Is Tyra serious about this "plus-size" wish? Every cycle but two so far have included one model that's supposedly "plus-sized," at least according to the standards of
America's Next Top Model.
This cycle, as Tyra keeps reminding us, she's finally gotten her wish to feature more than one "plus-sized" girl on
America's Next Top Model. Of course, it's only in the super-unrealistic modeling world that women like
Whitney Cunningham and
Diana Zalewski are considered "plus-sized." As Whitney said "Back home, I'm regular size!"
Now with Diana out, Whitney's left to represent "regular size" all alone.
At least
Toccara Jones in cycle three was actually a little larger than just average, and she placed seventh out of fourteen. Jones went on to become a plus-sized model professionally. (Of course, then she went on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and lost thirty pounds "for her career.") In the first season,
Robin "Robynne" Manning made it to fourth out of ten contestants; she wasn't particularly overweight except in comparison to the other waifs on the show.
Kathleen DuJour, this cycle's first eliminated contestant, thinks there's no way a plus-size model will win this year, although since the show is trying harder to let larger models compete, it could happen "in the near future."
Tyra's own weight gain (no, she's not fat) and her defense of it has gained her much publicity - but is her attitude about the
Top Model contestants hypocritical? She's even told models in the past to watch their weight. And it seems like on the show any model, plus sized or not, who likes to eat, is singled out. (
Keenyah's weight gain and Gluttony and Elephant photoshoots in cycle four come to mind.)
America's Next Top Model is holding auditions for the next cycle right now across the country. The application information includes the statement "Please note that the Producers are looking for a variety of models including plus-size models."
Will they only include one or two again? What's up with this quota of plus-size models? Why are they limiting it to just one or two?
-Mel, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Sources: Pasazz, CW, PUC Chronicle
(Photo courtesy of CW)