Was America's Next Top Model Fixed?

Was America's Next Top Model Fixed?
Since her ANTM win Wednesday night, rumors have started swirling about Saleisha Stowers' modeling past and her relationship with host Tyra Banks. And from what I've read and heard? There's definitely some suspect and/or fishy stuff going on, people. (cue ominous music)

While it was previously acknowledged that Tyra knew Saleisha from her T-Zone girls camp, which Stowers attended when she was 14, what's now coming to light is that their relationship extended far beyond that. E! News reports:

...sharp-eyed fans soon dug up footage showing Saleisha walking the catwalk in an ANTM cycle-six fashion show, as well as appearing on the runway in an episode of The Tyra Banks Show.

Viewers also found that Saleisha had appeared in a nationwide Wendy's commercial that aired in 2006, seemingly in violation of an America's Next Top Model eligibility rule that states would-be contestants "must not have previous experience as a model in a national campaign within the last five years (including, but not limited to, appearances on television and print advertisements)."

So umm, clearly some finagling was done to make Saleisha eligible, rules be damned? And perhaps because she had an -- ahem-cough -- VIP 'in' on the show? Veeeeery interesting, to say the least.

source

UPDATE: Saleisha has now publicly defended her relationship with Tyra.

Whattay'all make of this whole thing?

Published 12/14/07 by

MamaPop 87 MamaPop

DISCLAIMER: This posting was submitted by a user of the site not from The Insider editorial staff. All users have acknowledged and agreed that the submission of their story and its contents is in compliance with our Terms of Use.

Comments (9)

  • orLogin
  • i wholeheartedly agree with the three previous comments also, if there was ever a threat of a volcanic eruption, the towns people should look to tyra banks as there saviour because, her arms are roughly the right girth to clog up the gaping hole,...
    Anonymous 5/13/09 Reply
  • i agree with these two previous comments, tyra`s poses are very similar, she lacks versitility as a model, if there was a tyra banks flipbook series, the only change would be the page number.
    Anonymous 5/13/09 Reply
  • less of you FAT stinkin arms aye tyra
    Anonymous 5/13/09 Reply
  • tyra your clearly a clown, i watch the show with my bird and i have come to several conclusions about you. when you try to give advice to the girls about a certain pose its alsways the same face and pose you do as you are tripe as a model. the girls...
    Anonymous 5/13/09 Reply
  • Keenya is fake, and fat, and something's wrong with her jaw... or maybe that was just more fat. She was unexplainably full of herself... or maybe that was just her gut that was full... whatever-- she shouldn't have made it as far as she did. I'm...
    Anonymous 3/30/08 Reply
  • Hey Tyra you should'nt have eliminated Keenya off of your show. She was the best of them al. I think it was because of that Janice. She was the only one giving out bad comments. So do what you can to bring her back. She had lots of more confidence...
    Anonymous 3/11/08 Reply
  • Everyone should send Tyra emails letting her know that this is complete crap.

    tyrabanks@studiofanmail.com
    Anonymous 2/11/08 Reply
  • The appearance of legitimate competition, where every model is judged on her abilities, not her connections, is important to ANTM. What's the point of the show if the fix is in before the first show.
    Anonymous 1/2/08 Reply
  • That's crazy! I didn't want her to win anyways!
    queenjenine814 1/1/08 Reply