America's Next Top Model

            For this paper, I have decided to review and analyze the reality television show America's Next Top Model. The participants on the show compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and the opportunity to start their career in the modeling industry. The show is currently in its 16th cycle and has anywhere from 9-13 episodes a cycle. There are typically 10-14 women competing with one, two, or none of them getting eliminated in each episode. The judging panel consists of the editor for Vogue, a fashion photographer, Tyra Banks and in the past, models Janice Dickinson and Paulina have been on the show among others. All of these judges have background in the fashion or modeling industry and critique the contestants based solely their appearances. The consequences that are intended in the show are to make the contestants of the show have negative self-images in each episode in order to strive for more during the next week. Expressing her dislike for a photograph that one of the contestants took, Janice Dickinson said, "This looks like she escaped from a mental institution! This is the worst photograph I've ever seen! You look deranged. Your arms look amputeed, your legs look amputeed, and it looks like you have a penis! I'm sorry. (1)" This statement made by a well-known American model is intended to degrade the model who took the photo however the latent consequence of this statement  is that it makes those who are watching the show feel very self-conscience. The women watching the show start to think negative things about themselves since the contestants, all good looking, are being harshly criticized. Whitney Thompson, a plus-size America's Next Top Model winner, made this unintended consequence clear in a recent interview, "The reason I went on [Top Model] though is because I wanted to change the fashion industry. Because it obviously affects people and the way that they view themselves. I mean, when the majority of all 9-year-old girls have been on a diet, we're doing something wrong…it's obvious that the industry is affecting people and it does make women feel bad about themselves, or worse. (2)"

            There are a few different societal trends that affect the development of America's Next Top Model. One of these trends is the growing popularity of social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook. Fans of the show are able to follow the contestants and judges through these websites which make them more accessible for the viewers. People across the world are able to tune into these social networking sites and see what it going on with their favorite contestant or past winner. I think that social networking sites had a big impact on getting versions of the Next Top Model show in 17 countries and in 170 markets worldwide (3). For example, on Tyra Banks website you must be a member of Facebook in order join her "Inner Circle" which gives a person inside information on contestants, shows, and photo shoots. Another societal trend that has affected America's Next Top Model is the recent flux in other reality television shows based on appearance and weight loss. Shows such as Biggest Loser, Bridalplasty, Heavy, and MTV's I Used to Be Fat give viewers insight on the process of what people are going through to be content with themselves. In order to be content with themselves, many Americans strive to have the look that is seen on America's Next Top Model. This show is only reinforcing the pressure that is put onto women by society to look a certain way. It is common sense that to become a model in today's society you must be good looking. The problem is that a majority of the good looking contestants on the show are all tall and skinny. This gives the impression to the public that to be beautiful you must be tall and skinny. This show only enhances the problems that women already go through such as anorexia, eating disorders and depression. 

References

1. http://www.xehra.com/MovieQuotes/americas-next-top-model.html

2.http://fitperez.com/2010-10-13-plus-size-americas-next-top-model-winner-talks-body-image-issues

3. http://www.tyra.com/view/ANTM_AROUND_THE_WORLD