Tyra Banks Confronts America's Next Top Model Legacy in Revealing Netflix Documentary
Supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks has made a candid admission about her time hosting the groundbreaking reality competition series America's Next Top Model, confessing she took the show "too far" in pursuit of dramatic television. The 52-year-old media mogul features prominently in the forthcoming Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, which examines the complex legacy of the programme that captivated audiences worldwide from 2003 to 2018.
Controversial Moments and Intense Atmosphere
A trailer released this week showcases some of the most contentious episodes from the show's 24-season run, including drastic model makeovers and what many viewers have since characterised as demeaning comments about contestants' bodies from the judging panel. The promotional footage cuts to Banks reflecting on her role as host and executive producer, with the supermodel stating unequivocally: "I knew I went too far. It was very, very intense. But you guys were demanding it. So we kept pushing it, more and more and more."
Former ANTM judge Jay Manuel offers additional perspective in the documentary trailer, explaining: "We were showing the behind-the-scenes of what the fashion world was. I realized Tyra could do anything for the success of her show." Banks herself teases that she has substantial revelations to share about the production, declaring in the trailer: "I haven't really said much, but now it's time."
Documentary Scope and Participant Lineup
The three-part documentary series, scheduled for release on Netflix on February 16, promises to unpack the inner workings of the programme that became a viral phenomenon with a global audience exceeding 100 million viewers at its peak. Alongside Banks and Manuel, the production features interviews with several key figures from the show's history, including:
- Former judges J. Alexander and Nigel Barker
- Executive producer Ken Mok
- Winners and contestants including Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans, and Keenyah Hill
Historical Controversies and Public Backlash
While America's Next Top Model aimed to launch modelling careers through its competitive format, the series attracted significant criticism following its conclusion, particularly during 2020 when social media users highlighted numerous problematic segments. One particularly notable example involved Banks and fellow judges pressuring contestant Danielle Evans during season six to undergo dental surgery to close a gap in her teeth.
This revelation prompted widespread discussion about body-shaming and bullying within the programme, with Banks facing accusations of "problematic" behaviour. The supermodel responded to the backlash at the time via social media, tweeting: "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."
Banks' Evolving Perspective and Defence of Her Legacy
Banks hosted all but one season of the series, with Rita Ora taking her place for season 23 in 2016 while Banks pursued other projects. Last year, during the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards where she received the inaugural Luminary Spotlight honour, Banks addressed the longstanding criticism while defending her contributions to diversity in television.
"I fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time when it didn't exist," she asserted during her acceptance speech. However, she simultaneously acknowledged her missteps: "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 represents the most comprehensive examination to date of both the cultural impact and contentious aspects of this influential reality television franchise, with Banks' candid reflections providing unprecedented insight into the pressures and decisions that shaped fifteen years of televised modelling competition.
