Naima Mora

Biography

Naima Mora, born on March 1, 1984, is an American fashion model and the winner of Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, she is the daughter of jazz vocalist Theresa Mora and jazz percussionist Francisco Mora Catlett, with a rich artistic heritage including notable grandparents. Mora has five sisters, including her identical twin, Nia, and older sister Ife Sanchez Mora, a singer-songwriter. She graduated from Cass Technical High School in 2002 and trained in ballet. Mora practices Nichiren Buddhism and has spoken about its influence on her career. In addition to her modeling work for brands like CoverGirl and ELLE, she has appeared on television and served as a judge at the Miss Teen USA Pageant. Mora is also a playwright and vocalist, with her play, The Amazing Adventures of a Woman in Need, performed Off-Broadway in 2021. As of 2021, she remains active in the modeling industry.