Who's Fat, and Who's Just Not 'Top Model' Material
Finally, what we've all been waiting for: Catfighting (ya know, the really entertaining kind that teeters on the edge of bloodsport) has begun to threaten the peace in the "America's Next Top Model" house.
"You're borderline plus-size," yells prima drama Bianca at Saleisha, who's maybe three pounds heavier. But we didn't necessarily feel sorry for Saleisha, whose head does seem a little puffed up. But Bianca, did you have to drop the b-bomb three times? In, like, one sentence? (FCC, can you hear us now?)
Also finally making an appearance in Episode 3: Clothes. The pretty stick figures wear them! On a runway and in front of a photographer!
And isn't that -- or wasn't that -- the whole point of "ANTM"? We hear you, it's definitely about showcasing more than one kind of beauty and has always been about entertainment. But let's look at the show's evolution:
Many of the former "ANTM" contestants, even its winners, have taken to "E! True Hollywood Story" to argue that life after the show wasn't quite what they expected. They expected to, you know, work. (Anyone else think it telling that the only pictures hanging in the house are of last season's winner, Jaslene, and Tyra?)
Remember Cycle 3's crystalline-eyed mom Amanda? She was 25. This season, no one's older than 22. Last season, two plus-size models. This season, we can barely make out one: Sarah, who is rumored to wear a size 8.
Much like "American Idol" relies on Grammys and gold records to prove its legitimacy as a serious competition, "ANTM" needs a model to strut off that runway and onto the pages of magazines. Like, now. Or the public just won't buy the premise any longer.
Lavanya Ramanathan
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October 4, 2007; 8:19 AM ET
America's Next Top Model
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Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2007 5:07 PM
Oh, I stopped buying the premise a while ago. But I still love the show! (Although I hate catfighting, which is why reality tv is not really my genre. But I guess all I can do is pray that Bianca gets booted or Tyra has a Typrah Winfrey moment and fixes her.)
Posted by: h3 | October 4, 2007 5:09 PM
See, I see a successful winner being someone like Eva who ended up with a recurring role on a TV show (that unfortunately was cancellled).
They always say they're looking for high fashion, but I think that's just an excuse for getting rid of girls they don't like but don't have a good reason for it.
The winner of ANTM should be a mini-Tyra. Sexy enough to be in Victoria's Secret, composed enough to host a reality show and pretty enough to hawk lipgloss.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 5, 2007 2:30 PM
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A size 8? What a heifer.