By Drew Grant 8/23/12 4:38pm

America's Next Top Model

Kelly Cutrone, Bryanboy, Tyra Banks, Rob Evans, Johnny Wujek pose for the premiere of 'America's Next Top Model: College Edition' (Patrick McMullan)

It’s Tyra Time: America’s Next Top Model: College Edition Enters New Era

The Observer was in a green room at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, sitting on a small couch with Tyra Banks to talk about America’s Next Top Model: College Edition. We were sweating bullets; up close, the 38-year-old diva is larger than life and, ironically, much more attractive than she appears on her show. Maybe because she was smiling at us. She looked relaxed and happy, but we stayed tense, ready to bolt if she started her signature tough-love approach: yelling at us for not being fierce enough, or shaking her head in disgusted disappointment that we haven’t lived up to her expectations.

After a moment of silence, we finally cleared our throats and apologized for being terrified.

Ms. Banks laughed.

“Oh, but that’s just a thing,” the retired supermodel told us. “That’s a character.” Read More

By Drew Grant 6/18/12 9:45am

behind the scenes

Kelly Cutrone, the students of Newburgh, and You've Got Prom'd winner Rachel ___

Behind the Scenes of You’ve Been Prom’d!: Kelly Cutrone and Nine West Team Up to Make Compassion Fashionable

On June 6th, all the way out in Newburgh, New York, ten girls were having the luckiest afternoon of their lives. When Rachel DiCesare submitted her nine reasons she and her friends deserved to have a very special evening in Nine West’s “You’ve Been Prom’d” Facebook contest, her winning entry gave these lucky ladies the prom makeover of their dreams. Not only did they receive individually designed gowns to match the specifications of each girl, accessories galore, and personal makeup and hair stylists, courtesy of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. They also got a special guest star as well, in the form of Nine West’s new Ambassador of Culture and Noise.

A “You’ve Been Prom’d” bus had pulled up to the unsuspecting teens, depositing People’s Revolution maven and America’s Next Top Model judge Kelly Cutrone at their school, Newburgh New Academy, which was located, The Observer was told, in Orange County’s “inner city.” (This project was about giving back to less fortunate communities, after all.)

The girls shrieked in delight as Ms. Cutrone lead them to their lockers, where sparkling clutches and fashionable heels had been hidden earlier. Faintly, a janitor’s cart could be heard echoing the halls.

It was truly a moment to remember. But it wasn’t quite magical enough.

“Okay, can we have the girls open the lockers again, this time without the noise, please?” The director of the shoot had picked up the janitorial squeak. Now the girls got to rediscover the ostensibly surprise goodies in their locker. It was Groundhog Day, minus Bill Murray. Or just another day in the world of “reality” programming, where an afternoon of excitement can stretch until the sun goes down in an attempt to get the right shot. Read More

By Drew Grant 5/25/12 2:19pm

America's Next Top Model

Bryanboy will be giving you fashion advice from here on out (Getty)

BryanBoy Semi-Confirmed for Next Cycle of America’s Next Top Model

Though the rumor mill has been grinding this tasty little nugget into ground beef for months now, Women’s Wear Daily has finally (sort of) confirmed the inevitable: fashion blogger Bryanboy (aka Bryan Grey Yambao) will be joining America’s Next Top Model for its 19th season. But can this colorful powerhouse, front row on the runway though he is, fill the tailored shoes of J. Alexander, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker? Read More