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"The Swan" reality show revisited as a 2004 extreme makeover relic
Original: In 2004, the reality TV show "The Swan" premiered. The premise: Self-proclaimed "ugly ducklings" — most of whom were in
In 2004, the Fox reality show "The Swan" premiered, giving self-described "ugly ducklings" — mostly women in their 20s, some recent mothers — extreme makeovers involving personal training and cosmetic surgery, with contestants competing in a beauty pageant at season's end. The show is being discussed again as a striking example of how harsh and controversial early-2000s reality television could be toward women's bodies.
Why now: Nostalgia and criticism of 2000s reality TV are resurfacing, prompting renewed debate over how damaging "The Swan" was.
Evidence
- In 2004, the reality TV show "The Swan" premiered. The premise: Self-proclaimed "ugly ducklings" — most of whom were in their 20s, some of whom had just had babies — were given extreme makeovers including personal training and cosmetic surgery. At the end of the season, they… · CultureDesk@flipboard.social · 3
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