Token
America's Next Top Model is starting a new season without a token plus-sized girl: "The sixth season also marks the second time a plus-size model won't be among the hotties vying for a spot on the runway."
I always feel like the plus-sized chick on America's Next Top Model is like the token black guy on The Bachelorette. They never win, but they're always kept around long enough for the Bachelorette to prove she's not prejudiced, or for the Top Model people to prove that they're not sizeist. Either that, or the odds are so stacked against them that there's no chance of survival.
I personally would love to see a truly multi-ethnic reality dating show, or a model show with enough variation in body type to make it somewhat plausible that a stick might not win. But I don't think we're quite there yet, and I'm sure there's an argument to be made that extreme thinness does have something to do with modeling ability.
But hey, at least we've got a plus-sized chick to vote on for American Idol this time around. Go Mandisa!
I always feel like the plus-sized chick on America's Next Top Model is like the token black guy on The Bachelorette. They never win, but they're always kept around long enough for the Bachelorette to prove she's not prejudiced, or for the Top Model people to prove that they're not sizeist. Either that, or the odds are so stacked against them that there's no chance of survival.
I personally would love to see a truly multi-ethnic reality dating show, or a model show with enough variation in body type to make it somewhat plausible that a stick might not win. But I don't think we're quite there yet, and I'm sure there's an argument to be made that extreme thinness does have something to do with modeling ability.
But hey, at least we've got a plus-sized chick to vote on for American Idol this time around. Go Mandisa!
posted by mo pie at 1:51 PM
7 Comments:
It reminds me alot of the token comment "you have such a pretty face"
People, for the most part, so not view overweight people as beautiful. They expect us to all be skinny. I think the world would be awfully boring if we all looked the same.
I didn't even know they had a token fat girl on ANTM. I'm surprised they even went that far. I hear they are casting more for personality than looks, so I bet if a fat girl who would make a good character came along they'd probably cast her.
Is this one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations? If they hadn't put plus sized models on the show, wouldn't people complain about that instead? I've often wondered which would be preferrable in situations like this. Would you rather be patronized in a transparent, half-hearted attempt, or left out?
Personally, I think I'd rather jab hot knives in my eyes than watch the show. If I recall based on prior seasons, the skinny models look like they were scraped from the (rock?) bottom of the talent barrel too. But, like you said, it's the same "Reality" TV formula that usually incorporates a token of one variety or another. In this particular show, they're *all* stereotypes. There's just one black sheep/sacrificial lamb thrown in there to provide a vague illusion of credibility.
On the American Idol thing, shouldn't people be voting based on uhh..."talent" rather than choosing favorites based on body type or other demographic. Wouldn't that be hypocritical? I realize you're probably being facetious, but perhaps it contributes to the same stereotypes that would be objectionable from others.
You're probably right though. Everyone knows big black girls make the best singers. ;)
Thank GOD.
Maybe I can finally watch it without cringing. Well...no, not really. I came home from eating-disorder treatment and was flipping channels one night and saw someone measuring some girl's thighs and my sister almost had a heart attack getting me to turn it off, and I haven't watched it since, and probably won't. But one of my biggest problems with ANTM in theory was always this "come on, you can do it! Except you totally can't, because let's face it, you are TOO DAMN FAT—wait, why are you kind of down? Now we have to get rid of you!" mixed-message blame-game bonanza directed at the fat girl. Poor Toccara ended up on Celebrity Fit Club.
Ah, yes, The Fat Girl, but Toccara has also made herself a nice little career here in New York what with pages for Spring Fashion Week for Cathy what's-her-face's plus size page and the cover of "King" magazine (although that brings up other feminist issues that are kind of scary).
Since she's getting lots of money for posing after the exposure, I'd say that's fairly sweet revenge.
OTOH, IMO, your analysis of their attitudes was dead on. As a writer-producer (who doesn't even have to show face OR butt on the air, for cripes sake) for some of the above-mentioned fabulous women, I've dealt with similar crap myself, most frequently doled out by the guys (and women, for that matter) with the most *ahem* offensive and acrid mugs and/or personalities.
Dag, Mo. I run away for a few weeks and you've got all these new fabulous posts up. Now I have to catch up - *pant, pant*
Go Mandisa indeed! I mention elsewhere that I'm wondering if it was a coincedince that she chose, for her first outing to cover Nancy Wilson, who isn't exactly rock and roll thin herself. But Nancy is beautiful, and so is Mandisa. Mandisa absolutely glows. I suspect that a lot of us are going to be rooting for her not just because she's a great singer, but that she's one of *us.* Isn't that the way it works?
Did you guys catch Paula stumble for a compliment, only to say to Mandisa "you have such a pretty face" on last nights show? Why? Couldn't she just say - Mandisa you are so beautiful, or so pretty - why did she have to qualify it with the 'pretty face'.
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