Alongside the talented singers of American Idol and the nail-biting betrayals of Survivor, another show dominated early-2000s television: America’s Next Top Model. Decades before social media existed, aspiring models had little access to breaking into the cutthroat modeling industry. It’s even harder when the biggest modeling hotspots are often limited to major cities like New York and Los Angeles. That is, unless supermodel Tyra Banks had something to say about it.
As an underdog herself, Banks knew firsthand how hard it was to make a viable career out of modeling. America’s Next Top Model thus became her passion project — some would argue a little too passionate. On the one hand, Banks’ reality show gave women from all walks of life the chance not only to learn how to model, but also to compete for a magazine feature and a contract. On the other hand, the project slowly evolved into the stuff of nightmares for these once bright-eyed contestants — most are explored in Netflix’s latest docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.
Tyra Banks Has No Editorial Control Over ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
Appearing in Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model without editorial control over how the docuseries portrays her, Banks seems poised to defend the show’s legacy. Early on, she frames ANTM as an educational platform designed to break down stereotypes surrounding the modeling industry. At a time when models were frowned upon for being “snobby” or “unintelligent,” Banks wanted to challenge that image by revealing the hard work required behind the scenes. Drawing from her own experience as a Black model often overlooked early in her career, she envisioned ANTM as a doorway for aspiring talent. Yet, as ratings soared and millions tuned in, the show’s popularity appeared to eclipse its original mission.
Following the success of its first season, ANTM quickly became the talk of reality TV, pulling in an average of five to six million viewers per episode at its peak. Due to popular demand, the show began releasing two cycles — essentially two seasons — per year. However, growing demand also meant increasing supply. As a producer, Banks felt it was her job to deliver more and more to keep the show relevant. In the process, education turned into entertainment, and models were put through the wringer with increasingly outrageous challenges. These included getting knocked off by a massive pendulum on the runway, posing as homeless people, and shooting with cockroaches. The irony is, as former contestants point out, these concepts aren’t even practices used by real fashion publications.
Tyra Banks Fails to Take Accountability for the Harm She Caused to Contestants and Fellow Judges
Despite the long list of atrocities mentioned in Reality Check, Banks doesn’t seem to take accountability for what happened. Rather than empathizing with the victims, she positions herself as a savior. Cycle 6 winner Dani Evans struggled to find legitimate modeling work due to the stigma surrounding ANTM within the industry. Instead of stepping in to help, Banks called Evans to apologize for doing “nothing” after learning that “there were certain doors that [Evans] couldn’t get into because [she] did Top Model.” However, Banks also claimed that she “always rode the fence” with Evans — a remark the former contestant finds offensive.
Other times, Banks positions herself as a fellow victim. In 2012, all three of ANTM‘s staple judges — Jay Manuel, Miss J. Alexander, and Nigel Barker — were let go. In Reality Check, Manuel recalls initially wanting to step back to focus on his own endeavors, only for Banks to ghost him and later send an email saying, “I am disappointed.” Although Manuel stayed for ten more cycles, he describes the environment as uncomfortable, citing Banks’ passive-aggressive behavior and the stripping of his producer rights. When the judges were ultimately fired, Banks claimed it was the TV heads’ decision, not hers. However, her treatment of Manuel — and failure to visit a hospitalized Miss J — suggests a disconnect between her words and actions.
Tyra Banks Hints at Cycle 25 of ‘America’s Next Top Model, Proving Some Lessons Remain Unlearned
Every high has a comedown, and the same can be said for America’s Next Top Model. By Cycle 10 in 2008, the show’s ratings had slipped from their usual five to six million average viewers to around three to four million. By Cycle 16 in 2011, that number dropped further to two million. By its final season in 2018, Cycle 24 averaged fewer than one million viewers. In an effort to offset these losses, ANTM chased relevance through region-specific spin-offs like Asia’s Next Top Model, an All-Stars cycle, and one cycle dedicated to removing height restrictions altogether.
America’s Next Top Model eventually experienced a resurgence, but for all the wrong reasons. During the pandemic, ANTM became a binge-watch staple, and in today’s socio-political climate, social media users revisited the series to call out its long-standing problematic elements. At this point, the idea of ANTM returning as a pop culture phenomenon feels outdated, especially as audiences are now becoming aware of how much the modeling industry has evolved. Still, as Banks closes out Reality Check, she insists, “I feel like my work is not done. You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25.” Clinging to the remnants of the legacy she built, Banks appears unwilling to let go despite past controversies — an attitude that risks repeating the same mistakes if serious reflection remains absent.
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is currently streaming on Netflix.
