Adrian Varnedoe, PacificCoastNews.com

Many fans of America’s Next Top Model may not be aware that while one season airs, another is being run, and so this past week was quite the charged one for folks at ANTM. As this cycle is airing, ANTM is running round the world auditioning for next season’s hopefuls, and things got a little ugly this week for the New York City audition. Were they auditioning for ANTM or Girls Gone Wild, who knows, but quite a hubaloo was raised. In this week’s audition, one day of auditioning began with the usual charged excitement that accompanies ANTM auditions, but ended with six injuries and three arrests. The arrests were based on disorderly conduct and riot induction through the audition, as the girls got a little catty. Thousands of women appeared for the New York Casting Call that was held at the Park Central New York Hotel. In the lineup, a brawl broke out with 3 arrests and 6 injuries ending the day. Two of the injuries were sent to hospital, and the remaining 4 refused treatment. Outside of sheer cattiness, the police can’t say exactly how the fight was caused, and ANTM is still working with investigators on the situation. Two women and one man were the 3 arrests and charged with starting a riot and disorderly conduct. The man at some point rushed into the crowd in an effort to steal the girls’ handbags. After the brawl, auditions were cancelled and the girls were sent home, with a scene that was left that has been described as a littering of shoes and clothes on the streets of New York. But they would have been small shoes, mind you, as this cycle’s auditions are only being opened to women 5’7” or shorter, as Tyra adds a new twist to ANTM as a reflection of her desire to challenge the fashion industries conventions. As a side note on this twist, I’m not thrilled about it. From a ‘breaking the mold’ standpoint, I see what she is trying to do and I applaud that. But as far as this working in fashion? Anyone that knows runway knows the tall girls prevail. Just ME though! On the incident however, Tyra released a statement to her short little model hopefuls:

“To all the Top Model hopefuls who were affected by the New York casting, we are doing everything we can to make sure that ALL the girls who weren’t seen, get an opportunity to audition - we’ll update you on our plans very soon. It is so important to me to redefine beauty, and make sure that everyone gets a fair chance to pursue their dream. I am beyond excited for Cycle 13; for the first time ever, young women 5′7″ and under have a shot at becoming America’s Next Top Model! I encourage each girl to come out ready to rock the runway and show off their fiercest pose. I’m rooting for all of you!”

In an industry where not only is thin “in”, it is a mandatory standard, America’s Next Top Model has surprised the world and the high fashion industry by selecting a full-figured girl to be this cycle’s competition winner. The winner of this season’s cycle is Whitney Thompson, pictured right here with the runners up Fatima Siad (left) and Anna Bradfield (center) at the CW Network 2008 Upfronts held at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. You’d never guess by looking at Whitney that she is a plus-sized, but in high fashion, any size that will not fit into sample runway sizes is plus-sized, and those generally range from size 2 to size 6. And this was Whitney’s struggle all season when she would run into designers who didn’t have her size 8 in stock. Nonetheless, all through the season Whitney was making history by being the first ANTM plus-sized girl to get “this far”. It should come as no surprise that she’s the season winner, as Tyra Banks, show producer, has been speaking very loudly about women’s health and weight concerns, and there are even some rumors that Whitney won the show so that she, and the show, could be used as a platform to showcase this for Tyra. Either way, the fashion industry has made a very bold statement, let’s hope this is not just “for looks” and that there is some follow through here, as waves like this could certainly sway industry norms for a long time to come.

How many is that now? Twins for the Brangelinas! ~ Hollywire

Sexy Girly Kiss on Tape! Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz Go At It! ~ Celebrity Body Gossip

Finally! A Plus-Sized Girl Smokes Out the Skinny Chicks on America’s Next Top Model ~ Bitten and Bound

Lauren Conrad Gets Fall Down Drunk! ~ I Don’t Want Your Life

You would never guess from looking at her peaches and cream complexion, but Caridee, a former winner of America’s Next Top Model once struggled with a horrible skin condition known as psoriasis. Caridee has talked openly about her struggle with psoriasis, saying that it was debilitating to the point where she was embarrassed to even be seen by anyone. She would wear long pants and shirts and wouldn’t go out in public because people would stare. Now she is putting a pretty face to the disease by letting people know psoriasis is not the end. Caridee is in Miami to raise funds and awareness at the second annual Psoriasis Walk. It is always great to see celebs putting their faces on important causes, but when they make the cause personal as Caridee has, it means so much more. Here is Caridee showing off her pretty face at the Verizon BlackBerry Launch.

Source: WBIR

The premiere of reality TV show America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 9, aired tonight @ 8:00pm. What a fab show! Oh ya, these girls actually look like models this year, and so it’s already better than last season. Out of over 20 contestants, 13 girls were chosen to live in the LA mansion for the competition. One of the girls’ moms is a crackhead, another girl comes from the horse county of the world, and another goes to Yale. It’s going to be a totally fabulous and fun-packed season, so stay tuned for updates! Also, feel free to post comments on the episode. Btw, is Tyra going swimming?

America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 8, winner Jaslene Gonzalez is on this month’s cover of Seventeen Magazine. It’s totally unfortunate for Seventeen since now it looks more like a cover for GQ. She really looks like a tranny and she’s definitely not licious!

Jaslene’s photographed above @ the Cycle 8 runway show finale. What can i say!? The backstabbing, stick thin with no curves @ all, fugly, ghetto talking girl wins as the “top model”. She can’t even speak proper English! How is she going to represent CoverGirl!? Oh well, they made their bed… now they can lie in it! Oh, the OUTRAGE!! Natasha, the Russian girl, who wasn’t even born in the USA, was atleast able to speak properly and she was naturally beautiful. She didn’t need make-up to transform HER looks! Well, I guess it could be worse, the master schemer… Renee could have won. That really would have sucked! And, atleast Natasha, the girl with the fabulous personality and friendly, warm smile (perfect for CoverGirl), was able to get a free trip to Australia!

This week the girls have a photo shoot where they are body painted and must use traditional clothing and Aboriginal dance to express themselves. Most of the girls have a  great time with it except Dionne who has a problem with dancing and Natasha who was bitterly sick during this shoot.

The girls also decide to go out on the town one night and leave Natasha behind since she was sick. Which gives them the perfect opportunity to bad talk the poor girl. The girls continue to attack Natasha even in front of the judges.

Thankfully the judges see past that and realize that the other models are just jelous of Natasha since she is one of their biggest competition, eventhough the others do not see it that way.

Finally, it is between Dionne and Natasha in the bottom two and Dionne ends up getting the boot. The expression on the other models faces is priceless. I must say I am on team Natasha and hope she wins !