With the help of hosts Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford, Bravo is on the hunt for the next great supermodel with their latest reality series, Make Me A Supermodel. Over a 12-week period, 14 hopefuls, comprised of seven males and seven females, will live together in a New York City loft while undergoing a series of creative challenges designed to test their professional modeling potential.
During the run of the series, viewers will vote each week to determine who stays to walk the catwalk again and who goes home, as the finalists compete for $100,000 and a modeling contract with New York Model Management -- a professional modeling agency committed to promoting top talent and exciting new faces to the fashion industry, with a roster of models that includes Elle Macpherson, Sarah O’Hare, Omahyra, Travis and Mathias.
Co-hosts Taylor and Beckford, supermodels in their own right, spoke with MediaBlvd Magazine about what it will take for one of these hopefuls to become supermodel.
MediaBlvd> Do you feel that reality TV has opened up a whole new way to break into a very competitive career?
Niki Taylor> It’s come down to reality TV, which is a great way to get exposure and get your name out there. We still have our fashion shows and there's still editorial for inside the magazine. A few more doors that are being opened up too.
Tyson Beckford> It is definitely easier now to get a modeling job now than it was when we came up. It was definitely harder then.
MediaBlvd> What’s it like to see all the new opportunities that are available for people who want to pursue a modeling career?
Niki> It’s definitely changed since Tyson and I first started. There are celebrities on the covers of magazines when there used to be models on the covers. Now, the modeling world is more commercialized.
Tyson> It’s definitely a change because they’re using more celebrities for ad campaigns whereas the big name supermodels are not around. We’re still around, but we haven’t been hired for those jobs, per se. It’s easy to get Jennifer Lopez to shoot a Gucci ad, or a Louis Vuitton ad. They want to sell more celebrity now than supermodels.
MediaBlvd> Regarding celebrities on magazine covers, are you territorial about that sort of thing?
Tyson> They come in for a little while and then they’ll go out and the models will be back in again. As far as we understand right now, the actors need the work, so we’re willing to share.
MediaBlvd> If this show had existed when you were starting out, would you have done it?Tyson> I think anyone would want the opportunity to get better at their craft, whether it be acting or modeling.
Niki> Yeah, absolutely.
MediaBlvd> What was it about the premise of this show that most appealed to you and made you want to be part of it?
Niki> This show was positive. It was nurturing. And, it’s different from the other shows because we have guys and girls. It’s got an American Idol twist to it, where America gets to vote for who stays in the house. I just thought it was a neat idea and Bravo always does such a great job with their shows.
Tyson> The idea of bringing men into the house separates us from any other show, right off the bat. It’s great because it also gives guys an opportunity. It’s rougher for us in this business because it is a woman’s business and we’re definitely lucky to even be in the same business with women. That’s what attracted me to the show. I get to represent for the guys.
MediaBlvd> Other than having guys, how does this show differ from America’s Next Top Model?
Niki> America gets to vote. And, we do have our panel judges. We have Jennifer Starr, who’s a fashion casting director, and Cory Bautista, who’s the Agency Director at New York Models.
Tyson> And, we’re shooting here in New York, the fashion capital of the world. It’s not in some studio in LA. I’ve been on America’s Next Top Model, and I’ve done some judging for them, and it’s totally different. We push the kids into a real work environment. Theirs is kind of made up, so there’s more drama. We want less drama. We want more on the runway. We want more in the photo shoots. We want them to really work. We’re not going to have them just sitting around.
MediaBlvd> Is it important for a guy model to be tall?
Tyson> From my experience in the business, I’d say male models should be between 5'10" and 6'2". Any taller or any shorter, the clothes don’t fit. The in-seam is usually around a 32. For a 32 in-seam, the guy should be around 5'11" or 6'.
MediaBlvd> What else should viewers know about males in modeling?
Tyson> Height is a good thing. Sometimes, you can send him off to work and he could be an asset to a woman. It could be a supporter shoot, where it’s just mainly about the women and then the guy is more of an accessory. There are a lot of guys that do photo shoots like that. I did it for Naomi Campbell, for many years. I started out as an accessory to her. It brings us more into it and it helps us to get the bigger paycheck as well.
MediaBlvd> Even though the title of the show is Make Me A Supermodel, isn’t it true that when it comes to being a supermodel, you’ve either you got it or you don’t?
