I realized that I told a lie last week.

When I said I only watch four television shows, I realized I left one out. This one is quite possibly the most embarrassing (which is why I probably “forgot” to mention it) and I’m hesitant to admit it, but I am a loyal viewer of America’s Next Top Model.

Yes, I know it’s awful. I know that Tyra Banks just loves hearing herself talk and that’s why the show exists. And I am well aware that the show causes me to make very anti-feminist, judgmental statements about the girls competing; such as, “Her head is too misshapen to be a good model.”

And yes, I have rewatched all of cycles several times over.

For its 13^th (yes, 13^th) cycle, Tyra decided to revolutionize the modeling industry. Far too long have models been required to be extraordinarily tall, so Tyra decided it was time for a change. The models for cycle 13 were all 5’7” or shorter.

For what has ultimately turned out to be a boring lackluster season, the show has once again provided some interesting anthropological insight into perceptions of beauty among young, American women.

America’s Next Top Model has been criticized repeatedly for upholding traditional, outdated, and unrealistic notions of beauty. The women stand before the judges and are torn apart for being too fat or too slutty – or even too boring. It doesn’t take long for one to realize the type of message this sends to young girls whom already feel insecure about their appearance. I also imagine Tyra is hyper- aware of these criticisms (not only about her show, but the modeling industry in general) and thus why she decided to cast small contestants for this cycle: to expose and break preconceived notions of beauty.

So what were the judges telling the contestants time and time again? I kid you not, “You look too short.” Even Tyra emphasized the need for these models to accentuate their longer features and give the illusion of height. She wasn’t necessarily trying to actually redefine beauty, but more trying to show that short women can also live up to such high societal expectations.

What’s sad is that week after week these contestants bemoan the lack of modeling opportunities for shorter women, which is entirely true. However, I can’t help but wonder if these girls realize that, based on how cycle 13 has played out; their presence isn’t reshaping the industry or setting new standards of beauty. No, they are simply being trained to mimic the taller girls that they’ve spent their entire life feeling inferior to.

Cycle 13 was almost more painful to watch than other seasons due in large part to the sideshow atmosphere cultivated by Tyra and her fellow producers. Viewers are drawn in with a gimmick, told they will see something never seen before, and watch as these petite women fight it out. Even the house the contestants lived in during filming was decorated in a carnival theme! But all season, the women remained oblivious to the paradoxical challenges Tyra set before them in order for one to become America’s next top model.