The Legacy of Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model

A Look into the Documentary

Tyra Banks, a renowned supermodel and television personality, rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the first Black women to achieve global success in the fashion industry. She graced the covers of major magazines like Vogue and Sports Illustrated, and walked runways for top designers. In 2003, Banks created and hosted America's Next Top Model (ANTM), a reality competition show that aimed to discover the next big supermodel. The series ran for 24 seasons, blending drama, fashion challenges, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the modeling world.

ANTM became a cultural phenomenon, launching careers for winners like Adrianne Curry and Eva Marcille, while introducing phrases like "smize" (smiling with your eyes) into popular lexicon. The show featured judges such as Jay Manuel, Miss J. Alexander, and Nigel Barker, who critiqued contestants on their photoshoots, runway walks, and personal growth. However, it also faced criticism for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, body-shaming, and exploitative challenges that sometimes humiliated participants.

In recent years, retrospectives have highlighted the show's problematic aspects. A notable example is the Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, released in 2026. This three-part series features interviews with Banks, former judges, producers, and contestants, unpacking the show's legacy. It explores how ANTM pushed boundaries in diversity by casting models from various backgrounds, including Black, brown, queer, and plus-size individuals, at a time when the industry largely excluded them.

The documentary does not shy away from controversies. It addresses accusations of fostering eating disorders, pressuring models to stay thin, and instances of cultural insensitivity, such as makeovers that altered ethnic features. Banks reflects on her role, acknowledging that some elements "went too far," but the series portrays her in a mixed light, with critics noting it places some blame on her for the show's toxic elements. Former creative director Jay Manuel shares stories of tension, including how Banks allegedly froze him out after he expressed a desire to leave.

Another documentary episode from Dark Side of Reality TV on Apple TV also delves into ANTM, claiming the show scarred many contestants for life and ruined careers despite promises of industry success.

Overall, these documentaries reveal ANTM's dual impact: empowering some while harming others. They prompt reflection on reality TV's evolution and the responsibility of creators like Banks in shaping cultural narratives.

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Sources

• Netflix Tudum: The True Story Behind Tyra Banks’s Involvement with America’s Next Top Model Doc
• NPR: Netflix's 'America's Next Top Model' docuseries doesn't let Tyra Banks off easy
• Forbes: ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Docuseries Paints Unflattering Picture Of Tyra Banks, Critics Say
• Netflix Official Site: Watch Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
• Allure: The 'America's Next Top Model' Documentary Proves the Series Was Always Doomed to Hurt Us
• The Hollywood Reporter: Netflix's 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model': The 7 Most Shocking Revelations
• Apple TV: America's Next Top Model - Dark Side of Reality TV