F06 :: Feminist Film Studies

America's Next Top Model (ANTM) is thick with gender, race, and class issues. I watched an entire season of ANTM to get the big picture of the show. I was going to watch just one episode, but I was hooked into watching more. The girls selected for the show come from all over bringing a diverse set of perspectives and attitudes. The show does a great job is showing several reasonsfor wanting to become a model. It’s kind of like Real World meets Fashion File with a touch of The Price is Right. In the end, each girl decides if the “price is right� for completely giving up all traces of individualism.

Some of the girls know they're pretty, some don’t, and some don’t care. Whatever their view of themselves is, they all want to be what Tyra and the judges think they should be because they all want to win. One girl battles with the “suggestion� of getting the gap between her front teeth fixed. Originally, she doesn’t want to do it. She knows it’s one of the things that create her distinct look from other women; it’s a part of her individual beauty. She’s told by Tyra and the gang that she’s not marketable with her gap and the gap with dominate any photo she’s in. This is one of the many conspicuous statements about female beauty. Ultimately, whatever Tyra and the judges feel beauty is dictates who stays, who goes, and who morphs to fit their standards.

Race plays a significant role in ANTM. Tyra reinforces black and white stereotypes by making comments like, “Girl, you work that booty like a black girl.� This comment was obviously made to a white contestant. Also, she said something along the lines of “Honey, I can’t believe you can’t drop it better than that.� This comment made to a black contestant. There was a photo shoot where the girls had to dance, and the previous comments were delivered after the shoot.

One girl has a southern accent. She’s out right told that she sounds stupid. That’s one of the positive points of ANTM. There is a focus on speaking correctly. Sounding educated and being educated are important. Not all people with southern accents are ignorant, but anyone will tell you that if you’re on TV appealing to a larger audience you cannot have an accent of any kind, unless, you are to be cast in a specific role which calls for a specific accent.

ANTM is able to get away with their attempts to homogenize beauty with their big budget. They have spent top dollar to persuade the public they know what female beauty is. Tyra isn’t cheap. The rest of the judges probably charge a hefty fee as well. Plus, the models participate in elaborate fashion shoots, stay in a gorgeous apartment, and travel to a beautiful country. It’s definitely the fusion of a glossy fashion magazine and TV. The show is actually glossy! There’s so much beauty.

The clothes and make-up the models wear are the best. They usually wear bright attractive colors and are shot in equally attractive settings. The image on the TV would still be pretty without the women. However, having a little or in some cases a lot of skin across the screen only helps the show. Who doesn’t love a half-naked-potential-super-model?

Also, who can argue with Tyra? She’s a super-model for Pete’s sake! Of course she knows what it takes to be a super-model. This gives Tyra her “mama knows best� attitude about everything. The girls just eat it all up. As a result, the public eats it up. Tyra has stacked credentials in the fashion industry and that’s why she’s hosting the show.

America’s Next Top Model has figured out the combination for a long running hit. They have a big budget, big names, and a big mouth. The show doesn’t make apologies. They know they are creating a “universal beauty.� They have the sponsors and the jobs to let them get away with it. The winner of the show gets a huge modeling contract with a huge modeling firm. If they didn’t know what beauty was this couldn’t be possible. They have an air tight opinion of beauty. Sure, you have the right to disagree, but that’s not going to get you paid or get your face in Elle magazine, and it won't stop them from dictating who does.