Anorexia glorified on America's Next Top Model

I admit that I watch ANTM faithfully. Mostly for the sociological aspects, and to see if my theories on the fashion industry hold true. But this season Tyra has outdone herself. Season 15 started off with a lot of attractive girls. Of course there are the stereotypes Tyra likes to play to in all the seasons - the nerdy geek girl, the Autistic or socially awkward girl, the curvy girl (one with actual breasts), the "plus" sized girls, the pageant girls, the ghetto fabulous girls, the blond girls, and last but not least the foreign born but now American Russian girls.

Let's get things out of the way shall we? First, the blond girl almost never wins, CariDee (bless her heart) is an exception. The plus size models will never win, I'm not sure why they even bother having them on this show. It isn't what the fashion world is looking for in and Tyra is not extending herself here, she knows this to be true. Se is simply trying to play "diverse".  Second the pageant girls, they never win. They are consistently told their poses remind them of pageants. The truth is that they know these girls have been in pageants and they penalize them for their own perceptions, not the reality. Ditto with anyone who has a dnacer background. Told they pose as dancers and that isn't good. Truth be told if the judges had no idea of their backgrounds they would find the poses thrilling. The blonds, always too "vapid" or too "pretty in a porn way" whatever that means. These pretty girls with curves are told over and over again that to make it they have to tone down the sexiness, and some of these girls bind their breasts. It's fashionable to be ashamed of having curves, yet the sexiness is encouraged in almost every photo shoot. So what is going on here? My theory is that Tyra needs these various types to make it appear she is diverse, knowing full well which types can't win. This is the basis of the show. Punish the girls for being who they are. Tyra is a sadist and I don't believe the hype that she actually really cares about young women.

The ghetto girls, - almost anyone with an unpolished  English accent, mainly women of colour but sometimes white girls. The lesson here is that if you come from a poor area then you deserve to lose. You are not polished enough, you are not classy enough. The single moms? All kicked off, regardless of how good they are. Why? Well because they are single mom's and can't possibly be a model and have kids. It is really though all about punishing woman. Let's move on to the Russian girl, undoubtedly the prettiest girl, who takes great photos, but this girl can never win. Ever. The honour must always go to a full blooded American girl. No outsiders will be tolerated in Tyra's world. Tyra is anything if not predictable.

This season we were treated to the usual cast as outlined above only in addition we had two women who clearly were suffering from sever anorexia nervosa. Have a look at Exhibit A - Ann.

In the picture above, Ann has absolutely no muscle definition. Her skin is hanging onto her bones, yet this photo was picked as top photo of the week. Is there any man out there who thinks jutting hip bones and no definition are sexy? Is there anyone besides the few woman hating men in fashion who find this attractive? And instead of helping poor Ann, they have elevated her body dimorphism to the front stage, as something to be proud of. Congrats Tyra - you have shown little girls the world over that they too will have to look like sticks to get into fashion.

Tyra goes on to say that it is unfair that Ann be called anorexic when in her opinion this is Ann's normal body. Right Tyra! In what world do you operate?

To make matters worse, Ann could do no wrong for she won best picture 5 shows in a row, best in Top Model history. How is that for reinforcing anorexia is the way? It is not Ann's fault, and I don't wish to punish her. But Tyra, she should know better. When Miss Jay put his hands around her waist he could easily touch his fingers. This is by no means healthy.

How is this for hot?

yet Ann continues to win, despite the fact that she clearly has an issue with her body. Tyra sent another girl home who looked exactly the same way! Stating that she needs to deal with her "eating issues". So why keep Ann? What is Tyra on about with this push to get the thinnest most unrealistic woman to win? It certainly goes against all her talk about the fashion industries effect on women's body issues doesn't it? One can only guess at her motives, although she says Ann is just naturally so thin she has no body fat.

Clearly there is something seriously wrong in Top Model land when being an anorexic will get you praise and a possible win. My only conclusion is that Tyra is a hypocrite who is in it for the money and is willing to sacrifice women to the alter of extreme thin worship. Shame on you Tyra! And Ann, while you are a sweet girl, I hope you do not become the next winner, for that will send an extremely bad message to women who already have enough pressure on us to be thin, young and beautiful.