Top Model Trades Twiggy for Paulina
Posted on Nov 26, 2007 under Entertainments Gossip |
She’ll always be one of the great posers, but Twiggy’s days of sitting in judgment are over.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the 1960s-era supermodel will be vacating her America’s Next Top Model post next year, the CW announced Monday. Stepping into her size 0 seat for Cycle 10 will be veteran cover girl Paulina Porizkova.
“We are thrilled to have Paulina as a part of this cycle’s judging panel,” ANTM executive producer Ken Mok said in a statement. “The show and participants will benefit a great deal from her vast modeling knowledge and expertise.”
Runway specialist Miss J. Alexander and photographer Nigel Barker will be sitting on either side of Tyra Banks at the judges’ table next year, as usual.
“We would like to thank Twiggy for her great contributions to the show,” Mok said. “Having an icon like Twiggy lend us her considerable expertise has elevated our show to a whole new level. We wish her well in her endeavors and hope to collaborate with her in future Cycles of ANTM as well as other projects.”
Twiggy, whose real name is Lesley Hornby, actually only modeled for about four years in the late ’60s before giving it up to focus on singing and acting—but her pixie-like figure and doe eyes made enough of a splash to merit her own Barbie doll and make her the face of swinging London.
She’s been with ANTM since Cycle Five, when she replaced Janice Dickinson. Although Cycle Nine has finished taping, Twiggy will be there for the live finale in January, when another lucky catwalker is crowned. Based on her commentary so far, it appears as if Twiggy is pulling for Heather.
Porizkova may not have been able to boogie her way out of the first week of Dancing with the Stars last season, but when it comes to modeling, she obviously knows what it takes to—as Tyra would say—bring it.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Czech-born mother of two graced the cover of everything from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to Vogue while landing on her fair share of Most Beautiful People in the World lists. The 5-foot-11 stunner was also the face of Estée Lauder for nearly seven years before Elizabeth Hurley took over in 1995.
While Porizkova reportedly turned down her chance to be a Bond Girl in GoldenEye, she has a number of small film credits to her name, including 1993’s Arizona Dream with Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway, and the more recent People I Know, with Al Pacino and Kim Basinger.
ANTM is averaging 5.1 million viewers a week, making it the CW’s top-rated show. It has been renewed through the 2009-10 season.
