The most-watched programme on Netflix in the United Kingdom this week is a three-part documentary series that has achieved a flawless 100% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Titled Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, the exposé landed on the streaming platform on Monday, February 16, and has rapidly captivated audiences across the nation and beyond.
Examining a Cultural Phenomenon
The documentary delves into the legacy of the iconic early-2000s reality competition America's Next Model, created by supermodel Tyra Banks. The original series, which ran for an impressive 24 seasons, was launched by Banks in response to a notable lack of diversity within the fashion industry. It offered aspiring models from across the United States a chance to compete for a life-changing career opportunity.
Reassessing a Problematic Legacy
While the show was a monumental success during its broadcast, a contemporary re-evaluation has highlighted numerous controversial elements. The documentary explores these issues in depth, featuring exclusive interviews with key figures from the series.
Former contestants and judges, including creator Tyra Banks, executive producer Ken Mok, and judges Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, and Miss J Alexander, provide firsthand accounts. Notably, Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan also contributes her perspective on the experience.
The series scrutinises several aspects of the original show that have drawn criticism from a new generation of viewers:
- Brutal Makeovers: Contestants were frequently subjected to drastic and often distressing physical transformations, including severe haircuts and demanding dental procedures, which frequently led to emotional breakdowns.
- Insensitive Challenges: The programme's photoshoot themes were sometimes deemed politically insensitive or in poor taste, most infamously exemplified by challenges that involved race-swapping.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Response
Since its premiere, the documentary has not only dominated viewing charts but also received outstanding critical reception. Its perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is complemented by enthusiastic user reviews on platforms like IMDb.
Audience feedback praises the documentary's nuanced approach. One viewer described it as an "excellent exposé", while another appreciated its balanced perspective, noting it successfully portrays the show as both "influential and exploitative, entertaining and damaging, aspirational and deeply flawed".
A particularly reflective review stated: "This series is a significant eye-opener because it forces the audience to confront their own complicity; it suggests these 'humiliation rituals' only existed because we, the viewers, rewarded them with ratings and memes. By giving the microphones back to the women who were once just 'characters' in Tyra's world, the documentary transforms the show's legacy from a trailblazing success story into a cautionary tale about the high cost of reality TV fame."
Streaming and Availability
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model is currently available for streaming exclusively on Netflix. The series arrives as Sky offers new customers a free Netflix subscription with its Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan, which provides access to live and on-demand content without a satellite dish.
