Recently, there’s been a lot of discussion about America’s Next Top Model. Documentaries are revealing that the popular show, hosted by Tyra Banks, didn’t always handle things well and often fell short of its goals.
Before E!’s “Dirty Rotten Scandals” premieres on Wednesday, the Daily Mail shared shocking new information from sources close to the show, detailing issues like eating disorders and emotional distress experienced by those involved.
Lauren Levi, a former contestant on America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), revealed she was struggling with bulimia when she appeared on the show’s twelfth season in 2009.
‘The stress of the show really brought out the bulimia,’ she admitted to the Daily Mail.
The pressure of being online and constantly comparing myself to other women was really getting to me. Losing sleep just made it worse, and I started turning to food for comfort whenever I felt overwhelmed.
The 36-year-old former model described how binge eating would lead to bulimic episodes. She said she’d experience an internal voice urging her to continue, telling her, ‘You have to finish everything – you’ve already gone too far.’
As someone who’s seen a lot of people navigate challenging situations, I can tell you that opening up isn’t always easy, especially under pressure. When I spoke with Levi, who was quite young at the time, she shared how hard it was to talk about what she was going through. Being on the show meant their calls home were monitored, so she understandably kept her personal struggles – including a relapse – private. It’s a reminder that sometimes, people need space to deal with things on their own terms.
The model stated she had informed the production team about her recovery from bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and then attempts to eliminate the consumed food.
Levi explained to the Daily Mail that the close supervision on set prevented her from making herself vomit.
She said she never actually threw up, because she was too worried about getting caught. There were always people nearby, and always a camera around.
Despite Levi believing she’d kept her difficulties hidden, a source on the production team revealed to the Daily Mail that many staff members were aware she was going through a tough time.
According to an insider, they were told to monitor her bathroom breaks and prevent her from using the restroom for at least an hour to allow her food to settle.
During the show, she began to gain weight, and people started commenting on it. I thought it was really unfair.
Levi explained that because the actress had severely restricted her diet before filming, her body was clinging to any calories it could get, and she didn’t have time to work out.
She told me my schedule was completely full and that I likely spent most of the day sitting down. She added that when she’s at home, she usually has time to cleanse or detoxify.
Levi explained that the judges – including Tyra Banks, model Paulina Porizkova, J. ‘Miss Jay’ Alexander, and photographer Nigel Barker – observed she was putting on weight.
The model remembered a judge commenting on how one contestant was losing weight while another was gaining.
Levi said Paulina was the most critical and dismissive person towards him. The Daily Mail has contacted Porizkova’s representative for a response.
Levi shared that a harsh comment from Jay Manuel, a long-time creative director on America’s Next Top Model, particularly stuck with her during filming.
Levi claims the person asked her what was happening, and then told her that as a model, she needed to maintain her weight and that gaining weight was disrespectful to her body.
‘Though I cannot quote him … it was a phrase of a lack of respect for my body.’
Manuel, 53, did not return Daily Mail’s request for comment.
In his 2020 memoir, The Wig, the Bitch and the Meltdown, he admitted he should have done more to protect people and challenge problematic behavior. He stated his primary responsibility was to create a safer environment, and he regretted not being more assertive.
Although Levi finished seventh in Cycle 12 of the competition, she was later invited onto Banks’ talk show to discuss her experiences with an eating disorder in greater detail.
Honestly, it breaks my heart to hear this, but apparently, after everything, Tyra sent her to a nutritionist when she got back home. But it just wasn’t enough, you know? The show had already messed her up. It’s just so unfair!
Levi described their experience on the show as deeply upsetting, explaining they felt the producers unfairly steered the questioning to emphasize their religious beliefs. They said it felt like manipulation.
The actress, who now works in movies, explained that she wouldn’t have wanted producers to send her home after learning about her struggles with eating. She felt it would have only made her feel more ashamed.
She suggested having a counselor available, saying, ‘I really think that would have made a big difference. It’s not much to ask – just an hour a week for the women to have someone to talk to.’
However, a source working on the show told the Daily Mail that producers frequently skimped on providing adequate facilities and lodging.
Nyle DiMarco, the winner of Cycle 22 and who was born deaf, reportedly only received an interpreter on some days of the show because of budget limitations, according to the Daily Mail.
One memorable event involved a photoshoot with veterans, where they openly shared their personal and moving experiences with the models.
According to a source, DiMarco became overwhelmed and ran to the bathroom crying because he didn’t have someone to translate for him during the incident.
According to a source, DiMarco expressed feeling distressed and self-critical, saying he felt awful after speaking to a group of soldiers without understanding their language.
According to a source, the production team didn’t offer help, but instead seemed to want the individual to struggle, with one staff member reportedly saying, “Honestly, we’re hoping he’ll face some challenges and get through them.”
According to a source, the situation was terrible. They felt the show was being handled very poorly in relation to the individual’s disability, and that no support was being provided.
As a lifestyle and safety advisor, I’ve been following the reports about this situation closely. Apparently, there was another incident where the photographer had to work under really unsafe conditions – specifically, doing a photoshoot with limited lighting and being asked to jump onto a small box. It’s concerning to hear about these potential risks to his well-being.
According to a source, DiMarco was told to yell if he felt threatened, but he preferred not to make noise, which created a difficult situation.
Thirty-six-year-old DiMarco didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail. He has, however, previously discussed the difficulties he faced while on America’s Next Top Model.
In a 2024 interview with People, he explained that he often had to watch people’s faces and read their lips to understand them. He sometimes needed help from his sign language interpreter, but that person wasn’t always available when filming.
Because I was raised in a deaf family and community, I wasn’t accustomed to feeling left out of conversations or social events.
According to a source with the Daily Mail, Top Model’s executive producer Ken Mok reportedly endangered the safety of some models during a runway challenge in Cycle 16.
In one challenge, the models had to walk a runway surrounded by water, all while enclosed in a plastic bubble.
According to a source, Mok reportedly decided the runway needed to be more slippery during a rehearsal. He allegedly had the team apply suntan lotion to it, intending to create a funny moment for television – not to actually injure anyone.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Mok for comment but has not heard back.
The executive producer of Netflix’s ‘Reality Check’ admitted a recent shoot with a crime scene theme was a misstep. While they didn’t comment on the show’s ‘bubble challenge,’ they stated, ‘Looking back, it was a mistake to create something that felt like a celebration of violence. It was just too much.’
According to the document, Banks stated that those involved in making the show felt a lot of pressure to create innovative television, as viewers were expecting them to take risks and be groundbreaking.
Someone involved in the production said they agreed with Tyra, explaining that she seemed unaware of what was happening and wasn’t present very often.
Banks claims she created the idea for America’s Next Top Model and served as the primary decision-maker for what footage ultimately appeared on the show, as detailed in the Netflix documentary.
The Daily Mail has reached out to her reps for further comment.
Read More
- Clash of Clans Unleash the Duke Community Event for March 2026: Details, How to Progress, Rewards and more
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Star Wars Fans Should Have “Total Faith” In Tradition-Breaking 2027 Movie, Says Star
- KAS PREDICTION. KAS cryptocurrency
- eFootball 2026 Jürgen Klopp Manager Guide: Best formations, instructions, and tactics
- Christopher Nolan’s Highest-Grossing Movies, Ranked by Box Office Earnings
- Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 8 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Jason Statham’s Action Movie Flop Becomes Instant Netflix Hit In The United States
- Jessie Buckley unveils new blonde bombshell look for latest shoot with W Magazine as she reveals Hamnet role has made her ‘braver’
- How to download and play Overwatch Rush beta
2026-03-05 01:39