America's Next Top Model Crowns Whitney Thompson, Its First Full Figured Model

The face of beauty in America is getting a much needed, long overdue makeover. Last Thursday night, May 15, Tyra Banks’ reality show, “America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), crowned its first full figured winner, Whitney Thompson. Congratulations Whitney on a job well done. You’re sending an important message to little girls who are starving themselves trying to look like models.

Whitney is a 20 year old student from Atlantic Beach Florida who is bent on sending a message to the media that you don’t have to be a stick figure to be considered beautiful. At 5’10”and a size 10 figure, she’s admittedly smaller than the size 14 of the average American woman, but in terms of the modeling and fashion industry, she is considered plus sized and fat compared to the average model size 2-4. "People always say you have to be stick-skinny, emaciated and unhealthy and I've kind of stood up for being full-figured my whole life," Thompson told The Post in her first post-victory interview.

Last year, in Season 3 of America's Next Top Model, another plus sized model named Toccara Jones was a strong contender for the title of America's Next Top Model. At 180 pounds and a size 14, Tocarra is a much closer representation to the average sized woman, yet unfortunately in the end she did not win the title, however she did set a new precedent by being the first plus sized model on the show. Perhaps it Tocarra's presence last year on ANTM breaking ground that made it possible for Whitney's win last week.

Thank you, Whitney and Tocarra. You are stunning role models of natural beauty. You’ve done American women and our daughters a great service by showing the modeling industry that beauty is not determined by size.

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