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Jeanne Beker, one of the Canada’s Next Top Model judges and host of Fashion Television was at Fashion Week. I took this picture before the Ports 1961 show.
Photo Credit Leora Zellman Tags: canada’s next top model, jeanne beker, top model, cntm, fashion week
Jeanne Beker you were once someone I use to respect and look up to but after last night’s episode of Canada’s Next Top Model I don’t think I will ever see you the same light again. It was very clear to me that Maryam was being bullied by the other three girls and they ganged up on her. Without watching the full episode you decided to pass judgement on her – I was so much disappointed that Maryam (who was on of my favourites) got the boot but rather the way she was treated by other contestants and yourself. Had you watched the episode prior to passing judgement you would have seen that Maryam was simply trying to help Linsay with the dress – but of course no good deed goes unpunished. Linsay did in fact contribute to the the tear when she later slipped and made it much bigger – so Maryam was not lying. Who cares if the dress riped an inch or a mile – the other girls wanted to exaggerate when she did while Maryam was simply defending herself.
You and the other contestants love to point out that English is not Maryam’s first language. Yes there is a language barrier, but the girls made fun of Maryam’a accents – is it acceptable for Canada’s Next Top Model, coming from a diverse country with two offical language – to mock the way another Canadian speaks? Do you want at worst a racist bully or at best a culturally insensitive girl to represent this multicultural country of ours?
As someone who has worked in the Fashion Industry for so many years, I don’t understand how you can bring up language. Most of the people you have interviewed on Fashion Television have thicker accents than Maryam! Models need to travel to international fashion captials as far away as Tokyo, Milan, Paris, Madrid, New York and New Delhi. I don’t understand how someone whose been in the industry as long as you have could make such a futile point of bringing up her language.
Finally, Maryam is from Iran, and as someone from a similar background I can tell you how hard it was for her to pursue her dream. Simply put for most women of Middle Eastern descent, fashion is not an option. Maryam was an inspiration to so many of us and maybe she isn’t bubbly and giggly like the other girls. Maybe she had to live a harder sort of life, maybe she had to fight her parents for this, maybe she had to leave her friends, family and country behind….but she certainly did have a “spark” and she was someone interesting and engaging and lovely…she could have and would have an incredible Canada’s Next Top Model.
I sincerely hope you watch the episode and offer an apology to a young girl who so harshly judged.