Netflix has dropped “Actuality Verify: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin,” a three-part documentary that peels again the curtain of every thing that occurred behind the scenes through the manufacturing of UPN’s highly-successful competitors actuality TV collection headlined by Tyra Banks.
A number of former contestants from earlier seasons sat down with documentarians to share their experiences filming the present, a few of which included incidents of sexual assault, body-shaming and enduring controversial challenges.
Whereas the present first premiered in Might 2003, the collection noticed a resurgence in 2020 after viewers re-watched or found the fact present for the very first time. This led to a number of on-line discussions and many individuals calling “ANTM” out over its questionable mannequin duties and manufacturing’s take care of the younger ladies.
Under, TheWrap broke down essentially the most surprising revelations from “Actuality Verify: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin.”
Whereas speaking in regards to the origin story of “America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin,” Tyra Banks and “ANTM” govt producer Ken Mok opened up in regards to the roadblocks they confronted attempting to forged numerous expertise on the present. The 2 stated UPN executives thought one particular person of coloration on the present was greater than sufficient however Banks and Mok disagreed.
Mok and Banks stated they needed to do their last spherical of casting with former Viacom President Les Moonves, and on the time, Mok and Banks had been attempting to forged a Latina lady on the present. Moonves rejected the concept, and the difficulty became heated argument that just about grew to become “bodily” between Banks and Moonves. Finally, they casted one other mannequin, Giselle Samson.
“ANTM” viewers despatched homophobic mail over Miss Jay and Jay Manuel’s involvement
In Episode 1, Miss Jay and Jay Manuel mirrored on their natural friendship with each other, noting how groundbreaking it was for them to be two brazenly homosexual males on nationwide TV through the early 2000s. Manuel talked about that he felt extra assured alongside Miss J as a result of they may tackle any backlash collectively. Nonetheless, their visibility on display screen led to numerous homophobic responses from viewers.
“Folks would write and say like, ‘What the hell is that this on my display screen? Like, how are you exhibiting this?’” Banks defined.
One of many fashions, Ebony Haith, additionally shared that manufacturing outed her sexuality with out getting her consent first.
Iman and David Bowie Have been Followers of “ANTM”
After “ANTM” premiered, Jay Manuel stated he acquired a cellphone name from iconic vogue mannequin Iman and music icon David Bowie, each of whom Manuel beforehand labored with. The well-known couple praised the present, with Bowie telling Manuel that he’s “discovered the place” the place he must be.
Fashions recall bodyshaming and producers encouraging drama throughout filming
A lot of the documentary spotlights alleged incidents that occurred through the present’s 24 seasons, however it additionally offered former contestants with a platform to share their private experiences. Giselle Samson stated she remembers producers instigating arguments between the fashions, in addition to the women being body-shamed.
Ebony Haith stated judges, together with Tyra Banks, ridiculed her pores and skin texture, in a single incident criticizing her for being “ashy” and permitting non-Black stylists to shave her hair — which she stated led to her getting three bald spots. Haith added that she was labeled as tough, with one scene exhibiting an “ANTM” present expertise calling her “aggressive” and “indignant.”
As well as, Giselle Samson stated she nonetheless struggles together with her physique after listening to Banks inform her she has a “huge ass.”
Shandi Sullivan says Manufacturing turned an alleged sexual assault into an affair storyline
Probably the most difficult moments through the “ANTM” documentary was former contestant Shandi Sullivan unpacking how she was allegedly sexually assaulted by an Italian moped driver whereas engaged on the present in Milan. She defined that manufacturing invited the lads over to the fashions’ home the place they drank and frolicked. At one level, Sullivan stated she’d drank an excessive amount of and hadn’t eaten sufficient. Ultimately, she “blacked out” and solely remembers a person on prime of her.
“I don’t even really feel intercourse taking place, I simply knew it was taking place after which I handed out,” Sullivan stated of the incident.
As an alternative of stopping the alleged assault, manufacturing filmed all of it, together with Sullivan within the bathe with the person and the second she admitted what occurred to her boyfriend over the cellphone.
Whereas Banks stated manufacturing wasn’t her “territory,” Mok stated “ANTM” was handled like a “documentary,” which means they didn’t intervene advert merely filmed what was taking place, a setup the women knew about from day one.
“We might go over the principles with them. There’s going to be cameras with you 24/7, day in and time out,” Mok stated. “And so they’re going to cowl every thing – the nice, the dangerous and every thing in between. It doesn’t matter what occurs, whilst you’re on digital camera, we’re going to doc all of that.”
In Episode 3, Mok stated a lot of that scene was scaled down in enhancing. Later, Sullivan stated regardless that she requested Banks to not present the scene on her discuss present “The Tyra Banks Present,” Banks did anyway.
Danielle “Dani” Evans says Tyra Banks made her shut her hole for scores
One other surprising second from “ANTM” was Danielle “Dani” Evans sharing that she was advised to shut the hole in her tooth throughout one of many present’s notorious makeovers, or face the opportunity of elimination. A number of seasons later, Banks widened contestant Chelsey Hershey’s hole, which in the end sparked tensions between Banks and Evans. Banks stated she apologized to Evans in regards to the incident, however Evans believes Banks was extra within the second boosting the present’s scores fairly than permitting Evans to keep up her pure look.
