ANTM And My Newfound Tininess
So, if you’ve been watching tv, you may have seen the commercials for the upcoming season of “America’s Next Top Model.” Bravo has been trying to present the next season as a groundbreaking search for women who aren’t tall enough for traditional model standards. Look at us! We’re broadminded and forward-thinking!
I am far from the only person to comment on this, but they’ve been using Kate Moss as an example of the trail these women are supposedly going to follow, referring to her as “petite supermodel Kate Moss.” Uh, yeah. A quick Google suggests that Kate Moss is in fact my height – 5’7″. While that admittedly makes us at least two inches shorter than most runway models, it also makes us taller than approximately 85% of American women. Kate Moss is not a role model for “short girls,” people, and she’s not petite compared to anyone but models and basketball players. 5’7″, incidentally, is the maximum height for the upcoming season. Exactly what sort of modeling career are they expecting women who are genuinely petite to have?
Sure, I’m all for recognizing different standards of beauty. But need we say it again? Ultimately, standards of beauty are not really what modeling is about. Modeling is about selling clothes. Models are frequently beautiful — but not always. Even from my standpoint outside the industry, I suspect that if these contestants turn out to be even of average height (say, 5’4″) they will have a hell of a time managing a career modeling, particularly for runway modeling. Realistically, are designers going to pay thousands of dollars to tailor sample sizes so that they can be worn by models who may be eight inches off each other in height? And have to make sure they know weeks ahead of time which exactly model is going to wear what even if someone gets sick? I doubt it.
But hey, on the up side, apparently I’m petite! I’m going to have the boy start addressing me as “my little flower.” Being little will be a new one for me.
At least you don’t really get the “you’re so tiny” and “I want to put you in my pocket” comments. I do. I know they’re meant to be as an, “Aww, look at Chloe! She’s so little!” type of positive thing, but yeah. Um, no.
YOU AREN’T TAKING ME SERIOUSLY IF YOU WANT TO PUT ME INTO YOUR POCKET, BIATCHES.
I mean I guess I am little, being only 5’2″, but I don’t feel that way? But at the same time, I totally understand why I should never be a model…so I think the new installment of ANTM is just bizarre.
I think it’s hilarious that they are calling 5’7″ women “petite”. I’m 5’7″, there is no way that I am even close to being petite. I am taller than most women I know and as you said anyone shorter will have a tough time making a career. Designers aren’t going to tailor their clothing for such a broad spectrum of heights and sizes. Nice try though.
Yeah, I wonder how people think they can get away with the put-you-in-my-pocket line. They’d never dare to say something like that to a guy regardless of how tall he was. But for some reason treating a grown woman like a toy is still okay.
The funny thing about 5’7″ being called petite is that people are continually assuming I’m taller than I actually am (and I have for various reasons been unable to wear heels much lately). It apparently gives the impression of being quite tall.