Collinsville native a contender on new reality show

By Staff
From staff reports
October 13, 2004
A Collinsville native will compete on a new reality series premiering Tuesday on TBS.
Albert Smith Jr., a 2000 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, will be one of 11 men on "He's a Lady." The contestants will have the opportunity to "walk a mile" in their wives' or girlfriends' shoes when they undergo a complete feminine makeover.
Smith now lives in Birmingham, where he attends the University of Alabama and works part time as a driving range assistant. He is the 21-year-old son of Albert Smith Sr. of Collinsville and Dionicia Smith of Hattiesburg.
Asked what he thought about his son appearing on a reality show dressed as a woman, Smith said he wasn't too happy about it.
According to a promo on TBS.com, "He's a Lady" opens with the men temporarily leaving behind their wives and girlfriends for a chance to win a quarter of a million dollars.
The guys think they're going to be on a show called "All American Man," competing in grueling physical and mental challenges. But they actually will be transformed and given the chance to view life as a woman, with one man winning a huge prize at the end.
Each week, the competitors learn something new about life as a lady, from dealing with jewelry to bonding with real women in typically all-female activities.
They are then judged by a celebrity panel including Morgan Fairchild ("The Seduction"), John Salley ("The Best Damn Sports Show Period") and Debbie Matenopoulos ("Good Day Live").
Weekly challenges for the competitors include learning how to walk, talk and dress like a lady; learning to flaunt their new attitude with training from supermodel Frederique; planning a real wedding and then being asked to serve as the bridesmaids; and finally, completing a "lady of the house" challenge back in their hometowns, where the guys must remain in character in front of family and friends in the absence of their wives and girlfriends.
During their quest, the competitors will live in "The Doll House," a beautifully decorated dwelling designed to help them get in touch with their feminine sides.
The series climaxes with a beauty pageant, where the competition boils down to the $250,000 question: "What, as a lady, have you learned about being a man?" The judges will then select the best man in the group, based on a variety of criteria.
The 11 male contenders of "He's a Lady" will make their debut today on "Oprah," which airs locally at 4 p.m. and midnight on WTOK-TV.