I don't watch America's Next Top Model. I think I may have seen one episode one time and it has been on for how long? Yeah, so not on my must see television. Therefore, I am coming into this post completely ignorant about how Tyra Banks acts or behaves towards anyone on the show. Natalie Pack I guess was the most recent model eliminated from the show and she says there was editing to make her look like a drama queen. Now that is a shocker huh? A reality show being edited to make people appear to be something they are not. Hey, that is the way reality shows work and I think most people are aware of that before they sign up. Characters need to be created to capture the attention of the audience and so people are put into roles whether they like it or not.
For her part, Natalie says it was shady. "They actually cut and pasted lines to make me sound like I was a spoiled brat because they were so desperate to make me look that way. I felt like they didn't have enough drama since Sandra left, so they chose me," she continues. "I was the lucky one who got chosen to be the drama show."
Natalie didn't stop there though. She said she was eliminated because Tyra has a soft side for Aminat and Teyona because they are black, and that is why she was eliminated rather than Aminat.
"Tyra definitely has a soft spot for Aminat and Teyona. I think she just loves [their] personalities. I feel like they're most relatable to Tyra, since Tyra was a black model struggling. I think she has a hidden emotional connection with the black girls, and I think that's where a lot of favoritism comes from. I'm not accusing her of it, but that's just my opinion."
Umm, your opinion is the same as accusing her of it. You did accuse her of it and it is kind of tough to take it back after you have said it. I haven't seen the show so I can't comment on whether what she says is true or not, but I know many of you have so, is she just a sore loser who went running off at the mouth or does she have a point?
i am not a big fan of the show either, but i seem to recall tyra talking to the first african american finalist and being very emotional, saying she saw herself in her... but i have really no idea if she favors anyone or not.
ReplyDeleteShe's 100% right about Tyra showing favoritism for darker-skinned girls, but Natalie was an f-ing brat, and her pictures were boring. It's not like she was going to win. Far more beautiful girls than her have been kicked off for not having a spark. (See Katarzyna.) And that "it was the editing" claim is so old. They may take things out of context, but they don't put words into your mouth.
ReplyDeleteAlso, "hidden emotional connection?" It's only "hidden" if you're an absolute moron.
This is complete BS. Tyra has that same compassion for everyone on the show. Not to mention, if she is truly biased and favors African Americans, why has there only been 3 out of 10 winners of ANTM that were African American?
ReplyDeleteSounds like another sore loser honestly.
Actually, ANTM is a good model for the affirmative action debate. Darker skinned models do still have it much harder in the industry, so is it wrong for Tyra to want to give them a step up? She has greater empathy for them because of her own life experiences, and that's perfectly natural, as long as it isn't taken to an extreme. (Saleisha, a.k.a. Tootie, was inexcusable.) Miss J favors girls who are sassy, Nigel favors girls he wants to screw, Mr. J favors girls who kiss his ass, and Paulina favors Eastern Europeans.
ReplyDelete(I don't want to start a political fight - I'd like to hear other's opinions, but hope things don't get nasty. :) )
**shrugs**
ReplyDeletemooshki,
ReplyDeleteyou are one of my faves around this tip. you have a way of commenting about sensitive issues with decorum. hope that's the right word. as a person of color, i, too, hope that posters will be civil.
Thanks, Quint. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, hell, I just realized I used "Tyra" and "empathy" in the same sentence. WTF was I thinking? I should've said: "Tyra projects herself more onto them."
ReplyDeletemooshki - ha ha hahaaa @ Tyra and empathy..right? Those two are definitely mutually exclusive
ReplyDeleteLOL re: Tyra and empathy! Whatever else she's talking about, I think Natalie's way wrong on Teyona. My favorite is and always will be Allison (Creepy Chan ftw!!!) but Teyona, more than anyone else in the group, is clearly model material. She looks amazing on film. I do love Aminat--I just understand why she can't translate her natural beauty and grace to her photos. She's the opposite of Teyona in that way.
