14 Biggest ANTM Controversies Amid Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model Releasing

While everyone was tuned into each new cycle of America’s Next Top Model in the early 2000s, looking at it today is like watching a nightmare. To put it bluntly, there was so much wrong with the show, and it affected so many young girls’ minds both on-screen and off-screen. And now, all eyes are on it again amid the release of Netflix’s docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which goes in-depth on all the behind-the-scenes drama.

The show was so much more terrifying than we thought, with many contestants and winners discussing the horrible conditions they faced, the eating disorders, and even cases of sexual assault that the judges did nothing to stop.

From the racist photoshoots to the homophobic comments, see the biggest ANTM controversies from Cycle 1 to 24. See the worst controversies below:

1. The Race Swap Photoshoots in Cycles 4 and 13

Probably the most infamous controversial photoshoots are the TWO race swap photoshoots. In Cycle 4, the models were forced to do a Got Milk? ad-style shoot but race-swapped and yes, there was a lot of blackface. However, they didn’t learn their lesson because they did it again in Cycle 13 with a photoshoot focused on the concept of “hapa,” a Hawaiian term to described people of mixed race. And yes, they changed everyone’s race.

2. Angelea’s Elimination in Cycle 17

Despite being set to win, Angelea was eliminated in Cycle 17: All Stars, originally reported as being disqualified for unspecified reasons. She later revealed it was because she previously worked as an escort (but it was completely by accident and the minute she realized what was happening, she’d try to escape).

“They asked me to be honest with them so they could protect me because I was the winner,” Angelea said to Bustle. “So I was.” Then Tyra and executive producer Ken Mok revoked her win. And the network attorney, Andy Wong, horrifically said, “You know, Angelea, you have no one to blame but yourself. You did this to yourself.”

3. Shandi Was Sexually Assaulted on Set

In Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 2 contestant Shandi revealed that she was sexually assaulted on set. Many may remember what the cameras alleged: that she had drunkenly cheated on her longtime boyfriend with a Vespa driver, but the reality is more tragic.

“I was hammered. I think I had two bottles of wine by myself,” she claimed. “I was blacked out for a lot of it. I didn’t even feel sex happening, I just knew it was happening. And then, I passed out.” The cameramen did nothing to stop what was happening.

4. The Tooth Gap Hypocrisy

Let’s preface this by saying tooth gaps are beautiful! But ANTM is so hypocritical with this. Now, the ANTM makeovers have been iconic, for better or for worse, and one of the worst, and everyone remembers the tooth gap debacles.

Back in Cycle 6, the judges were pressuring Danielle to close her tooth gap, or she’d never be a top model. She steadfastly refused, and she ended up winning the season. Then, in Cycle 15, they forced model Chelsey Hersley to widen her tooth gap by making a dentist widen it. Chelsey was the runner-up that season.

5. Treating the First Transgender Model Horribly

Model Isis King was the first transgender model on the show, appearing in Cycle 11 to compete (despite actually modeling in Cycle 10 as a background model)! She faced many microaggressions from both the models and Banks. Many of the models were incredibly prejudiced to her, calling her a “he/she” and drag queen, pushing her away from the group, and Banks asking personal details about her transition.

6. No Nude? Elimination!

This was a common occurrence in the show, from beginning to end. It was common to push the models to step out of their comfort zones, but sometimes they were asked too much. Whenever a model refused to pose nude, despite the judges trying to coerce them, they’d get eliminated for speaking up. And it kept happening throughout the show! The models who did this were Clark Gilmer, ShaRaun Brown, and Hannah White. Joke’s on them because King became extremely successful as a model, actress, and LGBTQ+ advocate!

7. Kahlen Having to Pose in a Grave After a Friend’s Passing

Everyone remembers when Kahlen had to pose in a grave after finding out her friend died in Cycle 4. No, seriously, she had to pose in a coffin in a hole underground for a “7 Deadly Sins” photoshoot. While she played Wrath and was first called out, it’s still considered one of the most controversial moments in ANTM history.

8. Jael Having to Pose as a Corpse After Friend’s Passing

Back in Cycle 8, they did it again by forcing the late Jael Strauss to pose as a corpse only mere hours after learning her friend died of an overdose. What’s worse is that they made Jael do the one where the location was strung out on a bed.

9. Forcing Models to Kiss Abusive Male Models

Many of the photoshoots included interacting with background models, most of whom were male. However, many of them were called out by the contestants for their poor behavior. But the judges told them to suck it up. (We know, incredibly appalling!)

Back in Cycle 1, Adrianne Curry was assaulted on her go-sees in Paris. In Cycle 4, Keenyah was forced to pose with a male model whispering sexual things in her ear and touching her inappropriately (and then the judges reamed her for speaking out). In Cycle 7, Jaeda was forced to kiss a model who had verbally abused her the previous night.

10. Posing Homeless With Actual Homeless People

In one of the first photo shoots in Cycle 10, the models were forced to pose as homeless women, with actual homeless women appearing in the background. They put designer clothes on the actual homeless women, and it’s unknown if they were compensated.

11. Tyra’s Racist Critique of Yaya

Okay, back in 2004, during Cycle 3, the girls were challenged to pick and style a hat that expressed who they were. Contestant Yaya DaCosta chose a cowboy hat instead of the kufi the judges wanted her to wear. Judge Nolé Martin said, “It looks like you’re about to ride a giraffe,” and Judge Rebecca Weinberg added, “You have this intensity to prove your blackness, and I think sometimes it’s overbearing.” When DaCosta defended herself, Banks silenced her, horrifically adding, “You’re being very defensive and it’s not attractive.”

12. The Cycle 1 “Weigh-In”

In Cycle 1, they forced the models to do a weigh-in, and the judges would criticize their stature in a truly disgusting display.

13. Tyra’s Homophobic Critique of Kim

Cycle 5 Kim Stolz was a spectacular model and a proud lesbian, and for some reason, that seemingly bothered Banks. Banks basically criticized Stolz for being “too gay,” saying, “I think there’s…being proud — like I’m Black and proud — but I’m not walking down the red carpet saying ‘I’m Black, I’m Black.’”

14. The Cruel Cycle 16 Prank

This is often considered one of the cruelest moments on the show. They separated the girls into two sections: the ones who got in and those who didn’t make it. However, when the “winners” got on the bus, it was revealed they were the ones who were actually eliminated, and the original eliminated stars were actually in the show. It was supposed to be a lesson about rejection, but it was convoluted.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.