Britain’s Missing Top Model
In this new reality show, eight women with “differing disabilities” will compete before a panel of judges to prove they have what it takes to be a mainstream model.
Huh?
Is there something wrong with me or is there something wrong with this premise for a show?
On the one hand, I support the disability rights movement. On the other, I’m squeamish about any fetishistic appreciation of the disabled. It feels like exploitation to me, even when the disabled person is so willingly seeking the attention. One of the contestants on the show will be Debbi, who has recently posed for Playboy and says she’s met more men since she lost her arm than before. Here’s Debbi.
This whole thing is making me feel like a cunt for not celebrating the moxie or whatever it is that drives these disabled women. They’re kind of pissing me off, in fact. It’s like, I’m missing a toenail, so why don’t I try to be a foot model? Or, My voice has a limited range, so why don’t I compete to sing opera?
No, those are bad analogies. And that guy who “needs” to be paralyzed is going to be mad at me again.
Can anyone help me to articulate what is wrong with this show? Or if not that, what’s wrong with me?*
*No saying It’s because I’m a cunt, since I’ve already admitted it a million times.
Tags: disabilities, models, reality TV
June 27th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Because in many ways it is like pretty pictures of a naked child even when the child is an exhibitionist child. because there may be crazy perverts looking at the pictures. that’s the only analogy i can think of. because disabled people have suffered immense misfortunate and are vulnerable. And there are people who enjoy power and who find sexual satisfaction in looking at pictures of the maimed.
I’m am sure there is like 1 in a million who think in such a terrible way. But the rest of us can probably just view it as the disabled trying to do something for themselves.
if you really think about it, normal sized people and ugly people and fat people should also have a special modelling show. because ugly people and fat people are sort of disabled in the modelling industry as well.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:10 am
and realistically, what work will they get as a model? besides the shock value of seeing them… how many one shoulded tops can those girls model?
June 27th, 2008 at 5:16 am
My handicap in the modeling world is a fat ass and short, stubby legs. Maybe I could be up for next season?
June 27th, 2008 at 8:25 am
So, because there may be somebody out there who gets off on looking at me, I shouldn’t go outside? appear on TV? make a living? put on a bathing suit? Sorry, but I don’t think other people’s sicknesses should determine what I get to do.
Why does an armless model provide shock value? Because it’s not seen too often, and considered imperfect by conventional standards. Kinda like a black or asian model 50 years ago? Or two women kissing on TV 20 years ago. Bring on the shock value, I say. It’s about time some people had their worlds rocked.
You don’t have to watch the show, if it makes you uncomfortable. But to tell these women they shouldn’t, for their own good … well.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Well, if you want to check out the carnival of NO! that is people with untreated mental health issues going on TV to compete; Check out the audition rounds of American Idol or America’s got Talent.
As for that show. Hmm, it is a confrontation and perhaps desensitisation. Or perhaps it needs to be shown, so that next season a really hot looking, fit and healthy girl missing a limb can try out for that other monument to untreated mental health issues “America/Britain/Australian’s next top Catalogue Model”.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
fuckity fuck the British are twisted! I don’t even want to know what debbi’s new gentleman callers ask her to do with that stump…or do i? I’m hoping for a runway challenge, not that’s good TV!
June 27th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Kari, I’m not saying the women have no right to compete on this show. I’m trying to examine my response.
My husband says “Why shouldn’t they get to make fools of themselves on reality TV just like everybody else?”
I think Miss Wombat isolated the problem, ie they won’t get to be mainstream models. I don’t think it’s empowering. I think the producers are just giving the audience a ‘freak show’ while pretending to be inclusive.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
“Reality” TV in general seems to be the problem here. It’s unbelievable what they will find to make a series out of and even more unbelievable that most of it develops an actual following.
Practically all professions/jobs require BASIC QUALIFICATIONS. (your analogies made perfect sense) Not everybody has to do everything, it’s just thinning the herd. I apply the same rule to myself while trying to find a job or possible new career.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
your husband makes a point, I concede, but what the fuck?? i think it’s about the absolute dissolution of collective dignity. And it becomes more blatantly apparent every day, with every new twist on every old twisted commercial premise, however twisted it has all ready been revealed to be.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
ok but about your response. I personally feel that it is a modern day freak show disguised in equal opportunity rhetoric. so completely disgusting to me. are we calling this some kind of progress in human rights or something? But probably the people to ask about it are the people involved - the contestants on the show. can you ask them? I’m serious.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I’m not sure what it is. Using one’s “differentness” to be “the same?”
I’m not being very articulate here, either.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I think Sonja hit the nail on the head. She lays out exactly what I felt when hearing about this show. I sort of have a gut reaction to it, that it just isn’t quite right.
http://www.shinylittlethings.com
June 30th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
WHY hasn’t anyone mentioned Heather Mills yet???!!?!?!!! Surely her 15 minutes, and Dancing with the Stars appearance opened this door.
And I thoroughly agree that it’s the modern day freak show pretending to be inclusive. Besides, if one of these women has SUCH an amazing face, why couldn’t she pursue a career that would involve modeling only her face, so that no one would even have to know she had a stump for an arm?
I think the whole thing is pathetic. The people who watch it, the producers, and the sad women competing in it. It really won’t be long before a Running Man type “Death Game Show” gets on the air…
July 8th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Hey I worte an article about this too. I tried to do a trackback but it Didnt work. you can view my article belowhttp://www.beautyconfessional.net/blog/2008/07/editorial-brita.html
I kind of agree with what your saying. I couldnt deicde whether i though this show was a great vehicle for Disabled woman or whether it was taking advantage of them.
Hope you leavea comment on my blog entry too.
Have a great day!!!