America’s Next Top Model Beefs Up Its Judges Panel

by Verena von Pfetten | 10:28 am, August 19th, 2010

This season — er, cycle — of America’s Next Top Model is ramping up to be a doozy. First came the news that Seventeen mag had been dropped in favor of the edgier and much more sartorially credible Vogue Italia, then came the requisite body image controversy. And it looks like Andre Leon Talley‘s industry clout is finally working it’s magic. The list of guest judges scheduled for the next season reads like a page right out of Vogue‘s fashion credits.

Not only is Franca Scozzani making an appearance — which makes sense, since her magazine is part of the grand prize — but designers like Roberto Cavalli, Diane von Furstenberg, and Zac Posen are also on the docket. The list is rounded out by famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier, supermodel Karolina Kurkova, and fashion royalty Margherita Missoni — who People somewhat unfairly categorizes as a model.

But what does this mean for the show which, it should be noted, is in its 14th cycle? While The Cut asserts that support of all these industry heavyweights means the show will actually “matter,” we’re not so sure. At the end of the day, it all comes down to talent, which is to say: the models. If Banks continues to recruit (and reward) models who look like they walked out of a Sears catalogue, then they could have Anna Wintour herself be a judge and it wouldn’t matter. But if they can manage to find, say, the next Crystal Renn or Coco Rocha — then, well, congrats, Tyra: you’ve finally made it.

[People Style Watch via The Cut.]