Britain's Missing Top Model

A bevy of beauties will get a chance to break into the modeling world thanks to a new U.K. TV show. Sounds like the same ol' catwalk contest, right? Well ... there's a catch.

'Britain's Missing Top Model' only features models with disabilities from around the world - including one from the U.S.. Among the eight lovely ladies who will duke it out onscreen are women without limbs, some who are partially paralyzed and one who is deaf.

The series, which debuts on BBC in July, reportedly aims to challenge the standard of beauty in the fashion industry.

"I went into this program thinking it was an adventure, rather than a path to a new career," contestant Jessica Kellgren-Hayes, who often uses a wheelchair to get around, told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. "Although I don't want any of my dreams to be unattainable, I'm not sure if Britain is ready for a model with a disability."

U.K. Marie Claire editor Marie O'Riordan, who serves as a judge for "Missing Top Model," says she has high hopes for the show: "I do believe the program could help challenge our attitudes to disability. I want to see the winner shake up the fashion industry. These young women shouldn't be invisible to the fashion world just because they are disabled."

The winner will have a photo spread in British Marie Claire.

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/06/26/2008-06-26_disabilities_downplayed_for_britains_mis.html

(With photos)

sounds like a shitn show. except for the deaf chick. she signls like a shit show

Pennzoil GT-R wrote:

You know there'll be scenes where everyone's going to talk catty about the deaf girl behind her back. Plenty of other scenes like, "That bitch only moved on to the next round because she used botox on her stump "

Without looking at the link, I'd take the deaf girl.