{{Short description|American fashion model}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2017}}{{Infobox model | name = Renee Alway | image = | caption = | birth_name = Renee Diane Alway | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1986|4|29}}<ref name="FMD">{{cite web|url= https://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/Renee_Alway|title= Renee Alway at the Fashion Model Directory}}</ref> | birth_place = Northern Michigan, Michigan | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10.5}}<ref name="US Weekly" /> | haircolor = Brown | eyecolor = Blue | agency = | other_names = NeNe, Nayiem | spouse = Jason DeWitt<ref>{{cite web|author=knotty |url=http://theovereducatedhousewife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/renee-alway-antm-tragedy.html |title=The Overeducated Housewife: Renee Alway... an ANTM tragedy |publisher=Theovereducatedhousewife.blogspot.co.uk |date=2014-12-12 |access-date=2017-01-15}}</ref> | children = 3<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/renee-alway-americas-top-model-prison/story?id=28236042 |title=How Renee Alway Went From 'America's Next Top Model' to Prison - ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2015-01-15 |access-date=2017-01-15}}</ref> }} '''Renee Diane Alway''' (born April 29, 1986) is an American fashion model, the last eliminated contestant on ''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.<ref>''Modelville'', ''The Tyra Banks Show'', episode aired 10/08/2008</ref>
==''America's Next Top Model''== Alway was one of the top 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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} On the show Alway received two first call-outs and won two challenges. She started feuds with many contestants, but after mediation with Tyra Banks the feud stopped. Alway soon began to get along with her fellow models. 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. She was subsequently eliminated.
==Modeling/acting career== Alway started modeling when she was 13.<ref name="fort">{{cite web|url= http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/americas-next-top-model-cycle-8/64094-america-s-next-top-model-8-interview-renee-5-17-07-a.html|title= Interview from Fans of Reality TV|access-date= 2007-06-07|archive-date= 2009-01-07|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090107203618/http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/americas-next-top-model-cycle-8/64094-america-s-next-top-model-8-interview-renee-5-17-07-a.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> Before ''Top Model'', she modeled in New York City, Europe and Japan, and appeared in ''Seventeen'' and Italian ''Vogue''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barbizonmodeling.com/content/success_stories|title= Barbizon Modeling Success Stories|access-date= 2007-06-07|archive-date= 2007-12-22|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071222061228/http://www.barbizonmodeling.com/content/success_stories|url-status= dead}}</ref> She also appeared in ads for Delia's. Alway 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 has appeared on the CBS TV series ''Shark'', in an episode titled "In Absentia." She competed on the reality show ''Modelville'' that aired within ''The Tyra Banks Show'' and finished 2nd.
==Personal life== Before ''Top Model'', Alway was a stay-at-home mother. She and her husband Jason have three children.
She has said that she has a lot of respect for German supermodel Heidi Klum.<ref name="US Weekly">{{cite web|url= http://www.all-antm.net/displayimage.php?album=110&pos=5|title= All ANTM - Offline<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> 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.<ref>Modelville 2</ref>
On June 28, 2013, Alway was arrested after a six-hour standoff with police in Palm Springs, California.<ref name="US Weekly 2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/americas-next-top-model-alum-renee-alway-arrested-after-swat-team-standoff-2013137|title=America's Next Top Model Alum Renee Alway Arrested After SWAT Team Standoff |last=Takeda|first=Allison|date=2013-07-13|work=Us Weekly}}</ref> She was arrested for multiple offenses, including drug possession, burglary, committing a felony while on bail, theft, and fraud.<ref>[https://www.tmz.com/2013/07/17/americas-next-top-model-renee-alway-mug-shot-palm-springs "'America's Next Top Model' Finalist Renee Always -- The Brutal Mugshot"]. TMZ.com. Retrieved October 6, 2013.</ref> She also had prior arrests that year for grand theft of more than $400, grand theft with a firearm, and receiving stolen property.<ref name="TMZ">{{cite web|url= https://www.tmz.com/2013/07/26/top-model-court-renee-alway-shaved-head/|title= 'Top Model' -- SHAVES HEAD for Court Showdown After Burglary Arrest |date= 26 July 2013 |publisher=TMZ}}</ref>
On December 10, 2014, Alway was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to four felony burglary counts, one count of vehicle theft, one count of firearm possession, and one misdemeanor count of identity theft. More than a dozen other counts against her were dismissed under a plea agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=How Renee Alway Went From 'America's Next Top Model' to Prison |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/renee-alway-americas-top-model-prison/story?id=28236042 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> Alway was released from prison in April 2018 after serving a 5-year sentence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.tmz.com/#!2018/08/04/americas-next-top-model-alum-renee-alway-parole-released-prison/|title=TMZ|access-date=2018-12-08|archive-date=2016-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613025249/http://m.tmz.com/#!2018/08/04/americas-next-top-model-alum-renee-alway-parole-released-prison/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Alway publicly came out as gay in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=KESQ News |date=2018-09-07 |title=Model Behavior: Reality show contestant on life after prison |url=https://kesq.com/news/2018/09/07/model-behavior-reality-show-contestant-on-life-after-prison/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=KESQ |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Fashionmodel}} *{{IMDb name|id=2564185|name=Renee Alway}}
{{America's Next Top Model}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alway, Renee}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:American atheists Category:American lesbians Category:American LGBTQ models Category:American people convicted of burglary Category:21st-century American criminals Category:Female models from Michigan Category:People from Maui Category:America's Next Top Model contestants Category:Criminals from Michigan Category:Lesbian models Category:LGBTQ people from Michigan Category:21st-century American women Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people