The TV Addict 

In a move that sent shockwaves throughout the modeling industry, Tyra Banks announced on Monday that AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL will be dropping the requirement that models be 5-foot-7 and under for the show’s upcoming 13th cycle.

“There have been top supermodels in the past that weren’t as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss,” announced Banks in a press release. “So we are changing up TOP MODEL for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!”

Unfortunately, what 2009 won’t be is the year for the smarter model. With theTVaddict.com recently learning that one additional requirement was this close to making the cut until host Tyra Banks deemed it far too unrealistic a challenge for potential TOP MODEL contestants to conquer. That requirement, according to our not-at-all-made-up source, was for potential TOP MODEL contestants to successfully be able to locate Iraq on a map. Thus, avoiding any embarrassing public appearances such as this one.