Tyra Banks was the queen of the early 2000s. She had the hair, the smize, and a massive platform on UPN and later The CW. We all watched it. We huddled around TVs on Wednesday nights to see which girl would get the boot and who would be the next big thing in fashion. But if you look back at it now—especially with everything we know about the dark side of reality tv america’s next top model—the whole thing feels kinda different. It’s like finding out your favorite childhood candy was actually made of wax and sadness.
It wasn't just a modeling competition. It was a psychological gauntlet.
The show promised a "golden ticket" to the high-fashion world. In reality? Most of these girls ended up with nothing but a $40-a-day stipend and a mountain of trauma. Seriously. They were paid about as much as a New York City juror. Imagine being filming for 18 hours a day, having your hair ripped out for a "makeover," and being screamed at by Janice Dickinson for the price of a decent lunch.
Behind the Smize: The Brutal Working Conditions
Let's talk about the money. Sarah Hartshorne, who was on Cycle 9, dropped a bombshell on Twitter a few years back that basically broke the internet’s heart. She confirmed the $40 per day figure. And honestly? They had to pay for their own food out of that. You've got these girls in a multi-million dollar mansion, wearing couture, and they’re basically starving because they can’t afford to eat while the producers are raking in millions in ad revenue.
It gets worse. The contracts were notoriously "iron-clad."
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- Threats of Lawsuits: Some contestants were told that if they leaked anything, they—and their future children—would be sued for $10 million.
- The "No Food" Rule: Contestants like Angelea Preston have alleged that they were sometimes kept for 12+ hours without breaks or food.
- Medical Neglect: Remember the "hypothermia-inducing" pool shoot? Or when Danielle (Cycle 6) was told to close her tooth gap or she wouldn't be "high fashion"?
Tyra often framed these moments as "teaching" the girls about the industry. "It’s a tough world," she’d say. But there's a difference between a tough industry and a reality show that creates artificial trauma for ratings. People forget that these were often teenagers. They were young women from small towns who didn't know their rights.
The Disqualification of Angelea Preston
If you want to see the dark side of reality tv america’s next top model in full effect, look no further than the All-Stars cycle (Cycle 17). Angelea Preston actually won. She beat everyone. She was crowned. And then? The producers took it all away.
They stripped her of the title and re-filmed the finale with Lisa D’Amato. Why? Because the producers found out Angelea had previously worked as a legal escort. She’d told them this during the casting process! They knew. But they waited until she won to use it as a reason to disqualify her. Angelea later sued, alleging she was "exploited" and that the network violated labor laws. The case was eventually dropped, but the damage was done. It was a clear sign that the show cared more about its "clean" image than the actual people it claimed to be empowering.
Mental Health and the "Post-Top Model Curse"
The show didn't just end when the cameras stopped. For many, it was the beginning of a long downward spiral. We’ve seen former contestants struggle with addiction, homelessness, and even tragedy.
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Take Jael Strauss from Cycle 8. She was a fan favorite—quirky, talented, and full of life. After the show, she fell into a severe meth addiction that was eventually documented on Dr. Phil. She tragically passed away from breast cancer at 35, but her time on the show was marked by a lack of mental health support, even when she was clearly struggling with the death of a friend during filming.
Then there’s Renee Alway. She came in third on Cycle 8. Years later, she was arrested after a six-hour standoff with police. She ended up serving years in prison. In interviews, she’s been vocal about how the show offered zero aftercare. You’re famous for six weeks, then you’re dropped into a world where nobody in the actual fashion industry wants to hire a "reality TV girl." It’s a recipe for disaster.
The Tiffany Richardson Incident
We all know the meme. "I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!"
Tyra’s scream at Tiffany in Cycle 4 is one of the most famous moments in TV history. But Tiffany has since spoken out about how that moment felt in the room. She wasn't being "disrespectful" because she didn't care; she was protecting herself. She was a mother from a tough background who knew the show was a game. Tyra wanted tears. Tiffany gave her a shrug.
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Tyra’s ego couldn't handle the lack of "gratitude." It wasn't about mentoring; it was about performance.
Does the Show Still Matter?
People still watch it. It’s on Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. But the "woke" re-evaluation of the 2020s hasn't been kind to Tyra's legacy. From making white models pose in "bi-racial" shoots (which was essentially blackface) to mocking girls for their accents or their weight, the show is a time capsule of everything wrong with early-aughts culture.
Tyra herself eventually apologized on Twitter, saying "Looking back, those were some really off choices." Kinda an understatement, right?
The dark side of reality tv america’s next top model is a reminder that "empowerment" is often just a marketing buzzword. The show was a business. It was designed to sell CoverGirl mascara and Pantene shampoo. The girls were just the fuel for the engine.
What You Can Do Now
If you're a fan of the show but feel conflicted, here are a few ways to support the former contestants and engage with the industry more ethically:
- Support the "Post-Top Model" Creators: Many former models like Sophie Sumner, Oliver Twixt (who interviews alumni), and Sarah Hartshorne have YouTube channels or podcasts where they tell their side of the story. Listen to them. Give them the platform the show never truly gave them.
- Learn About Model Rights: Organizations like The Model Alliance work to establish basic labor protections for models—something ANTM contestants desperately needed.
- Watch with a Critical Eye: If you’re rewatching, pay attention to the editing. Notice when a contestant’s words don't match their lip movements. Notice how the music changes to make someone look "crazy." Understanding the manipulation is the first step to not being fooled by it.
- Follow the Success Stories Elsewhere: Many models, like Analeigh Tipton (now Lio Tipton) or Winnie Harlow, succeeded despite the show, not because of it. Support their current work in film and fashion.
Reality TV is rarely real. But the trauma it leaves behind is very much the truth.