The glare of the TV glowed on the faces of 10 college students staring intently at the screen. Tensions were high; hearts were racing. The intensity peaked with the words, “One of you will go home.”
Although the voice of supermodel Tyra Banks has rung through the speakers of eight seasons now of the hit reality show America’s Next Top Model, the high-stakes weekly moment when one model is eliminated was more personal this time around.
Two former Boston University students — 2007 School of Management graduate Mila Bouzinova and current student Sarah Hartshorne — were on the show.
OVER THE TOP
Bouzinova, who was chosen to go home last week, said she believes her unique personality earned her a spot on the show, if only for a bit.
“I was portrayed as so over the top on the show,” she said. “There are not that many people I’ve met that are just so bubbly.”
Although Bouzinova said the peppy portrait painted of her on the show was “pretty accurate,” she added some of her scenes may have been embellished, as is often the case on reality TV. At her only photo shoot — in which she and the other contestants modeled for a fictional anti-smoking campaign and in which she had to pose as a chemotherapy patient — the judges criticized Bouzinova for finding a serious situation humorous, though she said she was only laughing at herself and the other girls “playing around.”
‘SHE COULD ALWAYS PULL STUFF OFF’
Hartshorne, who could not comment as she is still under contract with the show, was a big fan of the show before becoming a contestant on it, said Chantal Mendes, who was Hartshorne’s roommate at the time of casting auditions.
“She would watch [the show with a friend] and imitate Tyra sometimes,” she said.
Viewers perceive Hartshorne, who is still in the running, as “the plus-sized model” compared to the several stick-thin girls on the show, which Mendes said is inaccurate.
“It’s like what Tyra said on the show,” the College of Arts and Sciences sophomore said. “She is a ‘normal-sized model.”
Mendes said during her time at BU, Hartshorne had her own style — something she thinks will come through for her former roommate.
“I think she had a really good sense of style . . . it was just very different from stuff that I would wear,” she said. “She could always pull stuff off.”
Bouzinova said she had not planned to audition for the show until she met a casting official who told her to come to the casting call.
Close friend Michele Wartski, said Bouzinova sent a text message her from the initial casting interview, frustrated about the long wait time.
“I texted her back and told her not to leave,” the College of Communication senior said. “She had gotten this far and might as well interview.”
Potential contestants on the show went through a series of casting requirements, including video interviews.
Banks personally called a few weeks later to invite her to be on the show, Bouzinova said.
“They give you disposable video cameras,” she said. “We didn’t know [we] were going to make it.”
The two girls shared their joy with friends and roommates when they found out they made it on the show.
“[Sarah and I] jumped up and down and screamed a little bit,” Mendes said.
REALITY TV: JUST A FAD?
As Banks announced Bouzinova would be the first eliminated from the show, her Boston friends said they could feel her disappointment all the way from Los Angeles.
“I was really shocked,” Wartski said. “I was surprised because I thought she would go far.”
According to Nielsen ratings, reality programming no longer takes the top spots. In the past week, only one reality program, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, was in the top 10 ranking for both cable and broadcast television.
Still, Top Model has found its niche within the college student demographic. Wartski, like many of her peers, is hooked.
“Certain programs reach their target audience. College kids are more likely to tune into America’s Next Top Model than they are [to watch] Extreme Home Makeover,” said Cathy Perron, director of the COM Television Studies Program.
Part of the popularity comes from habits like appointment watching, where a group of friends schedule time to watch TV shows together.
“It is a way for students to have a collective experience, Perron said. “They are all experiencing the same thing and enjoying the same show.”
While two BU students appearing on the same reality show may be rare, Perron does not believe it will encourage more young girls to apply for future seasons.
“I think it takes a certain kind of person to try out for a show like America’s Next Top Model,” she said. “There is a difference between the general student population, who believes they are as smart as the people they see on College Jeopardy, but not that many people would feel comfortable having their whole life broadcasted.”
Shows such as Top Model are based on televised beauty pageants that have been broadcasted for more than half a century, Perron said.
“Shows like these allow the viewer to close their eyes and wonder, ‘What if that was me?” she said.
Bouzinova said she thinks college students are obsessed with reality television shows because they can relate to the characters.
“They are real people, not famous movie stars,” she said.
REALITY CHECK
Although her time on the show was brief, Bouzinova, now a Fordham University graduate student, said she appreciated the opportunity.
“It was a worthwhile experience,” she said. “I’m glad I did it, and I would do it again.”
Only time and Tyra will tell how long Hartshorne, who is still a contestant, will stay on the show. Maddie Stein, Hartshorne’s freshman roommate, said Hartshorne makes a perfect show contestant.
“She is a very outgoing person,” the COM junior said. “She’ll make for an interesting television personality . . . she is not afraid of what people think about her.”