In 2008, Whitney Thomson became the first “plus size model” winner of America’s Next Top Model. In the ten years that America’s Next Top Model has been airing there was only been three contestants. Throughout the competition the other girls on the show constantly told Whitney that she should drop out of the competition because America’s Next Top Model will never have a “plus size model”. Whitney never let the negative attitude get her down. She was proud that she was a Southern girl who had hips, breasts, and an ass. Whitney had many challenges when it came to picking out clothes for photo shoots. When models try on clothes for their clients many will have experimental dresses normally size two. Even for a normal model a size two is too skinny. While I was watching the show she was the only girl who looked real and healthy. She was not a stick figure. She was what a real woman is supposed to look like. It is a good thing that she did not give up on her dream, on becoming America’s Next Top Model, because any other person could have developed an eating disorder. I could not image what it would feel like to have judges as well as important people in the industry constantly telling you that you’re too big to be a model. Hopefully in a couple of years the industry will change and a size two will not be the norm.

When Tyra Banks announced that she was the winner she had to correct her by saying that she is not a “plus size model” the correct term is “full figure model”. I still do not understand the difference. Plus size models are women who are size 12 and higher. Then what are “full figure model” girls who look like real women? All models should look like the rest of society. The average built of a model is to be 5’8 and weigh anywhere from 108-125 which is considered unhealthy. If you look on the Body Mass Index (BMI) a person who is 5’8 is supposed to weight 125-138. That is a large difference in weight. Twenty pounds under the BMI scale is borderline anorexic. I would love to become a model even though I know that they would not accept me. I not 5’8 or 118, anymore, I am 5’3 and 138. Probably in the fashion world I would be considered over weight. It is unfortunately that there is no middle ground it is either a person is too “fat” or too “skinny”.

Even famous supermodels like Tyra Banks are even targeted by the media because of her weight. Last year she was photographed on a public beach and the tabloids claimed that she was “fat”. How could these people believe that 160 pounds is fat? On her talk show she told her audience that she was proud of her body. On her talk show she will present herself as more human and life like, while on America’s Next Top Model she still acts like she is still the first black woman to appear on Sports Illustrated. On the talk show she took off all her makeup and became homeless for a day. While on Top Model she always looks and acts perfect. She told one contestant that she had to watch what she was eating when she gained some weight throughout the competition. Tyra told this girl that she has been in the industry long enough were she could eat whatever she wants. When a photo is taken of her, the photo would have to be touched up, so that it is presentable to appear on the cover of a magazine.

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