By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
The competition for the latest 'America's Next Top Model' will officially be on and popping when Tyra Banks' wildly popular show debuts its eight cycle Feb. 28 on The CW network.
According to a spokesperson, this finalists for this season will face tougher challenges and photo shoots ranging from the very glamorous to high-tech to controversial, all while living under one roof in a posh Los Angeles mansion.
Some of this cycle's participants will include Britney, a 21 year old bartender from Savannah; Cassandra, a 24 year old college student hailing from Seattle, Jaslin, a 20 year old Chicago native who's an online college admission advisor; a 22 year old band manager from Detroit named Jael; Brooklyn-based hairstylist Kathleen; and Renee, a 20 year old stay-at-home mom from Maui.
Sounds like a bunch of drama already.
As with seasons before, Banks and her fashionista cohorts -- art director of photo shoots Jay Manuel, and runway guru J. Alexander -- will mentor the participants, while former fashion icon Twiggy and famed fashion photographer Nigel Barker join in on the judging. The grand prize winner will be managed by Elite Model Management. She also receives a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl and will appear on the cover and six-page fashion spread in 'Seventeen 'magazine.
If she's black, she may wind up hosting her own fashion competition on BET J, like Eva Marcelle (The America's Next Top Model Winner Formely Known As Eva Pigford).
Ain't no telling how long this show will go on but if last fall's successful season (which helped launch the new network) is any indication, it is showing no signs of slowing down.
So maybe we'll be talking about Cycle 10 in the near future.
Comments: (46)
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By: DebbieDonovanTravel on 2/02/2007 3:20PM
In the promo, they mentioned that they had two plus size models. I can see the black sister, but do not see the white one in the picture...hope she did not drop out before the show..
Debbie
New York
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By: JENNY on 2/05/2007 1:42PM
I think its about time that we move into a society that views voluptus women as beautiful!! Just becasue we are not skin and bones, does not mean we are not pretty. And a big THANK YOU to Tyra---I know she has been a big proponet of having plus size girls on the show--and I think its great. People need to see that beauty comes on all shapes, sizes and colors!!
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By: byrdie on 2/02/2007 7:30PM
I like this show. its full of drama, But the plus size modles rarely seem to make it ver far. But at least they have some truly beautiful women and it makes for some good laughs.
i would like to see tyra more hands on. she seems to have lost some of the hands on she used to have.
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By: Nikki on 2/03/2007 5:33PM
the other plus model is the third to the end on the right hand side. You can't really tell she is because all you can see of her body is her arm.
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By: smiley on 2/03/2007 2:42PM
like to say that even little people can be beautiful and she should at least consider someone who is 5'1 or 5'2 because they can do all that is possible to. the show is really good my daughters and i all sit and watch the show every season.
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By: Amanda Westrich on 2/03/2007 4:44PM
Love this show...why I don't know..It's not really the drama, I love to watch the process of the clothes, the make-up, and in the end the beautifal pics that come out of it...I could care less about the drama..but with abunch of little girls in their 20's what can one expect...byt he way Tyra is beautifal why do these people keep calling her fat....don't they know only a dog wants a bone...lol...
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By: Kia on 2/03/2007 6:54PM
Yes, I'm so glad we finally get to see what thenew contestants look like. Looks like a lot of African-American girls this season...and Ihope they areextra bitchylike they seem to be on the show. Not all of the black girls are bitches though.
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By: sean on 2/04/2007 12:29AM
I wish the show much success, but, how can you let someone as ugly as " Miss. J" , set the standards. These " flaming men " only like women , who look like boys with breast.
Real men like curves. Sissies in the industry , get a kick out of shattering hopes of young models , by telling some of 110 lbs that they are too fat. Lets widen our views and shut these queer eyes ...see for yourselves . I'm glad someone stepped up and made health in issue ...peace
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By: Anita W on 2/04/2007 10:47AM
i have always watch the show since the very 1st one..i like the idea that there are a few plus size models in this season..earlier this yr there was talk about a model's to do a run way walk has to be at least 118pds[not real sure of the weight ]. i also have to say that whoever saidthat Trya is fat is full of bullshit.
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By: Jim Jr on 2/04/2007 9:49AM
Why all the drama over the issue of thin or fat Hot is hot and the dress, shoe or bra size does not matter. Show me pretty girls and I'll show you a happy guy. I think with popularity of Victoria S. and it's influance on fashion the need for less clothing contests is not only to please the veiwer but would also show us more shapley and natural body types. Remmeber skin is always in.
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