Eva Marcille Pigford is an American actress, TV host and fashion model, who most recently played the role of Tyra Hamilton on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. She started her career by winning the third cycle of America's Next Top Model.

She was previously credited by her birth status of name, Eva Pigford, but changed her name for acting purposes.

Marcille was born in Los Angeles, California. Her middle name, Marcille, is an amalgam of "Marjorie" and "Lucille," her grandmothers' names.

She attended Raymond Avenue Elementary School, Marina Del Rey Middle School, and Washington Preparatory High School (2002). She attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia; however, she left the school shortly after winning the third cycle of America's Next Top Model at the age of 19.

the third cycle of America's Next Top Model.

She was previously credited by her birth status of name, Eva Pigford, but changed her name for acting purposes.

She attended Raymond Avenue Elementary School, Marina Del Rey Middle School, and Washington Preparatory High School (2002). She attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia; however, she left the school shortly after winning the third cycle of America's Next Top Model at the age of 19.

Career

Modeling

Marcille was the winner of the third cycle of America's Next Top Model, beating fellow contestants Yaya DaCosta, Amanda Swafford, and Ann Markley. Her prizes included a CoverGirl cosmetics contract, a spread in Elle, and a modeling contract with Ford Models.

Marcille has appeared on the cover of Brides Noir, Women's Health and Fitness (May 2005), King (June 2005), IONA (November 2005), and Essence. Her other modeling credits include CoverGirl, DKNY, Samsung, Red by Marc Ecko, Jewel, In Touch Weekly (June 2005), King (November 2005), WeTheUrban, IONA, UNleashed, Star Magazine, Elle, Elle Girl, Apple Bottoms, Lerner Catalog, Avon Campaign 4 and Rolling Out.

Marcille's runway shows include the Marc Bouwer Fall 2005, Elle Girl presents Dare to Be You: Wal-Mart Meets America's Next Top Model 2005, Gharani Strok Fall 2005, Deborah Lindquist Spring 2006, Naqada Spring 2006, 8th Annual 'Models of Perfection' Show 2006, and L.A. Fashion Week's Monarchy Collection Fall 2007.

On November 15, 2006, Marcille left her managers Benny Medina and Tyra Banks. After leaving Banks and Medina for new management, she officially dropped "Pigford" from her name, now going by Eva Marcille (her middle name). She has stated she did this in order to not use her modeling fame to get into acting but earn her acting roles.

Marcille is now signed to L.A. Models. She has been featured on America's Next Top Model: Exposed on the CW. She has also been featured as one of CoverGirl's Top Models in Action.

Television work

Marcille has guest-starred on several series on UPN and The CW Network. Her guest-star credits include two episodes of Kevin Hill, one episode of Smallville, one episode of Everybody Hates Chris, and one episode of The Game as herself. Marcille has also appeared on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

In addition, Marcille hosted BET J's reality show My Model Looks Better Than Your Model, as well as Rip the Runway on BET. Furthermore, she has appeared in several music videos, including "Baby" by Angie Stone (featuring Betty Wright), 50 Cent's "I Get Money" and Jamie Foxx's "DJ Play a Love Song". She is also mentioned in Lil' Kim's song, "I Know You See Me" and Missy Elliott's "On & On" where the rapper sings, "Top model diva but my name not Eva."

Marcille was cast as a regular on a FOX show called The Wedding Album in 2006, but FOX cancelled it before it aired.

In 2005, Marcille appeared in a first-season episode of the MTV improv show Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out. In December 2007, Marcille played a featured role in an episode of Smallville.

In 2008 she joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as a young mother named Tyra Hamilton. (Contrary to speculation, Marcille's character was not named after Tyra Banks, but for The Young and The Restless' head writer Maria Arena Bell's best friend's daughter whose name is Tyra.) After a few months, her character, who was planned to be temporary was made permanent. In 2009, Marcille was nominated for two NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for her Y&R role but didn't get the awards. She did however win a Young Hollywood award.

In film, her credits include The Walk, Crossover, and, most recently, I Think I Love My Wife.

She appeared in a June 2009 episode of the BET prank show Played by Fame, where contestants have nightmarish dates with celebrities.

She hosted the first season of the Oxygen reality series Hair Battle Spectacular in 2010.

In August 2013, Marcille appeared in the video clip "J'accélère (I accelerate)" by French rapper Rohff.

On August 5, 2015, Marcille was in the main cast as the role of Tara in the TV One series Born Again Virgin. In February 2016, she was in a reality series titled About the Business.

In August 2017, Marcille competed in the first season of VH1's Scared Famous, which premiered on October 23, 2017. Since early 2018, she has appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a friend of Nene Leakes.

Personal life

In July 2006, Marcille started dating Tyler Perry's House of Payne star Lance Gross. They got engaged on December 24, 2008 and split up in March 2010. She also dated rapper Flo Rida from 2010 to 2012.

Marcille has a daughter, Marley (born January 31, 2014) from her previous relationship with Kevin McCall. She and McCall split in spring 2014 and Marcille stated she has custody of their daughter.

Marcille became engaged to Atlanta-based attorney Michael Sterling in December 2017. Marcille and Sterling married on October 7, 2018. The couple have a son, Michael Sterling, Jr, born in April 2018.

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