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She supposed to be on ET tonight.
'America's Next Top Model': The Naked Truth
July 03, 2003
Although just a size six, ROBIN MANNING was considered a "plus-sized" model by the judges of "America's Next Top Model," but that wasn't the only problem the 5-foot-9-inch, 160-pound beauty encountered during the competition. Her decision not to pose in the nude -- or semi-nude -- got her booted off the UPN series.
ET spoke to the Memphis, TN, daycare assistant to see how she feels now that she's out of the running for a guaranteed modeling contract. On tonight's show, we'll have the inside story.
One of the pictures the wannabe models were asked to pose for gave the illusion of nudity. In order to shoot it, one had to be nude, or else covered with two thin bands of ribbon and a thong. Robin's strong religious values precluded her from feeling comfortable about posing in such a way.
"If I sneezed, everything was going to come off," she told ET. "GISELE BUNDCHEN is the highest paid model today. She might be in a skimpy outfit, but she does not do nudity, so I don't feel I have to do it."
Even though that decision may have cost her the title as "America's Next Top Model," the 26-year-old says she has no regret. "I was ready to go," she says. "I was at peace with everything I had done. That was why at the end, I didn't cry."
Robin's weight was also an issue, as judge JANICE DICKINSON, one of the world's first supermodels, was quick to point out. She didn't feel that Robin could be successful, despite the success that other plus-sized models such as EMME and MIA TYLER have had. Robin told ET that she while she respected Janice, she didn't necessarily agree with what she had to say. Besides, Robin said, she likes the way she looks.
"I knew I weighed the most," admits Robin, who lost a lot of weight when she started college. "I could look at them and see. That was a no brainer. I love my curves. I used to be 204 pounds and a size 18, so to be a six, I would say, "Job well done!'"
So, now that she is out of the running, whom is she rooting for?
"Shannon," she says. "This is just the tip of the iceberg for her."
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