Cycle 12... In the Making

America's Next Top Model, cycle 12 just rolled out on March 4th. With 14 girls living in New York, in the running towards becoming the winner, the newest cycle is currently underway. So far, only 4 episodes have aired and we anxiously await on the rest of the show to find out who will become the next top model. As the cycle finishes, i will post up, as usual the winner and a recap.

Questions for Isis

Cycle 11

America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 ran September 3, 2008 through November 19, 2008. Approximately the first half of the competition took place in Los Angeles, moving the show back from New York City where it was held last season. The international destination for the final episodes of the cycle was Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This time the show featured fourteen contestants. This very controversial cycle included a first for the series... having a transgender contestant named Isis King participate and qualify for the final fourteen. The inclusion has been noted as an "unprecedented opportunity" by Neil Giuliano, president of GLAAD, a national LGBT media advocacy group. In the end the winner was 19-year-old McKey Sullivan, from Lake Forest, Illinois. In the following video, we see the girls questioning Isis about her transgender situation.

I Quit!

Cycle 10

From February 20, 2008 through May 14, 2008 Cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model was aired. The international destination for this cycle is Rome, Italy, making it the first time the show visited a previous cycle's international destination country. A few major changes were made this season. The show was moved back to New York, after being housed in Los Angeles since Cycle 4. The number of contestants was also increased to 14, and finally, the judging panel, replaced Twiggy with Czech supermodel Paulina Porizkova. The winner was Whitney Thompson, 20, from Atlantic Beach, Florida. She was the first plus size model to win the top prize! One of the most shocking and later emotional events during this season was when at judging, Kimberly was called for evaluation, she stated her lack of desire for the fashion industry, and proceeded to quit the competition, despite having a stellar photo. Although at the time it shocked everyone forl her indifference,months later on the Tyra Banks Show, Kimberly revealed the true reason she quit the contest. She suffered a mental breakdown due to her ex-boyfriend's suicide which happened 3 months prior to the competition, which revived her experiences of her mother's suicide as a child. Here's a look at that.

NO SMOKING!

Cycle 9

Cycle 9 took a different and more creative aspect of modeling and incorporated this futuristic look. The international destinations during this cycle were Shanghai and Beijing, China. During September 19, 2007 all the way through December 12, 2007 the contestants all fought to be number one, but at the end he winner became 21-year-old Saleisha Stowers from Los Angeles, California. Early on in the show as a challenge, the girls got to take pictures to represent the negative effects of smoking. As a result of this photoshoot, the show actually took a stand against smoking and banned it completely from the show. Here's a look at that shoot.

Cycle 8 "The Recap"

Cycle 8

America's Next Top Model Cycle 8 aired from February 28, 2007 to May 16, 2007.
The international destination during this cycle was home of the kangaroos and koalas... Sydney, Australia. The winner was 20-year-old Jaslene Gonzalez from Chicago, Illinois, becoming the first Puerto Rican to win the title! The following is a recap where all the crazy times we didn't get to see before are revealed.

Cycle 7

It was in Barcelona, Spain where America's Next Top Model Cycle 7 started airing again on September 20, 2006 and ran through December 6, 2006. This was the first cycle to be aired on the CW Network, and to date, it has been the most watched season on The CW. The winner was
21-year-old CariDee English from Fargo, North Dakota. She was the first natural blonde to win the show.

Kiss the Roach

Cycle 6

Cycle 6 premiered on March 8, 2006, and ran 13 entertaining episodes all the way through May 17, 2006. The international destination during this cycle was Bangkok, Thailand. The winner was Danielle Evans, a 20-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas. One of the craziest episodes happened during this cycle. The girls were to perform a runway show with cockroaches for Jared Gold's spring collection. One girl, Gina was terrified about the cockroaches, and it was clear the other girls were noticing her sharp insecurity issues. Jade impressed the judges by kissing the cockroach at the end of the runway which of course led her to be the winner of this challenge.

Cycle 5

In the Fall, starting on September 21, 2005 all the way through December 7, 2005, Cycle 5 took the bling to London, United Kingdom and produced another 13 incredible episodes. The judging panel during this cycle was altered and replaced Janice Dickinson one of the most recognizable models of the 1960s, Twiggy. Nole Marin was also replaced by the interesting runway coach Miss J. Alexander. At the end of it all, 19 year-old Nicole Linkletter from Grand Forks, North Dakota won the grand prize!

