A new documentary dissects the legacy ofAmerica’s Next Top Model, revealing a troubling undercurrent beneath the glamorous surface. What began as a vision for diversity quickly devolved into a series of ethically questionable challenges and emotionally damaging moments.
The series, hosted and executive produced by Tyra Banks, is now being revisited by former contestants, judges, and insiders. They recount experiences that range from unsettling to deeply traumatic, painting a starkly different picture than the one presented to viewers.
One particularly jarring revelation involves producers explicitly altering contestants’ appearances to change their perceived ethnicities, a practice repeated across multiple seasons. Other challenges pushed boundaries into disturbing territory, including staging scenes depicting homelessness, bulimia, and violent crime.
The emotional toll on the models was immense. One contestant vividly remembers being asked to portray a gunshot victim, a request that reopened deep wounds as her own mother was paralyzed by a bullet. This moment, at least, elicited remorse from a producer.
Access to key figures, including Banks herself, is a notable strength of the documentary. Former judges Nigel Barker, Miss J Alexander, and Jay Manuel also share their perspectives, revealing a fractured relationship with Banks following their departure from the show.
Banks initially framedANTMas a platform for inclusivity, aiming to challenge narrow beauty standards. However, the documentary suggests this initial intention was lost amidst the pressures of television and the demands of the fashion industry.
While a few contestants, like Winnie Harlow, achieved genuine success after the show, the vast majority returned to obscurity. The story of Shandi Sullivan, a contestant from cycle two, is particularly heartbreaking, a source of ongoing distress that Banks struggles to fully acknowledge.
The documentary’s directors pressed Banks and others on controversial moments, but her responses often felt like justifications rather than genuine apologies. She attributes problematic decisions to industry pressures, viewer expectations, and the prevailing beauty standards of the time.
Despite the criticism, Banks expresses enthusiasm for a potential cycle 25, a statement that feels tone-deaf given the outpouring of pain from former contestants. The documentary reveals only one unreserved apology, offered to a contestant who experienced inappropriate contact on set.
Ultimately, the documentary doesn’t deliver the full reckoning many anticipated. It doesn’t reveal information more shocking than the original show itself, offering instead a depressing reminder of the lengths to which entertainment will go.
For those who once enjoyedAmerica’s Next Top Model, the documentary serves as a sobering reassessment, transforming a nostalgic favorite into a relic of a troubling era. It leaves a lingering question: can a show built on exploitation ever truly be redeemed?
