It felt like the end of an era when The CW axed the show in 2015. Fans were devastated. Then, suddenly, VH1 swooped in to save the day, and America’s Next Top Model Cycle 23 became the "reboot" no one saw coming. Honestly, it was a weird time for the franchise. The biggest shocker? Tyra Banks wasn't the host. For the first time in over a decade, the Smize Queen stepped back into an executive producer role, leaving a massive, heels-shaped void at the head of the judging table.
The Rita Ora Era: Why Everything Changed
British pop star Rita Ora took the reins, and people had feelings about it. Critics were skeptical. Fans were confused. Why a singer? The show tried to pivot away from just finding a "pretty face" and instead focused on finding a "brand" or a "boss." It was the era of the Instagram model and the multi-hyphenate influencer, and VH1 wanted to reflect that shift.
The panel got a total facelift too. We got Ashley Graham, who was already a powerhouse in the body-positivity movement, celebrity stylist Law Roach (before he was the "image architect" everyone knows now), and Drew Elliott from Paper Magazine. It felt more like a boardroom than a runway coaching session.
They traded the CW's glossy, sometimes campy vibe for something grittier and more "New York fashion scene." The prizes changed to match. No more CoverGirl. Instead, the winner was looking at a $100,000 check, a commercial for Rimmel London, a spread in Paper, and a talent deal with VH1.
The Contestants and the Drama
The cast for Cycle 23 was actually pretty solid. You had 14 women competing, and for the first time in a while, the show ditched the "guys and girls" format to go back to its roots.
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- India Gants: The Seattle native who basically looked like Gigi Hadid’s long-lost twin.
- Tatiana Price: The "boss" who already had her own skincare line, SkinButtr.
- Courtney Nelson: The girl with the "ugly-pretty" look that the high-fashion world loves (and the housemates... didn't).
- CoryAnne Roberts: The daughter of a supermodel who had the pedigree but struggled with consistency.
The season didn't lack drama. Remember the "twin" storyline with Cody and Tash Wells? It was a classic ANTM trope, but it felt different this time because the stakes were more about business than just "who's the prettiest." There was a lot of tension around Courtney, who felt isolated from the rest of the girls. She was often sick or in pain, which the other contestants interpreted as her being a "whiner." It was classic reality TV tension, but the shoots were surprisingly high-quality.
Key Moments You Might Have Forgotten
One of the best parts of the season was the guest list. We saw Zendaya stop by, and DJ Khaled showed up to teach the girls about—you guessed it—being a boss. Stacey McKenzie also came in as a runway coach, and honestly, she stole every scene she was in. She brought that old-school ANTM energy that Rita Ora sometimes lacked.
The photo shoots were actually quite good. They did a private jet shoot with Jason Derulo and a raw, "homeless chic" inspired shoot that felt very 90s editorial. It was less about the "gimmicks" of previous seasons (like the ones where girls were hanging from buildings) and more about actual modeling.
India Gants: The Winner’s Reality
When India Gants won, it felt right. She had five "Best Photos" throughout the season and a portfolio that actually looked like it belonged in a magazine. But winning ANTM in the VH1 era was different than winning in 2005.
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India has been very open lately on TikTok and in interviews about what happened after the cameras stopped rolling. She got her $100,000, sure. But she also mentioned that she had to pay back about 30% to 40% of that in taxes and spent a huge chunk of it just living in New York and LA to try and make the career happen.
The VH1 talent deal? Basically nothing came of it.
The Rimmel London commercial? Most fans say they never even saw it air.
India didn't let that stop her, though. She signed with Select Model Management and has worked steadily. She’s also leaned heavily into the influencer space, which is exactly what the judges said the "new" top model should do. She’s one of the few winners who actually speaks fondly of the experience while still being real about the industry's pitfalls.
Why Cycle 23 Matters Now
Looking back, Cycle 23 was a bridge. It was the show trying to figure out if it could survive without Tyra Banks as the face. It turns out, it kind of couldn't. Tyra came back for Cycle 24 because the ratings and the "soul" of the show just felt off without her.
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However, Cycle 23 gave us Law Roach and Ashley Graham, two people who have arguably had more impact on the fashion industry in the last five years than almost anyone else from the franchise. Law’s transition from a judge on a "rebooted" reality show to the man styling Celine Dion and Zendaya is a legendary glow-up.
Real Talk: Was it actually good?
If you're a purist who loves the campy, "I have 14 photos in my hands" Tyra era, you might find Cycle 23 a bit dry. It's more professional. It's more "business." But if you actually like looking at good photography and watching models learn how to navigate a social-media-driven world, it’s worth a rewatch.
What you can do next:
- Check out India Gants on social media: She’s very transparent about the "modeling vs. reality TV" divide and posts great behind-the-scenes content.
- Watch the "Boss" episodes: If you’re trying to build a personal brand, the advice from Drew Elliott and Law Roach during this season is actually surprisingly practical.
- Follow Tatiana Price: Her brand, SkinButtr, is still going strong, proving she really was the "boss" the judges were looking for.
The show might have returned to Tyra for its final curtain call, but Cycle 23 remains a fascinating experiment in what happens when a legendary brand tries to grow up.