ReplyDeleteAs far as whether Tyra favors the African American contestants or not I can't say, but frankly she kept Natalie around while much worthier models were given the heave-ho in the premiere episode, so maybe she favored Natalie for the drama she's bring, who knows. She's beautiful, but doesn't know how to hold her body or how to pose for the camera. That last shot is the best one she took all season.
Re: Aminat, I meant: "I just don't understand why she can't translate..."
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty shocking actually, I think Teyona and Allison both may have a good shot at being successful models.
ReplyDeleteAminat's pictures are so disappointing, but they're right, she's got the potential to be a great runway model.
uh oh, the anon feature available. enty, this may be a long day for you...
ReplyDeleteoh mooshki, i will just have to fall in line with QS here and say you did a wonderful job phrasing this sensitive issue. I am with ya.
ReplyDeleteSee? Its all hugs and kisses so far - I wonder what the anon feature will do to the mood!
do any of these top models actually make it? after how many seasons? whatevs, tyra is OFF HER ROCKER regardless.
ReplyDeleteI've watched at least about 80% if ANTM series and I totally disagree. Tyra only favors Tyra.
ReplyDeleteLast year I read an article that stated Tyra was tired of doing the show and wanted to focus her attention on her talk show. The article also mentioned that she has very little interaction with the girls.
I've found this to be true. Tyra is only around for the judging.
In regards to African American women the only constant here is that usually there is one A.A. model remaining in the final three. I've always felt that was for ratings instead of favoritism.
So for those of you who do watch the show pay close attention to the final three.
There will be an A.A. female or minority in the final three. Outside of that the winner isn't always predictable.
Oh and at the beginning she kept the "Black B---ch"(whoever was given that role for the series)around for most of the series, sometimes dragging it out far longer than necessary for ratings.
She's gotten a lot better and the chosen "B---ch" gets kicked off midway in the series.
So even if she has empathy for darker skinned women she'll kick them off just as fast as she will anyone else.
I also agree that Selecia (sp.?) chick's win was so uncalled for.
Just MY two cents.
I don't know the show well enough to remember names and give examples (and I haven't seen this season) but my general impression from watching marathons sometimes is that Tyra doesn't favor the darker-skinned girls, but she does seem to love it when someone looks a lot like her ("You look like a young Tyra Banks! Work that lightbulb head!" etc.) It's not a race thing -- it's a Tyra likes Tyra thing. She seems able to admit when Young Tyra takes a bad picture though.
ReplyDeleteif you want to know anything about ANTM, this is the best blogger out there on the topic. Hysterically funny...even if you've never watched the show.
ReplyDeletehttp://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/antm/
Embarrassed to say that I do watch. Yeah, maybe Tyra does, for the reasons that Mooshki mentioned.
ReplyDeleteNatalie's pictures sucked ass, though. I mean, she is flat out gorgeous but boring as hell on film. And if she hadn't said some of that shit, there'd be no clips to splice together. So suck on that, Natalie. Go marry someone rich, you know you want to.
I do think they consciously rotate types of models for the winner. You know when it's time from a black one, a blonde, a plus-size model, etc.
This cycle Tyra seems to be favoring Allison for whatever reason. They seriously need to fix that girl's hair.
ReplyDeleteNatalie's pix were nothing showstopping, so it's no surprise that she's gone.
12:30, yes, I'm addicted to FourFour. Best thing this year was his promo for "America's Next Top Tyra."
ReplyDeleteLisa, the Allison love is all about Tyra saying "I told you so," because she was the one who picked her to be on the show. :) And yes, her "hair" is whack.
ReplyDeleteAh so that's it! Makes perfect sense, now. Tyra does love to pat herself on the back. Through the wonders of DVR and mute button, I don't have to listen to much of what comes out of her mouth. Life is good. lol
ReplyDeleteRich from FourFour is a GENIUS!!!! I read his updates long before I actually started watching the show (which I've only done with regularity this season)
ReplyDeleteI think Tyra does seem to favor the women of color, but in the end I don't think she gives a crap about who wins. It's all about Tyra, all the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree the only person Tyra favours is Tyra, and furthermore I think she exploits the dreams of these girls for her own personal gain. There is no reason for her and the panel to make such hurtful cruel remarks, laughing at the girls behind their backs. (Oh yeah, I guess this is me admitting I watch.)
