Deirdre Spilman
Opinion Assignment Editor
I have always been a pretty big fan of Tyra Banks. Her list of accomplishments is a mile long. She’s acted in films like “Life Size” and “Higher Learning,” she started her own production company, hosts her own talk show and, of course, models for a plethora of modeling agencies.
Her recent idea to let men compete on her hit reality show, “America’s Next Top Model,” is nothing short of genius.
Leave it to Tyra to revamp a hit show in its 20th cycle in order to bring in a whole new audience and to garner some more attention. This is just what’s needed to keep this show around for a bit longer.
While I applaud Banks for giving equal opportunity to both genders, and providing viewers with something that they didn’t even know was missing, change seems long overdue.
With the exception of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” most reality show competitions include both men and women. “Project Runway,” “American Idol” and “The X Factor” are among the countless on the list.
Since 2003, viewers have watched hundreds of hopeful girls try to break into the modeling industry. For those unfamiliar with the show, each week presents a new challenge in the form of a photo shoot where models try their best to stay in the competition. In many of these shoots, the girls are joined by male models that just stand there looking good and trying not to get in the way. They are treated as glorified accessories.
This show delves into the lives of the models and exposes how hard it really is to break into the industry. Well, it is equally difficult for the men, if not more so. Until now, men didn’t have the luxury of a show which provides major exposure and serves as a major platform into the modeling industry. But, better late than never, this is all about to change.
If the same competitor restrictions had been placed on “Top Chef,” there would have been a major backlash. There is no reason why males and females cannot possess culinary skills of the same caliber. The same thing could be said about modeling. Men can do it just as well as women. What’s with the discrimination?
Not too long ago, women faced discrimination practically everywhere from the workforce to the polls. Why would we want to enforce this kind of sexism in something as trivial as a reality competition? I think the lack of male presence has just been an oversight in the past 19 cycles as opposed to a vengeful act, but it still seems like this change should have come sooner.
Tyra has broken down barriers by revamping her show, but in an ideal world there would be no barriers to break down.
