AMERICA'S Next Top Model raised eyebrows when it featured contestants who were plus-sized, autistic and even partially blind over the years.

But in the current 11th season of the hit US reality series, creator-host-supermodel Tyra Banks took the shock factor one step further and redefined what is considered beautiful all over again.

Because one of the finalists is not even a woman.

Isis King, 23, was born male and is in the process of transitioning into a woman since early last year.

He is the first pre-op transgender contestant on America's Next Top Model and has become its main talking point.

The show's producers had used the super-slender model wannabe in the previous season for a photo shoot to raise awareness about homeless youth.

King was a background extra, but stood out so much that an impressed Banks started asking about her and only later found out that 'she' was a 'he'.

Still, Banks invited King to audition for the current season, which is airing over Channel (V) (StarHub Ch 85) on Sundays at 9pm.

But King admitted to having initial reservations about putting himself and his struggles out there for the world to see.

The soft-spoken New York-based beauty told The New Paper over the phone from his hometown in Washington, DC: 'I didn't know what would happen, how people would take to me because I'm still pretty new to transitioning.

'But I told myself I can do this, and I did it and I'm happy with the outcome.'

As for whether he felt he may have been exploited for ratings, King said: 'I knew the reason why Tyra brought me in was because of my performance (in the 10th season), so I had to tell myself that's what it was.'

But he lauded America's Next Top Model for 'showing variety' and sending out a 'good message' by showcasing non-conventional participants who are judged by their ability no matter how different they may seem.

However, being different came at a price.

Catty contestants

King had to contend with some catty fellow contestants-cum-housemates, who complained that it was unfair that he was allowed to compete because he's technically not a woman and that the show isn't called America's Next Top Drag Queen.

On whether the producers bent the rules for him, the 1.7m-tall African-American insisted that, to his knowledge, he signed the same contract as the women and there were no conditions stating that contestants need to be born female.

He added: 'Honestly, I didn't care what the other girls said because... this was MY opportunity and I accomplised what I wanted out of it. I just block (everything else) out.

'I had the same right as everyone, and I thought I had a very good chance of winning.'

He has since been hailed as an inspirational role model by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the US, with civil rights group Equality Maryland recently presenting him with its Visibility Award.

He has also garnered mostly positive feedback from the public.

'I'm excited that I made history (being the first transgender model on the show)... and it's a wonderful thing that being myself is enough for people to like me.

'But I did this for myself. I try not to think about (representing a group) because the pressure would be too much.

'I wouldn't want to be hired as a token trans model. If I'm ever considered (for jobs), I want to earn it through my talent and looks and not because I have a trait that no one else has.'

The programme assistant at a non-profit organisation is hoping his stint on the show will lead to more opportunities in modelling, acting and fashion design.

During his childhood years, King - who legally changed his name from Darrell Walls - liked to pretend to be female rapper Lil' Kim or a pink Power Ranger and always felt like a girl trapped in a boy's body.

It wasn't until his 21st birthday that he decided to officially start dressing and living as a woman, and to inject himself with female hormones.

He is still trying to raise the US$25,000 ($37,000) needed for his sex change surgery, which he claimed will happen 'in the very, very near future'.

But being on America's Next Top Model took a toll on him and was the biggest challenge he has ever had to face.

No privacy

He had no privacy because there were no doors and curtains in the bathroom, and had to pose in skimpy swimsuits for two back-to-back challenges.

During an in-the-water photo shoot, he stressed over whether his body tape underneath his bikini bottom would peel off, resulting in a different kind of wardrobe malfunction.

King recalled how he found the experience 'a bit nerve-wracking', but at least he 'conquered' it.

'I'd do anything and everything (that was required), I would never allow (my condition) to make me say no. Having been a fan of the show since its first season, I knew it was coming and I was ready for it.'

But he conceded that he would have performed better and had more confidence in such challenges if he was post-op because 'mentally, it would have taken less off me'.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 7, 2008.