Hmm… I wonder ? ? ?
After reading the title, did you hear the harpy music from sitcoms that signal a flashback or dream sequence? It was probably just me. Part of my charm.
Have you ever heard of ANTM? America’s Next Top Model? It was a pseudo-reality competition show for aspiring models hosted by Tyra Banks. The show hasn’t aged very well in light of today’s awareness and outspokenness about the commodification of the female body, body shaming, and a bunch of other stuff, too. Anyway, I can’t remember which season but there was an episode where “girls” who were auditioning for a spot on the show had a chance to for a one-on-one meeting with Tyra.
Prior to anyone being selected, each participant was allowed a few minutes alone with Tyra Banks, who is an icon in the modeling and fashion industry. She began her journey, very likely, with a lot of the same hopes, dreams, goals… worries, fears, and questions as the young women with whom she spoke. Tyra Banks, who went from model to mogul with acting and producing credits, was actively living the life that these women wanted and knew how to get it.
Soooo this is the part, right… a young lady has gone through this lengthy, I’m guessing also emotional and exciting, process of getting onto the show. She submitted an audition tape. Went through call backs or whatever. Still had to go through interviews with the production cast before ever finding out if she would make it to the part of the show where at least 30 people have to go right back home; that first couple episodes, right? Now, she gets through ALLLLLLL of that. Makes it to the point where she gets to have her one-on-one with Tyra. There’s the usual and expected gushing that comes with being face-to-face with a celebrity. I’m sure I would be flabbergasted to say the very least. Tyra finally gets the girl settled enough so that she could ask a question. Any question she wanted. The girl asked, “What was it like to work with Will Smith?”
Bruh! The look on Ms. Banks’ face. It was surprise and amazement, but in the worst ways. After composing her “model” face, in an almost disappointed tone, Tyra asks the girl, “Will Smith? You wanna ask me about Will Smith?”
This whole scene just feels like “YIKES” to me, now, as I recall it.
I’m getting a feeling of “Yikes” because I get the sense of rebuke that registered on the young woman’s face when she heard Tyra’s response. It revealed she didn’t understand that she did something wrong. She didn’t understand the response she got or the tone in which it was given. I kinda get Tyra’s annoyance, as well. I don’t’ believe it was with what the girl asked. I believe she was more frustrated about what the girl didn’t ask.
At that point in her career, Tyra Banks had a wealth of insider knowledge, network connections, and nuanced advice to share. She recognized the value that having that access might have meant in her own career and development.
I’ve been sitting with this for while off and on. It’s given me more questions than answers. I’ll share some of them with you.
If I were in the participant’s position, I wonder…
If I’m met with an opportunity, today, that could potentially change my life, would I recognize it? If so, how?
If I were able to speak with someone who has achieved a certain level of success, to which I aspire, in a certain area, what would I say? What questions would I ask? What would I want them to know about me and what I do?
What can I do now to aide my preparedness for the opportunities I say I want?
If I’m not prepared or preparing, am I really “expecting” anything?
THESE QUESTIONS AND MANY OTHERS WILL BE ANSWERED IN UPCOMING EPISODES… STAY TUNED!
