Tyra Banks' Career Under Threat as ANTM Scandals Exposed in New Documentaries
For over a decade, Tyra Banks wielded immense power over the careers of aspiring young models as the host and producer of America's Next Top Model. Now, her own career faces serious jeopardy following a series of explosive revelations about the show's controversial practices during the 2000s. Two recent documentaries have brought disturbing allegations to light, painting a picture of psychological manipulation, exploitation, and questionable ethics behind the scenes of the once-popular reality competition.
Documentaries Expose Troubling Allegations
Last month, Tyra Banks came under intense scrutiny when Netflix's Reality Check exposed multiple incidents from America's Next Top Model. The documentary revealed that producers allegedly covered up a sexual assault incident while also highlighting past instances of racism and fat-shaming on the program. Now, a fresh wave of criticism has emerged with the release of E!'s Dirty Rotten Scandals, a rival documentary that premiered on March 11. This follow-up production has been criticized for not holding Tyra sufficiently accountable, though it features damning testimony from former contestants and judges.
Former Contestants Speak Out
Cycle 17 winner Lisa D'Amato offered particularly harsh criticism of Tyra Banks, vowing to never stop speaking out because the host and producer Ken Mok were "still profiting off the tears and the trauma of the girls." Lisa, who first competed on cycle five before returning to win the All Stars season, described how contestants were sleep-deprived and underfed, claiming the conditions were intentionally harsh. She also alleged that her childhood trauma was weaponized against her to create dramatic storylines.
Fellow judge Janice Dickinson did not hold back in her assessment either, branding Tyra a "hardcore b***h" and claiming that producers, especially Tyra, encouraged her to be harsher and more cruel to contestants. Dickinson alleged that Tyra went harder on black contestants due to competitiveness and jealousy, and that the models were psychologically tortured to feed Tyra's ego.
The Angelea Preston Controversy
One of the most troubling cases involves Angelea Preston, who won the 2011 season but had her title revoked after producers learned she had previously worked as an escort. Angelea was due to sign a $100,000 contract with Covergirl cosmetics when another unnamed contestant reported her past to Tyra. Runner-up Lisa D'Amato was then crowned the winner instead, leading Angelea to sue the show for breach of contract. She ultimately dropped the $3 million lawsuit against Tyra and the CW network, realizing she wasn't going to win, but maintained that people knew she was the true winner.
Angelea described feeling used and like a throwaway, noting that her sudden absence from the show was never explained to fans, who were left speculating about her withdrawal. She believes this was intentional to boost ratings, claiming "they wanted people to question what happened to me."
Exploitation and Set-Ups
Jeana Turner, another former contestant, claimed her battle with alopecia was exploited on the show. She was famously encouraged to shave her head during the makeover episode despite previously being told she would be fitted with a wig. Jeana noted the particular cruelty of this situation since the winning prize that season was a contract with hair company Pantene, asking "How was I ever going to win when Pantene was a hair company? I don't have hair!"
Cycle two winner Yoanna House revealed that winning wasn't all it was cracked up to be, describing how she was "indebted to America's Next Top Model" for a year, forced to do numerous appearances without pay. She developed a workout disorder from extreme pressure to lose weight for bookings, becoming so underweight that she didn't menstruate for two years and was warned about potential fertility impacts.
Psychological Manipulation and Control
Cycle nine's Sarah Hartshorne claimed producers used "cult techniques" to manipulate contestants, controlling when they went to the bathroom, ate, slept, and spoke to each other. Contestants were isolated from friends and family, denied access to magazines or newspapers that showed the date or time, and threatened with lifetime wage deductions if they violated confidentiality agreements.
Sarah explained that they were told cameras could film them at all times except when alone in the bathroom, though producers encouraged them to "shower together... for the environment." Those who didn't follow rules faced punishments like having books and iPods taken away, forcing them to sit in silence for hours.
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Keenyah Hill, who was famously criticized by judge Janice for her "gut," revealed she suffered lasting effects from the jibes, becoming unable to eat in public after the show. She noted that she was "so, so thin" at the time and has received messages from people who developed eating disorders after watching her treatment on the program.
Additional Controversies
The documentaries also highlighted several other controversial aspects of America's Next Top Model:
- Season four featured a photoshoot where models were required to "swap race," with white models donning blackface and black models dressed as Native American and Korean characters
- Another photoshoot saw models pose as homeless people alongside actual homeless individuals
- Season eight contestant Dionne Walters was required to pose as if shot in the head despite producers knowing her mother had been shot and paralyzed
- Season two contestant Shandi Sullivan claimed what was framed as cheating was actually sexual assault, revealing she blacked out before the act but "no one did anything to stop it"
- Multiple contestants reported unwanted cosmetic procedures, including dental work to close gaps or fix "snaggleteeth" under pressure from producers
Tyra Banks declined to comment when approached by E! for the documentary, and The Daily Mail has reached out to both Tyra and fellow producer Ken Mok for additional response. As these allegations continue to surface, the legacy of America's Next Top Model and Tyra Banks' career face unprecedented challenges from those who participated in the show and are now speaking out about their experiences.
