In the female corner: we have former Victoria's Secret vixen and Sports Illustrated cover girl, Tyra Banks, who was able to start an impressive second career in reality and talk show television as she transitioned from modeling. In the dude corner: we have Tyson Beckford, Ralph Lauren model, film actor, music video star, and now host of Make Me a Supermodel.

From a sheer dollar perspective, Tyra would seem to be outgunning Tyson in a big way. However, the Make Me a Supermodel host thinks that he's got something much more valuable: relevance in the modeling industry. And he's not afraid to tell you all about it.

Tyson recently unleashed with his opinion about Ms. Banks and a little show called Ameica's Next Top Model.

"Tyra? Are you joking? I'm the only male supermodel there is, the only one who can make a supermodel,” the Make Me a Supermodel star said to Page Six. "Do you think Tyra can just call up Naomi Campbell and ask her to teach these kids how to walk the runway? Please! You know Tyra and Naomi aren't cool like that right? And we're in New York, Tyra's in L.A. Nothing's going on in L.A. [My models] will go on go-sees, be doing what it takes where the action is, in New York. Please!"

I guess no one has told him that she's moved back to New York City.

And please, I love watching Naomi Campbell on the runway as much as the next fashion junkie, but is she going to have an afro that grows in proportion to the number of felled models a la ANTM runway coach Miss J Alexander? In the case of Miss J, his sheer entertainment value clearly outweighs whatever slightly less stellar celebrity status he might have in comparison to Naomi. What is she going to do to entertain me? Throw a phone at the models?

Clearly Mr. Beckford hasn't been briefed on the primary reasons folks watch modeling shows. I'll give him a hint: relevance in the real modeling world isn't actually that high on the list. If it were, ANTM wouldn't have gotten through nine cycles with the highest achievement so far being a former winner marrying a Brady.

Nevertheless, we can still give Make Me a Supermodel a chance; maybe the show can bring the relevance while still providing the required pretty-people-bringing-the-melodrama.



- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Page Six
(Image courtesy of Bravo)