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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Isis goes on Tyra's show to take on Clark and gets a surprise of her own

Former Cycle 11 America's Next Top Model contestant Isis King visited The Tyra Banks Show yesterday and was surprised with news that Tyra will help her get her long-awaited sex reassignment surgery.

Isis, the first transgender contestant to ever appear on ANTM, was originally scouted for the show when she appeared in the background of an ANTM photo at a homeless shelter (where she was living at the time). She won a spot on the current cycle of ANTM, but was ultimately eliminated in the fourth week.

On Banks, Isis talked about growing up feeling like she was born in the wrong body, and how getting sex reassignment surgery has been cost prohibitive.

Below is a short clip of Isis on The Tyra Banks Show:

Her mother, Sharray (who is a ringer for rapper Eve) appeared on the show with Isis, and talked about watching her transition into being a woman, as well as her own process of coming to accept her daughter.

Of course, it wasn't all smiles and rainbows. Isis talked about her challenging experience on ANTM, including life with her fellow contestants. One of those contestants, Clark, then joined them on stage and was questioned by Tyra herself about the disparaging remarks (including calling Isis a "he-she") she had made about Isis throughout the competition.

Clark said she"loved" Isis but disagreed with her "choices," and then Tyra and Isis spent the remainder of the show explaining to Clark why her comments were ignorant and hurtful. Clark used the standard "I'm from the south" line of defense, which quickly morphed into the "I'm a Southern Baptist" line of defense, which then led her to say that Isis claiming to be transgender "was a slap in the face to me... because it's kind of like saying God made a mistake..."

Tyra asked her if she felt the same way about gay and lesbian people, and Clark said she didn't because "that's just how they are." Tyra then ran the footage of Clark and fellow contestant Elina kissing in a hot tub at the Top Model house.

Elina and Clark

Clark tried, with little success, to explain the kiss away as a "joke" and a "dare," and Tyra closed the segment by advising Clark to open her mind.

As fun as it was to watch Clark get a long overdue spanking from Tyra for being a bigoted jerk, the high point of the show was when Tyra introduced Isis to Dr. Marcie Bowers, a leading sex reassignment surgeon best known for her show Sex Change Hospital (WEtv). Bowers offered to evaluate Isis and perform the operation, and, according to TVGuide.com, Banks and Bowers will split the cost of the surgery. Isis was ecstatic and grateful, and tearfully told them, "[I feel] like I'm about to wake up."

Who's willing to bet that we'll soon be seeing Isis on a very special episode of Sex Change Hospital?

Tomorrow, the topic on The Tyra Banks Show will be gay marriage, and for those of you still interested (even though Isis and Elina have been sent home) the ANTM season finale is airs tonight at 8/7 central.

FireWontQuell's picture

For all of Tyra's crazy

For all of Tyra's crazy antics, you have to admit she is an honorable and admirable woman!
bumbaradar's picture

Honerable? No. This was the

Honerable? No. This was the most despicable act I've ever seen. If Tyra really wanted to help she would have done so in private. Bringing Isis on the show to announce she'll pay for gender reassignment sugery is nothing more than a shameless stunt for November sweeps. Tyra wants ratings and the Doctor wants a new subject with publicity for his own show. Without that, they could care less about Isis.
FireWontQuell's picture

First, I think it is more

First, I think it is more than a little bit dramatic to say it was the most despicable act you've ever seen. Even if you disagreed with the presentation, I don't think it's even a qualifier for most despicabloe act.

Second, the doctor is a female, not a male.

Third, its not mutually exclusive to want better ratings and also help someone. It's not like they bribed Isis unto the show with the promise of surgery after. But moreso, I'm glad they did have Isis on TV; it brings a genuine, human face to the struggles of transgendered people. I thought Isis was very insightful, and her reaction to being offered the sugery was extremely touching.

bumbaradar's picture

My issue isn't with Isis

My issue isn't with Isis being on the show, it's with Tyra using her. Do you honestly think that Tyra announcing she'll pay for Isis's gender reassignment surgery was done to help Isis? It's done for ratings and I bet a chance at filming the whole thing so that she can have a special episode to air during another one of the sweeps months for more ratings and more profit. If Tyra couldn't announce it to the world and make a profit I highly doubt that she would "help" Isis.
FireWontQuell's picture

Also, for anyone

Also, for anyone interested, the episode has been uploaded on youtube. Here's a link to the first segment:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WkDHy2d65o

Paperback-Writer's picture

Clark(e).....

I don't really get her. My only reasoning is that she was on TV, and that she really didn't feel comfortable expressing herself. I find it really odd that Elina tells a different story than Clark does about their friendship. I don't really know what that says about Clark's own sexuality.