Niki> It’s really all up to the client. Each different client campaign designer is looking for his or her own look. It’s kind of like acting, but without words.
MediaBlvd> With so many reality shows, the judges take on certain personalities. Is there anything like that on this show?
Tyson> I think I’m the Simon. Niki’s the sweet one. I tell them all the time not to be mad at me, but I’m always going to tell them the truth. If someone’s not right, I’m going to tell them. No matter where, when or what, you have to have a thick skin in this business, and I’m only telling them to help them. I’m not telling them to chop them down, or to be mean or degrading. None of us are trying to do that. But, being a “supermodel” is a big title and the whole world is looking for a flaw. So, if I can spot the flaw before the world sees it, and help you correct it, it’s only going to be better for you.
MediaBlvd> How much do the two of you interact with the models?
Tyson> It’s a seven-day week, and we’re hands on with these kids. I’ll pull them aside and say, “Hey, you need to do this. You need to do that.” I’ll even show up on days that they don’t expect me to show up. We’re definitely here for them, which is just going to help them to become better models and to understand from experience, and someone who’s done it before, rather than having someone from an agency tell you, “Oh, you’ve got to deal with this.” The agents themselves don’t know what it’s like to be on the other side of the table, whereas we do.
MediaBlvd> What kind of challenges can viewers expect to see the models going through on the show?
Niki> Every week, there’s something new, from walking in heels to posing nude for some sculptors in New York at the University. Each week, we have a different theme, but it’s the basics -- shoots and a lot of runway work. Like Tyson has said, 60% of modeling is runway.
MediaBlvd> You let one girl go because she was too skinny. Did you just want to make sure that there wasn’t anyone on the show with an eating disorder?
Tyson> We don’t want that. We definitely want to set a good example and let people know that eating disorder models are not what’s hot. It’s not hot to be anorexic. And, for those designers who are still using anorexic models, shame on them.
MediaBlvd> The youngest contestant is 19, but in the real world, models seem to start 16 or younger. Do these hopefuls really have a chance to build a career, if they should get so lucky to be signed by an agency after the show?
Niki> I started at 14.
Tyson> I started at 22. It’s definitely different for guys and girls. And, Europe takes them around 14. In the U.S., they like them around 18 because it’s so much easier to deal with them and not have to deal with the stage moms.
MediaBlvd> Do either of you have a contestant that you see yourself in?
Tyson> I have my favorite girl, and I have my favorite guy. I have my keep-an-eye-on girl, and my keep-an-eye-on guy. And, I’ve also got the ones I’m going to help a little more than the others. There’s a couple of them that are shy, and I know what it’s like to be shy. To help break somebody out of that is really going to help them, and it’s also going to make for great television.
Niki> As the show keeps going, I think you’re going to see the contestants come out of their shell and you’ll really get to know them.
MediaBlvd> What is your advice for the contestants?
Tyson> I just always tell them that we’re not saving any lives, but we are changing them. And, take advantage of all the great opportunities that life has to offer because you never know when it’s your last.
Niki> We’re given such a great opportunity to travel the world, and we get paid very well for it. Plus, you get to work with amazing artists. It’s the best job ever.
MediaBlvd> What do you anticipate the contestants wanting to ask you about?
Niki> The public is judging them, so they’re going to have to work in front of a lot of people. And, they are going to have to get out of their comfort zone and do some things that they don’t want to do. We’re just there to help them through it. Our main goal is to keep these kids humble. So, we’ll encourage them and give them our experiences, and little tips here and there.
MediaBlvd> Do you have advice for the winner on how to sustain success after the cameras are off?
Tyson> Basically, listen to your booker.
Niki > And, don’t sign anything without legal advice. Have fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously. Tyson and I both feel that it’s just modeling. It’s what we do, not who we are.
MediaBlvd> What’s the secret to staying in the business for many years?
Niki> Having a good head on your shoulders, being humble and working to give the client what they want and what they’re looking for. And, being able to sell the magazine and sell the clothing, or whatever you’re wearing. The numbers speak for themselves. If the magazine did really well, then they’ll book that person again.
Tyson> And, always be able to reinvent yourself. Never be outdated.
MediaBlvd> Are you having any celebrity guests or guest designers on the show that the contestants are really excited about, or that you guys are planning on having on?
