Whitney Thompson now called 'influential'

ATLANTIC BEACH - A city resident who's achieved supermodel fame has had another accolade heaped upon her this year. Whitney Thompson has been selected as part of Microsoft Network's Lifestyle list of most influential woman in 2008.

The 21-year-old Thompson was named in the list in an MSN Lifestyle report this month. The latest honor for Thompson comes in a good year for the daughter of Atlantic Beach Assistant City Manager David Thompson. Whitney won the television reality show America's Next Top Model in its 10th season. The 5-foot-10-inch Whitney Thompson is in New York, where she has signed two major modeling contracts with Cover Girl and Fashion Bug among others and she did so in the "plus-size" category, which is why MSN named her among the influential women's list. Others on the list include Michelle Obama, wife of President-elect Barack Obama, and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

The MSN report on Thompson said she "could very well set the standard that the champagne-and-cigarettes-starved chic look is out and a healthy hourglass figure glow is in." David Thompson said Friday he was beaming with pride at the honor for his daughter. "Certainly, if you look at the other people on the list, it's quite a spectacular list. For her to even be on that same list with those people, it's quite an honor. Whitney is doing something that she loves doing. She represents herself and represents women well." It's a relief that media and other women are willing to recognize Whitney for her unique contribution to modeling and establishing a positive image for young women, David Thompson said.

"She's showing people that you can have curves and you can be intelligent. You can be so much more than a stick figure in the fashion world. She's in an industry that's full of emaciated women and she's trying to make changes," he said. In addition to her modeling work, Whitney is the national spokeswoman for Autism Awareness.

David Thompson said his daughter is more than just a superficial face and it's an image that should be emulated by young women. "I think one of the problems we have is that young women [and] this image that they think they have to live up to," said David Thompson. "They starve themselves to death. ... Bulimia and anorexia are tremendous problems today because they're trying to meet this image that tells girls, 'You're supposed to look like this.' "To be proud of the fact that she's pretty would be pretty shallow.

I'm proud of the fact that she's stayed who she is. She's not given into the Hollywood lifestyle and the drugs. Whitney remains who she is and she's very well-grounded and intelligent," David Thompson said. While being named one of the most influential women in the past year is a huge honor for Whitney, David Thompson said his family keeps his daughter's work in perspective. "She's not influencing countries or changing public policy. ... Her influence is primarily in that fashion industry.

That's where she makes a difference," he said.

Drew Dixon can also be reached at (904) 249-4947, ext. 6313.