By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Is Tyra Banks addicted to the camera?
Already super-successful with 'America's Next Top Model' and her daily eponymous gabfest, the former supermodel turned TV mogul is now ready to roll out another show.
She recently revealed to 'Vanity Fair' magazine that a new reality show, titled 'The Glamorous Life' is in development, centering on what happens to a 'Top Model' loser after she goes back to her "obscure life."
"It's a really funny idea," said Banks agent Nancy Josephson.
Apparently the "funny idea" came into play once the former Victoria's Secret model realized that she was getting too close for comfort with the show's cast-offs.
"Sometimes on 'Top Model' we wrap at three o'clock in the morning and then I'd have to wait for her to go to the hotel room, pack her bags," Banks revealed. "I would talk to her for an hour and hold her hand and give her advice."
"Then, after a while, my people told me, 'Tyra, you can't do this. We have therapists here that are doing this, you know. You can't. And I was like, OK! I have to detach myself and I've detached myself a lot in order to survive."
When asked why she thinks she was spending so much time with the girls, Banks -- who is executive producer of 'Top Model' -- responded, "It's like I have to make sure she's OK."
"I felt like I created this show, I plucked this girl out of her obscure life and put her here, and it's my responsibility to make sure that she's successful."
Oh, ok.
Comments: (149)
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By: Lorraine on 3/02/2007 7:03PM
If I was some of these girls that has lost why would I want a camera crew following me around, especially if my life wasn't what's it cracked up to be. working at a dairy queen, a bar, fast food joint,whatever else come on why would I want people filming that.
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By: Jermain on 3/02/2007 7:21PM
Tyra is really whack. She has an issue with good looking females of color. She picks ugly black girls who are always darker and nappier than her. She has a typical black woman issue with black females who are longer haired and lighter skin than she is. She has an issue with east coast black and hispanic girls. Tyra has childish issues-her show sucks and she doesnt even want to be there any more since she thinks that she can be an Oprah but she lacks the brain power of Oprah.
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By: Janiece on 3/02/2007 11:30PM
How is it funny to practically say that a person's life has relatively no value if they don't have "wealth & fame?" That's simply a reeeeeally bad message to send coming from a "wealthy & famous" person. I honestly don't think it would be funny to demean ALL the other people working at those jobs & living in those towns right alongside the women who didn't make it on America's Top Model. Did Tyra actually think this through? Is she trying to alienate all Americans who aren't wealthy & famous? I know she's going for the Caucasian audience, but those folk in trailer parks surely carried Ms Britney Spears with CRAZY support like they're helping to carry Tyra Banks right now... she can't afford to demean them & lose her mid to low-income audience... you can't have both "the cruel snob image" & "the girl next door" image simultaneously... where are those public relations people with the big red "DON'T DO IT" stamp when you need 'em.
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By: Salene on 3/03/2007 6:38AM
I don't think it would or should be considered comical. But if it's done tastefully, it could greatly benefit the former contestants. Tyra Banks has alot of juice in the modeling/entertainment business...this realiy show can open doors for those who went back to their so called "obscure life". Alot of people "in the business" will watch this show. The key is to not turn this show into a "from top model contestant to flipping burgers" series.
As far as co-workers and neighbors are concerned...many folks love the camera. Tyra shouldn't have a problem with getting permission to show their likeness on T.V. Especially, (IF) it's done in a tasteful manner. Because it's not the light that bothers some...it's how they are shown in the light.
Besides, IF this show isn't done tastefulyy...(consumers) shouldn't buy into it. In otherwords, (don't watch it).
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By: Gail on 3/03/2007 11:01AM
I don't think Tyra should use the words Obscure life. This sends the message that she thinks her life is so much better and worth so much more than other people. This smacks of the "Big Head Syndrome". It hurts other people's feelings, and puts them down, just because you feel you are so much better. People who have been blessed really need to watch out for this syndrome. It could and can knock you back into an "obscure life"
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By: Coy on 3/03/2007 7:49PM
Jermain's implication that darker and nappier is uglier is a large part of the problem. I have no respect for that kind of thinking.
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By: Kayla on 3/03/2007 2:43PM
I'd like to respond to post # 2. Why in the world would you think that one of the world's most beautiful women and a world reknowned supermodel be jealous of another pretty black girl. If anything you would have no knowledge of any of the girls that you spoke of if Tyra were not on the air. I've seen her show and the girls she does pick are gorgeous. I have yet to see her pick one, not just the winners but all of the contestants that were ugly. Each were striking and they may not be one of the world's most beautiful women like Tyra is but they are very lovely. How about if Tyra didn't have the show and Cindy Crawford was the creator and excutive producer, how many black girls would there be for her to even pick from. I think instead of this scathing critism of Tyra you should applaud her for showing that there are black women who are beautiful and that being white is not just the only standard. I think alot of you have a problem with beautiful people being successful because it tends to cause you to look at yourself and possibly make some adjustments. The reason she is tough with the black girls is because she knows that they have to be twice as better as the average white to make it. If this is jealousy, then my mother must be jealous of me because she preached this message to me all the time when I was in school. Tyra doesn't have anyone to be jealous of because she is retired from modeling by her choice because it is kind of hard to have a modeling career, and two hit, now it looks like three hit television shows. Black Enterprise lists her as the 10th most powerful black person in entertainment. Not black entertainment, entertainment period. If you don't want to watch her then aren't you happy there are about two hundred other stations that you can turn to but for the rest of us who view her as inspriring,beautiful, and entertaining please release us from the petty insults that have no merit just because there is something lacking in your life. Don't like Tyra become your own success so she isn't that important to yours.
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By: Adriene on 3/03/2007 3:26PM
All I can say is you go Kayla! I loved that reply, and I agree wholeheartedly.
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By: Sepia on 3/03/2007 5:10PM
Preach Kayla! I applaud your mom too! As you see, I agree.
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By: Nandee on 3/03/2007 6:35PM
Today my 12 year old was filling out an application to get into an exclusive summer bridge program, and one of the questions asked "who do you admire and why?" Her answer was Tyra Banks because although her fame takes her around many different people she is not afraid to show who she really is. I told my daughter I agreed with her 100%.
Tyra is one of the few top black models who are trying to help other black females enter into the business. She is neither jealous nor does she have an issue with other women of color. She has a heart, and she cares about her black community, otherwise Danielle would not have been recognized as America's Next Top Model, nor would Eva the Diva had made it thus far.
It takes an individual who has been in the same circumstances to be able to share or give the next person that opportunity to succeed. Women of color who are in the modeling business are lucky to have caring individuals like Tyra who is willing to make it their duty to help others. Tyra knows where she has been, appreciates her current success, and have a plan for a positive outlook in the future. DON’T HATE ON IT!!!
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