Rarely does Tyra Banks do anything good, as far as I can tell. Unless it benefits her in some way. Thus I’m sort of conflicted about her doing what appears to be a good dead for transgender former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Isis King. Tyra surprised Isis on her show by telling her she was finally getting her sex change operation, thanks to a surgeon who had the surgery herself. Millionaire Tyra isn’t paying for the surgery, the doctor is.
Tyra Banks surprises Isis King, the first transgender contestant on America’s Next Top Model, with sex reassignment surgery in an episode of her talk show to air Tuesday. “This is not happening!” King, who was born Darrell Walls, says when Banks introduces her to Dr. Marci Bowers, a leading gender reassignment surgeon who has experienced the surgery herself. Bowers is paying for the surgery.
“[I feel] like I’m about to wake up,” says King – who lived in a homeless shelter in Maryland before trying out for the show. The 22-year-old hadn’t gone under the knife yet because she couldn’t afford the $20,000 to $35,000 price tag.
“It’s hard. I try not to think about it because it is something I’m really passionate about,” she says. “I feel like I really was born in the wrong body, and it’s just the one thing that makes me feel uncomfortable.” King wouldn’t allow photos of herself as a male shown on the 11th season of ANTM, but reveals them for the first time on The Tyra Banks Show.
Why was she hesitant about the pictures? “I look at it like yes, I’m the first transgender contestant, but okay, lets move past it now,” King explains. “I’m just a woman trying to compete just like everyone else.”
[From Us Weekly]
This is obviously something Isis has wanted for a really long time, so I’m glad she’s getting it, no matter what. And I guess it makes sense that Tyra can’t pay for the surgery herself because then she’d be more obligated to all of her contestants and guests. Overall, it seems like she did a good thing. Certainly she’ll get ratings and a lot of press for it, so she’s not without benefit. But ultimately Isis will benefit the most and finally feel like her outside matches her inside, and that counts for a lot.
Here’s Isis on “America’s Next Top Model.”
Wish she would get a sex change on herself.
I was just watching the Family Guy where they make fun of Tyra lol.
But this was a nice thing for them to do.
haha, I think you meant good “deed”, not good “dead”, but then again, it is Tyra.
I like Isis a lot. She seems to be a hell of a lot more genuine than any of those other close-minded bitches on that show.
Isis was cool, but a little bitchy at times. Then again, who isn’t a little bitchy on ANTM? I really didn’t like her super skinny, slightly crooked legs though.
I think it’s a nice thing to do for Tyra, even if it does seem like an idea she pulled out of her arse because she didn’t have any better show ideas to kick around in the staff meeting. I think she could have payed for it herself, if she really meant it as a good deed.
I’m surprised one can get gender reassignment surgery at such a young age in America. In Switzerland, transgender people have to wait until they are 25 and that’s a real law. It has something to do with giving the adult (!) body enough time to fully complete the necessary hormonal therapy that comes beforehand, as well as making the patient take enough time to fully reflect on that choice and not just do it on a whim. I think that’s a little harsh, though… For most transgendered, this is a really long time to wait.
Too bad they can’t perform surgery and turn Tyra into an interesting worthwhile human being. 🙄
ditto vdantev
I don’t like Tyra, and I’m inclined to believe she’s doing this solely for the good press it’ll get her, but I think that the end results are what really matter, and I’m really glad that Isis can afford her surgery now.
So many people who are born in the wrong body can never afford it, even more so when they’ve been disowned by their families for being different, and it just makes me want to cry. So, good on Tyra for helping ensure that at least one transgendered person is able to do this.
And Anna, as far as I know, in America the law is that the person undergoing the surgery has to spend one year living as whichever gender they are being surgically reassigned to, so it’s sort of the same idea, although Switzerland’s reasoning also makes sense.
I believe it’s in Germany that a 12 year old has GRS – she had been living as a girl pretty much all her life. In that case it makes sense to me to let the change therapy begin before the body hits puberty, since it’s going to look much more natural that changing after puberty.
Good for Isis.. I am glad she is on the receiving end of one of Tyra’s show ratings boosters. God Bless Her (Isis, not Tyra).
Yay for Isis 😀
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