Naima Mora, the winner of Cycle 4 of America’s Next Top Model and her band, the Chewing Pics, are nominated for Deli Magazine’s “Best Emerging Bands of 2008″ poll. This is a pretty big deal because the top three bands are awarded studio time, free CD pressing and PR and a cover of Deli. That’s a lot of exposure for a young and up-and-coming band.

You can check out the Chewing Pics for yourself on their MySpace. Naima is the lead singer of the quartet and they tend to play an eclectic form of rock. Here’s a video of them playing:

Tomorrow is the last day you can vote, so hurry! There’s a lot of great bands on the list and any one of them deserves this attention so they can make the big time. Click here to cast your vote.

I’ve seen this rumor around the Twitterverse a few times and now New York Magazine has picked it up.

Apparently America’s Next Top Model Cycle 4 winner Naime Mora is working at Brooklyn’s Cocoa Bar, a cafe and sweets shop.

Several Brooklynites have seen her behind the counter, but when New York Magazine called and asked, they refused to disclose information about their employees.

The Brooklynian was the first place online to mention this. They have a pretty active comment thread with sightings and debate over whether or not it’s Naima. You can read the comment thread here.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true. Naima, while I love her, hasn’t had the greatest modeling career. This gig gives her a steady income while giving her the flexibility she needs to pursue her modeling and music careers.

However, I wonder how this rumor will play out for Cocoa Bar and Naima? Will they be pleased with the extra press and customers? Or will it be frustrating and make Naima’s job more difficult?

Image: Newscom

Naima Mora, winner of Cycle 4 of America’s Next Top Model walked in the final collections for Project Runway. All six remaining contestants–Joe, Suede, Kenley, Leanne, Jerrell and Korto–showed collections last week, so that there would not be any spoilers. Naima walked in Joe’s show.

Other ANTMers who appeared in the Runway finale were Eugena Washington, Dani Evans, and Bianca Golden.

I think Naima looks great here! I haven’t seen her modeling much–I thought she was focusing on her music, so it’s great to see her up there!

Hey guys, in order to wet your America’s Next Top Model appetite for the season premiere in just over a week, we have a special treat.

I was fortunate enough to interview Naima Mora, winner of cycle 4. You might remember her as the gorgeous girl from Detroit with a mohawk.

Read the interview below and leave your comments after. Naima herself might even read them!

Thank you Naima for your great answers.

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Danielle - she looks so flawless in that picture.

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“AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”: THE E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY

PREMIERES ON E! ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION

SUNDAY, MARCH 26TH AT 8:00 PM ET/PT

Contestants, Winners & Judges Sit Down to Dish About All the Behind-the-Scenes Drama

Los Angeles, February 2006 – Supermodel Tyra Banks may have worked the catwalk for the last time but that doesn’t mean she has turned her back on the world of high fashion. In fact, Banks sparked a surge of interest in the life of a model through her smash hit television show “America’s Next Top Model.” The show that made Janice Dickinson a household name and exposed viewers to another side of modeling is set to premiere its sixth season in March 2006 and has remained the highest rated show to ever air on UPN. The camera’s were there to catch everything from extreme photo shoots to catfights to eating disorders to sexual escapades but it’s what you didn’t see that makes this installment of “THS” a must watch. From near shark attacks to contestants being detained in a foreign country and even accusations of “Top Model” fraud, E! uncovers the inside scoop of this hit show. Tune in to this 90 minute episode packed with exclusive interviews including “Top Model” Judges Nigel Barker, Janice Dickinson, Nole Marin, Jay Manuel, J. Alexander. Also in this incredible line up are interviews with 19 contestants including past winners Adrienne Curry, Eva Pigford and Naima Mora. “America’s Next Top Model: The E! True Hollywood Story” premiering Sunday, March 26th at 8:00 Pm ET/PT. In this episode:

Judge and Photographer Nigel Barker on the show’s appeal – “You watch it and you hate it, you love it, it makes you cry, it makes you cringe you know, you watch it and you look away. America’s Next Top Model is that perfect recipe.”

