Minnesotan in running to be "Top Model"

Wanna be on top?"

For Raina Hein of Minneapolis, the answer posed in the "America's Next Top Model" theme song was decisively "yes!"

She came very close to achieving that goal. The Concordia University senior and Minnetonka native made it to the top two of the show's 14th cycle. She watched the finale with more than 200 people at Drink Uptown on Wednesday night. "It still hasn't hit me," she said of her success on the show. She tried out on a whim, when auditions were held at Seven Sushi, where she used to work.

With limited modeling experience, Hein, 22, who became known for her bold eyebrows and positive attitude, learned the trade primarily from critiques while filming. "I really liked all of the judges," she said, singling out Nigel Barker, Tyra Banks and guest judge Rachel Roy. "I never knew your face and your eyes could be so powerful in photos."

During the first hour of the finale, Banks called her "the second coming of Brooke Shields." After walking in an Anna Sui runway show, Hein lost to Krista White, 24.

But the crowd at Drink still cheered the hometown girl. "I'm really happy," she said. "Just because I didn't win, doesn't mean I'm sad. This is the beginning."

She has already booked a modeling campaign in Dubai next month.

SARA GLASSMAN