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Ben DiChiara and Ronnie Kroell
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Filed under: Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local News
Fri. April 4, 2008 3:13:48 PM
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Chicago, IL — Bravo's 'Make Me a Supermodel' season one came to the end of the catwalk last night. After nationwide voting 21-year-old Holly Kiser from Coeburn, Virginia came out on top besting Chicago's Ronnie Kroell.
Kiser, the only female in the Top 4, was joined by Kroell, Perry Ullmann, 22, of Phoenix and Ben DiChiara, 22, of Nashville in the season finale vote.
"In a way, I was surprised that Holly won because the boys had such a fanbase," writes show co-host Tyson Beckford in his BravoTV.com blog. "I think the votes split, and she was able to fly that way."
The 14 contestants have lived together in New York for the past couple of months in the first season of Bravo's answer to "America's Next Top Model."
Kroell, from Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, was the last remaining male model receiving the second most votes. The 24-year-old held his own against the 13 other finalists throughout the season. While not always impressing the judges, Kroell was a viewer favorite and repeatedly received enough votes to keep him in the competition.
One of the most played-up plot lines from this season was Kroell's "bromance" relationship with DiChiara, his straight, married roommate in the models' house.
"I'm comfortable with who I am and Ronnie's comfortable with who he is, and we're comfortable with each other," DiChiara told AfterElton.com when asked about the relationship. "We know the limitations and we know what's real and what's not real. Bravo can portray it any way they want to."
Kroell told ChicagoPride.com's Bill Pritchard by phone last last night that he plans to return to Chicago as early as Friday. "Give everyone a hug and let them know how special they are to me," Kroell said.
For her win Kiser will receive $100,000 and a modeling contract with New York Model Management.
Tim & Derek on Saturday, 4/5/2008
Hi Ronnie, we voted for you and as always, hope the best for you...
Sandra on Saturday, 4/5/2008
Ronnie was good and expected to be a competition. But Holly won, no votes were split, Tyson, just wanted a guy to win, so he is making up all of these excuses, Holly won because she did have a true passion for fashion and modeling, not that the other models don't, but Holly impressed everyone with her last catwalk. She was able to combine all of the aspects of modeling, from the first episode to the last, for her final catwalk. Congratulations Holly, I'm very proud of you, Ben, Ronnie, and Perry, I'm also proud of you boys, awesome job.
Raulie Salinas on Sunday, 4/6/2008
I voted for Holly!
ChicCoyote on Friday, 4/11/2008
Oh, what a bummer . . . Ronnie will live on and prosper . . . my best to you Ronnie as always . . .
Jake on Wednesday, 7/16/2008
This article is completely lame, I mean yeh Ronnie was cool but the title is about Holly and when you go on to read, there are about two sentences that mention her; at least make the article a little bit about the winner and a little less about the runner up?
RyanOH on Saturday, 4/5/2008
Ronnie... I agree with Tyson. I think the guy vote was split so Holly won. You really deserved to win. Congrats on getting that far and surviving the craziness! Welcome back to Chicago.