Supermodel Tyra Banks has made a candid admission about her time hosting the iconic reality competition series America's Next Top Model, confessing she took the show "too far" in pursuit of dramatic television. The 52-year-old television personality features prominently in the forthcoming Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, which delves into the complicated legacy of the programme that aired from 2003 to 2018.
Controversial Moments Under Scrutiny
A trailer released this week showcases some of the most contentious moments from the show's history, including models undergoing drastic makeovers and judges making what many now consider demeaning comments about contestants' bodies. The preview then cuts to Banks reflecting on her own conduct as host, where she makes a startling confession about pushing boundaries beyond acceptable limits.
"I knew I went too far," Banks states plainly in the trailer footage. "It was very, very intense. But you guys were demanding it. So we kept pushing it, more and more and more."
Former Colleagues Weigh In
Former ANTM judge Jay Manuel also appears in the documentary, offering his perspective on working alongside Banks during the show's production. "We were showing the behind-the-scenes of what the fashion world was," Manuel claims in the trailer. "I realized Tyra could do anything for the success of her show."
Banks herself hints that she has substantial revelations to share about her experiences, declaring in the Netflix series trailer: "I haven't really said much, but now it's time."
Documentary Details and Participants
The three-part documentary, scheduled for release on Netflix on February 16, promises to "unpack the inner workings of the show, which became a viral juggernaut with a global audience of over 100 million people at its peak," according to the streaming platform.
Alongside Banks and Manuel, the series features appearances from former ANTM judges J. Alexander and Nigel Barker, alongside former executive producer Ken Mok. The documentary also includes interviews with several winners and contestants from the show's history, including Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans, and Keenyah Hill.
Mounting Criticism and Backlash
While America's Next Top Model originally aimed to help aspiring models launch their careers, with each season crowning one winner, the elimination series has faced increasing scrutiny since its conclusion. Particular controversy emerged in 2020 when viewers began highlighting questionable segments from the show's extensive archive.
One particularly notable example shared on social media involved Banks and fellow judges pressuring contestant Danielle Evans during season six to undergo dental surgery to close a gap in her teeth. This prompted numerous viewers to share additional examples of what they described as "body-shaming" and "bullying" behaviour during Banks' tenure as host, leading to accusations of "problematic" conduct.
Banks' Previous Responses to Criticism
Banks addressed the mounting backlash at the time, posting on social media: "Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices."
The television personality hosted all 24 seasons of ANTM except season 23, which aired in 2016 when she temporarily stepped back from the show for other projects, with Rita Ora assuming hosting duties.
Recent Reflections on Legacy
Last year, Banks addressed the longstanding criticism surrounding the modelling series during the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, where she received the inaugural Luminary Spotlight honour. During her acceptance speech, she defended her efforts to promote diversity through the programme while acknowledging mistakes were made.
"I fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time when it didn't exist," Banks asserted. However, she candidly admitted: "Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb s***. But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the Internet when there were 24 cycles of changing the world."
The forthcoming Netflix documentary appears poised to provide the most comprehensive examination yet of both the cultural impact and controversial aspects of this groundbreaking reality television phenomenon, with Banks' admissions likely to spark renewed discussion about the ethics of reality programming and the pressures faced by contestants in competitive entertainment formats.
