Apollonia is a frequent reader of ClayCane.net and a heavy contributor to the site. However, this is her first time as a guest writer. She gives an an insightful critique on Wednesday night's season premiere of America's Next Top Model: Cycle 11, which has its first transgender contestant.

I know the reviews are mixed about Isis on ANTM. None critiquing her, but more about how ANTM is handling her trans woman "story line". Nonetheless, big congratulations to Isis for remaining poised, elegant and not lowering herself to the jealous girls who can't even name a fashion designer or follow lighting.

I was particularly disturbed when all of the girls surrounded her like a monkey in a cage, asking foolish questions about her genitalia, touching her hands and hair. She took it like more of a lady than most of those girls. I'm not sure I can make it through a full season of this -- some parts were just too mean, especially the immature girls hurling insults during her photo shoot. I, and many others, see through the nod of Tyra's weave-filled head and the fake sincerity of her “smile with your eyes” face. Therefore, in the opinion piece below, Apollonia delivers an excellent critique on Isis, Tyra and ANTM.

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Over the past 10 seasons, America’s Next Top Model has been degenerating slowly and becoming virtually unwatchable. Season into season, Tyra Banks has effectively exploited various topics for her bottom line. In her, “I care about you, give me a hug” vein, she has had these girls expose their demons and diseases—lupus, anorexia, and autism. But hey, it’s all in the name of "fierceness". In “TyraWorld” we are all FIERCE—do your walk girl and bring mama some ratings!

Since I heard a transgender woman by the name of Isis would be on cycle 11, alarms immediately went off in my head. I just knew that this was going to be another "Tyraploitation" moment, "Look at me, I am putting a transgender woman in my modeling competition. Oh pioneers!" Tyra, cut the bullshit. You are hardly a pioneer, maybe the first three seasons were “groundbreaking” by reality television standards, but you’ve lost your way. In my opinion, a transgender woman on ANTM is only groundbreaking if she takes the grand prize. Also, are the judges going to use their usual and offensive “tranny jabs” this season? Will they tell Isis her photos are “too tranny” or the famous “dragalicious” as were prescribed to Jade from cycle? I loved Jade and her malapropisms, but, I digress...

After watching the first episode of cycle 11, the flame was lit in my tampon! Before we try to relieve Tyra of responsibility, she is an Executive Producer who reviews every edit so she is responsible for what aired last night.

What struck me the most were the comments those shady girls were throwing at Isis. Clark, calling her a man and talking about her proper “Southern upbringing”—seriously, why Tyra? It’s hard enough to be a transgender woman in our society, why would Tyra think this is groundbreaking if it’s the same old story?

Then there were the rants about what Isis has between her legs. In one scene, a pack of girls were standing around her like a scene from Mean Girls, treating her like a science experiment, bombarding her with questions. Will ANTM spend an entire season obsessing about the penis? Isis of course was graceful and told them about the wonders of tape. Category closed, bitches and yes I wore the bathing suit! Sounds like a cheap ratings ploy to me.

In my humble opinion they should have saved that for the last episode. “Yeah, Isis went through the entire season, and y’all never knew.” Now that’s good television!

Isis has been graceful and waterproof thus far, a credit to her when she should be knocking some of those heifers. I appreciated one of the girls calling her a butterfly—but if the others contestants are going to continue to be disrespectful -- I hope she at least has one moment where she lays in.

I understand that not everyone loves a tranny the way I do. I consider them brave and beautiful. I think it takes an extremely strong and resilient character to recognize that you were born in the wrong body and go about changing that. It’s about living life on your own terms. I don’t believe that Tyra is truly respecting that.

Even when discussing Isis’ photograph, where she held a ballot to her breast, Tyra had to make an aside about her “secret.” Well, doll baby, it isn’t a secret. If you really believe in her right to exist and her place in the competition—stop bringing it up. See, that is my essential problem. Isis lives as a woman, her being a contestant on ANTM should be with the understanding that she is accepted as a woman. Therefore, treat her as one and quit playing the transgender card.

So one chop to America's Next Top Model!