Britain's Missing Top Model... FOUND!

In case you missed it...we ran a post back on July 7th about the latest model reality show on Britain's BBC entitled "Britain's Missing Top Model".

The show featured eight beautiful women with disabilities {shown above}, competing to prove that they have what it takes to become a mainstream fashion model.

Just like America's Next Top Model, the girls moved into a London flat together where they ate, slept and breathed the modeling/fashion industry over a three-week period. They also went through a series of challenges and photo shoots to "prove" that they have what it takes to become a model. Then, they were eliminated one by one by a panel of "expert" judges. The prize: a fashion spread in the British Marie-Claire Magazine.

With this training and experience, the show claimed the aspiration for the winner to be a foot in the door of the fashion industry...and Danny Cohen, Controller for the BBC Three was quoted as saying...

"This series aims to challenge the artificial boundaries that seem to exist in the beauty and fashion industries. "It would be great if, in the future, we began to see more disabled models gracing the covers of the world's magazines."

Well, the show ended last night and the results are in...{whether we thought the show itself was a good idea or not}.

We congratulate Kelly Knox, 23, of England {shown}. Knox was named the winner last night, and scored a contract with Take 2 Model Management as well as a photo shoot with Marie Claire magazine.


If you remember, most of the comments on my previous post "A New Low or the Next Top Model" were NOT in favour of this show, with most thinking it was some sort of ploy to gain publicity or a segregation of people with disabilities.


Honestly, the show seemed to be a bit of both. But, only time will tell whether Kelly Knox was just amusement for the moment or really the next big thing in the modeling industry.

No matter what, we wish Kelly the very best.

A New Low or the Next Top Model?

The BBC's latest model reality show "Britain's Missing Top Model" premiered last Tuesday night, featuring eight beautiful women, who happen to have disabilities, competing to prove that they have what it takes to become a mainstream fashion model.
Just like America's Next Top Model, the girls move into a London flat together where they eat, sleep and breathe the modeling/fashion industry over a three-week period, go through a series of challenges and photo shoots to see if they have what it takes to become a model. Then, they get eliminated one by one by a panel of "expert" judges. The winner gets a fashion spread in the British Marie-Claire Magazine.

With this training and experience, the show says the aspiration for the winner is to give her a foot in the door of the fashion industry.

Danny Cohen, Controller for the BBC Three says...

"This series aims to challenge the artificial boundaries that seem to exist in the beauty and fashion industries. "It would be great if, in the future, we began to see more disabled models gracing the covers of the world's magazines."

{ Meet the Girls... }

Jessica Kellgren-Hayes: England, Hereditary disorder which makes one extremely susceptible to injury. Jessica has lost all sensation & movement in her arms. {right}

Debbie van der Putten: Nethlerlands, Arm amputee {left}

Kellie Moody: England, Born deaf {right}

Jenny Johnson: Seattle, USA, Left partially paralyzed from a car accident {left}

Kelly Knox: England, Born without a left forearm {right}

Rebecca Le'gon: England, Leg Amputee {left}

Sophie Morgan: England, Paraplegic, paralyzed form the waist down & confined to a wheel chair {right}

Lilli Risner: England, Born profoundly deaf {left}

Disabled models aren't necessarily a new thing...designers such as Alexander McQueen have used them on the runway in the past and the girls on the show seem to enjoy all the attention, makeovers and shoots. But, is this a new low for producers in a desperate attempt for ratings??

Or, is this actually a show that represents the disabled in a positive light and offers them an experience they might not have otherwise?

The jury is still out...