Reality Bites

As you know, it’s very hard to take anyone who was ever on a reality show seriously. Even when they are successful, their fame will always be undermined by the prejudice we have for people who used the paltry platform of low-budget television to elevate themselves to commercial success (the offense to the hauteur is thus twofold: one strike for being on the show and another other for wanting to be commercially successful.)

I think the victims from the endless bevy of modeling shows have it the worst (let’s just say Kelly Clarkston’s industry and fan base are not judging her quite like Anna or fashion insiders are judging Eva and CariDee). America’s next top model is really some 16-year-old kewpie who can’t speak English, Tyra, you know that as well as we do.

But brave-hearted ones give it a go, however, and Perry Ullman is one of them.
If you gave Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel a chance, you’ll remember Perry as the would-be model who should have won. He and the top five contestants from that show are currently on the board at New York Model Management. How long before they’re dropped? I won’t be that pessimistic.

Suvi made it, after all.
*Ms. Koponen started her modeling career after winning Mallikoulu, Finland’s [unaffiliated] version of ANTM.