An Ode To The Ugly Ducklings Of “America’s Next Top Model”
Posted by: Olivia Allin
Filed in:
news
11:30AM, Friday May 1st 2009
In this, the 12th cycle of “America’s Next Top Model,” 20-year-old Allison Harvard has stolen our hearts with her creepy goth vibe and giant anime eyes. Why? Because she can barely walk in heels and said during casting, “I have a really big fascination with blood—I just think it’s really pretty.” When Tyra confessed she gets nosebleeds, Allison squawked, “Jealous.” Allison is a familiar “Top Model” archetype—the ugly duckling Tyra hopes to turn into a swan. Let’s take a look back at Allison’s sisters in awkward.
 | Marjorie Conrad from cycle 11 dubbed her signature pose "the hunchback" and had Tyra on her case from episode one about her lack of self-confidence. Marjorie crazy over-exaggerated her facial expressions, did really awkward things with her hands, and always talked about how no one understood her because she was “European” since she moved to America when she was super young. [Jezebel] — Still, she made it pretty far and didn't get booted until episode 11. |
 | Heather Kuzmich, from cycle nine, was most famous for having Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. Some of the girls bullied her for her "awkward" behavior, but she made it to fourth runner up. She lives in Chicago now, where she studies video game design. [TopModelGossip] — Which rules way more than being a model. |
 | Twin sisters Michelle and Amanda Babin competed against each other in cycle seven. Both six-foot ladies were impossibly gangly and sad to watch on the runway. Michelle was more interested in basketball than modeling and came out as gay during the competition, much to her twin sister's surprise. She was sent packing fourth to last while her slightly less awkward sister made it to the final three. [RealityTVWorld] |
 | Shandi Sullivan from cycle two, worked at Walgreen's before auditioning for "ANTM" and had a stringy ponytail, coke-bottle glasses, and vaguely horse-like features. Her mom even called her "ugly duckling." Amazingly, Tyra turned her into a blond-haired goddess who totally would've won if she hadn't cheated on her boyfriend with a male model in Italy and lost her concentration. Instead, she came in third. These days, Shandi works as a DJ in New York. [PaperMag] — An upgrade from Walgreen's. |
 | Elyse Sewell was a med student who tried out for "America's Next Top Model" on a lark. But it was the first season, and the competition wasn't too stiff, so she made it onto the show. Her first shoots were painful, but by the end she was totally rocking the skinny ingenue look. Her boyfriend, Martin Crandall from the Shins, made an appearance on the show before she got booted second to last. Elyse is still popular in Asia, where she does magazine covers and ads. [ElyseSewellLiveJournal] — Being famous in Asia is equal to being a quarter famous in America. |
Noticed a trend? Yep, the awkward girl never wins. Allison, it's on you to break through for weirdo girls everywhere!
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rsonnack
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 12:59 pm: [report]
I love Allison but unfortunately I don’t think she’s going to win either :(
I think she lacks the confidence to win, and my prediction is Teyona will win. Allison will probably get kicked off in the next couple episodes
Amelia
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 01:04 pm: [report]
I love Allison, or, as I like to call her, The Humph, because of her resemblance to Jenny Humphrey/Taylor Momsen. I think Cecilia was the front runner until she effed up by calling out that other contestant at panel and questioning TyTy.
belongsomewhere
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 02:14 pm: [report]
The only one missing is Lauren Utter, who totally rocked on cycle ten…until commercial time rolled around, that is.
IrishErin
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 04:57 pm: [report]
These girls were all, no #&@$%, my favorites. I love me an awkward girl. They are all aces in photos. But consistently fail the runway. I don’t like Aminat, Teyona or Celia, so Allison I really need you to pull it out. For the awkward girls and for your and my hometown of New Orleans.
IrishErin
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 05:03 pm: [report]
Oh. I got FCCed. Sorry censor robot. I forgot myself.
Mercedy103
wrote on May 1 2009 @ 06:18 pm: [report]
I like Allison too! She’s my fave. I wish she could pull her walk together and show some more self-confidence. I do agree w/ you Amelia—I didn’t notice it until you said it, she does look like Taylor Momsen! (Who I also like! lol). I also think she does resemble an Olsen twin like one of the judges said earlier on in the show.