ANTM Documentary: Unpacking the Legacy of America’s Next Top Model
In the landscape of reality television, few shows have sparked as much conversation – and controversy – as America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). Now, a new documentary on Netflix, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, is revisiting the show’s 24-season run, prompting a fresh wave of reflection on its impact and ethical considerations. For those who grew up with ANTM, it’s easy to forget just how dominant the show was in the early 2000s, and how it shaped a generation’s understanding of beauty and the modeling industry.
A Fever Dream of Reality TV
ANTM, hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks, presented a seemingly glamorous world where aspiring models competed for a contract and a chance at stardom. However, beneath the surface lay a series of challenges that often pushed contestants to their emotional and physical limits. The documentary doesn’t shy away from examining the show’s problematic moments, including instances of questionable creative direction, intense pressure for physical alterations, and the reenactment of personal traumas for dramatic effect.
Tyra Banks: The Central Figure
The documentary places a significant focus on Tyra Banks, not only as the face of the show but also as an executive producer. It explores her vision for ANTM – a desire to legitimize modeling as a career and empower women – and how that vision sometimes clashed with the realities of reality television. Reality Check doesn’t hesitate to hold Banks accountable for the show’s missteps, repeatedly highlighting her ownership and responsibility for the program’s direction.
Controversial Moments Revisited
The documentary revisits some of ANTM’s most infamous moments, including the infamous “smize” lessons, the often-cruel critiques of contestants’ appearances, and challenges that bordered on exploitative. Scenes like Cycle 4’s Keenyah being repeatedly called “fat,” Cycle 8’s Dionne posing as a gun-violence victim, and Cycle 10 winner Whitney struggling to find clothes that fit her size are dissected with the benefit of hindsight and the voices of the women who lived through them. These moments serve as stark reminders of the show’s often-insensitive and damaging approach.
Lasting Impact and Legacy
While ANTM launched the careers of a few contestants, such as Adrianne Curry (Cycle 1) and Eva Marcille (Cycle 3), the documentary suggests that the show’s negative impact far outweighed its successes. The show’s emphasis on unrealistic beauty standards, its encouragement of extreme makeovers, and its often-dehumanizing treatment of contestants left lasting scars on many participants.
The renewed interest in ANTM, fueled by TikTok virality and now this documentary, speaks to a broader cultural reckoning with the problematic aspects of early-aughts television. Reality Check isn’t just a retrospective; it’s a critical examination of a show that both captivated and troubled audiences for years. It’s a reminder that even entertainment can have real-world consequences, and that it’s important to hold creators accountable for the impact of their work.
You can learn more about the impact of reality television and its ethical considerations at The Guardian.
