Michelle

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Today Tyra Banks will be making a huge announcement for not so huge models on The Tyra Banks Show. This particular episode is dedicated to the release of the upcoming cycle 13 season of America’s Next Top Model, complete with a Tyra Top Model Toga Party (gotta love Tyra’s randomness). She surprises her entire studio audience made up of aspiring models 5’7" when she announces that the next cycle of America’s Next Top Model will be for petite girls who are 5’7" and shorter.

“I stand for breaking down beauty barriers and Top Model has shown that women of every shape, size and color are model material,” says Tyra on her show. “But we’ve never done a Top Model cycle for petite girls! Cycle 13 of Top Model is going to be for girls who are 5’7” and shorter.”

What prompted Tyra to make this decision? It was actually previous audience members who encouraged her to switch it up the next time around for Cycle 13.

“I answer audience questions after we tape The Tyra Banks Show and by far the question I hear the most is, ‘Why don’t you do a show with short models?’” says Tyra.

Hence, the opportunity for petite but beautiful models was born.

"Since the show started, we've always had girls under 5'7 asking and begging, quite frankly, Tyra to please give them a chance," America’s Next Top Model casting director Michelle Mock said to Entertainment Weekly. "I mean, she would get stopped in the street, in restaurants, anywhere, by girls asking how they can do it being as short as they are. We've been thinking about it for a while now, what a great opportunity to give these girls that opportunity. The show is all about opportunity...."

The icing on the cake was when Tyra also announces that the audience members are really at The Tyra Banks Show for a Top Model casting call. I could only imagine the wave of high-pitched screams and the sudden whipping out of the lip-gloss across the room. Tyra brings out Michelle Mock who then handpicks five girls from the audience to compete for a golden ticket, which will provide them with priority entrance to the official “ANTM” casting call in New York City.

But the real question is can the winner have a successful career as a model when the lights and cameras are off?

"Kate Moss is a prime example," Mock said. "Tyra knows a stream of supermodels that are under that size and are very successful, so she said, 'Why not?' It's going to be all about the face and the package as a whole."

Another short successful model who comes to mind is Eva Marcille, winner of Cycle 3, who stands at only 5’6 in height despite the previous Top Model requirement of 5’7. Arguably, she is one of the most successful winners of the show and, ironically, the shortest.

Do you believe that the petite winner of America’s Next Top Model can have a successful career and should height requirements be banished from the modeling industry?