Design, glamour, luxury brands and an overwhelming ambition to walk the most important catwalks in the world. Yes, at the beginning of the 21st century with strong nineties aftertaste in which the perfect bodies They were the norm and the hallmark of success, a reality took this to its maximum expression.
It is that throughout 24 seasons -between 2003 and 2018- America’s Next Top Model sought to make this dream come true and it became one of the most successful shows on television… But it pushed all possible limits.
With the supermodel driving Tyra Banksthe program promised to discover the next big figure in fashion. However, a new docuseries Netflix, «Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model»reopens the debate on what really happened behind the scenes and exposes complaints that today generate controversy.
Premiering this February 16, 2026, the production revisits the most emblematic moments of the cycle and gives voice to former contestants, team members and collaborators who describe an environment marked by psychological pressure, questionable decisions y situations which, seen by current standards, are alarming.
Extreme pressure and emotional manipulation: strategies to enhance drama
One of the central axes of the documentary is the pressure constant to which the participants were subjected. Several former models assure that the lack of sleepthe irregular feeding and the isolation They were part of a strategy to enhance the drama in front of the camera.
According to what they say, emotional exhaustion was frequent and many situations were encouraged by the same production to generate conflicts that would later boost the rating.
In this sense, some contestants remember hurtful comments about your body, your weight or your physical appearance.
Phrases that at the time were transmitted as “constructive criticism” are today pointed out as episodes of body shaming (the practice of criticizing, mocking, or shaming someone for their physical appearance) that affected self-esteem of young people who were just beginning their careers.
The photographic challenges that cause rejection today
The documentary also focuses on several photo shoots which, with the passage of time, became highly controversial.
One of the most remembered is the session in which the models were made up to represent different ethnicities. Although it was once defended as a tribute to diversity, it is currently considered by many to be an insensitive and problematic practice.
Another episode that is mentioned is a session set as a crime scene, where a participant had to pose pretending to be dead despite having a personal history linked to violent events and all the anguish that this caused her.
For many of those interviewed, these challenges prioritized visual impact over emotional well-being.
A particularly delicate accusation
Among the strongest revelations appears the testimony of Shandi Sullivanwho participated in the second cycle of the reality.
In the docuseries, she recounts an episode that occurred during a recording abroad that, according to her version, was handled by the production as a television scandal instead of receiving adequate restraint.
For this reason, his story immediately revived the debate about the ethical limits of the media.
The situation generated a special impact because it calls into question the responsibility of producers in the face of disaster scenarios. vulnerabilitya topic that today occupies a central place in the entertainment industry.
A viral moment that is being discussed again…
«Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model» also revives one of the most memorable moments of the program: the fort cross between Tyra Banks and contestant Tiffany Richardson during an elimination.
The phrase “I was rooting for you!” («I was betting on you», in Spanish) that Tyra blurts out to the shouting Richardson became a meme and circulated for years on social networks. However, the documentary contextualizes the moment and collects testimonies that suggest that the atmosphere was still much more tense than what was seen on screen.
Self-criticism or self-defense?
Tyra Banks is also part of this docuseries and acknowledges that some episodes could have been handled differently.
However, he vehemently defends the original intention of the show and its objective of giving opportunities in a historically exclusive industry.
The result is a more than complex portrait. On the one hand, a reality that marked a generation and expanded the conversation about diversity in fashion; on the other, a format that today is reviewed under stricter standards on mental health, consent and television ethics.
A debate that goes beyond glam
With a particular perspective, far from being a nostalgic retrospective, «Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model» Not only does it delve into the past of an iconic show, but it opens up a broader discussion about how entertainment is constructed and what the emotional cost for those who participate.
In an era where the audience demands greater responsibility from television content, this documentary invites us to ask ourselves if success and ratings justify certain decisions. And, above all, if television realities He learned something from his mistakes.
