Are you watching America’s Next Top Model?  This season was billed as the search for America’s next top petite model with the competition open only to contestants 5’7” or shorter.  I give Tyra Banks lots of credit for what she is trying to do which is open the doors of modeling agencies to shorter women.  However, I think she and her show are falling short. 

When the new season premiered, I was very hopeful that America’s Next Top Model would project a more positive image for petite women.  All I feel after watching the first 4 episodes is a total disconnect.  The modeling world’s concept of short and the real world’s concept of short are not the same.  Not even close.  I think that I speak for a majority of my petite counterparts when I say that I consider someone who stands 5’6” or 5’7” to be tall.  It may not seem tall to 5’10” Tyra, but it does to me and most petite women I know.  The show is certainly stretching the concept of petite.  Of the 14 semi-finalists, only two were 5’4” or shorter which is the fashion industry standard for petite, and 5’4” Courtney has already been cut.  Sundai at 5’3” is the only TRUE petite left in the competition.  She represents the Petite Sisterhood well but…  

 Once again, my theory is confirmed that Reality TV is totally out of touch with reality.