High-Fashion Icons to be Judges on New Season of 'America's Next Top Model'
by Chris Harnick, posted Sep 8th 2010 11:00AM
Turns out, 'America's Next Top Model' can get even more fashion-oriented than it already is.According to the Hollywood Reporter, top industry names are replacing the gaggle of celebrities that have appeared in the as guest judges during past cycles. Judges on tap for the high fashion-focused cycle 15 (Wed., Sept. 8 at 8PM on The CW) include Diane von Furstenberg, Zac Posen, Roberto Cavalli, photographer Patrick Demarchelier and photographer-director Matthew Rolston.
After 15 cycles, what changed things for the series? A partnership with Italian Vogue.
"No one confesses out loud to watching [the show]," executive producer Ken Mok told the Los Angeles Times. "But the second we went out and told the world that Italian Vogue was going to be the prize ... that completely opened the doors, carte blanche, to any and everybody we wanted."
The modeling agency switched to IMG from Wilhelmina Models. Additionally, instead of getting a spread in consumer-oriented magazines such as Marie Claire, Seventeen and Elle, the winner will appear in a six- to eight-page spread in Italian Vogue early next year, and another spread in the May 2011 supplement Beauty in Vogue.
'America's Next Top Model' averaged 5 million viewers when it aired on its original network, UPN, but last season it dropped to 3.3 million viewers.
Tell us: Does having high-fashion names make you more likely to check out the new season of 'America's Next Top Model'?

1 Comment