Miss J. Alexander strikes a pose (with an understudy). Photo courtesy of The CW
This season of "America's Next Top Model" made us short girls want to stand on our stiletto-clad tippy toes and cheer.Creator Tyra Banks and company tossed the rule book that stated contestants on The CW network's reality show had to be at least 5 feet, 7 inches tall to compete. This season that is the maximum height for competitors.
By modeling standards the ladies still in the running to be, "America's Next Top Model," are dwarfs. Although, by fashion standards, most would look down on the average American women, who is a tad shy of 5 feet, 4 inches tall, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Certainly, it was time to give the vertically challenged their due. But StyleList wondered, would these aspiring models careers' have long legs once their reality experience wraps in November?
We turned to Top Model's flamboyant runway coach, judge and former model, Miss J. Alexander, to catwalk us through the short season. He spoke with us from Paris, where he lives and is promoting his new book, "Follow the Model."
StyleList: We've seen "Top Model" embrace plus-size girls. Why was it important to devote an entire season to women of shorter stature?
J. Alexander: Because you have so many girls who are not 6 feet tall and on the runway, but are beautiful and can sell beauty products and face cream and mascara just as well. And you don't need to be a glamazon to sell beauty.
SL: What did you learn from the cast about the possibilities for shorter models? Will they be able to rise to the demands and expectations the fashion world may ultimately impose on them?
JA: Dealing with Tyra and (fashion photographer and judge) Nigel Barker and myself what do you think? They learned many valuable lessons on how they could make their size work to their advantage. Some did rise to the challenge and some did not live up to "Top Model" standards which require change, determination and hard work.
'America's Next Top Model's' Miss J Alexander Tells StyleList About the Short and Sweet of Season 13 originally appeared on StyleList Fashion Blog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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