After flipping through the pages of magazines for years it’s nice to finally see someone like me on the cover. Well, not yet, but the July issue of Seventeen Magazine will display Whitney Thompson, winner of Cycle 10 of America’s Next Top Model. The twenty-year old Florida native is the first “plus size” model to win the competition. A real woman- one with curves and a chest and a butt- far cry from the typical stick models we see on the runways. Despite allegations that Whitney’s win was fixed, she remains strong in saying that “At the end of the day, you don’t have anyone but yourself. There were times that I locked myself in the bathroom and cried. It [the competition] got rough, but I think what made me go further than any other plus-sized model, especially on this season, was the fact that I didn’t just come in and go, “Hey, I’m not skinny, but I’m really pretty.” It was more like “OK, almost the majority of all 9-year-old girls have been on a diet, and why isn’t anyone changing that?” I’m not supporting that, and I’m not supporting being emaciated and starving yourself, and I will go further.”

Whitney’s ANTM win means big things for the fashion industry and the show. After modeling two beautiful dresses for Donetella Versace, it will be no surprise if we see Whitney on the runway again. Whitney recalls that in preparation for the Versace runway show, “Donatella’s head henchmen were like [in an Italian accent] ‘Oh, it’s so good that you’re here. Those girls were so skinny.’ It was good to hear from them that ‘Eew, these models are grross.’” Is this the first of a complete overhaul of the fashion industry? Only time will tell, but for now, Whitney’s big bold personality has taken the fashion industry by storm and I’m sure this will not be the last we hear of her.

For more on Whitney and to view her portfolio, visit http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/americas-next-top-model10-whitney

Discuss this post in the GlamBoulevard forums.

Bailey
Email this author | All posts by Bailey