Netflix's upcoming docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model promises a revealing look at one of fashion television's most influential — and controversial — reality shows.
Hosted and created by supermodel Tyra Banks, America's Next Top Model (ANTM) ran for 24 seasons between 2003 and 2018. It shaped ideas about beauty, diversity and fashion careers around the world. Now, the new three‑part Netflix series unpacks the show's legacy with unprecedented candour from Banks and many of the people who lived it.
The documentary, premiering on 16 February, isn't just nostalgic entertainment for fashion enthusiasts. It's a timely critique of how reality TV intersects with industry standards, representation, and ethical storytelling.
Tyra Banks' Reflects: 'I Went Too Far'
One of the most striking aspects of the docuseries is Banks' openness about the pressures and decisions that shaped ANTM. In the trailer, she candidly admits: 'I knew I went too far. It was very, very intense. But, you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing more and more and more.'
This quote highlights a central paradox. Banks' original goal was to 'fight against the fashion industry,' yet the same drive to be bold and provocative sometimes blurred ethical lines for entertainment's sake. The doc doesn't shy away from this tension, exploring how audience demand and network expectations influenced increasingly dramatic challenges and criticisms.
Banks' reflection marks one of the few moments she acknowledges the show's flaws on camera. This suggests a willingness to reassess decisions made in a very different media environment.
New Doc Explores Controversies and Drama
Several issues covered in the documentary will resonate with fashion‑savvy viewers aware of the broader conversation around representation:
- Makeovers and Identity: Some challenges, like the infamous 2005 scene where contestants were told they'd 'switch ethnicities,' are revisited with context and critique.
- Body Image and Standards: ANTM's history of harsh judgements and makeover transformations prompted debates around body‑shaming and the emotional toll on contestants — topics the doc explores through first‑hand accounts.
- Racial Sensitivities: Scenes involving darkened skin for photo shoots and other attempts at 'diversity' are unpacked, with voices from former participants and critics adding depth to the discussion.
These segments are more than just retrospective gossip. They open larger questions about how fashion media frames beauty and difference, and how power dynamics on set can reflect industry hierarchies off camera.
How 'ANTM' Changed Industry Standards
ANTM played a formative role in shaping modern fashion culture, both on screen and behind the scenes. The show introduced global audiences to a new wave of models who have since become influential personalities in fashion.
Notable alumni include Winnie Harlow, who has become a regular on high-fashion runways for brands like Dior and Valentino, and Eva Marcille, who transitioned from ANTM winner to successful model and television personality. Isis King broke barriers as one of the first openly transgender models to gain international attention through the show.
Beyond individual careers, ANTM brought modelling into mainstream conversation. It highlighted creative, competitive, and high-pressure aspects of the industry in a way traditional fashion media rarely did.
Challenges involving high-fashion photo shoots, runway training, and styling offered viewers an insider's perspective on the skills and resilience required to succeed. Banks' focus on diversity and body positivity, despite controversy, prompted fashion brands to reconsider representation and inclusivity.
ANTM served as both a talent incubator and a cultural catalyst, bridging reality TV with the professional fashion world. Its impact continues to reverberate today, with former contestants now shaping industry trends, championing representation, and redefining what it means to be a model in the 21st century.
