Model competitions are a trend unto themselves among the deluge of reality shows. From the more traditional long running and successful America’s Next Top Model to the fabulous over the top RuPaul’s Drag Race, each have their niche drama, catty competition, and elimination challenges. Honing in on the Latina niche, Nuvo TV is presenting it’s fifth season of the competition reality show Model Latina South Beach premiering tonight at 10 pm.
Based this season in trendy South Beach, Miami, the show has 10 Latinas competing for a chance to win a $25,000 cash prize, a role as nuvoTV’s spokesperson and a contract with international modeling agency Q Management.
Judging the wannabe models as they go through a series of challenges, including an underwater photo shoot and a photo shoot that seems more like a stunt show, are Puerto Rican actor and singer (some would sy heartthrob) Carlos Ponce, Victoria’s Secret supermodel and Argentina Ines Rivero, and fashion photographer Franco LaCosta. Puerto-Rican sports reporter Jocelyn Pierce, hosts.
Here’s a sneak peak.
In looking at who will be declared THE Model Latina – I wonder if the cast/contestants will be judged on mainstream standards of beauty : super skinny, light skinned or if they will reflect some of the ethnic, racial and physical diversity of Latinas. From the Meet the Models page it’s hard to tell. Most of the women seem to fit the “normal” model standard as opposed to breaking new ground or pushing boundaries but I guess we will have to see the first episode to find out. The teaser promo prominently features some of the contestants talking about wanting to represent their curves, but it remains to be seen what that actually means and if like I have seen on other shows, there is a token “bigger” woman competing against more traditional model types.
The majority of the contestants are from the Caribbean, with three Cubanas (including a Cuban Italian), two Puerto Ricans, two Dominicanas, one Mexican, una Colombiana, and one Guatemalan/Bolivian.
I will admit that I am not a huge fashion reality tv follower but as the daughter of a woman who studied fashion and who spent her life in the fashion retail world it’s going to be hard not to be sucked in a little. I hope the show doesn’t play into too many stereotypes about Latinas like those aforementioned curves or cattiness that reality tv seems to be about. I certainly hope there is no shaming or making what seem to be beautiful women trying to put their best face forward feel bad about who they are as they try to move their chosen careers forward.
You can follow the action tonight at 10 pm at or via facebook and twitter.
*This post is compensated in collaboration with nuvoTV and Latina Bloggers Connect*
