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Want to be on top? Drop 80 pounds in 12 weeksReality television hasn’t entered the realm of popular culture without making its fair share of waves. Shows like The Moment of Truth, Who Wants to Marry My Dad and The Swan have all tested our moral fibers and led us into many a heated squabble the likes of which the cast of The Hills would envy. MTV is about to add another name to the list of controversial unscripted television shows — one that will surely be mentioned in the ongoing water cooler debate that asks, “Does reality TV go too far?” Currently the cable station is casting women for its new series Model Makers, a show that will take 15 wannabe models that are on the plus side of the scale and drastically slim them down so they may be welcomed into the world of high fashion.
We have all seen weight-loss makeover shows before and, of course, we all know that Tyra Banks rules the roost in making ordinary gals into model hopefuls on America’s Next Top Model. Armed with that knowledge, consider, then, Model Makers a hybrid of these two breeds of show. It is this pairing of weight loss and beauty that is fueling the controversy surrounding the new reality television series.
The chosen women on Model Makers will have only 12 weeks to lose a minimum of 30-80 pounds — or the mass equivalent of a miniature poodle or small child. (No pressure there. That’ll be a piece of low-fat cake.) The prize — if the girls are consistent in losing weight each week — will be $100,000, along with the window of exposure on MTV (and maybe, if they are really lucky, an opportunity to compete in The Inferno with all the other MTV reality show alums). The demand for these young women to lose such an extreme amount of weight in such a short amount of time has caused quite a fury among critics concerning the show’s unsafe concept.
Here is an excerpt from the casting call: Have you always wanted to model but don’t know where to start? Maybe you don’t know the right people. Maybe you are not thin enough. Maybe you are not photogenic. Model Makers will give you the ultimate makeover and transform you into the model of your dreams. Women come in all shapes and sizes, but models don’t. The term model conjures an image of stick-thin, towering beauties oozing confidence, glamour, poise and sexuality from every pore. “Skinny,” “no body fat,” and “size zero” are the words and phrases associated with models. “Chubby,” “well-fed,” and “big- boned” are not — until now! Oh darn, that ad almost sounded like it was trying to make being “well-fed” the new accepted body type in the fashion world. Alas, they are saying that if you are pretty, and got some “back,” all hope is not lost. They can whip you into shape that so you, too, can be associated with models via phrases such as “uber-skinny,” “waif-like” and “teeny-tiny.” According to obesity expert Keith Ayoobc, “anything more than 25 pounds in 12 weeks is really overstepping the boundaries,” but this fact hasn’t stopped other shows from having contestants shed serious poundage. Shows like The Biggest Loser, whose contestants lose large amounts of weight, have also faced the same controversy. The difference between MTV’s Model Makers and shows like The Biggest Loser is the motivation that lies with each contestant and the overall message of the show. The Biggest Loser’s contestants lose weight for the benefits of their own self-esteem, to be eligible for life insurance or to stay healthy for their families. The message is that if you work out and eat right, you will live a healthier life. The model hopefuls, on the other hand, are losing weight for the chance at fame and a career in fashion.
So should their motivations for wanting to do it affect our view of a show? Technically, I know that it shouldn’t. If being a model is something they have always wanted but couldn’t attain because of society’s standards of beauty, then why shouldn’t they have access to the tool that can help them attain their dreams? In the end, my gripe with the show comes down to the message it sends. When you scrape down to the basic concept of the series, it will be showcasing overweight girls with pretty faces who after having been primped, buffed and scrubbed, and having managed to lose a drastic amount of weight, will deliver a result that says, “skinny is more beautiful” — a message that I can turn to the cover of any magazine to find; I don’t need a reality show to tell me that. We get it: skinny, good; fat, bad. Message received, loud and clear. The series has yet to be given the green light for production; currently MTV is casting the program and seeing how that works out. So what do you think? Is MTV just giving these women a shot at their dreams? Or is reality TV taking a dangerous turn? Submitted by on September 3, 2008 - 11:00am. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Too Far..
What is this going to teach young children and teenagers?? As if there is not already too much emphasis on how someone looks and the size zero culture. Reality TV has gone too far this time. The Biggest Loser is inspiring, but this - Sick and possibly dangerous TV...
....
Most of the overweight women, and men, already feel the rejection of society, just for being fat..like being forced sometimes to pay double the plane tickets, rejected by other men and women emotionally, or being used for other's benefit, or simply not getting a job cos they don't have a presence for the clients/public. Of course, some overweight women have made it to the media and some important positions in companies, but I wonder who long they had to endure to assure their position and visibility in a company or the media to prove themselves?
Ok so if they want to be a model, and the show will give them the tools, to actually loose all that weight and skin excess it may take more than 12 weeks, and a couple of body lifts, and then the scars. What would happen when they realize this? What would happen if they get rejected or do not "win the contract for fashion" ? Rejection all over again, but this time, very publicly. I'm concerned that the fame they will get would be the one given by this show itself, and not what they will be expecting.
