Former Cycle 11 America's Next Top Model contestant Isis King visited The Tyra Banks Show yesterday and was surprised with news that Tyra will help her get her long-awaited sex reassignment surgery.

Isis, the first transgender contestant to ever appear on ANTM, was originally scouted for the show when she appeared in the background of an ANTM photo at a homeless shelter (where she was living at the time). She won a spot on the current cycle of ANTM, but was ultimately eliminated in the fourth week.

On Banks, Isis talked about growing up feeling like she was born in the wrong body, and how getting sex reassignment surgery has been cost prohibitive.

Below is a short clip of Isis on The Tyra Banks Show:

Her mother, Sharray (who is a ringer for rapper Eve) appeared on the show with Isis, and talked about watching her transition into being a woman, as well as her own process of coming to accept her daughter. … continue reading

Does this picture of current America's Next Top Model contestant Analeigh remind you of any past contestants?

I thought it looked just like Kim Stolz. Maybe you did, too. Kim Stolz certainly did. It's not the resemblance that was odd, but the description of the assignment for Analeigh. She was instructed to pose as an "interviewer with an attitude." It would seem very coincidental that the photo chosen looked very much like Stolz.

Kim did not waste any time responding, but first, her co-worker, Jim, at MTV News posted a blog calling out Ms. Banks for posing the shoot:

The resemblance is uncanny, no? Normally I would have just said, “Funny! That girl looks like Kim Stolz in that pic,” and then moved on to watching Project Runway. But then I remembered that earlier in the episode, Jay Manuel explained that Tyra was inspired to do this shoot after producing her own awards show, the Fiercee Awards.

For those who didn't catch my interview with Kim this summer, she commented on her awkward meeting with Tyra at the Fiercee Awards, during which Tyra was a little, uh, rude to Kim because she chose to come to the event as an MTV reporter versus an ex-Top Model contestant. Their interaction was caught on video, so I had to ask Kim how she felt about it after the fact: … continue reading

AE: It almost seemed like Tyra was acting kind of rude to you. Did you feel that way?
Kim: [laughs] I think Tyra and I have a funny banter, and I think we sort of like get along and I definitely have nothing against her, but I think that she was funny. I asked her why she never kept in touch — I mean, clearly she had no intention to. But she was sort of caught off guard.

Recently the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced that it has approved a new Emmy Award category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. The competitive shoe will be on the other foot when the hosts battle it out with each other at the 2008 Emmy Awards. The category is open to hosts only so "reactive participants or judges" are not eligible to receive the award (sorry, Paula Abdul.)

Hosting is no easy task: each week these women help us wade through the competitive waters of posing, food plating, dating and hem lines. Let’s hope that some of these ladies have a chance at Emmy gold when they go up against some of the already assumed male nominees (I’m talking to you, Seacrest.)

Padma Lakshmi

Cookbook author, model, recent Hot 100 listmaker, and an ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women: what is not to love about Padma Lakshmi? The TV host of Bravo’s Top Chef has the dutiful tasks of explaining elimination challenges and sitting at judges table critiquing the creations of talented chefs each week. A typical day for Padma may include discerning which tastes better: braised and grilled beef short ribs with mushrooms or a truffle and cognac cream macaroni and cheese? Talk about Sophie’s choice.

Padma balances respectability and likeability among the contestants despite having to be the one to deliver her signature send off to the ousted chefs each week: “Please pack your knives and go.” See, she even says “please.” What other host on reality TV has that kind etiquette? … continue reading

My friends, I write this mini-recap with a heavy heart: My girl Katarzyna has been sent packing. Sure, I'm giving it away right off the bat, but anyone who watched the first five minutes of the episode could tell from the edit who was going home. Those five minutes featured more Kata than the rest of the season combined. I held out hope that maybe I'd be wrong, but alas, my favorite is not going to be America 's Next Top Model. Oh well, at least I got to see her in a cheesy gladiator outfit before she split.

Photo credit: Elizabeth Carrillo/The CW

Yes, a gladiator outfit. The remaining girls (Kata, Fatima, Whitney, Anya and Dominique) are given a brief lesson in throwing down gladiator-style, and then they're immediately thrust into a mini-photo shoot, the idea of which is to maintain composure and elegance whilst pretending to beat the crap out of some big muscle-laden dude. I don't know about you, but that sounds like just another Friday night to me.

