competition in the episode that aired Wednesday night. During the show, Kirkpatrick won a modeling challenge with an enthusiastic hip-hop dance and cried when her name was called to compete in the finals next week.

Top Model, created by model/talk show host Tyra Banks, will pick a winner next Wednesday. Kirkpatrick will compete against Nicole Fox, 18, of Louisville, Colo.

The grand prize is a $100,000 Cover Girl contract, a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models and a cover photo and six-page spread in Seventeen magazine. Previous winners have had varying degrees of success, but most are working as professional high-fashion models.

Kentucky women have done well on Top Model as of late. Celia Ammerman, originally from Cynthiana, placed in the final four last season.

Kirkpatrick, who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, competes against other petite models in the show's 13th season, where the hook is that all the women are shorter than 5-foot-7.

Kirkpatrick is the daughter of Jodie Hill Jones and Greg Kirkpatrick.

The Top Model finale will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on The CW (Channel 5 on Lexington's Insight cable TV lineup).