Make Me a Supermodel
From LoveToKnow Reality-TV
Make Me a Supermodel is a reality TV competition show on Bravo that loosely resembles America's Next Top Model. There are some key differences between the two shows, however.
Make Me a Supermodel First Season Format
Season one premiered on January 10, 2008. The show is an hour long and is based on a British show of the same name. There is also an Australian version.
The premise of the show is a modeling competition with weekly challenges and tasks to determine who should stay and who should be eliminated. The key difference between this show and America's Next Top Model is that there are both male and female models competing.
During season one, at the end of each episode, the bottom three contestants were announced and viewers got to vote to determine which one would be eliminated. At the beginning of the following episode, the eliminated model would be announced before new challenges were assigned.
The hosts for this season were model Tyson Beckford and supermodel Niki Taylor. Judges for the first season were modeling agent Cory Bautista, and fashion casting director Jennifer Starr.
Season Two Format
Make Me a Supermodel received lukewarm ratings after its first season, so Bravo went about making some changes for the next one. Viewer voting is no longer part of the show.
Niki Taylor did not return to the show, but Australian model Nicole Trunfio was brought in to mentor the female contestants. Tyson Beckford stayed on as host, but his role has also expanded to become a mentor for the male contestants. The judging panel was also switched up, and now includes:
- Former model Jenny Shimizu
- British fashion photographer Perou
- Fashion designer Catherine Maladrino
- Model scout Marlon
The Prize
The winner of the competition gets $100,000 in cash and a modeling contract with New York Model Management. Holly Kiser was the first season winner, but interestingly enough, seven other models from that season were also signed through New York Model Management. All of the models who competed that season have been signed and are currently working.
The Challenges
There are two types of challenges on Make Me a Supermodel: photo shoots and catwalk challenges.
Photo Shoots
Photo shoots are carefully controlled sessions that are often advertising based. They usually require the models to transform into something else completely and test them on how well they adapt to various situations. Some of these have included:
- Modeling Goth clothing in a cemetery
- Sexual chemistry theme with both same and mixed genders
- Modeling summer wear in Central Park in the winter
- Wearing full body paint and modeling as a living art piece
- Depicting different types of classic candies
- Posing while underwater or suspended from the ceiling
Catwalk Challenges
Catwalk challenges are all about live action shots and pulling off designer fashions. These can be done solo, in pairs, or in larger groups. There is often a theme for these challenges and contestants are judged on technical aspects including their walk and overall performance. Some catwalk challenges have been:
- Wearing well-known designers' clothing, such as Heatherette
- Using props including candy, live animals, or S&M gear
- Walking the runway and then striking different poses on a moving turntable
- Posing as an athlete would while wearing sport undergarments
- Walking in character as the models portray a story
- Wearing outrageous accessories, like giant hats
There are also very basic catwalk challenges at the end of some episodes when the models are facing the judges. These are used to see what the models have learned during the course of previous challenges, and help the judges evaluate their performances.
Learn More About the Show
You can learn more about Make Me a Supermodel and its stars at the following websites:
- Bravo TV – The official website for the show, with cast bios, photos, and episode guides.
- Nicole Trunfio – This is Trunfio's page at the Fashion Model Directory, with a bio and photos.
- Tyson Beckford on MySpace – Keep up with Beckford on MySpace.
- Niki Taylor – Taylor's official website.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 605 times. This page was last modified 15:23, 31 March 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Print this page
Follow ltk on twitter
Visit us on facebook