America's Next Top Model
When it comes to what it takes to become a High-Fashion Model, Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model seem to have a different opinion than the rest of the fashion world.
Just The Facts
- America's Next Top Model (or ANTM for short) is a show on the CW where hundreds of girls compete for a modeling contract and with it a foot in the door to becoming a "Top Model".
- Currently in the middle of it's 13th cycle, anything approaching what could be considered a "Top Model" has yet to be produced.
The Flaw With The Entire Premise of ANTM
Despite the fact that it is abundantly clear to anyone with eyes how Tyra herself made it to the top of the modeling world, on the show she is constantly advocating that desire and belief in yourself are what is most important to making it in the modeling business.
pictured: Tyra's juicy desire and big, bouncy belief in herself
Ninety percent of women have the ability and the intelligence to technically be models. In the real world of high-fashion modeling, looks are what set you apart. Posing, strutting, make-up, personal style; these are all skills that can easily be taught, or outsourced to the modeling agency's style people. What sets the girls that make it in the industry apart from those that don't, is being incredibly attractive, and a stroke of good luck. If America's Next Top Model were realistic it would consist of a single half hour episode where the judges walk through a room of pretty girls and just point out the one that looks most like a high-fashion model. But this wouldn't make for compelling television (unless there was a lot of nudity) so ANTM is forced to create criteria for what makes a great model, and select a winner based off these criteria. For this reason, out of the 12 winners of America's Next Top Model, exactly ZERO have gone on to a career that would be considered anywhere near a "Top Model".
After being scouted by a Ford Models agent (the agency the girls win a contract with after 'winning' on this show, and also an agency having nothing to do with cars which a lot of other girls seemed not to understand), upon seeing my measurements I was told my butt was too big. I told my boyfriend at the time, and he laughed and said, "Good."
ReplyMost models aren't really that attractive; they're just clothes hangers. I've done some modeling when I was younger, and all the other girls that were with me in most shootings and castings were extremely small (they were tall), and smoked like their lives depend on smoking. Modeling is quite tough if your boobs are larger than B or if your butt no longer fits in your hands. Also, models who are larger than a four, or smaller than a twelve (I'm a size six) have a harder time finding gigs, since we're too small to be plus size, and too big for high fashion.
ReplyAh, I'm 5'9" and I wear a size six. Too big for high fashion, but too small for plus size (plus size is 12 and above). I'd better stick to car shows and lingerie, since I'm actually cut for those things.
What the f**k is with all these serious discussions in the comments? I'll just go ahead and say what I expected to see.
ReplyThis kind of garbage is why I don't watch TV, it's just cheap entertainment for lonely housewives and fat bitches who refuse to date fat guys because they totally heard there's super-hawt, super-nice rich guys who are into morbidly obese mooses so OM NOM NOM COOKIES.
Modeling is way harder than it looks. Especially high fashion models. I would love to be a model but I know I would not be able to do what those ladies do.
ReplyIt appears to me that the hardest part (the rarest skill, not necessarily the most difficult to learn) is being able to swallow pride, loosen inhibitions, and do whatever you are told.
The advice Tyra gives is about being a "top model" rather than just a model, which involves having a unique feature. That's what all the "be yourself" crap she says is about, even though it's the opposite of what a model needs to do to be successful.
That's because, when you look at what Tyra actually values as "unique" and what sets "top models" (as in supermodels, not contest winners) apart is usually a unique physical characteristic. Unique physical characteristics create the illusion of different personality traits and have a lot to do with how their directors choose to use them.
So, yes, being a model takes talent.
But being a "top model" is mostly about genes and current social standards.
Tyra is ignorant and evidently also stupid. I wish she'd be taken off of TV already...
ReplyAlso, you forgot to mention that Tyra has HORRIBLE taste in models. Since they have to be ridiculously goodlooking in order to succeed in the fashion world (Kate Moss & Naomi Campbell being major exceptions), most of the contestants' looks - or lack thereof - automatically prevent them from being successful models. At the end of the day, looking "unique" or "fierce" counts for nothing if you just don't look good, which is what models are paid to do, above all else.
Replynice snarky comment about Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in there. thanks for helping perpetuate the stereotype that women are all catty bitches. guys think its just sooo hot when you constantly rip on other girls' appearances.