Tyson> We will have some celebrity guests and designers, but not anyone that the kids know about. Everything is going to come as a surprise to them. They’re not going to know anything. We’re going to leave them in the dark.
Niki> They should all be excited. We’ve got some really great designers, and they’re going to be a part of Fashion Week. They haven’t picked which designer they’re going to go to, but they’re bringing in stylists and it’s all about the fashion.
MediaBlvd> Do you find yourself being more critical or understanding of these new up-and-coming models because you’ve been through it?
Niki> Definitely more understanding. We’ve definitely had to go on go-sees. We’ve had to strip down to our swimsuits. And, we’ve gotten turned away, lots of times. These kids are going straight into a loft in New York City and they’ve got to do whatever challenge that the judges or the panel has for them, so it’s definitely a lot different. It’s a different kind of modeling world, from when Tyson and I first started.
MediaBlvd> Do you tell the contestants to appreciate what they have?
Tyson > We definitely want them to do that. I think that’s why I’m a little bit harder on them than Niki is. I know what it’s like to go on the go-sees and carry around a little book and not have anyone even want to look at it, until somebody big says, “Okay, I want to shoot you.” Then, everybody wants to see you. I would go back to the same designer that I saw maybe a week prior, but now I had Bruce Weber underneath my belt, so I was cool to that designer. I would still go in with the same attitude as I went with before, and not that, “Oh, well, now you want to see me because I just shot with Bruce,” attitude. I would never do that. I would always be like, “Hey, nice to see you guys again.” I’d be happy to be going back to that same designer, hoping they would see something that Bruce saw, that they didn’t see the week prior. You’ve got to always stay humble. That’s one of the problems with this new bunch of kids coming into the industry. They’re already saying, “Oh, I won’t wear this.” If you gave me a thong and said, “You’ve got to wear these heels and this thong down 42nd Street, I would be like, ‘Sure!’” Where you don’t want to do it, there’s going to be another guy or girl who’s going to be willing and able. You can’t be telling people what you want to do and what you can’t do. You should be happy you got a job. I lay down the law. People at home might be thinking, “Oh, he’s being too hard.” No, I’m not being too hard on them. I’m being what it was when I was there. When I was coming up in the 90's, that’s what it was. I want them to feel that same thing. And, I think everyone that comes through this show as a contestant, is going to think, “Man, he seems hard, but he’s really helping us.”
MediaBlvd> A lot of times, models have excuses about why they can’t do certain things. What do you guys think is the most tired, horrible excuse for not doing your job as a model?
Niki> That’s why we’re models. We want to work. We want to be busy, everyday. I would fight for this job.
Tyson> A model has to keep a bag by the door and be ready to go at the drop of a dime.
My manager always used to tease me and say, “Boy, if I could clone you, we could make a killing,” because I’d be wanted on jobs in Africa, Paris, L.A., New York and Miami, and it’d all be on the same day.
Niki> And, if you are too tired, or you’re out partying, or doing whatever, then the job is going to go to the next person.
Tyson> Somebody else was always on hold. There’s always someone else at another agency, on hold, ready to take your job. There were times when I jumped to two continents just to get the jobs, and then would try to catch a third continent.
MediaBlvd> What are some of the most common mistakes that aspiring models make?
Niki> The common mistake is saying, “I’m not going to wear that,” or “This make-up looks awful.” Or, when they think that they have an opinion in the shoot, when it’s the client that booked you, and it’s up to the hair and make-up and creative team. They’re going to be trained and molded by the fashion industry’s most influential people. So, if I were them, I would take the advice and do what I’m told.
MediaBlvd> Are you noticing that contestants are very media savvy about doing things on the show to get attention or create drama?
Tyson> I don’t know. If that happens, I’m going to shut it down. I don’t think that’s what being a supermodel is all about. We didn’t do things to get into the media’s eye. We just did them because it was a job. We wanted it. Who didn’t want to shoot with Patrick Demarchelier and Steven Klein? It wasn’t to say, “If I shoot with that guy, it’s going to make me a supermodel, and it’s going to make me a millionaire.” We just did it because it was the thing to do. You wanted to build up more images for your book.
Niki> As the competition goes and they get into the house, their personalities are going to come out and I’m sure that there's going to be a little drama. A little drama’s always good.
