Tyra Banks Breaks Silence on America's Next Top Model Controversies in Netflix Documentary
The legendary model and television presenter Tyra Banks is finally confronting the numerous controversies that surrounded her iconic reality competition series America's Next Top Model in a revealing new documentary. Netflix has released the trailer for Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, which promises an unflinching look at the show's most problematic moments across its 24-season run.
The Legacy of a Television Phenomenon
The fan-favourite modelling competition, which aired from 2003 to 2018 across networks including UPN, The CW, and VH1, became notorious for pushing contestants to their limits. The series featured dangerous runway challenges, controversial photo shoots, and often disastrous makeovers that have since been widely criticised.
'I haven't really said much, but now it's time,' the 52-year-old model-turned-presenter admits in the documentary. 'I knew I went too far.' Banks continues with remarkable candour: 'It was very, very intense. But you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing more and more and more.'
Addressing the Most Controversial Moments
In what she describes as her 'fight against the fashion industry,' the two-time Daytime Emmy winner acknowledges pushing boundaries of taste on multiple occasions. Most notably, the documentary revisits the infamous cycle 4 photo shoot where models swapped ethnicities for a Got Milk? advertisement, which many viewers interpreted as blackface.
Banks addresses this directly, stating: 'I want to be very clear: I, in no way, put my Top Models in blackface. I'm a black woman. I am proud. I love my people and the struggle that we have gone through continues, and the last thing that I would ever do is be a part of something that degraded my race.'
The presenter offers a heartfelt apology: 'I'm sorry to anybody that watched Top Model and was offended by the pictures because they didn't understand the real story behind them or even if you did see the whole episode and you were still offended, I truly apologize because that is not my intention. My intention is to spread beauty and break down barriers.'
Former Contestants and Judges Speak Out
The documentary features revealing interviews with former contestants who share their traumatic experiences on the show. Cycle 6 winner Danielle Evans describes being pressured to undergo a dental procedure to close the gap in her front teeth as part of her makeover, lamenting: 'It's so f***ed up... It's a TV show to you guys, but this is my life.'
Other contestants recall being told they were 'not thin enough' and experiencing sexual harassment on set, with one describing a male model 'grabbing my legs' during filming.
Former judges Nigel Barker and Jay Manuel appear in the documentary, both openly admitting to feeling 'betrayed' when Banks fired them after cycle 18 aired in 2012. Producer Ken Mok is seen reflecting on the show's evolution, remarking: 'That was a moment where I realized, "Oh my God. I think we've built a monster."'
The Cultural Impact and Lasting Influence
Despite the controversies, America's Next Top Model launched several successful careers and influenced television programming for years. The documentary highlights Winnie Harlow (then known as Chantelle Brown-Young), who came sixth on cycle 21 and used the platform to raise awareness about vitiligo, though she later described the show as 'completely useless for her career.'
The series' format proved influential, with many noting its similarity to RuPaul's Drag Race, though RuPaul Charles has never publicly acknowledged the connection.
Premiere Details and Final Reflections
Directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, the three-part docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model premieres on Netflix on February 16. The trailer opens with Banks's iconic confrontation with cycle 4 contestant Tiffany Richardson, where she famously declared: 'I have never in my life yelled at a girl like this! When my mother yells like this, it's because she loves me. I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!'
This documentary represents a significant moment of reflection for one of reality television's most influential figures, offering both accountability and context for a show that captivated millions while frequently crossing ethical boundaries in its pursuit of dramatic television.
