Tyra's babies (America's Next Top Model)

Member Name: Great_reviewer07

Product:	America's Next Top Model
Date:	19/01/09 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting to watch, great presenters

Disadvantages: Can get repetitive

I must admit I'm extremely addicted to this programme. The new series starts next Monday (26/1/09) on Living TV at 9pm & I personally can't wait.

Basically America's next top model is a show presented by the legend that is Tyra Banks, it's also her company (Bankable Productions) that's behind the show. After semi-retiring from modelling Tyra has really done well for herself what with the success of this show which is soon to begin its 11th cycle (season) & of course her chat show the aptly named The Tyra Banks show which is similar to Oprah. Tyra seems to have a great personality & she seems like she could be your best friend!

America's next top model first aired in May 2003 & since then it has become something of a phenomenon & other countries around the world have done their own versions. Britain has even had its own, Britain's Next Top Model is hosted by Lisa Snowdon, a former supermodel herself & like Tyra she is the head judge on the panel.

Every cycle of America's next top model uses pretty much the same format. This can get repetitive but if it isn't broken then why fix it? Girls from all over America will send in audition tapes & Tyra will whittle it down to about 35 girls who are invited to the face to face auditions. This is where Tyra, Miss Jay Alexander & Mr Jay Manuel will chat to the girls & get to know their personalities before observing their potential. From this they whittle it down to 20 & then eventually to between 10-14 generally. When Tyra has her final group the girls will move into a house, but not just any house of course because this is Tyra Banks so they have a mansion to live in while they are in the competition but of course when they get eliminated they must move out & go home. The house is generally decorated with pictures of Tyra herself , I don't know if this is for inspiration or just because Tyra's vein but she's literally everywhere. Even on the mail which she calls a 'Tyra Mail' this is where a piece of card will be placed in the house informing the girls of an upcoming photo shoot or elimination that they will be taking part of.

The show is aired once a week generally about 9pm. During the week the girls will take part in a photo shoot which at the end of the week they will be judged on & also some kind of task for them to learn from, whether it be runway training with Miss Jay or being taught how to pose.

Miss Jay as just mentioned is the runway coach & is also on the panel. As you may have guessed he is a bit of a drag queen that doesn't take himself too seriously & is always immensely popular with the girls.

Mr Jay is the creative director & is also very liked & respected. He seems to get more air time than Tyra as he is at every photo shoot & is very charismatic & a great leader for the girls to look up for. He can be a little harsh at times but he seems to genuinely care about the girls & the critism he gives is always constructive.

There have been many different faces on the judging panel over the different cycles including Tyra of course, Nigel Barker (photographer), Twiggy (Model) Miss Jay (Runway) & the most recent face to join the panel is Paulina Porizkova (Model) she was brought in to replace Twiggy, however I do prefer Twiggy to Paulina, she seemed to care a lot more about the girls & give better critique. My favourite judge throughout all the cycles has to be Janice Dickinson the self proclaimed world's first supermodel. She's loud, brash & says exactly what she thinks however everything she does say is to help the girls & is said with love. She really cuts the girls down to size but only when it's necessary. Some of her comments & mannerisms are hilarious. Janice was on the panel from cycle 1-4 then left as apparently a few of the other judges has problems with her which isn't surprising however I still love her!

There have been 10 previous winners of America's next top model, some going onto achieve success but some kind of dropping off the radar, however anyway you look at it all these girls are extremely talented & have a bright future ahead of them. The previous winners in chronological order are;
Adrienne Curry
Yoanna House
Eva Pigford
Naima Mora
Nicole Linkletter
Danielle Evans
Caridee English
Jaslene Gonzalez
Saleisha Stowers
Whitney Thompson

Summary: Wanna be on top? This is one way to get there!