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And then there were three…

Posted by Lara Masters at 14:42 on 23 Jul 2008

Marie Claire Galleries: Britain's Missing Top Model

Last night, Kellie Moodie, who is deaf, was evicted from the show. It was emotional; the judges and the crew had become very, and, quite unprofessionally, attached to all the girls, but it‘s a competition and someone had to go.

One of the judges, Mark Summers, and the girls’ mentor Jonathan Phang, had been on the ice-cream commercial casting challenge with the models and reported back that the casting director and others on the set had felt uncomfortable when Kellie was reluctant to mouth the words when asked. Obviously, relying on sign language to communicate means it is very difficult for Kellie to try and speak, particularly without the use of the hands for expression, but the unfair and frustrating issue with this industry and society in general is that people do not understand or make allowances for disability.

Sophie Morgan, our wheelchair-using model, has been directed several times to get out of her chair, even lie on a concrete floor as well as being carried out of her chair up three flights of stairs for a photo. I use a wheelchair, I know that however gung-ho and enthusiastic Sophie appears, it is undignified and makes you feel very vulnerable being out of your chair and having your paralysed limbs touched and moved around by other people. However, an attitude of feigning relaxation and suppressing your lack of confidence in what you are being asked to do is necessary (sometimes a glass of Pinot Grigiot helps too - purely for medicinal, spasm-relaxing purposes you understand). It is paramount that the disabled model is remembered not only for being easy to work with, but for having a better attitude than any able-bodied model that the photographer/director/agent has used.

It’s a big and unjust responsibility to put on a disabled model, but the winner of this competition will be a trailblazer in this industry and will be setting a blueprint that decides whether future disabled models will be embraced by the world of fashion or continue to be ostracised.

Letting Kellie go was a reminder of how much the fashion industry and the media needs to learn and change. It is not right that Kellie, or any deaf model, should be expected to speak in a different language for their work, just as Sophie should arrive on location where there are ramps to the set. This programme can only do so much but it is a long-overdue, much-needed start. All these disabled models rock and they should all be allowed a chance of pursuing their dream to model. At least this show is highlighting the ineptitude and narrowmindedness of the fashion industry as well as our deep-rooted, out-moded social beliefs about beauty.

Sophie, Jess and Kellie Knox remain; the winner will be announced next week! Tune in on Tuesday at 9 p.m. on BBC three.

Have your say ...

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I missed last nights show! I was out in London watching a show. No I do not have a clue who I want to win, I did want Kellie.m, so now I think I will back Jess. Purely because I think she wants it so badly, and she tries to struggle through even when she is exhausted. I'm shocked that Kellie went. might have to watch the show on catch up!
Comment by Georgia McNamara on July 23 21:53

The fashion world has a lot to learn but all other aspects of society have even more to achieve. Beauty is visible and society wants disability to be invisible therefore targeting the world of fashion is a forceful beginning and I hope you all keep at it until we are all understanding and accepting of each other. Well done for your conviction and a great programme which I hope will be the first of many positive moves towards a better world.
Comment by robert devcic on July 24 08:22

I still think it was really unfair and down right ridiculous to expect Kelly M to speak, in real life model experiences u know b4 a casting if you will need to read lines and its not sprung on u last minute, secondly it seems the judges do HAVE A CLEAR decision making pattern in deciding who to eliminate first last week episode now Kelly this show seems to be going down hill and its painful to watch. It remains to be seen if this show will actually change any perceptions!
Comment by Anthonia on July 24 21:13

The show itself showed no understanding of disability and demonstrated the snobbery that goes on in the disabled community . Asking how Miss Deaf UK can be a role is very very naive or worse snobbish .
Kelly Moody on TV showed to be the most caring and professional of all the girls in the competition but because as the other girls said "she looks normal" she never had a chance.
One of the judges said she can never be a role model ...why ? How can someone in a chair who has poor social skills be a better role model?
I understand the show wants to be high brow and shocking but they have gone down a very predictable path . I think from day one we knew that Sophie would win because she is in a wheelchair . Shocking! huh gasp ...

I watched the show because i thought it was a worthy idea but I hate the attitude of the show to both the deaf girls. They exposed the girls to ridicule and embarrassment by taking away their interpreters, made them look stupid by not making sure someone from the show made sure they knew about the go see, this weeks episode showed the problem again . The casting where she was made to speak even though it is very difficult to communicate in that way she made the effort . I actually thought the signed version of the advert to have more impact and showed much more emotion than any of the other girls. And the way Johnathan Phang talks to the girls, Kelly Moody especially shows the BBC's snobberyand lack of understanding towards the non visible disabilities . He has a facial tic he constantly talks away from the girls and he never changes facial expression, he also moves his hands around which can be confusing to someone trying to read body language or sign language .

I know life is hard for people in wheel chairs I have been in one myself sine i was 17 and I really enjoyed sports and I miss things , but you know I still managed to communicate with my friends go out and enjoy company, listen to music. I could not begin to understand what it is to be deaf or blind .

Things are difficult for me and I hate the way people fall over themselves when I am out either to help or ignore me . I am not sure what is worse having parents telling their children not to stare or the looks of pityful I get when trying to negotiate the double doors in car parks, or getting though the human traffic on my way to work, and yes I can see the point about poor Sophie having to be carried to the places for her photo shoot ...but you know to be fair if the deaf girls have to cope without their aids Sophie should have to do without her chair ...

I would have loved this show to really challenge attitudes about disabilities but it is as bad as society it thumbs its nose at . All the show will ultimately achieve is a little TV time for Sophie or the eventual winner, and most people will go "aww poor thing" and then get on with their lives Sophie will never get work except as a disabled model . Kelly Moody looks normal and very pretty, she probably wouldn't have become a superstar but she could possibly do something Sophie or any of the other girls could never do ..make it in the "Normal" world .

I doubt I will watch the show again, another miss by the BBC . Great concept but I don't need to see someone like me and draw the pity I do to feel better about myself . Maybe some do ..
Comment by Chris on July 25 09:05

I totally agree with Chris (on July 25 09:05) when it comes to the Deaf girls.
This program clearly isn't really Deaf aware.. Maybe they shouldn't have gone to a Deaf awareness course before the show started!?
When Jonathan P. said that he didn't want to bring a interpreter for the dinner, cos the Deaf girls had to meet him and the others half way - I thought "brilliant, he has learned some signs, and he will try to meet *them* half way too!". But boy was I wrong... Deaf people are not like a foreigner, they are DEAF! It is so easy to see that the girls work HARD to understand the other people in the show. He and the show should respect their Deafness, the same way they try to respect the other girls' disabilities! Having Sophie dragging herself up the stairs for the photo shoot in the 3 floor would not (and of course should not) be accepted/acceptable, so why should it be accepted/acceptable to take away the Deaf girls' interpreter?
Sad to see them both go..
(if there are some grammatical mistakes or wrong spelling - pardon me, but I'm not from the uk)
Comment by Tine on July 27 01:31

It seems to me that this programme will not challenge anything. It is just an extension of the general attitude in society that people with disabilities should adapt to fit in rather than society trying to change and meet us half way. I am thoroughly unimpressed but certainly not surprised.
Comment by Rosaleen Dempsey on July 29 03:52


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