Eva Marcille

**Eva Marcille Sterling** (nee Pigford; born October 30, 1984) is an American television personality, actress and model. She is best known for starring in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

## Early Life

Marcille was born in Los Angeles to parents Evan and Michelle Pigford.

She attended Raymond Avenue Elementary School, Marina Del Rey Middle School and Washington Preparatory High School. She then attended Clark Atlanta University; however, she left the school shortly after winning the third season of America's Next Top Model at the age nineteen.

## Career

### Modelling

Marcille was the winner of the third cycle of America's Next Top Model in 2004, beating fellow contestant Yaya DaCosta. Her prizes included a CoverGirl cosmetics contract, a spread in Elle, and a modelling contract with Ford Models.

She has appeared on the covers of Brides Noir, Women's Health and Fitness, King, IONA and Essence. Her other modelling credits include CoverGirl, DKNY, Samsung, Red by Marc Ecko, Jewel, In Touch Weekly, King, WeTheUrban, IONA, UNleashed, Star Magazine, Elle, Elle Girl, Apple Bottoms, Larner Catalog, Avon Capaign 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 modelling fame to get into acting but earn her acting roles.

She 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. She has also appeared on Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

In addition, she 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 (feat. Betty Wright), 50 Cent's "I Get Money" and Jamie Foxx's "DJ Play a Love Song".

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, she appeared in a first-season episode of the MTV improv show Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out. In December 2007, she played a feature 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. After a few months, her character, who was planned to be temporary was made permanent. In 2009, she 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 has 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, she 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, she competed in the first season of VH1's Scared Famous, which premiered on October 23, 2017.

### The Real Housewives of Atlanta

In 2018, Eva joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series for the eleventh season after appearing as a 'friend of the housewives' in Season 10. She then appeared in Season 12 before returning as a 'guest' in Season 13.

#### **RHOA Taglines**

* Season 11 - "I love a model life. Now I'm ready to be a top wife."
* Season 12 - "I'm living my dream not above my means."

## Personal Life

Marcille was engaged to actor Lance Gross but the two split up in March 2010. She then dated rapper Flo Rida from 2010 to 2012.

She was in a relationship with rapper Kevin McCall and together they have one daughter, Marley Rae (born January 31, 2014). The couple are separated.

Marcille has been married once. She married attorney Michael Sterling on October 7, 2018 and together they have two sons: Michael Todd Jr. (born April 13, 2018) and Maverick Leonard (born September 27, 2019).

## Family

**Husbands and Partners**

* Lance Gross (Ex-fiance)
* Flo Rida (Ex-boyfriend; 2010-2012)
* Kevin McCall (Ex-boyfriend)
* Michael Sterling (Husband; 2018-present)

**Children**

* Marley Sterling
* Michael Sterling Jr.
* Maverick Sterling

**Parents**

* Evan Pigford
* Michelle Pigford

## Filmography

### Music Videos

 2012
 2013
 "J'accélère"