For fifteen years, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) was a staple of reality television, captivating millions with its glitzy challenges and fierce catwalks. But as the years passed, the show’s legacy became increasingly fraught, with critics and former contestants pointing to a darker side behind the glossy veneer. Now, Netflix’s new docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, pulls back the curtain on the iconic series’ turbulent history, offering unprecedented candor from its creator and host, Tyra Banks, and sparking a fresh wave of debate about the show’s impact.
On February 16, 2026, directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan sat down with Banks for a marathon four-hour interview, a process they’ve since described as essential to capturing the full scope of the ANTM phenomenon. According to Los Angeles Times, Banks wasn’t originally part of the documentary’s plan; her participation came only after production had already begun. “It was like, ‘Hey, this can be a great addition, but definitely not a necessity,’” Sivan explained. But once Banks agreed, her openness added a new dimension to the series. “People talking trash about her is very easy to find,” Sivan told Los Angeles Times. “But having her passion, bringing this program to life, is something that only she could tell.”
For Loushy and Sivan, whose previous work tackled weighty sociopolitical subjects, diving into the world of reality TV was a shift—but not as far removed as one might think. “I felt the journey is more or less the same because there were difficult issues. There were things that were sensitive and important for me,” Loushy said, referencing the harassment contestants endured and the insecurities that, as she put it, "sit tight and hard every day on our heart.”
Indeed, the docuseries doesn’t shy away from the show’s most controversial moments. Contestants recount harrowing experiences—Shandi Sullivan, for example, describes a night during Cycle 2 in Milan where, under the influence of alcohol, she “blacked out” as cameras rolled, and “no one did anything to stop it.” Sullivan’s account raises troubling questions about consent and the responsibilities of reality television producers. Executive producer Ken Mok, in the documentary, defended their approach: “We treated ‘Top Model’ as a documentary, and we told the girls that.”
But the issues didn’t stop there. Keenyah Hill, a Cycle 4 contestant, reported being groped by a male model during a photo shoot. Instead of intervention, Banks encouraged her to learn to stand up for herself. Hill, like many others, was also repeatedly shamed about her weight. Former supermodel and judge Janice Dickinson was notorious for her biting remarks, often telling contestants to hide their stomachs or restrict their eating. Bre Scullark, from Cycle 5, confirmed eating disorders were rampant on set. “The girls were awarded and applauded for putting their health on the backburner,” journalist Zakiya Gibbons observed in the documentary.
Pressure for cosmetic changes was another recurring theme. Cycle 6’s Joanie Dodds and Dani Evans were both pushed to undergo dental procedures for aesthetic reasons. Evans, who resisted closing her signature tooth gap, ultimately relented after Banks issued an ultimatum: fix the gap or go home. Evans later learned that her association with ANTM was a double-edged sword in the fashion world. As she recounted, “They built a whole empire, a multi-million dollar brand, known as ‘America’s Next Top Model’ off the backs of every girl‘s dream that did that show.”
The docuseries also revisits the show’s most infamous moments, like Banks’ now-memed outburst at Tiffany Richardson. “I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!” Banks screamed—a scene that has since been parodied endlessly online. But as former judge Nigel Barker recalled, “Tyra really scared all of us. We literally jumped out of our seats.” Jay Manuel, another former judge, added that not everything Banks said made it to air, and that lawyers were brought in after the incident. Banks herself admitted, “I went too far. You know, I lost it.”
Relationships behind the scenes were often just as fraught. Manuel described feeling alienated by Banks’ relentless drive to reinvent the show, eventually leading to a breakdown in their friendship. Even after staying on for another ten cycles, the two never reconciled. When J. Alexander (Miss J), another beloved judge, suffered a stroke, Banks did not visit him in the hospital—a decision that added to the sense of estrangement. “I miss being the queen of the runway. I’m the person who taught models how to walk. And now I can’t walk. Not yet,” J. Alexander says in the documentary.
Despite the promise of launching modeling careers, few ANTM winners found lasting success in the industry. Evans recalled being told by an agent, “We have to treat Dani differently because she came from ‘Top Model.’” The stigma of reality TV, it seems, was hard to shake, even for those who had reached the top.
What sets Reality Check apart is its honest approach. Executive producer Vanessa Golembewski told Netflix’s Tudum, “Tyra’s perspective was always important to the series, but it was just as important that her involvement was as an interview subject only. She afforded us the same level of trust as everyone else who participates in the documentary. She never asked to have any creative input or control, and she’s seeing the footage for the first time alongside the rest of the world.” Jay Manuel, whose complicated relationship with Banks is explored in depth, saw her willingness to participate as a sign of personal growth: “Tyra ultimately chose to participate without creative control. To me, that speaks to growth.”
Banks herself seems to recognize the gravity of the show’s legacy. “I haven’t really said much,” she admits in the documentary. “But now it’s time.” Despite years of backlash and personal confrontations, Banks hinted that she isn’t finished with ANTM. “I feel like my work is not done,” she said, teasing, “You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25.” As of the documentary’s release, however, no new seasons have been announced.
For all its glitz and drama, America’s Next Top Model left a complicated mark on pop culture. Reality Check doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does what the best documentaries do—it sparks conversation, encourages reflection, and, perhaps, offers a path toward understanding the real cost of chasing the crown.