America's Next Top Model might not have ever had a transgender black woman on the show before, but since it's inception, Tyra Banks has clearly been dedicated to furthering the cause for black models — or at least, black reality show personalities. In preparation for the next in ANTM's countless, never-ending series of cycles, here are some (not all) of the black models how have been vying to become America's next top model for the past five years.

CONTINUED »

Transgender reality show contestants are all the rage these days, with a trans woman vying to win the dubious honor of waiting on Sean Combs hand and foot on VH1 and another on the latest cycle of America's Next Top Model.

ANTM's Isis, a 22-year-old Maryland native, describes herself as "a woman born physically male" who would "like to help people, but [is on the show] to follow [her] dreams."

It would not be surprising in the least if TB & Co. also cast a super-conservative evangelical from some Southern state who will clash with Isis until such time that they learn valuable lessons from one another or one of them gets eliminated for not being fierce enough or refusing to get her hair cut or losing that delightful spark she had during auditions. [US]

Tyra Banks has apparently decided to stop just talking about fierceness. She now wants to award people for it. She had her first annual "Fiercee" ceremony during a taping of her talk show Friday. As far as I can tell from the red carpet photos, the Fiercees were attended by a couple of confused-looking real models and a lot of ex-America's Next Top Model contestants wearing dresses they picked out from the advertising insert in Seventeen's prom issue. So what are the Fiercees? Do we care? Even Tyra looks confused.

CONTINUED »

Last night the ladies of Top Model covered themselves in makeup and then even more paint as the the battle to look beautiful raged on. According to the ANTM judges, contestant Marvita looked the least pretty while slathered in goo, so she was asked to leave. Fin.

Click through for the messy photos.

CONTINUED »

Last night the living wire hangers of Top Model were forced to drape themselves in flesh and blood as they continued their journeys toward fame and fortune. Cute, but how to distinguish one cold piece of meat from the next?

After the jump, the hopeful models in the flesh.

CONTINUED »

Essence threw a party in NYC yesterday for Tyra Banks, its February cover girl. Some of her former ANTM contestants (of color) were on hand to toast their one-time mentor, along with Idris Elba (who DJed), Jay Manuel (of course), and Sam Fine (remember our interview with him last year?), and others. Pics after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Really? Already? Tyra, the CW, and all of us who are unfortunately compelled to watch America's Next Top Model are already gearing up for Cycle 10 of the best/worst competition show on television.

I started watching Bravo's Tyson Beckford and Nikki Taylor-hosted Make Me A Supermodel recently, and it's crazy how the caliber of contestants on that brand new show is already so much higher than ANTM's mediocre wannabes. It looks like there could be some winners in this cycle's crop, though. Check 'em out after the jump.

CONTINUED »

• I was really expecting Janet to come harder than this. [DM]

• America's Next Top Model Even Though She Was Already A Model Before The Show covers Seventeen. [NB]

• New Jersey officially says sorry to the slaves. Unfortunately, the slaves aren't really in a position to accept the apology. [CNN]

• Yes, Eminem still exists. We know this because he was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia. He's recovering and apparently weighs over 200 lbs. [MTV]

• New Hampshire's running out of ballots … on the Democrat side. Go figure. [UB]

• All that fur wearing rarely goes unnoticed these days. [Bossip]

Chris Brown's major, Target-sponsored record release bash went down last night at NYC's Tenjune. And, just for you, I stood outside, shoving my microphone in famous (in some cases, I use the term loosely) peoples' faces as the winds from the Hudson River froze my extremities. You'll see Styles P, Keith Robinson of Dreamgirls fame, who also stars in This Christmas with the man of honor, BET's Egypt, Kat Deluna, Nik from season 5 of America's Next Top Model, Melyssa Ford, a boisterous Petey Pablo, two-thirds of TGT (that's the two T's, Tank and Tyrese*), and, while you'll see Chris Brown, you won't actually hear from him. According to the publicists, he needed to rest his voice. Whatever, divo!

*My opinions about the supergroup softened after witnessing their enthusiasm.

They have names like the Infamous Lisa B, Weavin’ Steven, Little Willie, Big Bad D, and Color Me Vic. No, they’re not rappers. They’re hair dressers. Excuse me, hair entertainers. And they’re just some of the creative experts that keep Hair Wars, an African American hair show known for its outrageous designs, afloat.

It all started in the '80s at Detroit nightclubs, where David “Hump the Grinder” Humphries, a promoter and DJ, would stage hair shows as entertainment in the middle of parties. He knew nothing about hair or hair styling, but he knew he was onto something when he saw how well-received the hair shows were.

From the nightclub gimmick arose Hair Wars, a monster touring hair show that has piqued the curiosity of the mainstream media and made stars of its stylists. And there is nothing else like it.

CONTINUED »

• Here's Lisa from America's Next Top Model 5 proving that modeling isn't the only thing she sucks at. [EBG]

• If Al Sharpton's not your leader and you have been thinking for yourself your whole life, stand up! [WP]

• Biggies, Biggies everywhere! I bet the guy who pulled up in the Escalade gets the part. He's already got the swagger down. [NYT]

• Oh, if only I was the type of person to get up early and wait in line for Roberto Cavalli's H&M line. [BV]

• Shaunie wants Shaq back? Either she doesn't stand to get very much money in the divorce or this is bizarro world. [Bossip]

Oh, J. Alexander. Can't live with him, can't– Well, I doubt many of us would have any trouble living without him, but he's certainly entertaining when he's around.

THE fiercest judge on "America's Next Top Model," Miss J. Alexander, describes his style on the new sea- son as "dirty, filthy, nasty and fabulous." The catwalk queen gave us a hint as to who wins the latest cycle of Tyra Banks' catty modeling contest, which has started airing. "She's extremely religious," said Miss J.

Dirty, filthy, nasty, fabulous, and with a really big mouth? Tyra's not going to be pleased with that one, Miss J.

[PS]

• I ddin't feel like this woman didn't deserved her own post, but she's clearly gotten what she wanted all across the blogosphere. Check out Adrianne Curry, aka the first winner of America's Next Top Model, rage against Black History Month. [YBF]

• They really thought a DNA test was necessary to verify James Brown is this woman's daddy? [Bossip]

• Of course, Jim Jones had to wait until the cameras were rolling and his reality show producers were trying to talks business before he decided to count his money 25 times. [SOHH]

• Lil Wayne does his best Gollum impression on the cover of the November Vibe. [C&D]

• O.J. Simpson's armed robbery accuser is clearly not an asset to the prosecution. [TSG]

Tyra knows that if one of the contestants on America's Next Top Model posed like this in a photo, she, Twiggy, Nigel Barker, noted fashion photographer, and Miss Jay would be ready with all sorts of faux-witty disparaging comments. But I suppose she operates under different modeling rules — one of which is that its okay to pose like you're squatting on the toilet as long as you look fierce doing it!

[Bossip]