Will a Young Woman with Asperger Syndrome Become America's Next Top Model?
A gifted art student from Valparaiso, Ind., she has a lean and angular look well suited to the fashion industry. But her beauty doesn’t mask the challenges of Asperger’s. The show requires her to live in a house with 12 other would-be models, and cattiness and backbiting ensue. Early in the show, she appears socially isolated, the girls whisper about her within earshot, and viewers see her crying on the phone to her mother.Not being a regular ANTM watcher, I haven't seen Heather compete - but I'm guessing some of you have. What's your feeling about a young women with autism being featured on a show that's all about surviving in a world in in-fighting, back-biting, and competition? Does it place Heather in a good light - since she's competing, and doing reasonably well with the competition? Or does it present Heather as a weird outsider - a person to be barely tolerated and finally ignored?One girl is frustrated when Heather, concentrating on packing a bag, doesn’t hear a request to move out of the way. At one point, the others laugh when they stake out their beds and Heather has no place to sleep.
“I wish I could get the joke,” Heather laments.
“You. You’re the joke,” retorts another model, Bianca, an 18-year-old college student who is from Queens.
But while Heather’s odd mannerisms separate her from her roommates, those same traits translate as on-the-edge high fashion in her modeling sessions. In interviews on camera, she often glances to the side, unable to hold eye contact. But Ms. Banks, the ’60s-era model Twiggy and the fashion photographer Nigel Barker, who all appear on the show, marvel at Heather’s ability to connect with the camera. The pop star Enrique Iglesias is so taken by her haunting looks that he chooses her for a featured role in a music video.
In an interview last week, Ms. Kuzmich played down the conflict with the other contestants, saying many more “civilized” exchanges weren’t broadcast. “They didn’t make fun of me that much,” she said.
Comments
The editors started out showing Heather as a weird outsider, but as the season progressed, it was clear that she was the only one on the show who had genuine feelings or depth of character — including the judges. (Could Twiggy look any more bored and embarrassed?) Name any season, and Heather’s the only one whose photos come close to “supermodel” stature. Seventeen Magazine? Yawn.
I watch the show with my two teenagers, and Heather prompted a lot of great discussions including the nature of Asperger’s and autism, and how we treat people who behave oddly. We also were moved by how Heather responded to praise, nearly glowing with joy, and talked about how little of such feedback she probably heard before.
I watched last week’s episode, but it fell so flat without Heather that I skipped this week’s. I’ll probably just catch the final on the web, be annoyed at the results, and look for Heather in the magazines.
I think it’s great how the media is FINALLY waking up to the fact that people on the Autistic spectrum are not all Rainmen but are very real, they are not monsters and sometimes are the very underdogs we all LOVE in so many moves and even real life stories! Steven Spielberg has an official diagnosis of Asperger’s and he’s - who would argue? - is an amazing talent and a great human being! Organisations like Cure Autism now! engage in scaremongering because that’s what gets funding and money is EVERYTHING in this consumer-driven society. But the truth is simple: we have a growing number of children on the Autistic spectrum who will NEVER grow out of Autism. They need support, understanding and protection from bullying - not CURE that isn’t even possible. And certainly not ridicule or prejudice. These kids on the Autistic spectrum will grow up and live among us, not as minority any more but a growing number of people with unique perspective in life who will be reckoned with.
My son has Aspergers and he is smart and funny and the most interesting kid I have ever known, although not always the easiest. We would not take a cure if offered. We all (including him) like him as he is!
Many adults with Asperger Syndrome are leading fulfilling lives and even defying the odds by succeeding in jobs and other roles we don’t expect them to do well at. Although we should be proud of them and encourage them in their efforts, we have to remember that not all autistic adults with normal or above IQ’s do as well as the ones whose inspiring stories draw media attention. Some barely manage to cope with life in the community and need extensive support in order to function.
I am one of those not so fortunate ones. Although I have a normal IQ, my autism symptoms are severe. In addition to the autism I have co-morbid Tourette’s personality disorder, coordination problems, attention deficit symptoms and severe sensory integration disorder. I face the additional challenges of a life in an abrasive big city whose living conditions even some “normal” people find especially difficult, teasing, other kinds of abuse, a regular job that is wearing my fragile nerves down and hard times that require the flexibility I lack. The city where I live has no services at all for semi-autonomous adults like me. I have no support network and am unable to get one because of my social limitations and lack of social services. After years of struggling to get by with no support, I burnt out. While other Asperger adults are earning advanced degrees and embarking on demanding careers, I consider the humble acts of forcing myself out of bed in the morning and making it through a day without a meltdown an achievement.
Marla Comm
Montreal, Canada
I have never watched Top Model before but watching Heather’s talent and growth was intriging and amazing. I definetely think that she should have won. She was the best of the girls and actually took her feedback graciously and tried to do better. The other girls have huge egos and put forth no effort to listen to the judges and apply what they are told. Also the other girls should be ashamed of themselves for the way they treated Heather most of the time. I feel sorry for their families that these girls acted so childish and disrespectful on National television. Discrimination against any person is wrong, and especially against a person of disability. Considering some of the other contestant were members of a minority, you would think they would know better than to treat people in such a manner. I cannot believe the judges would want any one of those catty, mean girls as a winner of the show. That is the end of my watching of the show, for good!
I was so disappointed when Heather was cut from ANTM. I was rooting for her to go all the way.
The other girls were catty and rude to her (well, pretty much to everyone, but her especially). I’m glad she said there were plenty of “civilized” moments they didn’t show on TV. The letter she left for the remaining girls referred to them as “family.”
She did fall apart doing the Cover Girl commercial and doing go-sees, but if she really wants it, I’m sure she can learn! She is probably my favorite contestant of all the seasons I’ve watched.
I admit it…ANTM has been one of my favorite shows since the first season it appeared. (Don’t ask…I don’t really know why!) And I was ecstatic that this season they had someone on the Spectrum as a contestant. I routed for her every week and was thrilled when America was voting her “CoverGirl of the Week” everyweek….even after she was cut. I wanted her to go all the way and shut those other “ladies” up for good…but it was apparent that public speaking was very hard for her (losing most challenges where she would have to speak) as well as managing her time and finding her way around a strange city when it came time to do both during the “go-see” phase. She was definately out of her element and I thought the show handled it well without being expoitative or patronizing. But hey, its nothing she can’t learn to handle…I’m sure we’re going to be seeing more of Heather in the future.
I agree with proud mom4max. We have an 8 year old grandson who lives with us & was diagnosed in the Autism spectrum. He is the joy of our lives and we wouldnt change a thing. He’s happy and although he relates to the world different than you and I, he certainly has taught me to slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
I know she can do it. She’s very beautiful, sha e has the hight, and the posture, look, and heart of a model.