A participant from one of America's most contentious reality television makeover programmes has come forward to detail how the experience left her with permanent physical and emotional scars.
The Controversial Legacy of The Swan
The Swan, which broadcast for two seasons starting in 2004 on the US network Fox, followed groups of women through extensive three-month transformations before they competed in a beauty pageant. Described as 'ugly ducklings', these ordinary women underwent dramatic cosmetic surgeries, complete diet overhauls, and wardrobe makeovers in their pursuit to become beauty queens.
The programme provided contestants with a full support team including a therapist, dentist, cosmetic surgeon, and personal trainer, all working towards making them more conventionally attractive. The ultimate winner was crowned 'The Swan', though notably received no cash prize for their victory.
Despite attracting a massive 15 million viewers during its premiere, the show faced severe criticism from reviewers who labelled it as 'misogynistic' and 'hurtful'. This negative reception contributed to its cancellation shortly after its initial release.
Belinda Bessant's Harrowing Experience
Now, former contestant Belinda Bessant has broken her silence about her traumatic time on the show, revealing it left her with lasting facial scars and deep regrets about procedures she felt pressured to undergo.
Speaking to Mel Magazine, the former reality star explained she applied for the series after seeing an advertisement during an episode of The Price Is Right. Promising a 'life-changing' opportunity, Bessant admitted she 'didn't hesitate' given her struggles with depression as a single mother.
After being selected, she was flown to Los Angeles for medical and psychological evaluations. Two months later, camera crews arrived at her home and she was taken away for the transformation process, despite legal advice warning her against signing the show's contract.
'This was back in the heyday of reality TV,' Bessant recalled. 'Everybody dreamed of being on some type of TV show... the allure of being on reality TV was too exciting to turn down.'
The Lasting Consequences
Bessant was separated from her home, job, and children for four months, sending them the $500 per week she earned from participating. She underwent multiple procedures including an eye surgery (Blepharoplasty), face and body liposuction, a breast reduction, and veneers.
'All of the surgeries were within the first two weeks,' she remembered. 'My first operation was 13 hours under anaesthesia, and my second was one week later.'
During recovery, contestants were isolated from mainstream media and limited to ten-minute weekly phone calls home. They were constantly chaperoned and kept 'trapped in their own world' until filming concluded and the pageant aired.
While Bessant acknowledges some surgeries proved beneficial, she deeply regrets others that left her with visible scars and hair loss. 'The before pictures were made to make us look as ugly as possible,' she revealed. 'I had beautiful eyebrows and eyes, I wasn't unhappy with my face structure... today you can see three vertical scars on my head, which are made worse by the hair loss.'
She now feels 'embarrassed more than anything' about her participation, particularly due to editing that portrayed her as 'obsessed with looks'. To this day, she avoids discussing the show to keep its 'negativity' out of her life.
The programme's damaging legacy has been formally recognised by critics, with Entertainment Weekly ranking it the worst reality show ever produced and VICE featuring it in their documentary 'Dark Side of Reality TV' as the most 'bizarre and offensive reality TV show of all time'.
