Tyra Banks shocked fans of her reality cult classic America’s Next Top Model when she fired Nigel Barker, J. Alexander and Jay Manuel, three cast members who had been on the show for approximately one million years.
US Magazine reported this week that two replacements for the men have been announced, Katy Perry’s stylist Johnny Wujek and model Rob Evans will join publicist Kelly Cutrone at judge’s table.I’m a bit worried that Katy’s stylist is being added. I guess we’ll have to expect some really weird challenges next cycle. Who can shoot ice cream out of the cone bra the best a la Katy’s California Girls video is one idea.
Tyra also announced that the show would add a voting element, like almost every other reality show. “Cycle 19’s judging panel will include your votes, comments and video messages. You will have a say in which models stay… and who goes home.”
CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR MORE!
It’s pretty interesting, viewers will be able to judge the models in this cycle in real time as the show films and then they’ll get to watch their commentary and results when the show airs in the fall. What a cool new twist! Unfortunately, the show is moving to Fridays, which is likely the network’s way of thanking Tyra for firing three cast members who had put in years of service.
In other news, Tyra wrote a letter to the Daily Beast about the ridiculous standards the modeling industry has set (that her show kinda perpetuates?), bringing up the fact that she would have not made it as a model if she’d started today:
“I could not have had the career that I did. I would’ve been considered too heavy. In my time, the average model’s size was a four or six. Today you are expected to be a size zero. When I started out, I didn’t know such a size even existed.”
Tyra credits her famous curves for much of her success, writing “In a way, it was my decision not to starve myself that turned me into a supermodel, and later on, a businesswoman.” Let’s hope more young models who happen to be a size 2 or 4 take the same approach as a young Tyra and don’t starve themselves to a size 0.
TELL US — WILL YOU WATCH AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL WITHOUT THE OLD CAST MEMBERS?
Photo credit: Anthony Dixon & Dan Jackman/WENN
