subject: Satellite TV Fashion Shows Have Multiple Impacts [print this page] Another example of this is America's Next Top Model. This Tyra Banks vehicle just began its (dizzying) 15th season in September 2010, averaging about two "cycles" a year since its 2003 debut. The show puts a group of young women through different competitions and photo shoots, eliminating one contestant every week and whittling it down to a final champion model, who gains a contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, an editorial shoot in Elle Magazine, and a contract at a top modeling agency. Though only a few of the winning models have gone on to have any kind of seriously successful careers in modeling, the show seems to thrive more on the season-to-season dramas than the actual modeling ambitions of the contestants. If you have a high definition television, some of the photo shoots are pretty cool to look at, too! But getting back to the original point this show is able to enter the national consciousness by Tyra's purposeful manipulation of potentially controversial social issues in order to raise the profile of the show. This is not meant in a critical way in fact, Tyra brings a number of serious issues to the forefront, showcasing them on the show and starting a national dialogue of sorts, exposing her (most likely) suburban teenage viewers to ideas that they have not come across, like mental disabilities, transexuality, and race/class issues. Pretty heavy for a fashion reality show on satellite TV!