Cycle 1 contestant Elyse Sewell on the reality of reality television – “People ask me a lot, “Is America’s Next Top Model real?’ And the answer is yes, it’s real. But, it’s real people in a really, really unnatural environment.”

Tyra Banks on casting top model contestants – “We’re looking for eight to nine girls and, and different types of bodies. We’re looking for a full figured model as well as the super model as well as waif type models. And it’s for real. It’s quality control. She’s gonna go from being nobody to being the star in eight weeks.”

Top Model judge and former supermodel Janice Dickinson on her honesty – “They asked me if I would be critical and I said absolutely because if, as a judge and as an authority in the industry, if those girls don’t hear from me, Janice Dickinson, that A) you’re too short B) you’re too fat C) your skin isn’t good enough D) your walk isn’t correct, then you are certainly going to hear it from agents.”

Executive Producer Ken Mok on production woes – “We were incredibly under funded. They didn’t give us enough money. By the end of the third day we had our entire camera crew kind of assemble and they almost mutinied, they almost walked off the show because they didn’t have enough support and they were working, basically 18-hour days. It was brutal.”

Banks on Janice Dickinson – “I had no idea she was going to be as honest, and as tell it like it is, as she is, but you know, it works for television, and with me being a producer I had to have her because people love to hate Janice. And some people love everything that comes out of her mouth. “

Casting Director Michelle Mock on cycle 1 winner Adrienne Curry – “People were so excited because this was a girl who came from nothing and all of a sudden made her dream come true. One of the first things that she says is, ‘Mom, we have money to pay the rent.’”

Cycle 2 contestant Camille McDonald – “I did feel that it was edited to highlight the drama, which is great for ratings. Every show has to have a villain, and I just ended up being that person.

Cycle 2 contestant, Mercedes Yvette on the so called Milan orgy – “Did we all have sex with each other? Hell no. Come on now, you know. We just all had a good time. Granted some people on our show had sex but it wasn’t together.”

Stylist Nole Marin on the show’s extreme photo shoots – “It was almost like fear factor fashion that I was doing I mean. I have never in the 12 years dunk a gown or 12 girls into water. And with, at the time they did not realize that there was supposed to be a live shark in there.”

Banks on cycle 2 winner Yoanna House – “I’m really proud of her. Yoanna has more structure than I’ve seen in a long time, you know, in modeling. We’re bringing back that classic, glamour with a face, you know, she’s absolutely beautiful.”

Runway coach Jay Alexander on cycle 3 winner Eva Pigford – “When she came in and said, ‘I am not like everybody else. She made it very, very clear, ‘I’m about me and it’s all about me and its going to be me.’”

Cycle 4 contestant Brittany Brower on the shows closing living quarters – “It’s like a woman’s penitentiary. With women all day long. I close my eyes at night, and I see my roommate in the room, Keenyah. I open my eyes up, I see Keenyah. Oh my gosh, it’s like, let me have five minutes away from these girls.”

Marin on cycle 4 winner Naima Mora – “That was a flawless fashion show. The girls stomping in water. That’s when Naima really took precedence, when she walked out, I thought she was a top model.”

Cyle 4 contestant Michelle Deighton on coming out ­– “I never planned on coming out ever. So when I did come out on the show, it was just as a surprise to me as it was to everybody else. I was just going crazy, so I started talking to the girls. Finally, I was like, “Yeah, well, I’m bi”. And then I realized, “Ugh, there’s a camera there. Might as well keep talking.”

Cycle 3 contestant Toccara Jones on being called a plus size model – “I never really looked at is as being like, you know, plus size or me competing against you know skinny girls. I’m a woman. I’m a model. That’s my occupation. And I’m normal. I represent the majority of the women in America, and I’m comfortable with me. I love me. I’m comfortable in my skin.”

Mok on reality hitting the set of “America’s Next Top Model” – “We were in London the day the terrorist attacks happened and it was on judging day and literally, as we were about to go into judging, bombs were going off, within a couple of miles of us, like in three or four different locations.”