Photo credit: Elizabeth Carrillo/The CW

And so the wannabe models thrust their swords high…or in some cases, attempt to. Anya is as Anya does, meaning she does great. … continue reading

Tyra Banks makes me tired. A full weekend for me is when I watch a movie and do a load of laundry but Tyra Banks, our favorite supermodel, turned talent scout/reality show star turned talk show host apparently wasn't busy enough this past Friday so she decided to create her own award show to honor past America's Top Model contestants in the first annual "Fiercee Awards" (yes two Es) which will air on an upcoming episode of The Tyra Banks Show.

Tyra Banks is not only the most successful entrepreneur in the world but she's also a MACHINE!

Tyra's endless efforts to give young women self-esteem exhausts me. Ironically, Tyra makes me feel bad about myself since I can't even move my car on street sweeping day to avoid a parking ticket let alone invent my own award show.

Here are some past ANTM contestants all dressed up for the big event:

Bianca Golden

Camille McDonald

Caridee English

… continue reading

The Top Model contestants continued their adventures in China this week, and we learned that no matter where they go, there they are — being bitchy.

In the most recent episode of ANTM, the girls take to the friendly skies and learn some nifty aerial fighting tricks a la Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In short, Heather does surprisingly well, Bianca chickens out, and Michelle Yeoh has nothing to worry about. Check out our reenactment of the challenge with some unlucky (and not very athletic) dolls.

In addition to the Top Model acrobatics, this week we discuss:

• Why Saleisha let us down
• What kind of "queen" Cover Girl spokesmodel Queen Latifah is looking for
• How Bianca is like an ant

Also, in another We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, the "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai and Natalia, audition for a Cover Girl commercial. It's not nearly as glamorous as it sounds. … continue reading

If you've needed to catch up on your sleep, the most recent ANTM offered a stellar opportunity. There was hardly any crying or fighting, and despite the proximity of pyrotechnics, the photo shoot was less than hot. The episode was just plain boring.

Nevertheless, there were some developments for us to discuss. Heather worked hard to maintain her composure in the face of criticism, Lisa tripped over her words on the runway, and Bianca struggled to keep her big mouth shut. Again. Most importantly, the models learned that they will soon be doing some international traveling! (Cue group squeal.)

In addition to the Heather/Bianca/Lisa drama, this week we discuss:

• What happens when the models are forced to write and recite their own speeches on the runway
• Why Heather, Lisa and Saleisha ended up bathing together in the ANTM communal shower
• How Dara, Jill and I fared in our respective high school gym classes. I'm not even sure how we landed on this topic, but then we don't call this vlog We're Getting Nowhere for nothing!

Also, in another We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, the "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai and Natalia, meet with FIDM students and inspire their original designs. (Though I'm not sure that "inspire" is really the best word to describe what those models do to those poor students.) … continue reading

Last week, Tila Tequila was a guest on The Tyra Banks Show (thanks to Queerty for the tip). The episode discussed bisexuality generally, supposedly in an attempt to enlighten and educate.

But Tyra's own attitude seems far less than enlightened. Maybe Tila Tequila isn't the ideal representative for bisexuals — not that one person could ever represent such a diverse group — but she definitely seems cooler than Tyra in this video. (Warning: Tila has a shrieky laugh. This could be painful if you're wearing headphones.) … continue reading

This most recent ANTM came perilously close to becoming a Very Special Episode. Not because of the guest appearance by Enrique Iglesias (sans mole), or Tyra's questionable channeling of Debbie Allen circa 1980. No, it was something far more sinister.

In making her music video debut as a sexy undead girl, Heather almost did some method acting. It seems that the poor dear forgot to eat, much to the consternation of us all (well, everyone except for Bianca) and the paramedics were rushed in to nurse her back to health.

It was all so very dramatic! Can't you see how our faces were riddled with concern?

In addition to Heather's weakened state, this week we discuss:

• Why kneepads are essential accessories for all models
• How much we still love Lisa (even if she can't come back up from a deep knee bend)
• Why Heather's continued success is so very frustratin' to some of the other contestants

In contrast, this week was a Very Special Episode of We're Getting Nowhere, but in a good way. We welcomed two very special guestbians — care to guess their secret identities?

Also, in another We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, we'll see an exclusive AfterEllen.com interview with the "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai and Natalia.

We sure did enjoy our journalistic integrity while we had it! … continue reading

This week on ANTM (Episode 9.6), something unprecedented occurred. [Spoiler alert!!] And no, it was not a thoughtful discussion between the contestants about the problematic nature of accurate representation on reality television. The twist was that when Ambreal and Ebony found themselves in the bottom two and Ebony was spared, she quit the show anyway! Whaaaaat? Quit? Would you be surprised to know that Tyra hates quitters? Neither were we.

