really winners

have you wondered where the winners of reality television series go after their time on-screen ends? the last couple of days got me thinking. for one, we know that the first american idol, kelly clarkson, is doing very well. however beyond american idol, are you able to name some of the winners from other reality television series? if not, this is your quick update on where are they now.

1) project runway: jay mccarroll

Jay McCarroll

as the winner of the show's first season, mccarroll was awarded $100,000, a mentorship from banana republic and a spot in the prestigious 2005 new york fashion week event. however, jay turned down the money and the mentorship, citing a contractual clause stipulating that the project runway production company would own a 10% stake of all his professional ventures in perpetuity. the company has since dropped this clause.

in april 2008 mccarroll launched his blog and designer fashion boutique, the colony by jay mccarroll. after leaving new york, mccarroll now teaches at philadelphia university and has a fashion line on qvc. mccarroll is a designer for field of view winter guard in west chester, pennsylvania. 

mccarroll also won the seventh season of celebrity fit club on vh1, having lost 40 pounds over the course of his time on the show.

2) america's next top model: adrianne curry

curry was signed to wilhelmina models in new york city. she has modeled for several magazines and has appeared in a commercial for the merit diamonds sirena collection that ran from november 2004 to january 2006.

Adrianne Curry

curry appeared on the cover and in a nude pictorial for playboy in february 2006. she returned for a second cover and nude pictorial in the january 2008 issue. curry made playboy's 2008 top 25 sexiest women, along with the top 100 playboy spreads 2008 edition. christopher knight proposed to curry on the season finale of my fair brady. the show was renewed for a second season and focused on the couple's wedding preparations. the couple announced their separation on may 29, 2011. the couple filed for divorce on august 19, 2011.

adrianne hosted live coverage of blizzcon in 2011, as well as hosting live from e3 for namco bandai in both 2011 and 2012. most recently, adrianne has teamed up with comic book legend stan lee to create her show 'superfans'.

3) popstars (uk): hear'say

Hear'Say

the winners of the series - danny foster, myleene klass, kym marsh, suzanne shaw and noel sullivan - formed the group hear’say. hear’say went on to sell three million records worldwide and scored two uk number one singles before disbanding eighteen months after their formation. today, klass is a television presenter, while marsh and shaw are actors in television soap operas. sullivan is a west end theatre performer, while foster has made occasional appearances in reality television shows.

fash'on... BAM!

really judges

in the world of reality television, judges come in various form, shapes and sizes. there are those who are experts in their respective fields, some who are there for mere entertainment and of course, the audience play judge for some shows as well. just a side note about audiences as judge, do you notice how when contestants are eliminated from a show (via audience vote), the studio audience seems surprisingly alarmed and shocked at the results? excuse me, the fellow is given the boot because you didn't vote, what's so surprising about that? get a grip yourself.

anyway, here's a look some of my favourite (current and upcoming) judges from reality television!

1) america's next top model: the jays

The Jays

what's not to love about the duo of 'miss j. alexander' and jay manuel?

i was pretty disappointed with the firing and the latest season just seems a little lacklustre. miss j is always quirky and unexpected. jay manuel, with the cool hair colours, is the mentor to the girls. both of them brought a nice balance to the show. well, we can only remember them in images.

2) american idol: nicki minaj and mariah carey

Mariah Carey, Ryan Seacrest & Nicki Minaj

these two have made headlines even before the show is on-air. if you don't know what i'm talking about, here's a clip.

anyway, i'll be watching this duo closely because in terms of body shapes, they are rather similar. both mariah and nicki are curvy so it'll be interesting to see what the stylists present them with. 

3) the apprentice: carolyn kepcher and ivanka trump

women in power suits! enough said, haha! personally, i think seeing women talk business on television is a huge source of inspiration for womenfolk especially in asia where many still think that the world of business is primarily for the men.

anyway, beyond the apprentice, both women often go for classic cuts and simple dresses. 

fash'on... BAM!

really trashy

trashy picture? Brittani from ANTM

if you were thrown a sewing machine, parts of a car, a bag of leaves, plastic bags and some paper wrappers, what would you do? many reality television series that revolve around dress-making and fashion often have such random challenges where seemingly insignificant or impossible materials (in other words, trash) are given to the contestants to re-create into wearable fashion. well, if you ask me, i think it brings couture to a whole new meaning. anyhow, here is a showcase of clothes which are handmade by contestants and handpicked by me for critique.

