America's Next Top Model: Cycle 10 - Episode 13

America's Next Top Model: Plus size prevails (Reality series -- CW; Wed.; 8 PM)

By KATHY LYFORD

A 10 by 10 Entertainment production with Pottle Productions and Ty Ty Baby Productions.
 
Related links: Season Pass
 

I have been saying for several weeks that the producers were hell-bent on having a plus-size winner this cycle. (Just ask my friend Lori. I said those exact words to her last week.) 

Well, they went and got themselves one, as Whitney beat out natural beauty Fatima and high-fashion prodigy Anya for the title.

If only I had devised a drinking game wherein I took a shot every time either Whitney or Tyra uttered the phrase "Plus Size" it would have been a much easier season to endure.

There's just not a whole lot to say here. After an utterly disastrous Cover Girl shoot in which Whitney was the only one who managed to do an entire take without blowing it, Fatima is sent home. She really was the only one with a model's look. But, as Paulina says, imperfections are what sets a girl apart. Hard to believe that coming from perfect Paulina.

So Anya and Whitney move on to the Versace runway show and they were both, you know, OK, but not spectacular. (I think that could be the tagline to this entire Cycle 10.) They each struggle with their problematic second gowns - Anya barely able to walk due to the narrowness of of the bottom of her dress and Whitney nearly faceplanting several times after repeatedly catching her heel in the flowy train.

At panel, none of the judges is overly effusive about either girl but they ultimately decide that Whitney is the lesser of two evils. And being normal sized sends a message to America... or something like that.

And after weeks and weeks of enduring whining and moaning about how difficult life is for Whitney being "plus-size" Tyra finally tells us that the proper term is "full figured model." You couldn't have told Whitney, and us, that weeks ago - just to break up the monotony? Thanks.

And, just to tide you over til next cycle, Tyra does that "smiling with her eyes" demonstration again. Woo!

Congratulations Whitney. May a Lane Bryant contract be in your futures. Except for the fact that she's like a size 8. Still smaller than 90% of the women in this country.