A new Netflix documentary series has reignited scrutiny of the controversial legacy of the long-running reality competition "America's Next Top Model". "Reality Check: America's Next Top Model" features interviews with former contestants and crew members who detail a pattern of racially insensitive photo shoots, traumatic experiences, and alleged mistreatment during the show's production.
The series, which premiered this month, examines moments from the show's 24-cycle run that have since been widely criticised as exploitative, fat-shaming, and racially insensitive. Executive producers Tyra Banks and Ken Mok, along with creative director Jay Manuel, are central figures in the accounts of problematic creative decisions.
Racially Insensitive Photo Shoots Under Fire
Multiple former contestants and crew have singled out specific photo shoots as particularly damaging. In Cycle 4 (2005), white contestants were made up with significantly darker skin tones to portray Black women. In Cycle 13 (2009), models participated in a "biracial" shoot where makeup was used to darken skin.
Creative director Jay Manuel told Variety in May 2020 he was "so, so, so uncomfortable" with the Cycle 13 concept. "I was basically told that I had to execute the creative, and it made me very uncomfortable," he said, indicating the final decisions lay with Banks and Mok.
In a since-deleted tweet from May 2020, Tyra Banks acknowledged the criticism, stating, "Looking back, those were some really off choices." Co-creator Ken Mok also apologised via Twitter, saying, "I look at some of those moments and cringe."
Trauma and Exploitation Allegations
The documentary details several instances where contestants were put in psychologically distressing situations. In Cycle 4, contestant Kahlen Bonsignore was required to pose in a coffin for a "seven deadly sins" shoot days after learning a close friend had died.
More severely, the documentary revisits the infamous Cycle 2 incident involving contestant Shandi Sullivan. Sullivan describes a 2003 episode in Milan where, after excessive drinking, she was sexually assaulted by an Italian man while production crews filmed. She alleges producers did not intervene and only offered support when she threatened to quit.
Executive producer Ken Mok stated in "Reality Check" that crews were instructed to capture everything, 24 hours a day, with few exceptions. He called the Sullivan incident one of the series' "most memorable moments."
Body Image and Judging Controversies
The series also addresses long-standing criticism of the show's handling of contestants' bodies and appearances. Former contestant Keenyah Hill from Cycle 4 speaks about developing disordered eating due to pressure to maintain a low weight.
Specific incidents include Cycle 6 winner Danielle Evans being pressured to close the gap in her teeth, while Cycle 15 contestant Chelsey Hersley was encouraged to widen hers. Viewers and former contestants have criticised this discrepancy as racially biased.
The documentary revisits Tyra Banks's viral 2005 confrontation with eliminated contestant Tiffany Richardson, where Banks yelled, "I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!" Banks later stated in the series that she "lost it" and "went too far." Richardson has since called Banks a "liar" and a "bully" in a since-deleted Instagram post.
Reckoning with a Problematic Legacy
"Reality Check" presents a show whose cultural impact is now being reassessed through a modern lens. Contestants like Isis King, the first transgender model on the show, reflect on the difficulty of their experiences but also their role in pushing conversations forward.
The documentary suggests a production environment where the pursuit of dramatic television often overrode duty of care. With no official response from CBS, Tyra Banks, or Ken Mok to the new allegations, the series leaves unanswered questions about accountability for the show's most controversial years.