Lessons from America’s Next Top Model

Guest Post by MACsWomen Elite Member: Anne-Marie Ditta 


This past week, I had dental surgery that required me to take antibiotics and painkillers for several days. The medication was so powerful that I slept around the clock. As I wafted in and out of sleep I watched America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). Through my drowsiness I saw top models Janice Dickerson, Tyra Banks, and Twiggy dish out advice to a bevy of beautiful young girls. However, their message anyone who wants to be on top. The heart of their message was STAND OUT. 

Photo credit: Greg Weeks

Make your quirk work

Cindy Crawford’s sister told her to get rid of her mole, which she called an ugly mark. But Crawford's mother said, 'You know what your mole looks like, you don't know what the scar is going to look like.' Now it's so much just a part of my face that I don't think, 'Oh, how's my mole doing today?' But it's the thing that made people remember me, and it made a lot of women who also have beauty marks identify with me. They set you apart. Crawford said in an article In Vogue Magazine.  

Years ago, I had a client who had difficulty identifying his unique strength. In frustration, I refused to end our interview until we found one thing that set him apart from other people in his industry. The only thing he could think of was he used Excel better then anyone else in his department. So much so, that he reduced the time to process work from days to minutes. He really did not see how his “quirk” for using Excel helped drive down costs and increased customer satisfaction until we drilled down on it. 


What makes you so hot?

According to the New York Times Tyra Banks has 275 smiles. Like a star athlete who has perfected a jump shot or a curveball, Banks has studied, honed and mastered the smile. In her arsenal are the “surprise smile,” the “angry but still smiling” smile, the “flirting with boyfriend” smile and the “commercial” smile, which, like the rest of Tyra’s smiles, was designed and perfected when Banks, began modeling at 15.

Numbers show what makes you so hot. One of my clients established the financial framework that drove a $50 million revenue growth. The return on investment she delivered seduced the competition to hire her at more then double her last salary. 


Stay true to who you are and don’t be so competitive that you forget who you are.

As I watched multiple seasons of ANTM through my hazy delirium I noticed girls who had great potential were sent home because they focused on what everyone else was doing. They missed the opportunity to stand on their uniqueness and made excuses for themselves. 

From time to time, a client will request that I write a resume or LinkedIn profile similar to that of their colleagues. This not only annoys me but it makes me sad for the person because they don’t have the confidence to stand on their own experience. Hiring managers and recruiters look for people who tip the balance, who have that something extra. 

You want to be on top? Be bold, be brave, be confident!


Thoughts to Live by

“Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.” - Movie: What a Girl Wants

“Each one of you has something no one else has, or has ever had: your fingerprints, your brain, your heart. Be an individual. Be unique. Stand out. Make noise. Make someone notice. That's the power of individuals.”- Bon Jovi

“Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” - John W. Gardner