Dionne Walters says manufacturing performed up her mom’s real-life tragic taking pictures
All through the documentary, fashions mirror on a few of the most outrageous themes manufacturing put collectively as challenges for the fashions through the competitors, together with race-swapping, channeling homelessness and different controversial shoots.
Former contestant Dionne Walters recalled manufacturing allegedly taking part in up her mom’s real-life lethal taking pictures. As she explains within the docuseries, her mom was paralyzed after being shot by an ex, which Walters stated manufacturing knew about from her utility course of. As a part of a movie shoot, Walters was instructed to pose as somebody who was shot within the head.
“I feel they needed to see some kind of psychological breakdown or to see me crumble,” Walters stated. “I’m simply glad that they didn’t get the response that I really feel like they had been hoping to get.”
Mok stated he regrets following by way of with the problem, calling himself an “fool” for doing so.
Keenyah Hill says manufacturing mocked her weight in an ongoing “narrative”
A number of of the fashions shared their experiences with being body-shamed on the present, with former contestant Keenyah Hill saying manufacturing made her weight an long-running joke.
“To see that that was going to be my whole narrative, it simply felt unfair and simply felt sort of soiled,” Hill stated.
Hill stated manufacturing edited her to seem as if she was overeating, noting that judges usually referred to as her out for being heavier than different fashions. She additionally shared that her weight was focused throughout two challenges. In a single occasion she was assigned to painting gluttony as one of many Seven Lethal Sins, and in one other she was tasked with being the elephant in a safari shoot.
Tyra Banks says notorious “We’re All Rooting for You” incident was her “hardest” second on the present
Whereas discussing her notorious emotional outburst at former “ANTM” contestant Tiffany Richardson, Banks stated she went “too far” with the viral screaming response. She defined that she’d mentored Richardson off-camera previous to her official casting on Cycle 4 of the present and the mannequin grew to become her “coronary heart.”
When Richardson appeared to shrug off her elimination, it triggered some “Black lady stuff” inside her, Banks defined.
“It was most likely greater than her — it was household, pals society,” Banks defined. “Black ladies, all of the challenges that we now have, so many individuals saying that we’re not ok. I feel all of that was in that second.”
The incident led to attorneys visiting the set the next week to watch filming.
Jay Manuel says Tyra Banks iced him out over his choice to go away the present
After struggling along with his ethical compass, notably after the controversial race-swapping problem and different causes, Manuel determined it was time for him to go away the present. He defined that he ultimately gained sufficient braveness to thank Banks for the chance and shared that he’d like to maneuver on along with his profession. Manuel stated Banks didn’t reply to his e-mail till three days later, throughout which she replied, “I’m upset.”
Throughout trip, Manuel stated manufacturing requested him to return for one final cycle and he obliged. Nonetheless, the power between he and Banks was stale as soon as he got here again.
“On digital camera we discovered to play, snigger, however it was simply clear I used to be not allowed to talk together with her exterior of that,” Manuel stated.
Danielle “Dani” Evans says Banks Knew “ANTM” would restrict her modeling job prospects
After profitable Cycle 6 of “America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin,” Evans stated she stayed in a fashions residence for months and by no means booked a gig, including that she watched a number of ladies who hadn’t been on the present thriving of their profession. At one level, her roommate on the time, and fellow mannequin Chanel Iman, advised her their agent needed to deal with Evans otherwise as a result of the trade considered her as a “actuality star.”
Evans stated Banks advised her that she was conscious of how the present would dampen her probabilities of reserving with main vogue model, however did nothing about it.
Mark Pedowitz Was the foundation of Miss J. Alexander, Nigel Barker and Jay Manuel’s firing
When Mark Pedowitz changed Daybreak Ostroff in main the present’s community, he got here in with a mission to refresh the present. After avoiding a number of of Pedowitz’s calls, Banks was compelled to stick to Pedowitz’s calls for to have Miss J. Alexander, Nigel Barker and Jay Manuel faraway from the present.
Collectively, the 4 made a “pact” that their departure could be introduced in a joint assertion. Nonetheless, Alexander, Manuel and Barker’s firing was revealed in a “leak” to Web page Six. Banks believes the lads assume she and Mok had management over the choice, whereas Manuel stated he believes Banks was prepared to do something for the present. Finally, the collection’ scores drastically declined and it ended with Cycle 24.
Miss J. Alexander Says Banks has not visited him since his stroke
Miss J. Alexander has recognized Banks since she was 16 years previous. Nonetheless, the longtime catwalk guru stated the previous supermodel has but to go to him since suffered a stroke that left him unable to talk or stroll in 2022. He shared that each Manuel and Barker visited him.
The three got here collectively in an emotional reunion through the documentary, snapping their first selfie since they had been final collectively in 2019.
Banks teases potential Cycle 25 of “America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin”
It appears to be like like Tyra Banks might need one other season of “America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin” up her sleeve. On the finish of the documentary, in Half 3, Banks teases a possible return for Cycle 25, with out sharing particulars of a community or who would be a part of her on the judges panel.
“After the present, I had so many various concepts for my life. I’m obsessive about pivoting,” Banks stated. “I really feel like my work isn’t performed. “You haven’t any thought what we now have deliberate for cycle 25.”
“Actuality Verify: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin” is now streaming on Netflix.