America’s Next Top Model’s biggest scandals: Tyra Banks’ toxic show fouled by racism, fat-shaming and a sexual assault cover up

Tyra Banks is facing criticism after the release of the documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.

The new Netflix show reveals the damaging reality of the popular reality competition from the 2000s, featuring former participants sharing their experiences of the awful treatment they endured during filming and behind the scenes.

Hosted by Tyra Banks, the show discovered new modeling talent and gave them a chance to become famous worldwide, with the winner earning the title of ‘America’s Next Top Model’.

Twenty years later, contestants from the show have revealed the intense pressure they faced, both physically and emotionally. They describe being pushed to their breaking points trying to meet Tyra Banks’ high expectations, and say producers often manipulated situations to manufacture drama.

The new Netflix documentary revisits some of the most talked-about moments from the show, featuring interviews with host Tyra Banks, producer Ken Mok, judges Jay Manuel, Miss J, and Nigel, as well as past contestants.

So what were America’s Next Top Model’s biggest scandals?

Controversial photoshoots

Oh my god, Cycle 4 of America’s Next Top Model… it was INSANE. They always did crazy photoshoots, but that one? The one where they made the girls ‘switch races’? It was just… so much. I mean, it was totally shocking and honestly, even now I can’t believe they actually did it. It was definitely the most out-there thing they ever tried on the show, and I’ve rewatched it a million times, still trying to process it!

The photoshoot aimed to showcase the power of makeup to change appearances, but it sparked controversy. White models wore makeup to look Black, while Black models were styled to resemble Native American and Korean people. Disturbingly, the models posed alongside children of the same ethnicities they were portraying.

Tyra explained that she didn’t see the photoshoot as problematic, admitting she was very focused on her own vision at the time. She wanted to use it to celebrate the beauty of people with brown and black skin.

To make matters worse, the concept was repeated nine cycles later in Season 13.

A recent photoshoot sparked criticism for depicting models pretending to be homeless alongside actual people experiencing homelessness.

Judge Jay explained the topic to the participants, stating they would be focusing on the important issue of young people experiencing homelessness.

You’ll be taking photos with people experiencing homelessness, but we need to coordinate outfits. Some of you will wear everyday street clothes, while others will be in more formal, high-fashion attire.

As a stylist, I was really moved by the concept behind this shoot. It actually stemmed from something Tyra did for her talk show – she spent a day experiencing what it’s like to be homeless, and that really informed the whole visual direction we took. It was about bringing that raw emotion and authenticity to life.

Dionne Walters, a contestant on season eight, spoke out against a photoshoot that she found deeply upsetting. The shoot required her to pretend she’d been shot in the head, and she was disturbed that producers knew her mother had been a victim of gun violence, leaving her paralyzed, yet still asked her to participate.

She explained that the team was aware of her concerns during hiring, but they proceeded with a photoshoot depicting gun violence anyway.

At first, I believed it was just chance, but now I realize it wasn’t. I suspect they were trying to provoke a strong emotional reaction from me, hoping to see me fall apart. Thankfully, they didn’t get the response they wanted.

Producer Ken admitted the shoot was a mistake and took complete responsibility, stating they shouldn’t have depicted violence in that manner.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how audience demand can really shape creative direction. With those memorable photoshoots, we definitely kept raising the bar – and honestly, it was the viewers who were driving that! They were constantly asking for more, and we were happy to deliver.

‘‘Yeah, there’s some dumb s**t. I mean, dumb. I’m like, “What the hell.”’

Sexual assault ‘cover up’

One of the most talked-about moments from America’s Next Top Model’s second season involved Shandi Sullivan and a romantic entanglement with an Italian model while she had a boyfriend.

Cameras were running when Shandi was intimate with a model, and she later called her boyfriend in tears, only for him to end the relationship.

Shandi now states that an incident initially described as simply being due to intoxication was actually a sexual assault. She says she lost consciousness before it happened, but no one intervened to prevent it.

On the Netflix show, she recalled a moment where she was simply standing in the shower, then sitting there, and eventually ended up in bed.

I was unconscious for much of it. I didn’t feel the sexual activity itself, I just realized it was occurring, and then I lost consciousness.

Looking back, after she left the hot tub and everything that followed, someone should have stepped in and said, “This has gone on long enough, we need to help her.”

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what Ken, one of the show’s producers, said! He basically explained why they kept filming, even when things got tough. He said they always approached ‘Top Model’ like it was a real-life documentary, just letting things unfold as they happened. It’s like, they weren’t trying to make drama, they were just…capturing it! It totally makes sense now, why they showed EVERYTHING. I always knew this show was special, and now I know why they didn’t shy away from anything!

I remember when we first told the girls what to expect. We explained that from the very beginning, cameras would be with them constantly – every single day, all the time – and that everything they did would be filmed. It was a lot to take in, but we wanted them to be prepared for being watched around the clock.

Tyra chose not to discuss the scandal, explaining that production details aren’t her area of expertise and she felt uncomfortable commenting.

‘Racist’ remarks

Ebony Haith, a contestant from the first season of the show, has shared her experiences with how she was perceived as a Black woman, noting that she was often labeled as ‘harsh, aggressive, and angry.’

She shared that the mistreatment began during her makeover for the show, remembering a moment when three leading stylists were openly laughing at her hair texture while working on her.

It was incredibly frustrating. People lacked the right tools, and no one seemed to know how to proceed.

‘They ended up giving me three bald spots. Very disappointing.’

Ebony shared that Tyra called her later and seemed optimistic, saying she believed her sister would be understanding.

I was expecting her to offer to go with me to Harlem, but instead she told me the judges had been commenting on how dry and dull my skin looked each day. I was completely shocked!

