There can only be one America's next top model (America's Next Top Model)

Member Name: Littledreamer

Product:	America's Next Top Model
Date:	15/01/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun to see challenges and photo shoots, interesting to see behind the scenes, reality TV

Disadvantages: Annoying personalities but without them I guess it wouldn't be as much fun

America's next top model has been running for 10 series now and I must admit that I have got quite addicted to it. I think I started watching it at around cycle 6, but since then I have managed to catch re runs of some of the older series.

The concept was thought up by the fantastic American supermodel Tyra Banks, in which a number of models (usually 13 or 14) girls are chosen from the vast amount of girls who audition and are put in a house to live together throughout the competition.

Each week, the girls are given challenges to complete such as learning how to pose or dressing themselves from charity shop clothes in a short space of time to see who has the best styling and the eye for a good piece of clothing. The winner of each challenge wins a prize which can range from an all expenses paid night out, a shopping trip with spending money, or sometimes jewellery or handbags worth thousands of pounds. The prizes are different for each challenge.

As well as the challenges, the girls take part in different photo shoots each week, all with a theme and these can range from all sorts of situations and set ups. Photo shoots from the last series included having there photo shoot in a meat packing factory while wearing pieces of meat as clothes, to posing in water and posing with paint running down their faces.

Throughout the competition, the models get to meet loads of different people that are involved in the world of modelling or the fashion industry in the challenges and photo shoots.

We see the girls living together in the house, all the arguments and disagreements as well as the modelling aspects. There are also loads of comments from the girls that are filmed away from the house with views on the competition and the other girls. There are often many strong characters who believe that they will be the winner.

At the end of each week, the girls all meet with the judging panel which consists of Tyra Banks, J Alexander (runway coach with a flamboyant personality), another judge who changes with each series, and each week there is a special guest judge who is someone who was involved in the past week's photo shoot.

At the judging, each girl gets called forward towards the judging table and their best shot from the photo shoot is displayed on a large screen and the judges evaluate it and give advice to the contestant. At the end of this process, the girls leave the room and the judges talk about each girl in turn before coming to a decision regarding which girl will be eliminated that week. Each week, one girl is eliminated and must leave the ANTM house for good. The weeks pass until there are two girls left and they battle it out on the runway for the ultimate prize of America's next top model.

Although many of the girls are far too skinny, I was really pleased when the winner of the last series (Whitney) won as she was a plus size model. I think she was a size 12 -14 (British Size) as she said she was an American 10 where as the other girls were all American size 2 or 4. I thought that Whitney was a beautifully girl with natural curves, and I find it a bit sad that she is thought of as "plus size", when she just looked like what a real women should look like. I thought it was a bit of a breakthrough and was happy that she won.

If you enjoy shows that elimate people each week and you enjoy the fashion industry then watch this show. Some of the personalities can be so annoying and there is always one girl that you can't wait to be kicked out, but it's really interesting to see how models are made up for photo shoots and what goes on behind the scenes throught to the end result.

Summary: An addictive show that keeps you watching week after week