Drawn to the show’s competitive nature, sensational catfights, and outrageous clothing, fans of The CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) have kept the series running with great affection for nine seasons, and other networks are taking note.
Modeling-based reality TV shows like VH1’s “America’s Most Smartest Model” and Bravo’s “Make Me A Supermodel” seek to expand on what ANTM began ““ creating a solid modeling niche in reality TV.
Following in ANTM’s footsteps, “Make Me A Supermodel” gives 14 regular Americans the chance to have a modeling career, and the competition is open to both men and women. “America’s Most Smartest Model” challenges contestants in tests of beauty (through photo shoots) as well as intellect (one task was building functional go-karts).
Marie Hegwood, a UCLA alumna and independent producer for Demolition Pictures who has produced numerous reality shows, said modeling shows are popular because they differ from other reality TV; they stage a world where one can be a voyeur into the glamorous industry.
“It might be every girl’s fantasy, to be looked at and told we’re beautiful. Perhaps we can envision ourselves as these models,” Hegwood said.
ANTM and other modeling shows attract audiences of all multitudes, appealing to the professional and academic crowds ““ from Hegwood, who is an admitted fan, to UCLA students like Audrey Nguyen, a third-year bioengineering student and president of Fashion and Student Trends (FAST) at UCLA.
“I prefer reality TV shows with a little more brainpower, especially shows that are creative, challenging, and competitive. ANTM is like that, and so is “˜Make Me A Supermodel,'” Nguyen said.
Nguyen has had experience on both sides of the catwalk: she’s been a judge and a model. Though not in a professional capacity, Nguyen’s dip into modeling has taught her that much of what’s shown on TV is exaggerated.
“ANTM doesn’t portray the business. If things seem bizarre on the show, that’s because it’s for entertainment,” Nguyen said.
Misa Chien, a fourth-year global studies and French student and professional model represented by l.a. models, also finds the shows appealing. She explained that competition in the modeling industry is intense even without the added pressure of a televised competition, something that lends itself well to reality TV.
“There’s a lot more talent involved. It’s more than just a pretty face. The critiques you get in modeling are sometimes as harsh as those you see on ANTM,” said Chien. “But the comments given out during the judging round are much harsher than in real life because you’re competing for one top spot and so they need to be tough.”
However, Chien finds these critiques crucial to the success of the shows.
“You need to have a harsh critic to create that drama. That just makes it all the more entertaining. With “˜Top Model’, it’s about modeling effectively and getting the shot,” she said. “So of course they’re going to critique the physical side, whereas for “˜Top Chef’ they’ll critique your food.”
Reality TV is expected to see an increase in ratings and popularity as the Writers Guild of America strike continues, as they require minimal writing and rely more on the direction of the producer.
As a result, modeling shows have the opportunity to attract a portion of viewers that was untapped until now, and each show is putting in the effort to distinguish itself from the others.
“ANTM is interesting for viewers since you don’t just win because you’re beautiful,” Hegwood said. “It plays into competition between women, and women can be catty. It’s high school politics all over again ““ which group wins, how certain groups interact.”
Puja Patel, a second-year political science student said, glamour aside, much of the attractiveness of modeling-based reality TV lies in relishing the petty conflicts and melodrama.
“A lot of people watching the girls fight think, “˜Oh, I would never be that irrational and I wouldn’t fall into the same kinds of problems.’ They like judging or criticizing the girls,” Patel said. “Modeling is an industry that is easy for everyone to criticize because it is a subjective category. There’s so much you can judge them on: personality, looks, talent, attitude toward the competition.”
It’s not a coincidence that there’s always drama. Drama is one of the most important factors to any functioning reality show, maintaining the interest of viewers when there’s no official competition going on. Hegwood explained that casting is an important part of the success of a show.
“The whole point of reality shows is putting people of contradictory personalities in one house and having them to go at it. At any moment someone is going to do something stupid,” Hegwood said.
“As a producer, you think, “˜I want somebody who doesn’t have control of their emotional well-being. You need at least two people who are just volatile.”
With just the right combination of aesthetic allure, competition and vicious hair-pulling, the modeling industry has set a trend in reality television that is hard to match.
“For women, watching the models wear designer clothing and makeup are two big things,” Patel said. “A lot of girls just like looking at beautiful women.”
“Watching (these shows) is my guilty pleasure.”