Tyra doesn't even teach them actual modeling. Models very rarely come up with their own poses for photos. Their job is to do exactly what the client/creative director/ photographer/ designer asks them to do. Everyone is looking for some with the right "look" for their product and someone who can follow direction to make their vision come true.
ReplyUm...do you actually know anything about high fashion? Because let me tell you something, boobs as the way to make it into fashion? That's so ridiculously false. If you're a B cup, you're probably too big for most designers.
ReplyUnless you're a lingerie model/victioria's secret model, otherwise you're right.
I was contacted by a company that did both shoots and runway and wanted me to do both. They wouldn't let me because I'm a D cup :( they need to expand their requirements.
Tyra Banxx. That is all.
Reply"What sets the girls that make it in the industry apart from those that don't, is being incredibly attractive, and a stroke of good luck."
ReplyAre you sure it's luck they're stroking?
HEYOOO
tyra is complete and utter nucking futcase. for evidence see the show where she tears the f**k out of a girl and her family for daring to acknowledge that its actually just a TV show and its not the end of the world if she doesn't win.
I love watching ANTM when I get the chance.
ReplyBeing a fat b***h, laughing at good looking skinny girls when they suck at posing is how I want to live my life.
Tyra is an irritating b***h
ReplyYes, but she's a hot irritating b***h, so she gets away with it.
Who wants to be a clothes horse for a career? :L
Reply"Clothes hanger" is a more accurate job title.
the most successful Top Model contestants are the ones who DON'T win. We have Mollie Sue Steenis-Gondhi, Fatima Siad, Anya Kop, Katarzyna Dolinska, Toccara Jones, Elyse Sewell and other girls that have dedicated to work on the commercial side.
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesActually, Nicole Linkletter (C5 winner) is very successful in Asia. What these girls have to do is go outside of America to become successful. ANTM has such a stigma in the fashion world that girls aren't taken seriously. If we want successful Top Model winners, look at the international franchises. They've produced girls who have walked on Fashion Week, appeared on Vogue and numerous high fashion magazine, campaigns, etc.
That's exactly what I was going to say. The best models get cut for stupid reasons like 'attitude' and don't win, but they're the ones who become successful anyway.
In response to the second paragraph, very true. Like Australia's Next Top Model, where in one season two of the top three had walked Fashion Week runways internationally BEFORE coming on the show.
Don't forget Analeigh Tipton from cycle 11. She has a decent acting career now. She's in Crazy, Stupid, Love and is getting a lot of attention for her role. She was also on Hung.
The problem with winning is that you get stuck in a contract that won't do anything for you. Anyone who wants to hire you and promote you has to kick in a piece of the action to folks who have no real interest in promoting you over the established models in their stable. The real future is in losing because you get the exposure and can then be exploited by someone who doesn't have to share with the production company until you figure out how to exploit yourself. But in the end, none of these girls are really all that pretty so any one of them is no different than the tens of thousands of girls who whore themselves in other ways.
This question may have been asked before, but anyway, Is the author of the above a model? Have you actually been on the show? Just asking because you seem so knowledgeable - I sound sarcastic but I really just would like to know.
Replythe only reason most of them aren't real models is because they don't do the work that comes with it. she keeps telling them to work hard, go to your go-sees, get signed to an angency, but they don't. if you don't do the work, you're not going to be a famous model.
ReplyMcKey Sullivan has made it pretty big, she has lived in Australia, Paris, and New York since the end of her cycle and is making bank with everything she is doing. Although she may not be known like Tyra, well she just doesn't have her own T.V show yet. She's pretty "top" though.
ReplySee, I think a lot of the girls on the show *have* gotten a lot of work, not necessarily the winners though. And a model of Tyra's popularity is SO, SO rare that I'm not surprised they haven't produced a model that famous yet. There are so few models who are household names.
In that Tyra Banks bikini picture, her eyes...UGHHH.
ReplyI didnt even notice she had eyes until you pointed it out
it looked something inhuman in human form
I agree, i dont its nothing special the show itself, altough i watching sometimes for the girls, especially on the 12th or 11th season...i fell in love with McKey, so beautiful
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Reply( B-l-a-c-k-W-h-i-t-e-C-u-p-i-d . c-0-m ) my sisiter told me this; it worked for her, it worked for me; and i'm sure it's gonna work for u, buddy!!