Is Naomi Campbell the next Tyra Banks?
theGRIO REPORT - British supermodel Naomi Campbell seems to be following in the footsteps of frenemy and fellow supermodel Tyra Banks with the launch of her new model reality show, 'The Face' on Oxygen...
British supermodel Naomi Campbell seems to be following in the footsteps of frenemy and fellow supermodel Tyra Banks with the launch of her new model reality show, The Face, on Oxygen.
The Face, which follows a similar format to NBC’s The Voice, features three supermodel coaches, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha, who each handpick teams of aspiring models that compete to be the next ‘face’ of ULTA Beauty.
In an interview with Fashionista, 42-year old Campbell compared her career to that of the America’s Next Top Model host.
“Well first of all I am different, I’m before Tyra and I have a lot of respect for Tyra and what she’s done with America’s Next Top Model and what she’s done for young women out there who want to be in the fashion industry,” she says. “I don’t like to compare anything that I do. I’ve not really watched [ANTM] but from what I know it’s a different type of format.”
And there is certainly going to be a fair share of reality show drama coming from the British beauty. In one of Oxygen’s preview clips, Campbell is seen walking up to fellow coach, Kurkova and bluntly saying, “I’m very disappointed in your choice [referring to one of her models], Karolina. All I’m going to tell you is that it’s game on from now on.”
TheGrio also caught up with The Face host Nigel Barker, a former judge and fashion photographer on ANTM, at the NYC launch event who also compared both Campbell and Banks:
“They’re very different ladies in many different ways,” said the ANTM castoff. “There’s also many similarities. Both know what they want and they know how to get it. They don’t really take no for an answer… I don’t take no for an answer, that’s why I’m back.”
Barker certainly didn’t say ‘no’ to super-model reality shows after getting the boot along with Jay Manuel and J. Alexander from ANTM this past April.
When asked about the difference between the two model-seeking reality shows, Barker says, “They both have their place, obviously Top Model was a huge success and obviously the Face had to distinguish itself… What we try to be different is that we don’t have judges. This is an industry where it’s very tough and it’s known to be ruthless and known to be exclusive, but there’s also heart and soul and there’s a reason why [the coaches] are passionate.”
The Face premieres tonight at 9/8c on Oxygen.
Follow Brittany Tom on Twitter @brittanyrtom
