Looong legs, short dresses and a whole lot of hair weaves was the ongoing theme on the red carpet when the launch party for the Oxygen Network’s new show America’s Next Top Model Obsessed took place at the New York City’s Gotham Hall last night (Jan. 12). Close to all contestants from previous seasons came to support the show that once gave them access to the industry.
“It’s such a great way to get into the industry we all dreamed of being a part of”, said Jaslene Gonzalez who was the first Latina ever to take home the winning prize in cycle 8. “I never regretted a second of it!
Other aspiring models from the past cycles had a lot of advise to share for future contestants. “Be confident! That’s the most important thing,” said Saleisha Stowers, winner of cycle 9 and the only one, besides Gonzalez, who got the crowd going crazy by the catwalk later on. “Of course you’ve got to listen to the judges and their critique, but could I do it all over again, the thing I would do different would be to keep my confidence up through out the entire competition.”
Seems your confidence was just fine girl since you went and won it all in the end! Another winner, but in a different competition, who came to share her wisdom was reigning Miss USA, the fabulous Crystle Stewart. “This isn’t just about beauty, it’s about character and being yourself,” said Stewart. “It’s about showing that you’re a real person who can trip and fall. That’s what the judges will fall for”..Stewart, who gave it four shots before she finally won the Miss USA title, adds a quote her mother told her growing up wanting to become a model: “the race doesn’t go to swift, but to the one who endures.”
This might be true when it comes to modeling, but for the enduring journalists hanging around the red carpet this evening – not so much. When the one we’d all been waiting for, Tyra Banks, finally entered, it took about ten minutes before you could hear a buzz around the red carpet: “Was she really here? Did you actually see her?”
Oh, yes she was there alright, looking hotter than ever. But after ten minutes of posing for the cameras and giving a couple of interviews (one of course for The Tyra Banks Show) she was already in a taxi and on her way.
Well, guess she didn’t become admired, loved and RICH for nothing. You know what they say, to get what you want playing a a little hard to get definitely won’t hurt you. Damn, that gorgeous Tyra just knows it all, doesn’t she?
America’s Next Top Model Obsessed kicks off January 18th on Oxygen with a 13- hour America’s Next Top Model marathon.
- Hannah Arnhög