Tyra Explodes

Cycle 4

Cycle 4 being one of the most explosive cycles, was aired March 2, 2005 through May 18, 2005. This time the contestants found themselves in Cape Town, South Africa. The winner turned out to be 20-year-old Naima Mora from Detroit, Michigan. On the seventh episode the girls' pre-evaluation test, consisted of reading a passage filled with fashion-related jargon, testing their improvisational skills as well as fashion knowledge. One girl named Tiffany did not even attempt the challenge, and gave up. Tyra showed her disappointment in Tiffany, prompting another weak try from Tiffany before she gave up again. This negative response landed Tiffany in the bottom two with Rebecca, whose high fashion appeal pleased the panel, but had clearly struggled with the photo shoot. In the end, both Rebecca and Tiffany were eliminated when Tyra pulled out a blank photo. This was THE ONLY EPISODE in any ANTM cycle in which both girls in the bottom two were eliminated. Tyra then called Rebecca and Tiffany back. While she commended Rebecca on her emotion, she scolded Tiffany for her joking attitude. When Tiffany started to explain in a combative manner, Tyra lost her cool and exploded at Tiffany, yelling at her to stop defeating herself and take responsibility for her own actions. Here's what that looked like...

Cycle 3

Cycle 3 followed as one of the highest rated cycles in the show's history. On September 22, 2004, the cycle featured 14 girls out of which one would win $100,000 contract with Cover Girl. The international destination during this cycle was Tokyo, Japan. For the first time, an African American from Los Angeles, California by the name of Eva Pigford, at the young age of 19, became America's Next Top Model. This show broadcasted 13 episodes, which ultimately finished on December 15, 2004.

Cycle 2

After the success Cycle 1 had demonstrated, the producers decided to continue the show with a different set of contestants this time. Cycle 2 was carried through in Milan, Ital, from January 13, 2004 'till March 23, 2004 . This time 12 girls would vie for the title facing challenges, emotions and fatigue that would ultimately lead to one final winner. Yoanna House, a 23-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, became the oldest and first winner with a multi-ethnic background in the show's history. After the show, Yoanna decided to walk for many designers, and then turned her attention to TV hosting.

Cycle 1

America's Next Top Model started with Cycle 1 which originally aired on May 20, 2003, and ran through July 15, 2003. In this cycle there was only 10 girls competing for the top spot. The show was hosted in Paris! After 9 crazy episodes which some of you might remember, Adrienne Curry, a 20-year-old from Joliet, Illinois became the first winner of America's Next Top Model, hence probably the event that gave most to talk about from this cycle. Curry has claimed that she never was awarded all of her corresponding prizes, which led to an ongoing feud with Tyra.

The Weight Issue

So these are some pics that came out when Tyra had the whole weight gain attack that i mentioned last time. As you can see in People magazine she gave an interview with her facts. She never denied that her weight was more than when she used to model, but she never said she was ashamed or uncomfortable with herself. She believes in everyone's beauty, whether your tall, short, thin, or curvier body. So i personally agree with her. I think everyone finds their own comfort zone when it comes to their body and that's all that should matter. As for her weighing more, that doesn't change who she is at all. She is the same accomplished person with or without those 30 extra pounds. Again... this is only my opinion.

Tyra Banks...

First off let me just say... this is only MY opinion... feel free to agree or disagree, just keep it clean. So, I personally love the girl. She's beautiful, funny, successful, and she has this show that can be addicting! I can see that just like every other human being, she has her flaws, but when looking at the whole picture, I really do admire the fact that she keeps herself real. As most of you must remember, the whole scandal about her gaining weight was a big headliner a while back, and all i can say is that she deserves credit for coming out and showing people she didn't care for their opinions and nasty comments. But here's where it can get a bit contradicting... Is it a bit ironic that even with her whole weight issue, she has this show where 99% of the girls on it are WAY on the opposite side of the scale? Is her show suggesting that to be a model you have to be a size 0? I'd like to know what you all think... then i'll tell you my point of view....

To be continued... :)