Renee Alway Biography

Renee Alway (born April 29, 1986) is an American fashion model, the 3rd place of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8 and the runner-up on Modelville.

Early life

Alway was born and raised in northern Michigan, where her father was a pastor and police officer. She revealed in the first episode of Modelville on October 8, 2008 that her father was physically and mentally abusive, and that she, her siblings, and her mother Sandra, were afraid to leave due to her father's respected position in the community as well as his mental instability.

America's Next Top Model

Renee Alway was one of the final three contestants on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8. She heard about the audition the day before it took place in Chicago, and had been in town to get married. She went to the audition four days after she got married. On the show Alway received two first call-outs and won two challenges. She started feuds with every contestant except Natasha (whom likely the only girl Alway befriend/never have feud with), but after mediation with Tyra Banks the feud stopped. Alway soon began to get along with her fellow models. However, after the feuds with another models stopped, Alway began to having some problems with Natasha (in which Natasha herself handled all the things warmly). Alway made it to the finals but was cut after her CoverGirl ad and commercial. Despite making the best commercial and shooting the best ad, the judges felt Alway couldn't embody a covergirl because she photographed too old. Placing third, she was subsequently eliminated.

Modeling/Acting career

Renee started modeling when she was 13. Before Top Model, she modeled in New York, Europe and Japan and appeared in Seventeen and Italian Vogue. She also appeared in ads for Delia's. Renee appeared in US Weekly with Jaslene Gonzalez, Natasha Galkina and Dionne Walters. Alway has also done post top model work for Roman Holiday Collection. She is now signed to NeXt Model Management.

She has appeared on the CBS TV series Shark, in an episode titled "In Absentia." She competed on the reality show Modelville that airs within the Tyra Banks Show and finished 2nd.

Personal life

Before Top Model, Renee was a stay-at-home mother. She and her husband Jason have a young son named Troy.

She has said that she has a lot of respect for German supermodel Heidi Klum. She has stated that it was hard for her to find jobs because she was just lost in a sea of blond-haired, blue-eyed models.