Former Contestants of 'The Swan' Share Experiences in New Documentary

<figure><img alt="Women line up for the pageant in " src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/N2YOVSMP2BBDDKYS5RM4BWQQLQ.jpg?auth=b0b09f2a33a5024e1eb327a84af2d2b3c26d05553df38995f4f663ccf8f9b6ce&amp;smart=true&amp;width=1059&amp;height=596" /><figcaption>©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection / Fox</figcaption></figure><p>Former contestants from the reality television show <i>The Swan</i> are discussing their experiences in a new Hulu documentary titled <i>The Swan: Behind the Mirror</i>, directed by Erin Lee Carr. The show, which aired on Fox for two seasons starting in 2004, involved extreme cosmetic transformations for women labeled as “ugly ducklings.”</p><p>Contestants underwent 90 days of plastic surgery, dental work, rigorous workouts, and strict dieting before their transformations were revealed. The production team included plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow, who later gained fame on E!’s <i>Botched</i>.</p><p>During the process, contestants were not allowed to see themselves and lived in apartments devoid of mirrors. Kristy Garza, a Season 1 contestant, expressed her discomfort upon arriving at the apartments and noticing the absence of reflective surfaces.</p><p>Contestants were required to work out six days a week while recovering from surgeries, following diets that reportedly ranged from 800 to 1,200 calories per day. They were also informed only after surgery that they would compete against each other in a beauty pageant.</p><p>Garza noted the psychological impact of comparing themselves to others while still dealing with self-esteem issues. The show’s concept received criticism, with Dr. Rod Rohrich, then president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, stating that turning cosmetic surgery into a competition was inappropriate.</p><p>Despite the controversy, the show attracted significant viewership, with the premiere drawing approximately 15 million viewers. The documentary revisits allegations of mistreatment, including claims from Season 2 contestant Kari Bravata, who stated she nearly died during surgery.</p><p>Bravata also revealed that nude pre-surgery photographs were intended for a coffee-table book that was never published, which she found distressing. The documentary highlights the troubling treatment of contestants, with Carr noting that the show sought individuals who were vulnerable.</p><p>Although <i>The Swan</i> only lasted two seasons, the experiences of the contestants have had lasting effects. Garza mentioned that revisiting these events through the documentary has been a healing process for her.</p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-swan-contestants-reveal-dark-details-of-plastic-surgery-reality-show/">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p>