Tyra to Transform Transgender 'Top Model'

But King is open about her status. She hasn't been the only transgender person on reality TV: VH1's "I Want to Work for Diddy" features Laverne, a transgender contestant, and LOGO, MTV's gay-themed cable channel, recently wrapped the first season of "Transamerican Love Story," a dating competition starring a transgender bachelorette. On scripted TV, "Ugly Betty," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "All My Children" have featured story lines involving transgender characters.

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"While the actual number of transgender representations on TV remains relatively small, what we're seeing on TV is a move away from the stereotypical, marginalized roles we've seen in the past -- sex workers, behind bars, being murdered," said Damon Romine, entertainment media director for Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD. "These more diverse and accurate representations play a vital role in helping audiences understand transgender lives."

While America may not be ready for a transgender top model, as evidenced by the fact that King didn't make the cut (though she wants to "go forward with her career" and be "mainstream"), it's certainly time audiences and the fashion world considered one. In the sea of too-thin and too-pale models currently dominating in the industry, diversity, of any kind, is a good thing.

"Maybe its time for a tranny to end up on the cover of Vogue," Doonan said.