http://www.citizensugar.com/ Breaking News, Together. en http://www.citizensugar.com/1864851 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/33_2008/TM11_16.jpg-9e7d9509-t3.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="380"></span>The <a href="http://buzzsugar.com/slideshow/1863126" >upcoming Season of America's Next Top Model</a> embraces diversity as usual. Twenty-two-year-old Isis, who identifies as a woman but born physically male, will compete as the show's first transgender contestant. </p> <p>While GLAAD hails the choice as an unprecedented opportunity for visibility, Isis has a more humble assessment of her role in breaking societal barriers for trasngender individuals — Isis <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/transgender-contestant-to-compete-on-antm" target="_blank">has explained</a>: "I like to help people, but I'm here to follow my dreams."</p> <p>While it probably can't hurt the CW's ratings (and we all know <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1842228" >Tyra loves publicity</a>), featuring a beautiful transgender contestant could also help the trasngender community gain mainstream acceptance by breaking stereotypes. </p> <p>If you're a big <b>ANTM</b> fan Buzz <a href="http://buzzsugar.com/slideshow/1863126" >has the skinny on the rest</a> of the contestants, and Bella has predicted <a href="http://bellasugar.com/slideshow/1863171" >how Tyra will handle makeover day</a>. I wonder if Isis's gender identity will be a major theme of the show, or whether it will be something viewers easily forget. </p> <p>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.cwtv.com" target="_blank">The CW</a>. </p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1864851#comment America's Next Top Model GLADD Headline Isis Sexuality Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:45:03 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1864851