Ty Ty, her fabulous Jays, noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker, and a supermodel du jour will be back on September 3 for Cycle 11 of CW’s hit series America’s Next Top Model. This time around, as per ush, the spotlight will most likely center on one girl. Not because she’s short(ish) like Cycle 3’s Eva, or plus size(ish) like Cycle 3’s Tocarra, or grew up on the streets(ish) like Cycle 10’s Marvita, but because the show is going to feature its first transgender contestant — 22-year-old Isis (pictured).
I hope that Tyra and crew won’t turn one contestant’s gender into a circus sideshow for the ratings. (Which will be tempting, as those ratings should be good.) At its best, Top Model can seem almost progressive, with a diverse panel of judges and guests like Benny Ninja and his vogueing divas straight out of Paris is Burning. But the show also tends to go the Tila Tequila way, highlighting whatever it is that makes a girl "different" — Cycle 5 contestant Kim’s sexuality, Cycle 10 winner Whitney’s weight — and having that fact beaten repeatedly into the audience. If Isis is touted as "the transgender contestant" and has to explain her sexuality and gender every time she’s on screen, it will be even more exhausting than hearing Tyra list the prizes for the winner during each elimination.
Do you think Isis will get a fair shake? Or will Tyra et al make her gender the focal point of the season?
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It could go either way, though I’m not banking too much on the former. Although Tyra has supported aberrational features between some Top Model contestants (she stood up for plus size Tocarra numerous times), she’s proven to go the other route as well. Season 6 winner Danielle got blasted constantly about her accent (and in a lesser extent, the gap between her front teeth), despite her genuinely nice demeanor and stunning photos. With a transgender, it’ll be a much trickier bridge to cross, Tyra or no Tyra.
Also, compared to homosexuality, discussions about being transgendered aren’t nearly as pushed, let alone understood by the general public, even among more liberal minded viewers. This will inevitably be brought up – especially if Isis lasts longer than the halfway point – though for her sake, I hope the damage is minimal at worst.
Oh, man. That’s comedy gold right there, people. I’d write more, but I am too busy laughing. Seriously, what’s so fascinating about a transgender contestant? They’ve had a transgender host for years…
I just hope she’s less obnoxious than the refugee chick (already forgot her name) from last cycle.
Hmm, is Tyra going to be classy and restrained or exploitive and sensationalist? Wow, that’s a really tough one. It’s just too bad we don’t have any kind of past history to work from. . .
I was (yes, I admit it) watching a Cycle 9 marathon this weekend, and I (re)learned what Asberger’s Syndrome is by Tyra’s/Heather’s constant explanations. I know that Heather had a lot of supporters, and I hope that people are as fair to Isis. There must be nothing worse than being seen as a freak–especially when compared to Tyra Banks.
Oh Mighty Isis.s.s.s.s.s.s….
Sorry couldn’t resist. I’m hoping that she (I think all that matters is how a person chooses to identify themselfs) doesn’t have to constantly explain who she is and how she is, but somehow I doubt that will happen.
Wow! Isis what you are doing is awesome and hope that your gender and your reasons for it wont come to the fore. You are gorgeous, go for it!
NOT GOOD TYRA. MUST YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. WHEN DOES THIS MESS END. WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. PARENTS, WE MUST PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAR OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO EXPLAIN THAT. IT IS BAD ENOUGH YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THEMSELVES ALREADY. TYRA I KNOW YOU WANT TO LOVE EVERYBODY, BUT DO YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEIR MESS TOO. GOD IS NOT PLEASED. YOU GET 5 TICKETS MS. BANKS!!!!!
I would first like to say the writer for this article is not a very good one. I could hardly understand what she was trying to say. All I can say about Isis is him being transgender should have been kept a secret for many resons. Not only is he going to be given a hard time we are confusing our children as well!!
Girly, how is this article impossible to comprehend? Isis is transgender and [the article writer] Lisa hopes it doesn’t turn into an overblown fiasco like Tyra often does with other ’special’ contestants. I swear, some of you need reading comprehension exams before interpreting very basic articles.
I hope no-one calls her a hot tranny mess…
P.S. Per-op or Post-op?
Wow.. I think we can already guess how this is going to turn out. Girly, YOU referring to Isis as a ‘he’ is the type of behaviour that could be deemed confusing. I imagine Isis is legally a female, and should be treated as one.
Something tells me this whole thing is going to be totally flogged by the media. Trans-issues seem to be the latest fashion, especially after Thomas Beatie. I can remember some of the comments I’ve read about him and I’m really not looking forward to some of the other silly ones that will probably come Isis’ way.
Brandy, try educating your kids outside the pigeon hole, then maybe they’ll grow up to be less ignorant people than their parents.
I seem to recall watching ET or Access Hollywood this week and seeing a piece about her. I think she’s pre-op, though, so technically she’s still a he. Anyway! I would probably drop dead of shock if Tyra doesn’t make Isis a major focal point of the show…does anyone really think she’s going to win? As much as I hate to say it, the girl’s got as much a chance of winning as I do.
the person who said that Isis is still a man doesn’t know anything about transsexualism, gender identity disorder, or even New York state laws. I know plenty of people who are pre-op – and are legally female -
I know a transsexual woman who says “I’m not a transsexual – I’m a woman with a birth defect”
Brandy, if you’re so worried about your children, perhaps you shouldn’t let them watch ANTM, where girls are constantly at each other’s throats, a size 8 girl is considered “plus-size”, already stick-thin girls are told to lose weight, and various other things that send a bad message to children. The fact that this woman used to be a man is really not a huge issue, and she looks as good or better than some contestants that have been on the show before. If you can’t explain topics like this to your kids, I worry about the adults they’ll turn out to be.