1) project runway: newspaper dress

the challenge? to make a dress using newspaper. 

i'm a tad divided when it comes to commenting on this group of dresses because should i credit the ones who made newspaper look un-newspaper or should honour be given to those who capitalise on the uniqueness of the material that they have been given. i guess in a competition setting, one always attempts to stand out and be different but my favourite would have to be christopher!

my favourite newspaper dress

i like how it brings out the white, black and greyness of newspaper and structurally, it combines the toughness of the corset with a juxtaposition against a skirt of fluidity and movement.

2) rupaul's drag race: rupocalypse now!

since the world is ending in a few days' time, might as well pull up some recycled fashion that has to do with the end of the world. for this particular episode, the contestants had to take articles of clothing off previous drag queens and the looks they presented? scary...

this episode was also the premiere of the season hence the looks were a little raw but the look that takes the cake, or rather, looks like a messed up cake goes to jiggly caliente.

yup, the end of all fashion!

the outfit is so bad that it lives up to the title of this post. really trashy. colours are off, the form off, the fit is off. if i didn't recall wrongly, bits of the 'dress' fell off during the runway walk. truly a dress for the end of the world.

3) project runway: car parts challenge

this is a tough one. taking parts of a car and stitching it into a dress. well, i must say that some of the dresses are very impressive.

so here's a little piece of advice before you toss out that bag of trash. maybe, hand it over to a contestant from some reality series and you might be able to save a heap on your next outfit.

fash'on... BAM!

really different

there are some series that you watch for the sheer entertainment value, for the drama, the laughs and the tears when contestants interact. then there are the shows that you watch for the fashion and the physical changes that occur. i remember the times when 'survivor' was the only reality television series around and the social dynamics were the only highlight. after the success of that series, a slew of reality series followed and some transformed normal civilians into stars, as long as you had the 'it factor' (which differs from show to show). one of my favourite parts of reality television was the multiple makeovers that one witnesses as the series progresses. it gives one hope that someday, if i work hard and last thirteen weeks of elimination, i can look like that.

Bae Yong Joon

so here are three picks that i feel look really different, thanks to their reality television makeovers!

1) america's next top model: ann ward

Ann Ward

this show needs no introduction or further description but what is evident about the makeovers is this: the hairstyles (or looks) that we select for ourselves are never 'fierce' enough. we always need the masters of makeover to aid us in going from drab to fab! anyway, my all-time favourite has to be ann ward from cycle 15 because her transformation was nothing short of a fairytale. from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan, who does not love a lovely ending?

 

ann has since been signed to img models in new york city. her cover of beauty in vogue was published in may 2011 and her editorial in vogue italia was published in march 2011. instead of having a two-page spread, she received a five-page spread in vogue italia.

i say: never belittle the power of contact lenses and a new hairdo!

2) the biggest loser: ali vincent

Ali Vincent

the show she participates says it all. why ali vincent is one of my choices is because she is the first female to win the show and she went on to be a huge inspiration to many people who want to make changes in the lifestyles that they were leading. this is especially crucial in america since it is the country with the highest rate of obesity.

in september 2011, ali vincent began hosting her own show, live big with ali vincent, a half-hour series on the live well network. besides lifestyle and motivation, the show offers advice on shopping, cooking, working out, etc.

i say: the best workouts are still the ones that we actually commit to and do regularly.

3) rupaul's drag race: alexis mateo

Alexis Mateo

this is one show that will never make it to the screens of singapore television but thanks to technology (and a friend who is a downloading expert), i get my regular drag race fix. alexis mateo is probably not outstanding as a reality contestant but i loved the personality so much so that i've infused her signature phrase into my blog (unfortunately, i can't find a video online). 

this show has its fair share of critiques but from a viewer's standpoint, i think there is value in it when one observes beyond the hair, make-up and outfits. it is an industry and the careers of many. takes a performer to understand another and hence, the feature as one of my top three makeovers.

i say: big hair, long lashes and a whole lot of tucking... viola, you have yourself a queen!

fash'on... BAM!