ANTM’s Contestant London Talks About Her Weight Issues
Yes, I know this news isn’t exactly fresh, since London was eliminated from America’s Next Top Model last week, but this is a requested post, so let’s talk!
The story goes like this: London suffered from an eating disorder before joining ANTM, but the issue was not discussed on the show. During the competition, London gained around 10-15 pounds (probably because her body was bouncing back to its natural shape), and received criticism from the judges and from Mr. Jay, who described her transformation as “huge” and “shocking”. Here’s the video!
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Right fter her elimination, London talked about the experience:
On Her Struggle with Her Weight During The Competition:
I was recovering from an eating disorder coming into it. Gaining the weight just beat down on my self confidence. It was just a struggle. It was so much more to me than a modeling competition and that’s all it was for the other girls. And to me, it was a spiritual competition, it was a mental, it was a physical competition. It was just very burdening to me, and it was very difficult and very hard on me.
On How She is Doing Now with Her Eating Disorder:
I’m a lot better now, compared to what I was going through while I was in the competition. Even now, I still do struggle with my eating disorder. And it’s something I am in recovery like everyday, and I am getting help for. So yeah, I still have my battles even now. But I’m a lot better, I can say now, than I was then.
If She thinks Tyra is a hypocrite for sending her home for her curves, after praising curves and championing plus-sized models:
Tyra does promote healthy eating, curvy girls are beautiful too. And I honest to God I do think that’s how she feels in her heart. She’s a curvy girl, being her, herself. But I do feel like it’s almost a double standard. Because she promotes this yes, but it is the modeling industry and she can only change so much of it. So when it does come down to a girl being curvier and gaining weight and being in the industry, she can say here on one hand “Yeah, Yeah, I definitely promote this.” Which I am sure she does believe in, which a lot of people do. But she still can’t say, hey yeah you can make it industry being the way you look. Because the industry right now is 6′1”, 100 pound waifs.
Hmmm.. I’m just gonna say this: I don’t know how healthy it is for a girl who just recovered from an eating disorder to participate at a show that is based on looks.
i think the reason why her weight gain was addressed though was because she wasn’t maintaining the body they THOUGHT was hers naturally. thalia (sorry if the spelling is wrong) was a “normal” girl size and didnt fall in between curvy and “typical” models… so i think if london came into this competition already looking like she does now, it wouldnt have been the issue they made it to be.
i don’t think its a perfect system either, london.
I agree with everything you just said, for sure.
Yes, I think the whole system is kind of messed, however, London was not naturally the weight they THOUGHT she was either. They didnt know
poor girl!
Boo I didn’t know she went! I thought she had a great look, but I suppose if she has a history of ED and gains weight easily she isn’t a “reliable” and consistent model. Sad she’s gone though.
It must have taken a lot not to relapse during the show. Good for her she kept eating, I hope she stays healthy.
This is so rough. I know how she must feel. They should have checked her background first. Trying to recover from an ED while being criticized for her weight…wow.
I loved London, I wanted her to go all the way to the final. She still looked amazing despite the weight gain, but in a modelling competition, gaining around 1st is a lot. I do think Tyra is hyopcritical though, she’ll only have really skinny girls, or true plus size models. She won’t take on ‘normal girls’ with a few curves.
The POT calling the KETTLE Black..
I don’t think London is even CLOSE to the amount of fat Tyra has/used to have. At lease London still looks toned and her fat rolls doesn’t squeeze out like Tyra’s aka “America’s next top WADDLE”
http://thesuperficial.com/2007/01/tyra_banks_talks_about_being_f.html
Maybe they should ask Tyra to go as well since she “GAINED 30 pounds since she was 18) , I am so sick of all those superficial crap.
The problem with her weight gain was that it left her in the middle…too big for a regular sized model and too small for plus size.
The other problem is that she let it get to her. Down, her pictures showed it.
Good luck to her recovery with her eating disorder.
@tinkerbell
The difference is, Tyra is already a supermodel AND retired. She had to stay the standard while modelling. London is an ‘aspiring’ model…and there is a lot of competition out there, so be ready to compete for your spot.
Too compare the two holds no weight….one is where the other wants to be.
just think about how many of the girls in the modeling industry have eating disorders…i am not surprised by london’s eating disorder nor the britain’s next top model chick’s eating disorder.
It really shows in her face first, all she needs is to lose about ten pounds, don’t you think?
Considering she’s admitted to suffering an ED, no I don’t think she needs to lose any weight at all. Hell, she shouldn’t even be worrying about her weight right now, she should be worrying about getting better and healthy, and learning to accept herself.
…and probably not entering modelling competitions…
I’m sorry but if you have a career based on your appearance, and you suddenly change (gain 10-15 lbs), I’m pretty sure your boss would be a little confused. If she would have told them at the beginning she could have easily went further, she wouldn’t have felt ashamed about her weight gain.