And as far as God goes, I was always taught that the most important commandment was to love your neighbour as yourself, so perhaps you should get off your high horse and become more accepting of people with differences. Your children will only be better for it.
That being said, you know Tyra is going to mention it at every possible opportunity.
YA all in to stop talking about isis i know her , shes madd pretty & she has an great personality and she has a chance to become americas next top model , & for ya that are asking , yes shes legally a FEMALE !
This is not RIGHT! While people can cosmeticlly alter their gender they cannot change the true essence of what they are – what God made them to be: “Male and female he created them.” This sickness has got to stop. I am ashamed and feel sorry for those who are fooled by the twisted aspects of the modern sciences. There is no way to alter one’s DNA – genetic composition so that a person can claim to be a gender/sex that he or she is not. I will NOT be watching Ms. Banks’s show this season.
I have to admit, like t3hdow said, I know very little about being transgendered and I do consider myself to be very liberal minded. So, maybe the fact that Tyra et al will talk about this issue nonstop (and they will!) will bring more understanding and awareness to the issues. I just hope that Isis is prepared to talk about it every week and that some good will come out of it.
Brandy, I hope, for your children’s sake, that you will let go of that intolerant attitude towards people who are not exactly like you. If you open up your eyes and look around a little you’ll realize that nobody is exactly like you, and isn’t that kind of great? People are just people, we’re all trying to live the best life that we can.
There is nothing wrong with a transgendered person being on the show. I think it is proof of how versitile models really are: there are lesbians, there are plus-size so why not trans-gendered too? I for one think she is very very beautiful and I wish her all the best. You can bet I’ll be at my TV on the 3rd to see how her potential career pans out. Some of you need to quit being so shallow and narrow-minded. Open you minds to the fact that today’s society is more varied and colorful than it’s ever been. Go Isis! You go GIRL!!!
Brandy…seriously? It’s all over the place, not just on TV. Walk outside hun! I mean get real. Transexual people are everywhere…some you can tell and some you can’t.
I say go ahead on Miss Isis!
The rules of the contest says nothing about gender or anything to the fact. So get over it. You dont HAVE to watch the show, but I’m sure you will. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” also “Judge not lest ye be not judged” Sound familar?!?!
i almost wish they hadn’t told us until after the cycle’s over so Isis isn’t raked across the coals by people like Brandy. people are people. men are supermodels, they walk the catwalk, and there’s nothing wrong with it. women are supermodels, they walk the catwalk, there’s nothing wrong with it. just because a person has questioned their gender role doesn’t make them bad, wrong, or unholy; it makes them stronger in self knowledge and love. i applaud Isis for her strength to accept herself and have the confidence to take her beautiful self on national television to persue her personal dreams. most people, women or men, never have the extent of self clarity, self respect, dignity, and self acceptance in their lives to overcome their fears and be exactly the person they truly want to be. if Isis is happy being a woman we should all accept it and let her be happy.
Well, while they beat over the head with “issues”, I think that the points need to be made over and over. What qualifies for beauty? What quanitfies beauty? Is Toccara, Malvita, and now Isis beautiful? I’ve been looking at the Ugly NY modeling agency website and for the life of me I really don’t know what qualifies as either ugly or beautiful.
Why are you letting your children watch tv? This is an adult program not seseme street. Buy the Disney channel if you are going to use tv for a babysitter.
Yeah, well that show has always had a lot of freaks on it.
I think all this publicity is bad, but I think if this girl/guy does well then he/she will make it. You havet to really look at him/her to really see its a guy…I think she/he will do well by my opinion…Maybe win..I remember a few seasons ago a transender didnt make it but he/she look good…I think if Tyra lets him/her in then a guy should be able to tryout for the show
Jordan-
Isis is a woman, so you can drop the “he/she,” “him/her” b.s. You’re talking about one person, so pick the appropriate pronoun and stick with it.
Brandy, girly, etc.-
Grow up. When are you going to realize that there are way more people out there that AREN’T like you than there are like you. You’re kids will learn about and meet different people in their lives any way, so why don’t you step up, be an adult, and teach them to be open minded before they make fools of themselves like you do.
Regardless of your beliefs, you’ll never be able to change anyone from what they already are. It’s people like you that make me so sad for the world.
Okay, Krissy, not everyone is an expert on transgender people. The people who are posting are confused, therefore they say, he/she because they are confused! They don’t know what being transgender is all about. So lay of them, will you?
Though I did forget to agree with you that Brandy & girly are being unreasonable, because I do agree with that!
I think that transgender people are wack in the head and I don’t think saying he/she is b.s either unless you are transgender yourself. That is my opinion and whatever you say about my opinion doesn’t hurt my feelings because I know that I’m right.
I completely agree with you Brandy there is WAY too much crap on tv. I agree also that God is not pleased with these people and it isn’t possible to love everybody no matter what. Only God can do that