Sophie Sumner

Early life

Sumner was born and raised in Oxford. She attended school at Cherwell School, The Manor Preparatory, and Headington School, a private boarding school for girls, where she met and befriended actress Emma Watson. Sumner had plans to complete a degree at Exeter University, but decided to defer it to focus on modelling after successfully auditioning for Britain's Next Top Model.

Britain's Next Top Model

Sumner was a part of the cast of Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 5, and was the 10th girl chosen to enter the top model house, due to her unconventional and unique look. However, Sumner's first week in the main part of the competition was a negative one, as Sumner struggled at the photoshoot and produced a photo deemed weak. It was in the 4th episode that Sumner became a true stand-out, with her photo being deemed as the best in the bunch, earning her a first-call out. Afterwards, Sumner avoided the bottom two and produced strong photographs, but notably landed in the bottom two again in episode 8, for her seemingly bad attitude and know-it-all personality; however, the judges rejected the idea of Sumner being a know-it-all, saving her from the bottom two. Sumner made it all the way to the final 2, but was beaten by Mecia Simson.

America's Next Top Model

Sumner was chosen as one of the 7 British All-Stars to compete in America's Next Top Model, Cycle 18, along with her fellow Cycle 5 contestants, Annaliese and Ashley. The judges said of her personality that it "lit up a room", leading to her being labelled "Illuminata" by Tyra Banks herself. Sumner earned a total of 2 first call-outs ("center piece" at a "party tooch" photoshoot, and "Dream Come True" photoshoot), 4 second call-outs, and 3 third call-outs. Her consistency, personality, runway walk and portfolio led to Sumner becoming the eighteenth winner of the show, over Laura LaFrate.

Sumner became the first foreign winner of the show. Sumner's victory also meant that she joined previous winners Jaslene Gonzalez, McKey Sullivan, Nicole Fox, Krista White, later winners Jourdan Miller and India Gants by winning without any appearances in the show's bottom two.

After Top Model

Sumner released a single entitled "Aiming For You" on iTunes and her photos for Vogue Italia are featured in the August 2012 issue. She has made billboard advertisements for CoverGirl and for the America's Next Top Model perfume, Dream Come True. She is active in raising funds for Breast Cancer Research with the help of her pink dog, Darcy. In 2012, Sumner was seen playing Deepika Padukone's friend in the Bollywood movie Cocktail, including dancing sequences. Sumner, along with co-stars Allison Harvard and Dominique Reighard, was featured and walked in the 25th anniversary of Bench Universe Denim and Underwear Show in September 2012. In December of the same year, Sumner became a covergirl for MEG Magazine for their frosty December 2012/January 2013 issue. She also attended a fashion show in Montego Bay for Cycle 19 with the contestants.

In 2013, Sumner opened the runway and wore the designs of Singaporean designer Frederick Lee during the finale of Asia's Next Top Model, Cycle 1. In 2015, Sumner starred as "Summer" (so as not to be confused with Sophie Pape, another star of the show) in the reality TV show Taking New York on E4. In October 2016, Sumner was guest judge in the coronation night of Miss Earth 2016, in the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Personal life

Sumner was born and raised in Oxford, England. However, she currently resides in New York City and travels frequently for modeling purposes. She has a dog named Darcy, which she frequently dyes bubblegum pink, matching her own hair colour. Her natural hair colour is light brown. Sumner has lived with and is close friends with actress Emma Watson and model Andreja Pejić.