The upcoming Season of America's Next Top Model embraces diversity as usual. Twenty-two-year-old Isis, who identifies as a woman but born physically male, will compete as the show's first transgender contestant.
While GLAAD hails the choice as an unprecedented opportunity for visibility, Isis has a more humble assessment of her role in breaking societal barriers for trasngender individuals — Isis has explained: "I like to help people, but I'm here to follow my dreams."
While it probably can't hurt the CW's ratings (and we all know Tyra loves publicity), featuring a beautiful transgender contestant could also help the trasngender community gain mainstream acceptance by breaking stereotypes.
If you're a big ANTM fan Buzz has the skinny on the rest of the contestants, and Bella has predicted how Tyra will handle makeover day. I wonder if Isis's gender identity will be a major theme of the show, or whether it will be something viewers easily forget.
Photo courtesy of The CW.
Jil Sander
Diesel
Mavi Jeans
ooooh! that's brilliant! i assume the other girls wont have a problem until isis starts to have amazing photos. i can't wait!
1I wonder if one of the token "conservative, religious girls" will freak out or if someone will refuse to live/change/sleep in the same room as her.
I'm still waiting for one of these winners to be a top model. Perhaps there's a long line...
2I don't watch, but yea her.
3"and we all know Tyra loves publicity"
hahah so true!
and GeriAnne, I was wondering the same thing.
4Oh, I'm sure there will be a few of them that freak out.
She'll probably do well. So many successful runway models look manly to begin with (straight bodyshape, strong jawline), so she's got a leg up on her competition.
5Why did they photoshop away her knees?!
6haha! torgleson, i was wondering what was wrong with her legs!
7Candis Cayne has had some great press on Dirty Sexy Money and will be back on the show next season. Good for reality shows (I suppose, I'd rather gouge out my eyes than watch any of them) for becoming more diverse as well.
Along the same lines, torgelson, the ankles appear to have been severely photoshopped away too.
8Holy crap, you're right. The one on the right looks ready to snap.
I get photoshopping a blemish or a little cellulite, but when did joints become passe?
9I am sure Tyra will find a way to make this about her.
Something like, "I knocked down barriers too, and I am so happy to be your inspiration."
10lol, she will probably say that! And it will be the main focus of many of the shows until she is eliminated or wins. Tyra gets onto something and then is OBSESSIVE!!
11There is no token plus sized girl this cycle. Tyra has moved on since last winner.
12Transgender is the new plus sized.
13
14I wouldn't be surprised if Tyra is privately coaching Isis and then will take the credit when she wins. She certainly does love the publicity
I wouldn't be surprised if Isis got into the bottom two and had only mediocre modeling skills.
15Oh man, I said "I wouldn't be surprised" twice.
Oops.
16i think shell probably win just because of that. or the asian girl
17What's left for the next season? Any ideas?
18A furry?
19They only put her/he on for ratings. Since ANTM is in decline.
20I can just see this being the big controversy in the house since when you get a group of 14 girls together there is bound to be at least one who will be petty and catty and start drama. Or at least that seems to be the formula ANTM uses. But Isis is different which means her difference will be highlighted and discussed and the judges will keep her on the show for much longer than she deserves because it will help ratings.
21"A furry?"
GS
22Just look at the "drama" that goes on here, and we aren't even living together.
23This show is just for the drama and Tyra's publicity.
24It bothers me that an issue that would need real attention is going to be thrown on a reality show for the ratings.
Then again that is what reality tv is, which is why i hate reality tv in first place.
I agree, Jillness! There's always a way for Tyra to tie it back to how great Tyra is!
25I know that this will come as a great surprise everyone, but I hate this show.
26"Twenty-two-year-old Isis, who identifies as a women but born physically male, will compete as the show's first transgender contestant."
Should "women" be "woman?"
;) 
27"Isis is different which means her difference will be highlighted and discussed and the judges will keep her on the show for much longer than she deserves because it will help ratings."
And Tyra will probably use her "quite voice" to show she is being sensitive, while she milks their pain for her profit.
Does anyone else get annoyed by the way she pauses all the time?
28"towards becoming...America's....Next..............................................................
.......................................................................Top....................Model"
It's just another feather in your cap Hypno.
29I've never seen an episode of this show, but good for her. Of course, I have a feeling that her presence will bring about the worst in some people on the show (isn't that the point of shows like this to begin with? Then again I don't watch it so I guess I can't say that's the case with this show for sure) and will lead to myriad ignorant comments that will offend the transgender community, though. Just sayin'.
30"I have a feeling that her presence will bring about the worst in some people on the show (isn't that the point of shows like this to begin with?"
The "drama" of each episode is usually scripted. They might not tell everyone exactly what to say, but they certainly tell them the storyline to follow. On most "reality" shows, they do multiple takes of certain "scenes".
The writers of ANTM went on strike because they wanted to unionize, but the producers wouldn't let them. Yes, America's Next Top Model has a writing team, not that you could tell by the quality of the product!
31this makes me smile
32I feel really bad for her, because Tyra likes to seem like she is thoughful, caring and open-minded, but she's just using it for drama and will kick her off before the finals regardless of whether she is taking the best photos or not.
I think the same thing happened to Heather on the previous year, who had a form of autism. When it was Heather's time to go, Tyra was condesending....like, "These other girls might go on to win, but for YOU placing 5th is an accomplishment." (She didn't actually say that word for word, but that's the way it came across). I predict the exact same thing for Isis. No matter how great she is, Tyra will never let her win and is just using her for publicity.
33Wasn't there a nother transgender contestant a few cycles back. I'm not sure if she ever got into the house for actual taping but I think she was then on Janice Dickinson's show teaching her models how to walk or soemthing
34Juju I agree about Heather. The thing is that whole season was rigged because I honestly think Heather was one of the best models but the girl that already knew Tyra from her camp for self esteem won. Anyway Heather is still modeling and she was on ana episode of MADE on MTV helping another kid with Aspbergers (sp?)
35Speaking of plus size I'll never forget a clip from RuPaul's show on Mtv when (shim) went shopping and the clerk asked what size, he said "Queen Size"
36So, who made the mistake in identity and gender? Was it something his Mom ate while she was pregnant? Was he a fraternal twin whose fetal body absorbed his sister? Or is he putting the onus on Someone or Something else?
Tread softly on Mark 3:29.
37I love RuPaul! You bettah work!
38If anyone has not seen Transamerica I highly recomend it. Excellent movie.
39I hope this is handled sensitively... but ugh, why do I have a feeling there will be some stupid "swimsuit photo shoot" that will cause all kinds of drama for poor Isis?
40isis better smile with her eyes and keep the duct tape handy!
41LOL CaterpillarGirl, she's transgender not transvestite
42A FURRY!!!!
43lol, hey, i'd watch! Can you move your tail a bit more into the light?
44This isn't very clear, but the term Transgender sometimes does not include Transexual. If in this case it doesn't then she is a he identifying as a female, if it does then she is a she end of story. Transvestite is interchangeable with cross dresser.
My 2 cents.
45Auntie Coosa- Are you serious?
46Why did they photoshop away her knees?!
better yet, why did they photoshop away her adams apple? sorry im as liberal as the next girl but i would be pissed if i entered a female oriented competition and had to compete against someone who has the height like a boy, the metabolism like a boy and is pretty much a boy until you slap some makeup on him.
47I believe Transgender and Transexual mean the same thing. I have some transgender friends who often I identify themselves as post-op or pre-op. Being a transvestite is totally different, which is a man who is often straight and dresses up in women's clothes.
I just called my friend to clarify.
4848 - I am a transexual myself.
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