You Wanna Be On Top? A Memoir by Sarah Hartshorne

I’ve never watched America’s Next Top Model, but I love a good pop culture memoir. I recently had the chance to listen to the audiobook of You Wanna Be On Top? by Sarah Hartshorne and it was such an interesting story. Sarah did such a good job of retelling her own experiences, as well as sharing all of the behind the scenes details that readers and listeners will be dying for. So keep reading for my full book review of You Wanna Be On Top?

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What is You Wanna Be on Top?: A Memoir of Makeovers, Manipulation, and Not Becoming America’s Next Top Model About?

Tyra Banks’s America’s Next Top Model was a cultural phenomenon with more than six million weekly viewers at its peak. Over its fifteen-year run, the show captured the glitz of the early aughts as well as its most toxic attitudes—from the glamorous but often questionable photo shoots to the cutting feedback from its highly respected if out-of-touch judges. But as its fans have grown up and as the next generation discovers ANTM, they’ve also begun to reckon with the enduring ways that the show has affected their body image and self-esteem.

Sarah Hartshorne would have never guessed that her first foray into modeling would start with being blindfolded alongside three dozen other girls on a charter bus winding through Puerto Rico. In You Wanna Be On Top?, Cycle 9’s only plus-size contestant takes us into the heart of the unforgiving auditions; the labyrinthian cruise ship the girls weren’t allowed to enjoy; and, of course, the L.A. “model house” teeming with hidden cameras and elaborately constructed tensions. As the season unfolds and the producers’ interview questions about her weight and her opinions of the other girls become increasingly pointed, Hartshorne uncovers the destabilizing methods employed to film “reality.”

Drawing on her experience as well as interviews with other contestants and production crew, Hartshorne answers the questions you always wanted to ask: Why didn’t the house have a microwave or a dishwasher? Why did girls regularly faint during eliminations? Which judge was the meanest off camera? Why is it that the girls had their most meaningful conversations in closets? (Answer: It was the one place camera crews couldn’t fit.)

With tender honesty and sharp wit, Hartshorne dissects the iconic show with an unflinching gaze that refuses to smize. (from Amazon.com)

My Initial Thoughts

I wasn’t sure if I would really understand this book. After all, America’s Next Top Model is a reality competition show that I’ve never watched a full episode of. But I know enough about it from memes, youtube clips, and pop culture references. So it was very easy to catch up and really get into Sarah’s story.

I listened to the audiobook and I loved that it was narrated by the author. I love that for memoirs because it really helps to hear their emotions as they tell different stories.

Trying Out for the Show

I enjoyed hearing about the process of being selected for the show. As with most reality shows that grow in popularity, the process was very grueling. Sarah was really surprised when she was chosen.

America’s Next Top Model Definitely Has it’s Flaws

I know that all reality television shows are problematic at times, but America’s Next Top Model seems to have many issues. How can it not? It’s a show about modeling, where women are living under very stressful conditions and focusing on things like being skinny.

One thing that was really interesting is the talk about “plus sized models”. Sarah was considered one of the plus sized models on her season, and yet she says that viewers were critical because she wasn’t really considered plus sized in the real world. It’s definitely an interesting concept to think about and it just goes to show how skewed the modeling world is.

Sarah Really Explains a lot about the Filming Process

This book taught me so much about how reality TV shows are filmed! And I’m glad for that. It’s something I’ve always wondered about. She talks about how she and her fellow contestants would have to film confessionals at the house. She also tells readers about how they would be forced to stay quiet when they weren’t filming, probably so that they didn’t waste any good conversation that could be filmed.

It seems so stressful. I understand why people go on reality TV because it is fun to watch, but to be on set just sounds incredibly difficult. More power (and much respect) to the women who go on this show!

The Aftermath of Being on The Show

I found it very eye opening to read about the aftermath of being on a TV show. The winners of the show are the ones who are supposed to make out the best, but many of the other contestants also use their publicity from the show to break into modeling. But it’s not as easy as it may seem. I was disheartened to hear about how a lot of the women were turned off by modeling after the show.

But maybe that’s natural. A lot of our dreams from when we are younger can change by the time we’re older. And I imagine a lot of women were probably stressed after being on the show.

In Conclusion

I thought Sarah Hartshorne’s memoir was a really fun listen. I highly recommend if you enjoyed America’s Next Top Model or are interested in reality television shows. Sarah dropped a lot of great background information about her experiences filming and living in a model house. It kind of makes me want to see if I can find her season streaming anywhere online.

I really enjoyed You Wanna Be On Top? and would recommend listening to the audiobook, since it’s narrated by the author.