"Make Me a Supermodel" Review: Let's Get Crazy!

Last year, I got completely hooked on “Make Me a Supermodel” due to the lethal combination of Bravo marathons and the craziest challenges I’ve ever seen on a reality show.

Well now it’s back with a reboot that adds one part “Project Runway,” one part “Big Brother” and one part “Survivor.” But thankfully, the changes do not include eliminating those crazy challenges…

Last year, Tyson Beckford served as one of the judges, but his bonding with the male models really made him more of a mentor. So the show has wisely decided to put him in that role, while also making him the host. Australian model Nicole Trunfio is the mentor for the women.

Serving as the judges this year are fashion designer Catherine Malandrino, photographer Perou, model Jenny Shimizu and casting director/agent Marlon.

The crazy challenges start immediately as Perou pairs the models up and puts them in a glass box suspended in the air to capture an “intimate moment.” This quickly spawns two interesting stories: There’s Salome, who was raised Mennonite (She describes it as Amish with electricity and cars.), who is now draped all over a total stranger in a glass box. And then there’s Brandon, who might as well be wearing a shirt that says, “I’m not gay” as much as he keeps reminding us. His partner is a guy and so he’s pretty uncomfortable.

Which makes me think that he didn’t watch last season because if he did he would have never tried out. Guy on guy is a common thing on this show…

Also new this year is that the winner of the photography challenge gets to go on a job interview to try and book a gig, but there’s an interesting twist I won’t give away…

As before, the models also walk on the runway in front of the judges, but this year, the show has added “24” style splitscreens to pump up the volume a little (It works.). Then, the judges (as opposed to last year’s audience vote) eliminate the contestant they feel they “cannot make a supermodel,” but not without first hearing from their mentors Tyson and Nicole. It’s Tyson’s duty to send them home by giving them back their book.

I kind of miss the audience vote element since it made the show current (Last year’s Britney Spears love quadrangle anyone?), but the new elements are a lot of fun too. And I actually prefer the “Project Runway” style runway Q&A.

It’s easy to dismiss “Supermodel” as a rip-off of a certain other modeling reality-competition, but since I’ve never seen an episode of that other one, I can’t really say. I can, however, guarantee you that Tyra would never ask her contestants to do what Tyson will ask his to do this season.

And that’s what makes it fun…

“Make Me a Supermodel” premieres Wednesday, March 4th at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo