America’s Next Top Model is…a dork.

The redhead overcame her shyness to become the first petite-cycle winner on Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model! At 5-foot-7-inches tall, Nicole is one of the shortest champs in ANTM history. It was also the first-ever Top Model finale pitting two finalists against each other (there are usually three finalists). Southern sensation Laura Kirkpatrick won runner-up in the series’ first-ever petite-themed competition. Nicole managed to edge out the Southern belle — who credits the competition with helping her cope with a lifelong struggle against dyslexic.

The 18-year-old University of Colorado student has landed a $100,000 Cover Girl contract and six-page spread in Seventeen Magazine and representation from Wilhemina Models, thanks to her big win.

“I’m a dork and I’m America’s Next Top Model!” the beauty from Louisville, Colo. gushed after her win, E! Online reported. “I had to learn to embarrass myself—and to speak, which was a struggle,” she said. “Sometimes I didn’t think I was going to survive the journey. Like, I remember during casting week I went home and I cried because I was like, ‘What have I gotten myself into? I can’t deal with this.’”