America’s Next Top Model is making headlines again after the release of Netflix’s bombshell documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. The three-part series explores how the cultural phenomenon was created, and it spares none of the gritty behind-the-scenes details. The doc includes testimonials from former contestants who accuse Tyra Banks and production of exposing their insecurities and personal trauma for ratings. And let’s not forget the alarming number of highly offensive photoshoots the show aired throughout the years. It’s a harrowing piece of media, to say the least.
The release of the doc sent me on a trip down ANTM memory lane, and it wasn’t pleasant. You may find this hard to believe, but there are quite a few controversial moments that the doc failed to touch on. Let’s dive into some of the worst moments together.
The ANTM Netflix documentary left out some shocking moments
America’s Next Top Model is a double-edged sword. In some ways, it was revolutionary and ahead of the curve. The 2000s weren’t exactly a celebration of diversity. ANTM, for all its faults, did showcase more diversity than many other TV programs at the time. In the doc, Season 1 contestant Ebony Haith speaks about the power of being able to show a queer relationship on national television in 2003. But minutes later, she speaks about facing racial prejudice on the show, recalling moments when hairstylists made fun of her hair texture and production did nothing. There were good moments, but right now, we can’t help but focus on the shocking ones.
Here are the five standout moments the doc missed:
Tyra Banks tells a model she acts too gay
You may remember Kim Stolz from Cycle 5. She was an out and proud lesbian who had multiple girls in the house questioning their sexuality. ANTM was always a beacon for queer representation, so fans were confused when Tyra criticized Kim for being unapologetically herself. One day at panel, Kim told Tyra she wanted to live her life out and proud, which Tyra warned against.
“I think there’s … being proud, like, *I’m* Black and proud, but I’m not walking down the red carpet all like, ‘I’m Black! I’m proud!'” she said.
Jaeda and the uncomfortable kiss
In Cycle 7, contestant Jaeda Nichole was forced to kiss a male model who made a racially insensitive comment. Before the shoot, the male model assigned to Jaeda said he didn’t like Black women. The comment clearly upset Jaeda, but production forced her to continue with the shoot. At panel, she was criticized for showing her discomfort on set. The judges eliminated her that week.
Photographer Yu Tsai called Winnie Harlow a panda on set
During a photoshoot in Cycle 21, photographer Yu Tsai called model Winnie Harlow, who has a condition called vitiligo, a panda and a cow. Winnie confronted Yu about the comments. In a confessional, she said she knew Yu didn’t mean harm, but she worried the comments would negatively impact viewers living with vitiligo. Yu was dismissive of Winnie, crushing the possibility of a teachable moment. Sigh.
Tyra calls out a model for being “unattractive”
In Cycle 3, Tyra took issue with contestant Yaya DaCosta’s African pride. During a challenge that required the models to style a look based around a hat of their choice, Yaya chose a cowboy hat and added details from her African roots. At panel, the guest judge criticized Yaya for her “intensity to prove her Africaness,” calling it “overbearing.” Yaya tried to defend herself, but Tyra was not having it. She told the model, “You’re being very defensive and it’s not attractive.”
The girl who had to pose in a grave
In Cycle 4, the ANTM producers instructed contestant Kahlen Rondot to pose in a grave less than 24 hours after her friend’s death. The model opened up about the controversial shoot in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2023. She told the outlet was pre-planned, saying it was just an unfortunate coincidence.
“I was bawling and a mess,” she said, recalling the event. “I turned around at one point and started to walk away.
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is available to stream on Netflix.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED THESE MOMENTS WERE LEFT OUT OF THE DOCUMENTARY?
