When will ‘ANTM’ documentary air? Tyra Banks confesses ‘she went too far’ in explosive trailer
Between the years of 2003 and 2018, 'America's Next Top Model' was one of the most-watched shows on the planet. Drawing in a whopping 100 million viewers at its peak, the fashion-based competition show represented the cultural zeitgeist of the 2000s and early 2010s. With famous international supermodel Tyra Banks at its centre, 'America's Next Top Model' sought to gather a group of young aspiring fashion models and take them through a baptism by fire. However, beneath the veneer of opulent glamour lies the dark, disturbing reality of the show, which is the subject of the upcoming documentary 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model'.
Netflix recently dropped the official trailer for the upcoming documentary based on 'ANTM'. The three-part docuseries drops on the streaming platform on February 16 and will feature unseen footage, interviews, and other insights previously unavailable to the public. The docuseries is directed by Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushi, as per Tudum. It will feature Banks, alongside key stakeholders from the show, including Ken Mok, Miss J, Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, former contestants Shandi Sullivan, Keenyah Hill, Giselle Samson, Whitney Thompson, and Shannon Stewart, among others.
According to a report by Tyla, the official synopsis of the docuseries reads, "What started as a glamorous launchpad for aspiring models became a pop-culture juggernaut defined by explosive drama, public meltdowns and controversies that still fuel viral moments today … Reality Check exposes the show’s complicated legacy and asks a provocative question: How far are we willing to go for entertainment?"
While some of the more controversial elements of 'ANTM' certainly helped drive the show's popularity back in the day, they haven't aged well. The COVID-19 pandemic enabled audiences worldwide to revisit the show, and conversations about its disturbing emphasis on an unrealistic standard of beauty, the immensely damaging effects of cosmetic makeovers, etc., began to gain ground. As some of these moments are revisited in the trailer, Banks can be heard offering up her own explanation, "I knew I went too far. It was very, very intense, but you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing it, more and more and more." This was seconded by Manuel, "I realised Tyra would do anything for the success of her show."
The environment on 'ANTM' was perpetually stressful and demanding, with contestants forced to live and struggle together while subject to periodic eliminations. Whoever ended up winning the top spot in the competition was awarded with a generous spread in a prominent fashion magazine, coupled with a fashion contract. Nevertheless, the show featured some pretty contentious decisions, including a photo shoot in which the contestants switched ethnicities, Banks forcing cycle six contestant Danielle Evans to close the gap between her teeth, and the former's public admonition of cycle four contestant Tiffany Richardson. The fans would see such moments and more on 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model'.