Tyson> Yeah, but I don’t think any of these kids are saying to themselves, “Okay, I’m going to do this to get the attention,” because me and Niki will see right through that, and I’m pretty sure the producers will too. There’s a couple corny, cheesy people in the house, but we’ll fix that. That won’t be a problem.
MediaBlvd> Do you think the American public is savvy enough about the modeling industry to pick the next supermodel?
Niki> Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Tyson> After so many years of seeing so many people, I think America has a good fashion opinion and they can pick somebody. And, they’ve got our help too. They’re not going to sit there and have to pick by themselves. We’ve narrowed it down for them. They just have to pick out of these 14 contestants. They can’t mess that up.
MediaBlvd> What’s been most satisfying thing about being a supermodel?
Tyson> The travel. Travel is always good. I always love the traveling part. And, no one can deny the pay. But, the women’s rate is bigger than everybody else’s. They can brag about that.
Niki> I am in total agreement with Tyson. We both have gotten to travel to different countries and meet different people. We’ve worked with some amazing artists, photographers and hair and make-up people, and we’ve gotten to wear some really amazing clothes and tried different foods.
MediaBlvd> What were some of your favorite places to visit?
Tyson> I loved going to Europe. That was fun for me. I loved it when we had to do those tropical shoots. I loved going to the islands, from Jamaica to Hawaii. It didn’t matter. I was just happy to get out of New York City.
Niki> I was just always happy to get another stamp in my passport. I loved Australia and the Galapagos Islands.
MediaBlvd> Have you ever been in a situation where you said no to a client?
Niki> For myself, it was over lingerie. I did swimsuits because I’m from Miami and we were always in swimsuits. But, lingerie was just something a little too personal for me. That’s for my husband. That’s probably the only thing I would say no to. And, Playboy.
Tyson> I’ve been offered a lot of nudes myself, but I never really found the need to do it. Every time someone would ask me, I’d always think of what my mom would be sitting there doing, as she looked at her boy, showing everybody his goods. So, I’ve always stayed away from it. I used to always tell Bruce Weber no. He would ask me, but I’d tell him no.
MediaBlvd> What does the term “supermodel” mean to both of you? And, was there a time when you both said, “I'm a supermodel”?
Tyson> I still haven’t said that one yet.
Niki> No, me neither. A supermodel is somebody who has campaigned and done the runway shows, every season. It’s not just the one editorial job here and the one catalog job there. It’s how much you’ve sold your book in campaigns. I never had magazines delivered to my house. It was just the job I went to. It was what was asked of me. It was what I was paid for. And, my parents always kept me really humble. I always tried to just be a hard worker and give the client what they wanted. I never really said, “Oh, I’m a supermodel.”
Tyson> I think it’s also about being a household name. I can remember times where I was seen in GQ and Harper’s Bazaar. It didn’t matter if it was a men’s or a women’s magazine. I was just so happy to be in it, whether I was standing next to Naomi Campbell or just standing next to a bunch of guys. Plus, it’s the dollars that you bring into your agency. Having that big contract definitely helps. I was the only guy to ever have such a long-standing contract with Ralph Lauren, male or female. It’s a pretty loosely used term today, but in our era, you couldn’t use it loosely.
MediaBlvd> A lot of everyday people will look at modeling as easy and not realize some of the work that goes into it. Do you think shows like this one, and America’s Next Top Model, help the public at large to start appreciating the work that goes into it and why models deserve to be millionaires?
Tyson> With Make Me A Supermodel, they’ll get a better understanding. It’s a different type of job, where it doesn’t stop. The whistle might blow at 5:00 and you’ll be done shooting, but you still have to maintain that gorgeous body. You have to maintain those looks. You’ve still got to do go-sees. It’s not over. You might have booked one campaign, but it’s not over there. I don’t know too many guys that are making the big money that I was making, anymore. For the men, it has fallen off, but for the women it’s still there. But, what the men made as supermodels, they’re not making now.
MediaBlvd> You both survived potentially life-threatening car accidents. How does that change or influence your outlook on something that’s perceived to be as superficial as modeling?
Niki> I must say, I am more of a daredevil now than I was before. I believe I’m going to heaven. I got a second chance at life, and I’m happy to be alive.
Tyson> I am also happy to be alive, and I definitely take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of me. I’ve seen that light and I’m not ready to go into that light yet. There is just so much to do now. You want to spend time with your friends, your family and just do as much as you can, before you go into that light.
