New Model Citizen: Tyra’s Fiercely Real Winner and Torrid Freebie Giveaway

“What you find

What you feel

What you know

To be real”

- From Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real”

That’s right–it’s all about the realness. And in this corner…we have America’s First Fiercely Real Top Model winner! After conquering every single competition Tyra tossed her way, 17 year old Sheridan Watson, an elegant size-14, emerged a champion as Tyra Banks’ Fiercely Real Teen Model Search drew to a dignified close.

In celebration of Sheridan’s victory and fiercely real women and girls everywhere, The Tyra Show is also giving away a $50 Torrid gift card (no purchase required, see the links below to learn how to win).

Tyra beamed like a proud mama on her weblog as she announced Watson’s victory. Though Tyra’s team received entries from thousands of teenaged hopefuls, the young ladies were eventually whittled down to 6 contestants, all featured on the air in the final stretch of the competition.

Viewers cheered along with Tyra on her self-titled program, The Tyra Show.  Tyra’s no stranger to advocating “equal spotlights” for curvy women. Her highly prized, syndicated “America’s Next Top Model” shows are growing to have an edition for almost every country. It’s a veritable empire, and full figured women are welcome at the party. Banks has now extended the honor to younger women.

As for the Fiercely Real challenge, the virtual glamour-worlds created in the contestants’ photo shoots included: Work Out, Iconic Rockstar, a Torrid Denim Diva Look, a “Runway-Off,” and a B.I.O. (an acronym for “Beauty from the Inside Out”) biographical speech. Renowned high-fashion photographer Nigel Barker participated in the shoots, and helped to confirm that Sheridan excelled in all the competitions.

Other treats provided to all the contestants concluded a surprise visit from ANTM Winner and full figured model Whitney Thompson, who provided encouragement and pointers for the girls.

With a modest confidence, Sheridan Watson is pleasantly surprised about the news. According to Digital Spy she said, “I’m still waiting for it all to hit me. Growing up it was like modeling was not an appropriate profession for someone my size because I’ve always been curvy.” Watson won a 3 year contract with Wilhemina, will be featured in Seventeen Magazine,  and will be featured Tyra Bank’s own B.I.O. magazine.

Tyra went on, the “fierce teen from New Jersey is my first Fiercely Real Teen Model winner. Sheridan proved her confidence, speaking, and modeling skills topped the other Fiercely Real girls.” Absolutely fab: this means there’ll be many more competitions to come.

Banks has shared on various occasions in media outlets, including but not limited to her own shows, starting out as a young model of color in her day was tough–nearly impossible, and as grueling as it was glamorous. She credits her mother, who eventually relocated to Paris to provide support for a young Tyra, with a lot of her success.

Tyra’s shared with viewers that when she was starting out, the fashion world was cold to her–even people she had hoped would be friends and allies. Though this often comes with the territory in the business, we’re not made privy to it as much as is realistic. And this in the wake of the Teen Vogue interview in which young adult supermodels (previously teen supermodels) Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman spilled the beans on the oft-exercised cattiness in the industry.

According to Teen Vogue, hangers-on, agencies, and press representatives would pit the girls against each other, citing issues of competition, backstabbing, and race as excuses. They’ve since rekindled their friendship, and courageously shared the dynamics that had caused the split. It’s no wonder Tyra’s retiring from her television show–she’s got a colony of models to mentor. And what a positive, self-empowering leap it was to make for both Jourdan and Chanel. Kudos. Their reaching out to reconnect–not unlike Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell’s public reconciliation–most definitely constitutes real beauty….

On hearing Tyra’s effusive sentiments, like Sheridan “rocked her curves,” and “I gave her…modeling tips along the way!” The positive imagery and role modeling is refreshing. You can never see or hear that enough when it comes from a sincere heart.

Congratulations Sheridan–you’re a queen. And congratulations to Tyra for continuing to break down barriers and build new foundations for models of color, models of all sizes, models who don’t typically have a fashion world entrée, and all of their friends, fans, and supporters.

Related Links:

• Tyra Show – Win a $50 Torrid Gift Card
• Tyra Announces the Winner
• Visit Tyra’s FRTM Girls
• Torrid.com
• Teen Vogue Interviews Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman

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• Tyra Banks