Melrose Bickerstaff Biography

Melissa Rose Bickerstaff (born February 6, 1983), known professionally as Melrose, is an American fashion model and fashion designer based in San Francisco, California, and signed to Leni's Model Management. She first came to prominence in 2006, as the runner-up in the seventh cycle of America's Next Top Model.

Early life

Bickerstaff was born in 1983. She grew up in the city of Orchard Lake, Michigan, graduating from West Bloomfield High School in 2001. At West Bloomfield, she was active in theater and was a member of the ski team. She also participated in the school's fashion program.

She graduated from The Art Institute of California - San Francisco with a degree in fashion design. In 2003, she was named "Best of Show" and "Most Creative" in school's annual student fashion show. Before appearing on America's Next Top Model, she worked as a fashion designer.

America's Next Top Model

On the Top Model, Bickerstaff adopted the stage name "Melrose," saying she removed the "issa" from her first name because she "didn't need it." She got as far as the "final two" on the series, despite being depicted as not being well-liked by the other contestants. Later reporting by E! attributed this depiction to selective editing. Her walk was judged better than that of competitor CariDee English, but English won the overall competition.

After "Top Model"

At the end of Bickerstaff's Top Model run, she announced that she would help design clothes for former Lost cast member Michelle Rodriguez's fledgling clothing line, Ishkidada. The next month, E! Online and TMZ.com reported that Bickerstaff and actor Jeremy Piven had started a romance, but TMZ later retracted its report.

In February 2007, Bickerstaff was a featured model in Malan Breton's ready-to-wear show during New York Fashion Week. Her working relationship with Breton continued when she appeared with him one month later at the GLAAD Media Awards. In April 2007, she also appeared in New York's Tartan Week with Ivanka Trump and Marcus Schenkenberg.

Previously signed to Bleu Model Management and L.A. Models, she signed with Storm Model Management in late 2007, the same agency which manages models Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, and Alek Wek.

Bickerstaff has also done advertisements for Scoop NYC, Jack Rabbit Belts, and the Beau Soleil Fall 2007 Collection, and walked the runways at London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2008 for designer Aminika Wilmot.

Bickerstaff is currently signed with Leni's Model Management in London.