ANTM's First Transgender Contestant

America's Next Top Model is being praised by the president of the Gay + Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) group for including a transgender contestant in the new series.

Tyra Banks’ hit reality show, which taught the world all about smiling with the eyes and how to be fierce, enters its 11th season next month.  Since Tyra already broke through image barriers on the plus sized front (size 8-10 Whitney won last cycle), it’s time for a new cause célèbre, in this case, transgender Isis, a former receptionist who describes herself as “a woman born physically male.”

GLAAD chief Neil Giuliano says “[This is] an unprecedented opportunity for a community that is underrepresented on television…We applaud Tyra Banks and The CW for making this historic visibility of transgender people possible.” (Editor’s note: Have they forgotten about Candis Cayne on Dirty Sexy Money? Her role was undeniably ground breaking. And Laverne Cox is a transgender contestant on VH1's I Want to Work for Diddy.)

The new season of America's Next Top Model debuts on September 3rd and we can't wait! The acting and makeover shows are our fave. We've missed you Nigel Barker!