America's Next Top Model is heading into its tenth cycle, and while some viewers have been feeling let down by the way recent cycles have turned out, it seems likely that the new season will be just as popular as ever.

What's less certain is whether or not the winner of cycle 10 can win the hearts of the viewers the way some of the earlier cycle winners did, like Eva Pigford, who now goes by Eva Marcell. While she did play the bad girl of the cycle, earning her nickname “Eva the Diva,” it seemed like by the end of that cycle of America's Next Top Model, many viewers had warmed to her and saw that her sassy ways weren't the only side to the beautiful young woman.

Since then, she's been working to continue her career in the entertainment industry, and one acting gig actually paved the way to a new romance.

Eva had a guest-starring role on House of Payne, and came away with a new beau in addition to more acting experience. She and House of Payne star Lance Gross have been dating for a while, although the two only recently went public with their relationship, including an appearance at the NAACP Image Awards.

The couple had a great night together, especially since Lance won the award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.”

The America's Next Top Model winner was beaming, saying, "My boyfriend won two awards and his cast-mate, who plays his father LeVan Davis, and I'm absolutely stoked and it was absolutely awesome,"

She said that they have been dating for nine months. "As long as a pregnancy," as she laughingly put it, but "we just started coming out in the public." The two are clearly still in the honeymoon phase of the relationship, with Gross giving Eva 10 dozen roses this past Valentine's Day.

- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: AOL Black Voices
(Image courtesy of CW)