TVSquad

I love advertisements. Especially since the use of PhotoShop has become so widespread, ads and pictures in magazines have become less and less interested in reality, and more interested in the general idea of what an image is.

For instance, the ad for Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model featured in the September issue of Vogue doesn't look like a picture of Tyra Banks surrounded by fashionista wannabes, so much as the idea of Tyra Banks surrounded by fashionista wannabes ... as imagined by an unholy union of Pixar artists and caricature-drawing carnies after a 72-hour absinthe and 'shroom binge that featured Jesus Christ Superstar stuck on a loop in the DVD player.

This ad perfectly encapsulates what I love about this show: the fact that while it may masquerade as a contest for aspiring models, it's really just a forum in which Tyra can feed the crazy-monster that lives inside of her. You know how Project Runway's Christian has an alter-ego named Ferosha Coutura, and Courtney Love has one called Cherry Kookoo? You know Tyra totally has one called like, Diva McRib, or some damn thing.

That is why while Tyra Banks goes on her talk show and preaches about accepting yourself and not allowing pictures of her to be retouched, Diva McRib is all, "smile with your eyes," and "make Mr. Jay's boob shinier!" Tyra would have been happy with an artsy black-and-white shot of her with the contestants from the new cycle, but Diva McRib wasn't satisfied until at least 20% of the people in the picture were looking at her adoringly and her booty practically glowed.

America's Next Top Model isn't one of those dignified, Emmy-winning competition shows, like The Amazing Race. It's the kind of show that dresses aspiring models up like homeless people and has beer spilled in contestants weaves. No one who wins or is any way associated with this show actually becomes America's next top anything, so why not have an ad that reflects the glossy un-reality of these girls' dreams? After all, it's pretty much the only shot any of them will have at being in Vogue.