OK, I admit it. I watch reality TV. In fact, I even enjoy it. One of my favorite secret vices is the reality show America's Next Top Model. This is the Tyra Banks vehicle where she and her cronies in the industry set themselves up as mentors for the next generation of would-be models. They hold nation-wide casting calls, and about a dozen lucky girls get to compete for the privilege of being represented by one of America's top modeling agencies.
The show is now in it's 14th "cycle" and at this point, it has definitely jumped the shark. In addition to the obligatory nude photo shoot they've also had the models pose as vampires in a bathtub of fake blood while wearing contacts that rendered them blind, and they've also had the models create "chemistry" with a comedian for a shoot. The comedian was wearing a tux. The models, of course, were clad in lingerie.
Now I admit that my years in the lower levels of the industry hardly qualify me as an expert. But even my limited experience tells me that these contrived shoots are over the top and would be very unlikely assignments for a successful model. Yet even with its ridiculous shoots and outrageous cast of characters (yes, I have a certain affection for Mr. Jay and Ms. Jay, both men) I find the show quirky and appealing.
Mind you, I would never recommend this show for anyone under the age of 16...maybe even 18. The show has never struck me as a proper place for young girls to learn how to be women, much less models. This week's episode, however, really stopped me in my tracks. This season's show features a group of young women that is divided decidedly down the middle. That middle, would be "the tracks." Yes, I mean that half the ladies are from what would be considered the upscale side of the tracks, and the other half are from what many would consider the wrong side of the tracks.
If you haven't watched reality TV, let me just clue you in to the fact that this is a common ploy. This is exactly why reality TV shows have casting directors. In any show, there are really only 2 or 3 viable winners. The rest are thrown in for drama. The formula is to take a bunch of people who, under normal circumstances, would never tolerate one another and throw them in a house together. The last one left standing is usually the winner.
So back to this week's episode. Three of the girls in particular, Angelea, Krysta, and Alasia are from the hood. They are very open about this, quite proud of it, in fact, so don't think I'm unfairly categorizing anyone. Angelea is especially combative. In fact, she was rejected in a past season because of her anger issues. She was allowed in this season because, apparently, she's had therapy. Frankly, I think she needs to ask for her money back from that therapist! This week, Angelea and her cohorts spoke, as always, in complete ghetto speak and were openly combative and even threatened the other contestants. The teaser for the show claimed that one of the models was going to get a dressing down from one of the judges. I thought, finally! Someone will point out how completely inappropriate these girls are.
Well, shame on me for thinking my favorite little vice would have some redeeming value! After a challenge that involved impressing a high-level purse designer at a fancy cocktail party, one of the upscale girls won. This caused our friend Angelea to lash out at all the girls not from her side of the tracks and attempt to bait them into fights. She was verbally abusive and downright cruel. Her cronies weren't much better, with one of them even threatening physical violence!
So now we come to the judging. First, the upscale girl who won the challenge was told her shoes made her look trashy. She replied with a surprised, "Really? I thought they looked good." Then came the final blow, not only did Angelea win for best picture of the week, the judges held her up as an example for all the other girls to follow! They claimed that while the poor girl who liked her own shoes was combative when criticized (Combative? Really? If that's combative I'd hate to see downright angry!) but Angelea was "keepin' it real" and all the other girls should learn to be as real as Angelea, Krysta, and Alasia.
This left me not only flabbergasted, but incensed. Now I admit, I get a kick out of reverting to a little ghetto-speak from time to time, but it's just an act, a lark for fun. Yet these judges (specifically one judge who is about as phony wanna-be drag queen as they come) sent a message to everyone watching the show that the people to emulate are those who speak inarticulately, who are openly combative, and who treat anyone in the way of their goals with complete contempt. Now I am not naive. I know that just because I would never let my children, especially a daughter, watch this show; that doesn't mean that there aren't thousands of impressionable young girls tuning in each week. Now, not only are we bombarding these girls with Bratz dolls and clothing designed way to old for their size, we are now sending them the message loud and clear: "If it ain't ghetto, it ain't real!" Then we wonder why teen pregnancy rates are up, girls are now almost as likely as boys to engage in physical altercations, and an alarming number of young women are joining street gangs. Gee, now how did that happen?
Now before you accuse me of slamming any particular race or socio-economic status, you should know that I firmly believe that one's circumstances need not dictate one's identity. I've known plenty of individuals, male and female, who have overcome terrible life circumstances to achieve great things in business and academia. We've all heard of politicians, athletes, actors and musicians who came from the most humble of beginnings. There are countless others who may not have achieved high levels of fame and fortune, but have become respectable, hard-working members of society. What you become has less to do with your surroundings and much more to do with your life choices. That's the message I want to pass down to my children. And that's the message I wish more people in positions of influence, like Tyra Banks, would pass down to all the impressionable young minds who look up to them.
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