I watched the premiere of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 last night. Admittedly, I haven’t watched much ANTM at all since Cycle 1. When I do occasionally watch an episode, I take it light-heartedly. To me, it is a show intended to entertain far more than it is something to launch an international modelling career. After last night though, I needn’t any further reminders of why I so rarely tune in.
I tuned in when the model hopefuls were walking in a fashion show. One of the girls, Isabella, told viewers she had Epilepsy. Kudos to her for being so open about her condition — there is considerable stigma surrounding Epilepsy, perhaps due to the prejudice with which society has treated those with seizures in the past. Not only was Isabella willing to speak openly about her condition, but the show chose to include the clip of her sharing this. Greater awareness about Epilepsy is desperately needed and I was pleased to see it come up on the show.
On the down side — and I had a HUGE problem with this — the producers sent Isabella down the runway with strobe lights flashing being fully aware of her condition. Many people with Epilepsy are photosensitive — a flashing light, such as a strobe light, can induce a seizure. My academic training is in health sciences and I live with, and love dearly, someone who has this condition: my boyfriend, Brian. And let me tell you, Epilepsy is no joke. The way Isabella’s condition was handled in relation to the fashion show was tasteless, insensitive, and exploitative. To top it all off they vote Isabella off at the end of the episode.
Tyra, Tyra, Tyra — I am so disappointed! You claim to want to help young girls, but you took one with a health condition and exploited her and endangered her health for the sake of reality TV. Not cool.
I won’t be watching another episode.
(March is Epilepsy Awareness Month in Canada and the month of the Annual Walk for Epilepsy in the U.S. Learn more through Epilepsy Canada and the Epilepsy Foundation of America.)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Auntie Fashion 03.06.09 at 7:19 pm
I guess you missed the several dozen exploitive episodes between the first season and now. There’s been psoraisis girl, lupus girl, retinitis pigmentosa girl, aspergers girl, transgendered girl, impetigo girl — I could go on all day!
On the positive side, Tyra usually tries to segue these contestants onto her talk show where she can legitimately raise awareness of their conditions.
Jennifer McWhirter 03.09.09 at 7:55 pm
Maybe as a follow up to only casting girls under 5′7″, a future season of ANTM will see Tyra only cast girls with health conditions; that way she can spread the unabashed exploitation around more evenly. Think of the drama! Think of the equality!
It is nice that she segues such contestants onto her show to raise awareness — thanks for letting me know about that. I’ll have to keep on the ball to see if she does an episode about Epilepsy.
trish 04.22.10 at 8:58 am
I think the arthor of this site is heliarous!! I’d definitely tune in to see both of those episodes!!! And i do agree the strobe lights were unbelieveable! Then the fact they didn’t have enough beds in the house, while not as big an issue, still seemed really tacky to me!!! Get on the ball Tyra!!!
I must say though, in all fairness, I love this show. Maybe it’s the drama, or the one really rude girl on each season that causes all the drama. Whatever it is, for some reason I do really enjoy watching it…. with that being said… again.. GET ON THE BALL TYRA!!!