Talk show host and model extraordinaire Tyra Banks is partnering with South African businessman Tom Kelly in conjunction with MTN to take her Top Model search to Africa.
Auditions will be held on March 29th in Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre and the show will follow the format of the original US show.
Winners will receive modeling contracts with IMG Models, a six-month contract as the face of Louis Vuitton, and the chance to co-present on The Tyra Banks Show.
Blindie hopes the South African version of Top Model will be telecast in the US and they mix in some white South Africans with controversial viewpoints for some added drama.
Three people were arrested and six others were injured on Saturday after a riot ensued outside of the Park Central New York hotel where auditions for the 13th season of Tyra Banks’ hit reality show America’s Next Top Model were being held.
Women no taller than 5-foot-7 turned out in droves for a chance to be a contestant on the special season of Top Model dedicated to short ladies.
Sky News reports a car spewing smoke pulled up to the line of contestants then a man jumped out and began grabbing women’s bags causing fights and a stampede.
Authorities shut down the audition citing it was improperly organized and many model hopefuls fled leaving their shoes, clothes and sleeping bags littering the street.
The 12th (yes…TWELFTH!) cycle of America’s Next Top Model premiers tonight and as always, Tyra Banks doesn’t just show up—she dresses up, going as far as dubbing herself “the goddess of fierce.”
One model, who is completely in awe of Tyra’s costumed unveiling (Is Ms. Banks channeling Cleopatra? I thought Caesars Palace in Vegas was Greek mythology-themed?), screams, “Tyra! This woman is amazing…she’s extraterrestrial!”
Blindie must say we agree with the “extraterrestrial” comparison. Tune in to the ANTM premiere tonight at 8 on the CW!
If you’ve ever wanted to stand before Tyra Banks and her panel of photographers, stylists and retired models to receive life-changing advice and tips that will help you become a model or just be fierce like one then “America’s Next Top Model: Fierce Guide to Life” is the book for you.
Covering everything from “runway etiquette” to applying makeup, improving self-image, the business of modeling and really important things like how to look your best while wearing a crop top, “Fierce Guide to Life” is like Tyra mail and a season of ANTM rolled into one glossy book.
When asked if he owed anything to Tyra the cross-dressing diva blurted out to a crowd of reporters, “She learned everything from me darling! Don’t give me no Tyra … ! That’s it! I let her borrow all my used wigs. That’s it!”
“This was a show that had to be made, darling! Egg? Chicken? It’s here, eat it up! Egg? Chicken? Chicken, egg? What came first? I don’t care! Give me my breakfast!”
And if you still think RuPaul’s reality show about drag queens competing to win the title of America’s next “Drag Queen Superstar,” reminds you in even the slightest way of a bunch of models vying for the title of “America’s Next Top Model”, “then you’re retarded,” RuPaul says.
RuPaul’s Drag Race debuts Feb. 2 on the LOGO channel.
Eva Marcille, who won America’s Next Top Model in cycle 3, has announced her engagement to Tyler Perry’s House of Payne star Lance Gross, according to Essence.
“I cried. It was totally unexpected. I’m still in shock,” Marcille (who formerly had the surname Pigford) said. “I could not even sleep because I was afraid that I might wake up from the most beautiful dream ever.”
The couple, who met while working on set together, have been dating since 2007.
“I’m proud to call Lance mine because I was in love with him before we ever met,” she added. “He’s my dream guy.”
Twilight Star Robert Pattinson, who plays brooding heartthrob Edward Cullen to Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan in the upcoming vampire flick, says he’s “really excited about” his appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, slated for taping this Thursday.
“I’m doing ‘Tyra’ in a few weeks and I’m really excited about it,” the 22-year-old Brit, who became a fan of the model mogul from her gig on America’s Next Top Model, told the New York Daily News. “I love that show. It’s my favorite TV show.”
Blindie can’t wait for Edward’s, er, Robert’s appearance on Tyra and in Twilight, which opens this Friday!
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