Clark is from the south. The island she lives on has like 1000 people, so it does make sense that she would be ignorant. Plus, she "that" girl. The bitchy mean girls everybody knew in highschool. If they had asked McKey or something (wasn't she from a small town as well?) I doubt she would have been as ignorant as Clark. Pretty much any of the girls that looked like they didn't fit in during highschool accepted Isis pretty well.

FireWontQuell's picture

McKey is from a Chicago

McKey is from a Chicago suburb.

I'm watching the episode right now, and Clark comes across as so ignorant on so many levels. I wonder if Elina is offended that Clark says she was freaked out by Elina.

Tscgrad06's picture

Wonderful...

Is how it feels to be in one's own skin, and when it doesn't fit it sucks and can be depressing so I'm VERY happy for Isis. I didn't watch Top Model that much this season early on b/c Project Runway was on at the same time, but I'm very surprised to hear that Clark is so narrow-minded since a lesbian is in-love with her. Very odd. TsC
Anonymous's picture

TG

It is something that I would not wish on my worst enemy! And yes, it sucks going through it, but I am so much more myself since I had the surgery. Trying to live as a male was totally impossible for me...
Eribear's picture

I'm so glad that Clark

I'm so glad that Clark finally got called out...she is so ignorant and i'm glad she didn't win
Angel's picture

Hmm...

I wonder if she even had a clue that she was going to get attacked like that on the show.

Open to all of life's possibilities...

zombielust's picture

fuck clark

honestly.

"because it's kind of like saying God made a mistake..." ????????

puh-lease, bitch. "God" makes mistakes all the time when "making" people. what about miscarriages, genetic defects, disorders, and diseases?
there are lots of "mistakes" that can occur during pregnancy. some of them are very tragic, but some of them are liveable or correctable. gender is one of the correctable ones.
if it makes your life better, why not fix the mistake?

Jackster's picture

Exactly

Geez Clark, you're so damn pretty, but so damn ignorant. 

Lets leave God out of this. Nature is not perfect. All types of things go wrong when in comes to nature... Down Syndrom, Schizophrenia, Kleinfelders, hermaphrodites, albinos, simese twins... the list goes on. That was such an idiotic statement.

But I'm so glad they brought up the double standard of how she kissed Elina. hahaha she didnt know what to say to that. And I hope Elina watched this and her her say that she was "freaked out" by her.

I'm not always happy with Tyra, but today she showed Clark what was up. 

miss chatelaine's picture

Oh Isis!

She is seriously adorable and was my favourite this cycle. It's pathetic for me to be so hooked on ANTM (it's possibly the only current tv show that I actually follow - pretty skinny sniping girls make for SUCH good reality TV!) but I'm so glad Isis is getting the surgery, in a pathetically almost-teary way.
Angel's picture

I heart Clark

Too bad she does seem a little (a lot) close-minded.  And yeah, I agree with whoever mentioned that Elina has kind of a different story when it comes to her relationship with Clark.  She actually makes it seem like they're friends.

I like Isis, does anyone remember what her Godfather told her when she was in the phone booth talking to him?  "Act like the goddess that you are..." I thought that was sweet.

Open to all of life's possibilities...

LNG's picture

Isis is dressed like Bette

Isis is dressed like Bette Porter in this interview
Barbara's picture

Oh! It's truth!I think Isis

Oh! It's truth!

I think Isis is beautiful, outside and inside - totally different from Clark, I really don't get her comments.

But then, I glad that she can do the surgery now.

Clara's picture

I KNOW!!!! its actually

I KNOW!!!! its actually crazy how much she looks like Bette there

..if i were Isis and going through what she's going through. i'd kinda wish that even my second name didn't have a male-attachment to it!

Bianca's picture

I LOVE Isis! Yay!

I LOVE Isis!  She is just amazing, I admire everything about her. I'm so glad Tyra interviewed her. I missed Isis so much when she was eliminated, but I was happy for McKey when she won!

 

Again, I love Isis! I wish the best for her. <3

 

~ Bianca

Kandy's picture

Isis

As soon as they eliminated Isis, I stopped watching. I didn't want to see a heterosexual win.

4give and 4get

Ke's picture

Isis and Tyra

Technically after Isis was eliminated a non-heterosexual still could have won. Remember Elina? She didnt claim a particular label but was instead "open," but definitely not heterosexual. 

I love what Tyra did and I  think she usually has great intent but her presentation sucks. She tries too hard sometime... Still, I think her actions are admirable.