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, no need to think that all us anonymies are trolls. Some of us are just too lazy to sign up for a Google account.
@1:17
ReplyDeleteOr too lazy to even login to our Google accounts...
LOL
like it matters haters. back off, it's friday for christ's sake.
I'm pretty sure Quint wasn't talking about the garden variety Anons, but the one that went really bad a couple of weeks ago. REALLY bad. Sometimes all it takes is one person to screw things up for everyone.
ReplyDeleteFor a while, I thought that Tyra favored brunettes over blondes. But then I changed my mind about that. I think that she, along with the other judges, are pretty fair.
ReplyDeleteTyra gives the girls under her wing unparalleled model training. I think she should consider opening her own agency. There are always at least three or four girls from each cycle who are more than ready to begin their careers -- if not as high-fashion models, then as commercial or runway models. It's a rare girl who can do it all.
Has anyone really seen these "winners" later? Other than Cary-lee (or whatever her name is), I haven't seen a single one make a name for herself.
ReplyDeleteToo lazy to sign in...
FoggyHotDog
Natalie was really boring and I was surprised that she made it as far as she did. It's hard to predict a winner this season though. I'm rooting for Allison myself.
ReplyDeleteEva Pigford (she changed her name - can't say I blame her) is on Young & Restless now. At 5'7", she really was too short to model.
ReplyDeleteTyra likes drama and good TV over everything else.
ReplyDeleteI've always that thought Tyra had a bias against African and other foreign born models in general. The Somali girl from two seasons ago, and my favorite contestant Nnenna, were both shafted. She always seems to be harsher towards them. But the probability of winning falls to those who are blond and blue hands down.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at those who said they need to fix Allison's hair. OMG, unless she is being styled for a shoot, that girl has no clue what to do with all that hair. And what's up with the weaves they give these girls on this show? I can always tell where the tracks are located!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese hairdressers are supposed to be the top in their game, but I am doubtful of that. If you can tell where a track is placed, that is unacceptable IMO!!!
I've not been watching this season, because the BS level on the show surpassed even my amazingly high tolerance levels, but I wouldn't say Tyra favors the black contestants... I agree with what's been said -- she sees herself in them, and she loves herself, hence there is always one girl like Tyra who makes it maybe a little bit further than they should.
ReplyDeleteBut in general, this is hardly news -- go back to the beginning and in EVERY season, there was a politically correct mix of girls (because, in all fairness, the CW has a diverse audience, so it makes sense), and then in subsequent seasons, as the show became popular among tween girls, they started inserting all the walking stereotypes that lead me to stop watching. Natalie isn't deep enough to see the underlying issue -- Tyra is the executive producer of this show, and it makes her money. It's not that she favors the black girls. It's that she favors the ratings and the money, so she will keep on the drama-makers, and the ones that all the little girls watching the show can relate to the most as long as she can. It's reality TV, not a real modeling competition. Silly Natalie :P
Re: NTM girls making it. None of the American ones really have. The only notable NTM contestant, internationally, who has had a real career is Alice Burdeu from the 3rd series of Australia's Next Top Model. Wiki her -- she's modeled for major, major designers in Australia, New York and Paris. She principally does runway, but has done some campaigns (not associated with her prize winning -- shocking!) and modeled in UK Elle, among other magazines (that weren't part of her prize, which is what counts).
Elyse Sewell (Cycle 1) is big in Hong Kong, she even released a book there.
ReplyDeletePlus her Livejournal blog is hilarious and VERY popular.
http://elysesewell.livejournal.com/
It's true. In a pinch between two fairly - and I interpret that broadly - evenly matched girls, T will always choose the black girl.
ReplyDelete