America’s Next Top Model on Anorexia, Bulimia
In America’s Next Top Model 7: Does BMI Matter? post – amid unprecedented decision to ban anorexic models from a major fashion show – I was hoping, against all odds, that the upcoming new season of America’s Next Top Model would somehow reflect on that decision.
As far as I can tell, nothing happened. Instead, America’s Next Top Model launched its first episode with a controversial photo shoot. What was the controversy?
To kick things off in America’s Next Top Model style, the first photo shoot was about posing nude on top of a building, but this was not it.
In the second photo challenge, each contestant was assigned a common modeling stereotype. Amanda was posing in front of the camera as an anorexic model, while her twin sister Michelle was acting as a bulimic model type.
Great, thank you America’s Next Top Model for glorifying eating disorders!
Of course, there is nothing wrong with doing a photo shoot about modeling stereotypes – except that both models look as if they have not had anything to eat in the past three months.
If that was not enough, the judges loved both photos, which is hardly surprising since one of the judges [Twiggy] became an icon of the sixties when she started the thin look.
Possibly related
- America’s Next Top Model 7: Tyra Banks is Fat?
- America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9
- Who Is America’s Next Top Model 8?
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12-13-06 at 10:43 am
I love Americas Next Top Model and that has always been my dream. To meet Tyra Banks and to know that I can make a difference and do something with my life would make me very delighted. I would like to know if there is any way that you would be able to help me go about this kind of thing.
12-13-06 at 12:42 pm
America’s Next Top Model is taking applications now for cycle 9. Have you considered applying?
http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/topmodel_cycle9_apply
10-08-07 at 4:34 pm
That’s really disgusting. I used to like Tyra Banks but then she goes and does things that make me think ‘what an IDIOT!’ This *is* glorification of something I’ve struggled with (eating disorders) and watched my friends struggle with. It is killing girls everywhere and showing no sign of slowing down. Maybe if you want to model you should try to make it on your own instead of relying on Ms. Banks to put you on this disgraceful, stupid show. I love Twiggy and some of the other people who’ve been on the show but honestly, have you seen the winners ever do anything besides magazine folds RIGHT after they win and Covergirl ads?! The show is a joke. It won’t make you any more of a famous model than would going on “Flavor of Love”. I’m sickened.
10-15-07 at 3:57 pm
i love amanda and michele they are pretty and i like there body is beatufull and perfect they are my idols
10-18-07 at 7:37 pm
Everyone that says its glorifying eating disorders is an idiot.
Seriously people its a photoshoot. A photoshoot about model STEREOTYPES.
A stereotype is what people often assume of someone because of what they do. Some girls like the twins & twiggy are just built thin. And of coarse the judges are going to love the pictures of the twins, i mean have you actualy looked at the photographs? As a photographer myself i would die to take a picture like that. They both capture the pure intensity of the mood. They are not glorifying the disorder. Tyra is one of the few people in the fashion world fighting to eleminate the disese. She trys to tell hundreds of time how much of a problem eating disorders are in this country.
10-26-07 at 6:17 am
ANTM is a great show. it shows you that being skinny is not the only way to be a model. Tyra Banks alone is an inspiration because of that. They have even given plus size models a chance. I think that the modeling agency should eliminate using anorexic models in fashion shows…It’s giving off a bad sublimminal message to teenagers. I am only 13 years old… but i do have alot of opinions on eating disorders. They are very serious and should not be encouraged. I feel that they can be prevented or healed if the teenager or adult has a good support system. but then again… its not that simple is it?
and btw…. (to the person whos comment is before mine) Tyra is not an idiot. Have you even seen that episode? you probably know nothing about Tyra. She”s a great role model because of all she ha accomplished and who she is as a person.
11-20-07 at 11:31 am
Okay, it’s sad if you say that they are actually making anorexia and bulimia look like something acceptable. That episode was really insightful into today’s society, and I believe Tyra is definately on your side against these diseases. Use your allies.
–Char.
06-20-08 at 8:50 am
l like amand and michelle and selisha. they’re perfect
08-20-08 at 12:13 am
do you people even watch the show?
or did you just see the pictures and assume things?
because Jay and Tyra were actually saying it was a serious problem, and they weren’t encouriging it.
01-11-09 at 7:35 am
The recent ANTM shows a change to me in the way they select the models. To me, I feel that they have no longer just zoom in to skinny models, they are selecting models that have the “cover page face” where readers would want to get the magazine at the sight of the cover.
Well, getting anorexic and bullimic is something really worrying. It’s so life threatening and i hope this illness can be cured where people will not fall into it. It’s not worth being slim for the price of your life.
05-07-09 at 5:59 pm
Modles i think your some what stupid if your anerexic …seriously why would you want to die for a body that a child like idea.. you will not always have that body i mean it will get wrinkly and saggy you a just botching up your life you are just putting pressure on yourselve…but you might be thinking that what about your contracts who cares about them if you are healthy and have a great attitude than you are a great role modle i admire you but if your just anorexic then i suggest you get a hamburger