Dangerous, deluded, degrading
I can not believe that this show would be commissioned.
I do not have a problem with programmes that motivate people to loose weight in a sensible way and ecourage change for the betterment of a persons life.
But this .... arghh!!!!
Fan of The Biggest Loser
I am a huge fan of The Biggest Loser, I know they are losing more weight than is recommended each week but they are doing it under the guidence of an army of medical and excercise professionals.
And ultimately they are doing it to be healthly!
I don't remember EVER looking at a model, super or otherwise, and thinking, "Wow, what a healthy person!"
seriously?!
wtf. this is going too far.... i watch Biggest Loser and it's clear that the "contestants" are doing the show for the right reason. but this new MTV show?? i'm speechless.... that's horrible. oy.
purrito >' '<
Wrong
I'm not buying it
I have a hard time believing this show will last very long.
From what I've heard, someone who weighs 350 pounds dropping 80 of them in 3 months is feasible, if drastic and unhealthy. But if they are trying to take someone who weighs 185 down to model size (105-120) in that amount of time... I don't even think that's possible, without amputating something.
If women are really losing weight that fast, it should make for a lot of "household" drama, but a few of them might actually get seriously ill... which could, in the end, actually help the caue of greater visibility of eating disorders.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Ghandi
overweight?
"showcasing overweight girls with pretty faces"
Who says they are even going to be overweight? They might be average young women with average weight. Or pretty young women with average weight. Certainly they will be made to feel fat and ugly by this show. As if we don't all get enough social conditioning as it is...
I know I won't watch. Yuk.
Is it just me?
Is it just me that doesn't find the model half way through the article the least bit attractive? I certainly class myself and the people I know as part of society, and I can safely say I don't know any one, man or woman, who would find that attractive. Cutting my rant short, that's not beautiful. It's unhealthy.
The show is encouraging people to ne unhealthy for material gain... How shallow.
Pathetic
Chances are it's going to be average sized women on the show which'll just feed the insecurities of other women of a healthy size. And even if they are overweight this show takes them out of one unhealthy lifestyle and into another!
MTV aren't in my good books at all at the moment... not that they ever really were...
Gross.
That girl is gross. Who thinks that's actually good looking? She's just as unhealthy as people who are actually over-weight and not the model version of over-weight.
Spearking of The Biggest Loser, new season here soon. :)
I don't know if its a
I don't know if its a cultural thing, cause I'm Mexican, but I never thought models were hot. They always looked like weird birds cause of their stick like bodies, funny hair and odd clothes on the runway. I still think they look less human than women I see on a daily basis. And I'm not into that bony, I'll break if you squeeze me, look. As for the show, I think its way unhealthy to lose weight like that without trying to eat well and exercise to gain some muscle mass.
I am my very own shade of grey.
I wonder the same
I´m Guatemalan and to me models are creepy rather than hot. I always thought that if I were to get near a model she would poke my eye out while raising her hand or something.
Btw I loved the bird comparisson!!!!! Hahaha
lol your eye pokage thing
lol your eye pokage thing reminded me of Jack from nightmare before xmas. lol. wow talk about comaprisons. Although he does look "fierce".
Those fingers would claw your eyes out alright.
I am my very own shade of grey.
Is Photoshop doing all
Is Photoshop doing all these things?
Losing all this weight in 3 months is just crazy..I mean, people should just lose weight slowly,Otherwise it's just unhealthy..All of the people in magazines we see are skinny/perfect ,and that sets the example for most of us..Should we follow that trend?Nah, if we're happy with ourselves then we should stay that way.
Unhealthy and wrong
It always amazes me how television has so many rules...You cannot swear, you cannot show nudity, God forbid if we show same-sex couples making out..
...but there is no problem with airing a show like this???
More than I hate the idea of this show, I think it's just unhealthy and wrong.
Where are you TV police, when it comes to important stuff?
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-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
I blog, therefore, I am
I agree with Natazzz.This
I agree with Natazzz.This show is unsafe as everyone knows when u drastically lose weight,there are side effects. God know what the ladies will do to lose weight! Seriously, wanna lose weight? Do it the traditional way! Excercise and eat healthy.
dónde hay amor, hay el dolor
sick...
I'm so sick and tired of this crap. women are beautiful when they are themselves, not the left over twigs of what they used to be...
blarg
Mirror Mirror
The theatre department at my College, which I am a part of, developed and wrote an entire show based on women and body image. Its called mirror mirror so this kind of stuff stands out to me now even more so than before. Its terrible how media can influence so much and send such a strong message. We are touring this spring FYI
here is a link to a video about it
http://web.mac.com/lstrimbeck/Site/Current_project%3A_MIRROR_MIRROR.html