Ebony explained that she was confused by their word choice, especially considering a similar word had historically made people feel inferior.

The video then showed Tyra telling Ebony that, considering her skin texture as a Black woman, her skin should appear very smooth. She explained that Ebony’s photo was the most difficult to edit during the retouching process.

Fat-shaming

I was really saddened to hear Giselle Samson, a contestant from the first season, talk about how the judges’ comments on her weight still affect her, even after twenty years. It’s just awful to think those words stuck with her for so long.

During one part of the show, judges were looking closely at one of the contestant’s photos. One judge made a comment about her figure, saying she had a large bottom, and another judge concurred, simply stating it was ‘kind of wide’.

Oh my gosh, it just breaks my heart hearing Giselle talk about this! She was only 18, and she said something that completely resonated with me. She explained how the way she felt about herself right then stuck with her forever. It was about her body, specifically, and she actually said she wondered why her butt had to be so wide! And the saddest part? She admitted that’s still the kind of self-talk she struggles with today. It’s just…so real and relatable, and it makes me feel for her even more.

Judge Janice Dickinson famously criticized season four contestant Keenyah Hill after a photoshoot based on the seven deadly sins, where Keenyah played the role of gluttony.

Janice branded the model ‘piggy chic,’ while the judges agreed that she ‘looked dumpy’.

During a different photoshoot, Janice complimented Keenyah’s physique, playfully referring to her stomach. Keenyah also modeled as an elephant for a shoot with an animal theme.

Whitney Thompson, who made history as the first plus-size winner of America’s Next Top Model, has spoken about the fat-shaming she experienced while on the show, hosted by Tyra Banks.

The model, winner of season ten in 2008, shared some of her most difficult experiences on the show, revealing she believed some challenges were unfairly more difficult because of her size.

Whitney, who was only 20 years old and a size 6 in the US (size 10 in the UK) when she began competing on America’s Next Top Model, has said that the lack of appropriate clothing for the plus-size contestants seemed deliberate.

I acted like it didn’t affect me, but like most of the girls, I’d go cry in the shower every day. It was the only place the cameras couldn’t reach, so it was where I could finally let out my feelings and wonder why this was happening to me.

She explained that she realized they were trying to provoke a reaction from her, so she remained calm and casually suggested they simply tape her dress back together, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

On-set harassment

Keenyah, from season four, shared that she faced unwanted attention after male models joined a photoshoot in Africa, specifically alleging that model Bertini was persistently and inappropriately pursuing her.

As a voice for those navigating challenging experiences, I want to share something incredibly difficult. Keenyah bravely described a situation where she felt unsafe on a TV set, detailing unwanted physical contact from Bertini. She expressed how deeply unsettling it was to feel vulnerable and unprotected in front of a large audience – a truly dark and frightening experience, and one that highlights the need for safe working environments for everyone.

Keenyah says she asked to halt the photoshoot because she felt uneasy, but the crew didn’t react with concern. In fact, the photo chosen as her ‘best’ was one where Bertini was physically grabbing her legs.

Tyra once told Keenyah that if men on set made her uncomfortable, she could playfully use her charm and politely ask them to give her space.

She finally addressed the controversy, admitting she made a mistake and apologizing to Keenyah for her dismissive reply.

Unwanted cosmetic procedures

In the past, the show’s contestants usually received simple makeovers like new hairstyles and makeup. However, in season six, Tyra Banks took things further by unexpectedly sending two models to the dentist.

Dani Evans, the winner of the cycling race, was known for a gap between her front teeth, which she playfully referred to as her trademark feature.

Tyra criticized Dani’s appearance, questioning whether she could become a cover model with a gap between her teeth, stating it wasn’t something marketable.

Dani remembered Tyra asking her, after calling her name, if she would consider getting her gap closed. Dani then realized Tyra was essentially saying she’d be sent home if she didn’t.

I started playing the game, and it felt like a personal boundary was crossed. Someone intentionally manipulated my life, and my attempts to assert myself and then change my mind felt like a violation.

Looking back on what happened, Tyra said she had already apologized to Dani for the problem and everything that occurred.

I was in a really difficult situation. Some agents actually told me that the actress wouldn’t get roles because of her teeth.

Looking back, I probably should have stayed silent and let others deal with the situation. But it’s easy to say that now. The problem is, my mistakes often happen publicly, for everyone to see.

Dani explained she hadn’t accepted Tyra’s apology, saying that fixing her tooth gap wouldn’t benefit her career. She also accused Tyra of prioritizing entertainment over her well-being.

You know, back in those days, even finishing strong wasn’t always enough! I remember hearing about Joanie Dodds, who came in second, and how people actually suggested she get her teeth fixed – specifically, they called her lovely smile a ‘snaggletooth’ and thought it needed correcting. It just shows how different standards were then – it’s all about embracing your unique qualities now, isn’t it?

Joanie agreed to the procedure, but she was concerned she had to sign a waiver immediately without getting advice from her mother or a lawyer beforehand.

She admitted she wasn’t sure what the surgery involved, explaining it lasted all night, required the removal of multiple teeth, and included having all her front teeth filed down.

Joanie remembered their next photoshoot being surprisingly emotional. She said she felt genuinely upset during it, but strangely, it didn’t feel difficult – just deeply miserable.

She clarified that the surgery was solely to improve her appearance, explaining, ‘My bite is still significantly misaligned, and that won’t be fixed by this procedure.’

It was a really difficult situation, but ultimately, I was an adult who had finally gotten dental work I’d long hoped for, and it felt like a huge win.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is available on Netflix

2026-02-17 14:07