ABC Premieres True Beauty

ABC Network launched a new show on January 5, 2009, aimed at answering the question: "What is True Beauty?" Some might say that Executive Producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher missed the boat altogether by focusing only on candidates with an obvious outer beauty. Is America to believe that real beauty is predicated on having good looks? I hope not.

The hostess for "True Beauty", Vanessa Minillo, along with judges Cheryl Tiegs and Nole Marin were the only ones in on a little secret. The 10 candidates chosen for the show would not be judged only on their outer beauty. Inner beauty would be a deciding factor as well.

The candidates included:

Ashley Michaelson, a blonde bombshell, works as a designer's assistant. That seemed apropos, since Ashley seemed more intent on impressing everyone with her expensive wardrobe than her personality.

Billy Jeffrey is the oldest of the contestants at age 31. He owns and operates his own vitamin shop by day and works as a Chippendale Dancer by night. But of all the male contestants, he came across as more level head and well balanced.

Chelsea Bush, another blonde bombshell, seemed to be a contradiction in terms. While mugging for the camera and calling herself a "celebrity," she showed a softer, more vulnerable side with CJ. She was able to identify with his poetry and prose about not fitting in as a child.

CJ Miller is a truly talented writer. It seems a shame that he doesn't pour his efforts into that talent rather than selling himself to women who want to use him as a trophy. What a loss to the literary world!

Haddiyyah-lah Sa'id got off to a bad start at the very beginning and never regained momentum. She exhibited the fact that there is a fine line between being confident and being cocky. Unfortunately, she didn't seem to know the difference.

Joel Rush also failed to impress anyone other than himself with his overly cocky attitude. He admitted to marrying his wife simply because she was as hot as he was, or should I say as hot as he perceives himself to be? What a turn off!