That girl from America's next top model.

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I've been through a similar journey as Heather though on a much smaller scale. I was asked to model for a fashion show when I was 16 for the fashion students at college. It was my first 'who me?' experience, but someone showed me how to walk and I practised heaps. Nothing could improve the turquoise MC Hammer pants they made me wear, but then it was the 1980s...

Since then I've done bits of modelling, danced in public, and done radio & tv. I even got caught up in a reality tv travel series for Discovery TV in NZ which showed me how 'real' the whole process is. Being on a set, shoot or in studios can be fun and it's a controlled environment so not as stressful as you might think. I've just never done any of it full time as it would be too much attention to handle on a daily basis.

I don't think I'd have been able to face the ANTM household when I was 21. Good to see Heather has some grrr in her and can stand up for herself, as you need it to work in the media or arts world. I'm glad they are showing her spiky side as I'm the same - a pacifist until provoked. Hehe.

This week's update...
Heather was Cover Girl of the Week, again.
Heather won the challenge- performing martial arts moves whilst strung up in the air- on wires.
She royally screwed up saying a few lines for a commercial shoot.
Was in the bottom two, but, in a climactic moment, (hold your breath) advanced to the next round, yet again.
Sigh of relief, then, "Hooray!"

Bianca was really mean this week. She may be a pretty girl but she has clearly demonstrated that she is ugly on the inside.

And she melted down big time over the wire challenge!

Heather's photoshoot (smiling and looking directly at the camera) was GORGEOUS!

I agree completely. I watched it entirely for the first time this week; some of the other girls (especially Bianca) are so mean to her. To laugh when someone is crying is entirely unacceptable; to be selfish like that is foolish, petty, and completely immature. I don't like Bianca at all, regardless of how "pretty" she is. And yet, throughout it all, Heather is nice to her; she tried talking her through the wire challenge, even after how Bianca had treated her.

I was glad to see that; I was hoping it would count more than it did, but that's ok. She's obviously not invincible.

Yeah, it was. Even the judges were surprised at how beautiful it was.

The sad truth is that Heather will never be "normal," we will never be "normal," and NT people will never accept us for who we are or take us seriously. I respect Heather though; I would never put myself through the type of martyrdom she put herself through.

After watching the latest episode of ANTM I realized one thing: this show makes me feel depressed. To see the way Heather gets treated by the other contestants breaks my heart and brings back a lot of negative memories I'd rather leave buried in the past.

Last edited by Mw99 on 22 Nov 2007, 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I agree with you. I felt so uncomfortable that I found myself moving around the room straightening up (I never do this during tv time). I realized I was moving around to sort of move away from that pain - when she said "I wish I could get the joke" and Bianca said "You're the joke" I nearly cried.

Do you realize how much abuse and crap she is taking off everyone there (without one real ally) and yet she is holding it together so much better than Lisa and even Bianca at the challenge.

GO HEATHER!

The fact that she did try to help Bianca and calm her down at the challenge speaks volumes for Heather's kind spirit. Even after Bianca has been the meanest to her and the ringleader of the mean comments.

It was sort of an Instant Karma night.

Bianca was on Heather's case like "Just don't be so weird - get over it" and later "I can't just stop being afraid of heights just like that, I can't just get over it" lol

I think there is a segment of the modeling world that is going to eat Heather up and make her a super star. Just think - a model who is not a diva, is not a party girl or drug abuser, is not anorexic, will show up on time and work hard (taking your direction and doing the shoot just the way you want it done) and deliver outstandingly beautiful photos.

She may not be an actress or spokesperson (at least not right away) but for print ads I think she's a dream come true for any agency.

They don't want her to be normal, they want her to deliver her lines. Heather herself knows she has a problem with Stage Fright. Stage Fright is not an inability to deliver the lines, it is an actual condition that can be treated with medication and therapy. They knew and she knew before going into the competition that she would have 'reasonable accommadation' and Tyra Banks rightly pointed out to her she was getting more coaching than others.

