- Netflix’s Tyra Banks-produced docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, premiered on Feb. 16.
- The doc features panelists like Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel, and Miss J. Alexander, as well as past contestants like Shandi Sullivan and Danielle Evans.
- Now, former contestants who weren’t featured in the doc are reacting and speaking out against Tyra.
The first of many America’s Next Top Model documentaries has officially hit our screens, and a bunch of bombshell details have been revealed. The first drop was Netflix’s Tyra Banks-produced docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, which features the show’s executive producer, Ken Mok, and panelists like Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel, and Miss J. Alexander.
Of course, the three-episode docuseries also features a few contestants as talking heads and, despite their behind-the-scenes horror stories, Tyra is seemingly unapologetic about everything that went down. Now, a bunch of former ANTM girlies and fan favorites are watching and reacting to the drop in real time. Here are all the former contestants who have spoken out about Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.
Eva Marcille (neé Pigford)
Cycle 3
While Eva wasn’t featured as a talking head in the doc, Tyra did mention her by name when it came to the impact she had on the modeling industry after her cycle 3 win. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, Eva said, “I watched it, and after I watched it, I was gobsmacked. I was in awe…My mouth was wide open. To be a part of a club, and not know what’s going on in the club is crazy.”
Shandi Sullivan
Cycle 2
Shandi, who shared details of her on-camera sexual assault on cycle 2 in the docuseries, also wrote a lengthy social media post about the show.
“Knowing that Tyra didn’t have control over my narrative, that the director and producers here had my back...that’s why I did it,” Shandi said of the documentary in a Facebook post. “I did it for me. Because I mattered and I still do! The love I have felt today has been immense. Thank you to everyone that heard me.
Adrienne Curry
Cycle 1
ANTM’s first-ever winner, Adrienne, revealed that she has “mad respect” for Tyra not apologizing for her actions through the show’s controversial run.
“She is not sorry. She is not apologizing. That bitch is not effing sorry. She will not bend the knee. And I respect that,” she said in a lengthy Instagram video. “We want her to lie—lie, and say how bad she feels.”
She later added, “But mad respect for Tyra. It’s hard to push back on that many people trying to struggle session you, and she’s just like, ‘Fuck you, I’ll do what I want.’ And I gotta respect that. I tip my hat, m’lady.”
Lisa D’Amato
Cycles 5/17 (All Stars)
Lisa took to Instagram with her thoughts on Tyra’s doc, writing, “Watched the Netflix docuseries on ANTM and I still think it is sugar coated. It was wayyyyyy worse for so so many of us.”
The All Stars winner didn’t take part in Reality Check, but she does make an appearance on E!’s upcoming Dirty Rotten Scandal doc, as she added, “I said what I said and even deeper torture will be on Dirty Little Scandals. Stay tuned.”
Alli Harvard, Fo Porter, and Isis King
Cycles 12/17 (All Stars), 12, and 11/17 (All Stars)
Alli, Fo, and Isis had a watch party of their own. “REALITY CHECK MOVIE NIGHT WITH MY FAVS,” Alli wrote in a joint Instagram post with Fo, who she competed against on Cycle 12.
Tiffany Richardson
Cycle 4
Tiffany’s storyline bred one of the most uncomfortable ANTM moments where Tyra addressed her with the iconic line, “Be quiet, Tiffany… I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you! Learn something from this!” It was also a major talking point in the doc as Tyra described her dynamic with Tiffany and what allegedly led to the moment.
However, Tiffany seemingly slammed the host in a deleted social media post, writing, “In an Instagram post, an account attributed to Tiffany seemingly wrote, "Hold up @tyrabanks let's keep it cute... you are 1 lying ass bitch... you know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera, YOU WAS A BULLY!!! You treated me like shit and said the nastiest things about me and my son. That is not how the argument went but YALL EDITED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU CARED.”
Krista White
Cycle 14
Krista, who won Cycle 14, left a comment on a post shared by the same Instagram account attributed to Tiffany. Underneath a headline claiming rapper JT defended Tyra, Krista clarified why former contestants and the doc’s viewers kept coming for the host, as opposed to the judges.
“The panel was hired talent—Nigel (photographer), Mr. Jay (creative director), Ms. J (runway coach), Twiggy, Janice, André Leon Talley, and the rotating judges—who sat on the panel and judged the photos that were selected,” Krista wrote. “They were not the creators of the show, nor were they editors, producers, or decision-makers behind the scenes. That’s why the accountability is being directed at Tyra! They were considered talent, just like we were.”
Lauren Utter
Cycle 10
Following the release of the doc, Cycle 10 contestant Lauren took to social media to share a page from her ANTM contract, which read, in part, “I acknowledge and agree that should I be killed, injured, or harmed during the transportation to or from any location in connection with the Program...this Participant Agreement shall [release] the Released Parties from any claim whatsoever in connection therewith.”
She captioned the post, “I was on #antm and I didn’t 💀 ! Yay! Apparently @netflix is dropping a doc soon so I just wanted to share some souvenirs. Did you know if we 💀 on the show they assume no responsibility? Cool right?”
Brittany Corinne Hatch
Cycle 8
In a statement to Front Page, the cycle 8 contestant spoke about her ANTM experience, saying ANTM alums weren’t just contestants, but “survivors.”
Victoria Henley
Cycle 19
Ahead of the doc release, Victoria penned a blog post in response to the trailer, where she noted that “validating to see the show-runners finally own up and fess up to perhaps even a fraction of what they actually put us contestants through…because it was a lot.” She also called the ANTM contract “the most deeply troubling I’ve ever read.”
