The Swan (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The Swan is a 2004 American reality television program broadcast on Fox in which women who were judged to be 'ugly' were given "extreme makeovers" that included several forms of plastic surgery. The title of the series refers to the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, in which a homely bird matures into a swan.

Each contestant was assigned a panel of specialists — a coach, therapist, trainer, cosmetic surgeons and a dentist — who together designed a program of total transformation. The contestants' work ethic, growth and achievement was monitored during a three-month process. Each week, two women were featured, and at the episode's conclusion, one went home while another was selected to move to compete in the Swan pageant at the end of the season for a chance to be deemed The Swan.

Both the first and second seasons debuted in 2004. A third season was tipped to happen, but the show was cancelled in early 2005 after continued ratings drops.

The plastic surgeons on the team were chosen for their ability to perform often startling transformations. Drs. Terry Dubrow and Randal Haworth, both board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, were selected by the producers of the show to perform the multiple plastic surgical operations for each of the two aired seasons.

Season one (2004)

The Swan debuted on April 7, 2004.

EP	Contestant #1	Contestant #2
1	Kelly Alemi	Rachel Love-Fraser
2	Kristy Garza	Christina Tyree
3	Cindy Ingle	Tawnya C.
4	Beth Lay	Kathy Rickers
5	Andrea Morris	Belinda Bessant
6	Sarina Voight	Kelly Becker
7	Marnie Rygiewicz	Dawn Goad
8	Tanya Slovich	Merline Norman

{{colorbox}} Through to the pageant

{{colorbox}} Wildcard

{{colorbox}} Contestant Tanya, dropped out of the show, after being caught with a mirror (which is against the rules of appearing on the series), so she left the show (on her own accord), so Merline was automatically in the swan pageant.

Swan pageant

At the show the judges would score in every category with the swan contestants competing, eventually being whittled down to three finalists. The judges at the show were:

• Susie Castillo - Miss USA 2003
• Valerie Trott - model management exec
• Judith Regan - publisher of several self-help books
• Tara Kraft - beauty director of Star magazine
• Mike Ruiz - Fashion photographer z

The prizes awarded to the winner were:

• A modeling contract with judge Trott's Agency
• A designer wardrobe of unspecified value
• A week in Honolulu, Hawaii
• A weekend in Las Vegas
• $50,000 educational scholarship at Western International University
• $10,000 of personal coaching
• A 2004 Jaguar
• $50,000 cash

Final competition scores

Swan Finalist	Evening Gown	Swimsuit	Q&A	Lingerie
Rachel	9.8 (1)	9.8 (1)	9.6 (1)	9.7 (1)
Beth	9.6 (2)	9.6 (2)	9.2 (2)	9.1 (3)
Cindy	9.4 (3)	9.4 (3)	8.9 (5)	9.3 (2)
Kelly	8.5 (6)	8.5 (6)	9.0 (3)	8.9 (4)
Marnie	8.8 (4)	9.0 (4)	8.4 (6)	8.6 (5)
Sarina	8.7 (5)	8.7 (5)	9.0 (3)	8.4 (6)
Merline	7.9 (7)	7.9 (7)
Christina	7.8 (8)	7.9 (7)
Belinda	7.7 (9)	7.7 (9)

{{colorbox}} Winner

{{colorbox}} First runner-up

{{colorbox}} Second runner-up

{{colorbox}} Top 6

{{colorbox}} Top 9

(#)  Rank in each round of competition

After 9 episodes and 16 makeovers it was announced that Rachel Love-Fraser had won the swan pageant. Beth placed runner up, with Cindy second-runner up.

Season two (2004)

Season two debuted on October 27, 2004. Kari and Gina. B from episode 4 were sisters.

EP	Contestant #1	Contestant #2
1	Jennifer Patten	Kim Wilburn
2	Gina Davis	Lorrie Arias
3	Christina Ozuna	Erica Moore
4	Gina Brevada	Kari Brevada
5	Cinnamon Smith	Patti Chedohan
6	DeLisa Styles	Lorraine Norris
7	Marsha Meddleburg	Sylvia Cruz
8	Amy Williams	Dore Weber

{{colorbox}} Through to the pageant

{{colorbox}} Wildcard

Swan Pageant

At the show the judges scored the swan contestants in several categories, whittling them down to three finalists. The judges at the show were:

• Ken Baker - West Coast Executive Editor of US Weekly magazine
• Krista Sides-Klayman - LA Models Management, first agent of Tyra Banks.
• Carnie Wilson - Wilson Phillips singer, actor, author
• Larry A. Thompson - Producer, Author
• Dayanara Torres - Miss Universe 1993

The prizes awarded to the winner were:

• $100,000 contract as a national spokesperson for NutriSystem
• 6 day guided tour of Bangkok, Thailand courtesy of Thai Airways International
• One of a kind custom made evening gown by House of Thai Silk in Hollywood
• 1 year gym membership for her and her family courtesy of Spectrum
• 1 year supply of Mesoestetic medical skin care products
• Weekend getaway to Las Vegas, Nevada as a guest of Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
• $10,000 personal coaching scholarship to Anthony Robbins Mastery University
• $50,000 educational scholarship courtesy of Western International University
• $35,000 smile transformation for winner's significant other provided by Dr Sherri Worth in partnership with Da Vinci Studios

Final competition scores

Swan Finalist	Evening Gown	Swimsuit	Q&A	Lingerie
DeLisa	9.9 (1)	9.9 (1)	9.5 (1)	9.9 (1)
Gina B	9.5 (2)	9.5 (2)	9.3 (2)	9.3 (2)
Erica	9.3 (3)	9.3 (3)	9.1 (4)	9.1 (3)
Kari	9.2 (4)	9.3 (3)	9.1 (4)	9.1 (3)
Gina D	8.9 (5)	8.8 (5)	9.3 (2)	9.1 (3)
Jennifer	8.3 (6)	8.3 (6)
Amy	8.2 (7)	8.2 (7)
Marsha	8.2 (7)	8.2 (7)
Cinnamon	8.1 (9)	8.1 (9)

{{colorbox}} Winner

{{colorbox}} First runner-up

{{colorbox}} Second runner-up

{{colorbox}} Top 5

{{colorbox}} Top 9

(#)  Rank in each round of competition

After 9 episodes and 16 makeovers it was announced that DeLisa Styles had won the swan pageant. Gina B placed runner up, with Erica second-runner up.

Criticism

The journalist Jennifer L. Pozner, in her book, Reality Bites Back, calls The Swan "the most sadistic reality series of the decade." Journalist Chris Hedges also criticized the show in his book Empire of Illusion, writing "The Swan's transparent message is that once these women have been surgically "corrected" to resemble mainstream celebrity beauty as closely as possible, their problems will be solved."

It attracted further criticism internationally as British comedian and writer Charlie Brooker launched attacks on The Swan during his Channel 4 show 'You Have Been Watching', where guest Josie Long suggested the show be renamed "The bullies were right".

The show was ranked at #1 in Entertainment Weekly's 10 Worst Reality-TV Shows Ever.

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