Curry on the post Top Model–“ After I won the show, I was flown out to New York; did all this publicity. Flew back home, packed my bags, moved to New York City. Signed with Wilhelmina and waited. After 5 months, I’m kind of like, “Ugh, what’s going on?” After it 3 more months, I was really starting to wonder what’s going on.”

Cycle 5 contestant Kim Stoltz on kissing a housemate, – “Oh my God. Kim and Sarah are hooking up in the limo’ and it was like, ‘Yeah, okay. She jumped over a few people. We kissed for 8 seconds, like crazy, out of it. I was kind of drunk. We’re just whoa.’ It really wasn’t that big of a deal, but the producers loved it, obviously. Whatever makes for good TV.”

Banks on eliminations – “They all love me when I’m saying you know, you’re going to be the 14. And then when I send them home, they start hating me.”

About E! Networks

Based in Los Angeles, E! Networks is the world’s largest producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming. The company operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, as well as The Style Network and E! Online located at www.eonline.com. E! is currently available to 86 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the U.S. Style currently counts 42 million subscribers. Internationally, E! programming can be seen in more than 120 countries worldwide reaching 400 million homes. In addition to its ventures for locally programmed E! branded channels outside the U.S., the company operates the E! International Network, a 24-hour English language global entertainment channel available via satellite in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Look no further, we’ve got the juicy news on the next episode of America’s Next Top Model:

AFTER THE GIRLS ARE TRANSFORMED WITH MAKEOVERS, THEY ARE PUT ON ICE AT A PHOTO SHOOT AND FACE AN ICE PRINCESS BACK AT THE HOUSE, ON “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL,” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 ON UPN

Salon Owners Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi Make Over The Girls; Personal Stylist Rachel Zoe and Cycle 4 Winner Naima Mora Make Guest Appearances; Photographer Richard Reinsdorf Also Makes a Guest Appearance

“The Girl Who is A True Miss Diva” — At a Beverly Hills salon, Tyra, Jay Manuel, J. Alexander and salon owners Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi transform the models with unbelievable makeovers; and the participants are challenged to show off their personal style by celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and Cycle 4 Winner Naima Mora, who give the girls the opportunity to win a $5,000 shopping spree at Los Angeles boutique, Nanette Lepore, and then head off to a photo shoot where they pose with ice sculptures, on AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, Wednesday, March 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. Personal stylist Rachel Zoe also serves as a guest judge.

Later, one competitor decides it’s time to let her inner-diva out by laying down some house rules for everyone to follow, only to have another model take her to task.

UPN has announced that this season’s finale will air on Wednesday, December 7th at 8pm EST. The good news is that the ANTM fun doesn’t stop there. The following week (quite predictably) there will be a reunion show with all of the contestants from the 5th cycle. That’s when you get to look back and think, “She was on the show? Oh… yeah…” That’s also when you get all the juicy gossip. Too bad there’s no uncensored, behind-the-scenes, candid-camera show. Cause that’d be really interesting to watch.

So here’s what’s going down during the season finale:

During Top Model 5’s December 7 one-hour finale, the three remaining girls will participate in a CoverGirl campaign shoot, after which one girl will be cut and legendary photographer Gilles Bensimon will shoot the two remaining girls with Tyra Banks for ELLEgirl’s February 2006 cover. Along the way, numerous special guests will appear, including previous Top Model winners Eva Pigford and Naima Mora.

In their final challenge, the two remaining girls will strut their stuff in a fashion show for London designers Vanya Strok and Nargess Gharani — after which one girl will be crowned the season’s America’s Next Top Model winner. In addition to sharing ELLEgirl’s February 2006 cover with Tyra, the winning girl will receive a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, an ELLEgirl fashion spread, and the opportunity to be managed by Ford Models. Leading up to the finale, UPN will also rebroadcast Top Model 4’s Return to the Runway special (which originally aired in September before this season’s edition premiered) on Tuesday, December 6 at 8PM ET/PT.

Oooh and aaaah. So much good stuff to look foward to. Start placing your bets. Who’s gonna win?

[via Reality TV World]