This week, we discuss:

• The universal appeal of Tyson Beckford (1 out of 3 lesbians agree!)
• What (extra virgin) olive oil, caulk and kiełbasa have in common
• Why spokesmodels shouldn't have to write their own scripts

Also, in another We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, we'll see a very special PSA from the "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai and Natalia. How does one turn public service into an opportunity for fisticuffs? Watch and learn. … continue reading

In this week's edition of ANTM (Episode 9.5) the contestants were faced with some tough obstacles. Ice rinks that were cold! Photo shoots atop really tall buildings! Janet's incessant list-making and chore assignments!

This week, we discuss:

• Whether or not sweet, awkward Heather might have begun drinking the Top Model Kool-Aid®
• How they come up with these crazy ideas (Gargoyles? Come on!) for the ANTM photo shoots
• Why Jill is sick of herself.

Also, in another special We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, we'll touch base with the three "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai, and Natalia. You can enjoy their "private" confessionals in the clip below and find out how hard they rocked their high fashion gargoyle shoots, what they talk about with each other in their spare time, and why trampolines can be dangerous!

See Loquacious, Lorelai, and Natalia's full Top Model photo portfolios here

In our third and final (we promise!) video this week, we have some exclusive video footage from the Dante's Cove Season 3 premiere in Los Angeles. Watch as Dara and I (and 100 of Jill's closest friends) harass our favorite out starlet as she walks the red carpet, signs autographs, and pressures hapless afterparty attendees into drinking copious amounts of "apple juice." … continue reading

The long-awaited "makeover" episode (Episode 9.4) of ANTM aired this week, and Jill, Dara and I were pleased to witness it in all its tear-stained, weave-tangled glory! Well, Jill and I were pleased. Dara, however, is still watching ANTM under duress.

This week, we discuss:

• How many of the contestants can really pronounce (and understand) the word "metamorphosis"
• The role karma might have played in Bianca's hair debacle
• Why many of the girls are suddenly starting to look like...Tyra?

Also, in another special We're Getting Nowhere bonus feature, we'll catch up with the three "lost" ANTM contestants, Loquacious, Lorelai, and Natalia, who were introduced in last week's vlog. Watch their dramatic confessionals in the clip below to find out how they fared in the makeovers, how they feel about foliage, and who already hates who! … continue reading

This week we're offering a two-for-one We're Getting Nowhere special: we cover not just the health and wellness-oriented episode 9.2 but also the sporty, action-packed episode 9.3!

In this special WGN dual-episode edition, we discuss: … continue reading

• Why Bianca just needs to calm down (and what Jill has to say to Bianca's mother)
• What would happen if good girls Heather and Victoria got into a smackdown (hint: nobody would get smacked, and its also unlikely that anyone would actually be going down)
• Why the Go Go's are not the same band as The Bangles

This week we celebrate the joyous occasion of a new cycle of America's Next Top Model. And by "celebrate," we mean make a video blog about it in which we mock it mercilessly!

Well, not really. The truth is that we love the show and the queen of its kingdom, Tyra Banks. So in our premiere ANTM blog we pay her due worship while dissecting everything we love, hate, and just don't understand about the latest cycle of our (well, my and Jill's anyway) favorite show.

In our premiere ANTM video blog, we discuss:

• Proper catwalk technique
• Lap dances
• What the three of us would like to do to Tyra

One note: Jill talks at length about the scrawny models, impossible body image standards for women, and how she often "starves herself down" for a role. Just to clarify, Jill does actually eat, and I can vouch for this because she cooks me dinner all the time. And eats it. So please don't send her food. But thanks for caring.

Also, the South of Nowhere mid-season finale edition of "We're Getting Nowhere" will be posted next week, so hold tight! … continue reading

It's Friday, and the lists keep coming. As Dorothy Snarker wrote yesterday, "You know you can't resist them and, clearly, neither can I. So let's put on our yelling caps and take a look at this puppy." Today we have the annual Forbes Celebrity 100, a list of "the world's most powerful--and best-paid--celebrities." Who's No. 1? Oprah Winfrey.

Worth an estimated $1.5 billion, last year Oprah earned approximately $260 million. She has two reality shows in ABC's fall lineup in addition to her many other media ventures, and you may remember that this past year she opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

Oprah has often been a friend to the gays, too. Long dogged by rumors that she is a lesbian, she has never flinched from openly addressing the subject. And her talk show has covered lesbian and gay stories over the years, including "When I Knew I Was Gay" in November 2005 and "Wives Who Confess They Are Gay" in October 2006. … continue reading