After 12 years and 22 glorious seasons "cycles," America's Next Top Model came to a close on the CW last December. It was very sad, but to be fair, the franchise finished its run by awarding hot, hot, heat Nyle DiMarco with the Top Model crown, so it went out on a high. Let's pause for a second for a photo of Nyle actually, OK?
Lovely.
However, all is not lost because VH1 later signed on to reboot the show, and Top Model is back. With a vengeance, we can only hope! Now, because Tyra Banks doesn't come cheap (no, really, that was rumored to be the reason, or at least one of the reasons, why she didn't sign on as host again) she is now credited ~only~ as an executive producer, with the hosting baton passed to multi-hyphenate Rita Ora.
Ora is joined on the judging panel by Ashley Graham, stylist Law Roach, and Paper magazine's Drew Elliott ... and not to be rude, but none of them seem ready to go full Janice Dickinson off the bat, so let's get straight to the contestants:
BINTA DIBBA, 25
CHERISH WATERS, 25
CODY WELLS, 26
TASH WELLS, 26
FYI, yes, Cody and Tash are twins! As siblings with the pleasure of sharing the ANTM experience together, they follow in the footsteps of twins Amanda and Michelle Babin (of Top Model's seventh cycle) as well as sisters Terra and Chris White (of cycle 15).
CORYANNE ROBERTS, 19
Coryanne's mom, meanwhile, was a '90s supermodel. Look for that to factor into her storyline this season.
COURTNEY NELSON, 25
GIAH HARDEMAN, 21
INDIA GANTS, 20
Serving Gigi Hadid realness, right?!
JUSTINE BITICON, 18
KRISLIAN RODRIGUEZ, 25
KYLE MCCOY, 23
MARISSA HOPKINS, 18
PAIGE MOBLEY, 22
TATIANA PRICE, 21
By traditional modeling standards, these are no spring chickens, let's be real. BUT! There's a but — a booty tooch, if you will — the diversity apparent is refreshing, and in the words of many a Top Model guest judge, there's "real potential" in the mix (and, look, I say this with love but that alone is a major improvement on the prototypical Top Model contestant of years past, who was cast more for their ability to cry over bad makeovers/dead pets/missing crystals than, you know, their editorial prospects).
It's also worth noting that hostie Rita has explained this new season is no longer just about traditional modeling, but about building a brand in the way attractive young people with charisma can across social media and networking and product placement — new media shit. (It remains to be seen how this translates into the campy challenges and photo shoot Top Model is renowned for; I want my models posing with rabid penguins, damnit!)
Even with all this serious-face, high-fashion aspirations happening here, a teaser trailer VH1 just released features the quintessential mix of wacky photo shoots, wacky hair, and mindless fighting.
There's also the obligatory fainting model ambulance moment, though of course Tyra already did that best:
In conclusion:
Top Model premieres on VH1 on Dec. 12. I will be hosting a viewing party and everyone is invited, but y'all have to come dressed as their fave guest judge. (I'm going to be Twiggy).
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