I could barely watch it as the familiar position of being the one left with out a bed, or being guilted into giving mine up because someone else was 'more worthy' because they were 'not disabled'.
Or being poked and provoked because it was so much fun to watch me take it all so seriously.
Afraid to retaliate because I wouldn't know my own strength.

Then I got to thinking, I have made a lot of progress in my life, I have never had the luxury of retiring from a challenge because I was not 'normal' because I never knew I was not. Heather knows she is not 'normal' and choses to challenge herself anyway.

Perhaps she is struggling to NOT see herself as a martyr, to not think of herself as always clamming up when she needs to connect internally and speak out both to (that b***h) Bianca and in her commercials. It is called 'acting' and you have to get out of yourself to do it. The real challenge is can she find a way to DEAL with the girls that harass her? Her winning ANTM to me is if she can overcome herself and get out of her own way.

go Heather!

Merle

All the girls had a hard time delivering their lines, not just Heather.



How come there were not enough beds to begin with? You don't exactly suppose that was an accident, or do you?

Has she won yet?!

well, someone was going home shortly so someone didn't need a bed for very long. As they told me your job interview starts the moment you drop off your resume so any test they put you to is continuous. I mean, I am happy that Heather is on there, and have become very involved in her progress, but I have to remember this is a television reality show. I have watched decades of Survivor, I know reality TV. People get what they get out there in TV land.

Merle

She's made it very far... I hope she wins. Here's a great video about her I found on YouTube, someone may have posted it already though. I didn't want to go through a bunch of pages to find out though.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZWArtIXY5WA[/youtube]

I'm so glad Heather survived the commercial! Lisa was my second-fave and I'm sad she wilted in the last few weeks and had to go home. But I think that Heather is getting stronger. Developing a thick skin is not easy for us Aspies, and she's so young, but I think she's growing a lot and fast - maybe having to live with those people and compete with them accelerates it. Judges in these types of things like to see someone struggle and drop in the standings then pick themselves up again, as opposed to someone who is steadily good. It makes them more human and shows gumption. I think if she's strong (mentally and photographically) next week, she has a great shot to win.

And Tyra keeps talking about inner beauty - so why is she keeping Bianca?! The girl is adorable-looking but takes every opportunity to pick on Heather and try to make her "freak out" to then laugh at her. How can Tyra not see how ugly that is?

I love that You Tube video. I saw that episode but it's fun to watch again - especially fun to see the girls criticize Heather and know many of them have already gone home now.

Watching this video and watching this week's episode also there's a striking difference in how much Heather has grown and improved.

She's doing great!

It is my understanding that Tyra and the panel do not see the footage of the girls in their social situations. I have seen the other seasons and often unless someone makes a greivance ( Lisa who was drunk all day and drunk all night in Season 7 for example) and then Tyra steps in to talk to the young women about the dynamic in the house.

Other than that, it's a long, long job interview

Bianca should have gone home or at least have been in the bottom two or maybe the bottem 3
imean SHE DIDNT EVEN DO THE CHALLENGE! I know that heather is most likely going home soon but i just hope that bianca goes home before her

According to this document (http://www.cwtv.com/images/topmodel/antm_cylce9_eligibility.pdf) which specifies America's Next Top Model Cycle 9 eligibility requirements,

12. You must be in excellent physical and mental health.

15. (...) If selected for interviews, you must also submit to physical and mental examinations by medical professional(s) in Los Angeles selected by the Producers and meet all physical and psychological requirements.

19. The Producers are looking for a dynamic group of individuals who are articulate, interesting and exhibit enthusiasm for the Series as well as a willingness to share their most private thoughts in an open forum of strangers. This group of individuals, while meeting the technical requirements of the Series, must also have sufficient physical, psychological, and mental capacity to endure approximately two months in a monitored house under extraordinary conditions.


I personally don't believe that a person can have AS and still have "excellent" mental health. The producers either made an exception or felt that AS did not affect Heather's mental health.