Honestly, looking back at America's Next Top Model Season 22, it feels like the end of an era in more ways than one. It was 2015. Tyra Banks had just dropped the bombshell that the show was getting the axe—well, at least on The CW. It was supposed to be the "final" season ever. Because of that, there was this weird, frantic energy to the whole production. They brought back the guys, they kept the height requirement "removed," and they threw a bunch of hungry aspiring models into a house in Los Angeles.
No international destination. Just Vegas. Kinda budget, right?
But while the production value might have been dipping, the cast was actually one of the strongest the show had seen in years. We’re talking about a season that gave us Nyle DiMarco, Mamé Adjei, and Lacey Rogers. These weren't just "reality TV characters." They were actual models who ended up having real careers.
The Nyle DiMarco Factor
You can't talk about America's Next Top Model Season 22 without talking about Nyle. He didn't just win; he changed the entire DNA of the show. Being the first Deaf contestant was a huge deal, but Nyle didn't want to be a "token" casting choice. He was there to work.
The communication barrier in the house was a massive plot point. I remember watching him feel isolated while the other models—like Devin and Mikey—were caught up in their own loud, messy drama. Nyle was basically living in a different world inside that house. He used an app on his phone to communicate, or sometimes just relied on his interpreter, Joseph, during shoots.
There was this one specific moment during the "Possession" shoot where Nyle just absolutely crushed it. He had this way of using his body language that felt more intentional than the hearing models. He eventually took home the title, becoming the second male winner and the first Deaf winner in the franchise's history. It wasn't just a "feel-good" win either. Nyle went on to win Dancing with the Stars and became a major activist.
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Why the "No Height Requirement" Was a Lie
Tyra pushed the "short models" narrative hard this season. "Height doesn't matter anymore!" she'd say.
But if you look at the final call-out orders, the industry's bias was still very much there. Courtney DuPerow was the "short" standout with a face that looked like it belonged on the cover of Vogue Italia, but she was constantly critiqued for her proportions. It felt like the show wanted to seem inclusive without actually rewarding the models who didn't fit the 5'9" standard.
The Drama We All Forgot (Or Tried To)
The house was a mess. Pure chaos.
You had the "DMA" alliance—Devin, Mikey, and Ashley. They were the "cool kids" who pretty much annoyed everyone else. Devin Clark was probably the most polarizing person that year. His face was incredible—huge eyes, amazing bone structure—but his personality was dialed up to an eleven at all times. He’d get into it with Bello Sanchez, who was another huge character with those piercing (and highly debated) blue eyes.
Remember the "crown" incident?
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Bello had this ornate crown he brought to the house, and it got broken. It sounds like such a small, stupid thing, but in the pressure cooker of reality TV, it turned into a multi-episode saga. It’s those tiny, petty moments that made America's Next Top Model Season 22 feel like classic Top Model, even when the budget was clearly thinning out.
The Hookups and the Heartbreak
The Mamé and Justin Kim situation was the primary romance of the season. They were "Tootie and J-Smooth." It was actually a pretty sweet relationship until the "camping" trip.
Basically, the models went on a "glamping" challenge, and things got messy. Mikey and Mamé ended up in a tent together, and while Mamé insisted nothing happened, the "he-said-she-said" drama followed them back to the house. Justin, who was usually the most chill guy in the competition, was visibly hurt. It added this layer of soap opera tension to the final few episodes that felt a little unnecessary but totally on-brand for Tyra.
The Finale: Why Mamé Lost
The final two came down to Nyle and Mamé. Honestly, on paper, Mamé was the "better" traditional model. She had the walk, the pageant background, and she rarely took a bad photo. She was a powerhouse.
But Nyle was a movement.
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The final runway was held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and it was stunning. All the eliminated contestants came back, including the fan favorites like Dustin McNeer (the "boy next door" who got eliminated twice) and Hadassah Richardson (the pageant queen who finally "humbled" herself after her makeover).
Mamé’s walk was objectively superior. Even Tyra admitted she looked like she could walk for Victoria's Secret right then and there. But Nyle’s growth and the impact of his presence outweighed the technical perfection of Mamé. When Tyra signed "Congratulations" in ASL, it felt like a genuinely historic TV moment.
Actionable Takeaways for Superfans
If you're revisiting America's Next Top Model Season 22 today, there are a few things you should look for to see how much the industry has changed:
- Social Media Influence: This was the first season where "hashtags" and "branding" were the primary focus. You can see the shift from "high fashion" to "influencer culture" happening in real-time.
- The "Flawsome" Rebrand: Tyra was obsessed with the word "flawsome." Notice how she uses it to justify makeovers that were clearly meant to be "ugly-pretty," like Ava's mullet or Lacey's bowl cut.
- The Male Model Arc: This season proved that male models could be just as interesting (and dramatic) as the women. It paved the way for the show's brief revival on VH1.
If you want to keep up with the cast, most of them are still very active on Instagram. Nyle is the obvious star, but Mamé Adjei has done some incredible work with major brands and still looks exactly the same as she did in 2015. Lacey Rogers also carved out a niche for herself in the digital space.
The real lesson from Season 22? Even when the show was at its lowest point in terms of "reality TV gimmicks," the talent was still there. It just required digging through a lot of "booching" and "tooching" to find it.
To really see the impact of this season, look at how the fashion industry treats accessibility today. Nyle DiMarco wasn't just a winner; he was the first step toward a more inclusive runway that we're still trying to build. He proved that you don't need to hear the music to have the best walk in the room. You just need to know who you are.