Netflix’s America’s Subsequent High Mannequin docuseries revealed the place Tyra Banks stands with many former contestants after they supplied their unfiltered opinions of the present.
Actuality Verify: Inside America’s Subsequent High Mannequinstreaming now, options interviews from alums Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Danielle Evans and Keenyah Hill.
New confessionals with government producer Ken Mokformer judges Jay Manuel, Miss J. Alexander and Nigel Barker supply extra perception into the behind the scenes dynamics — together with uncommon commentary from Banks herself.
“I haven’t actually stated a lot. However now it’s time,” Banks, 52, explains to producers in a single scene. “I’m going to take you to 2020. COVID hit and the world was binging TV. … They didn’t watch it again then and it went from this factor that everyone beloved to in a single day warmth — only a complete completely different lens. What I believe is vital is to know the place that got here from.”
All she wants is her signature smize! Tyra Banks acquired her begin as a mannequin, however she is maybe extra well-known as a TV host nowadays. The businesswoman took the world by storm when she kicked off America’s Subsequent High Mannequin in Might 2003. She not solely served as a number and mentor (…)
Banks additionally remembers her strategy with America’s Subsequent High Mannequinwhich ran from 2003 to 2018, saying, “I wished to struggle in opposition to the style business. Sooner or later, this concept simply hit me. What if I created a present the place you noticed what it took to develop into a mannequin. And for this present to characterize not all white, not all skinny and to simply present all of the variations and all of the several types of beauties. I had a sense that I used to be gonna change the sweetness world.”
Regardless of optimistic intentions, Banks acknowledges the offscreen backlash from controversial picture shoot ideas to allegations of discrimination, sexual assault and extra.
“Taking a look at that present by means of the lens of immediately, it’s like, ‘Why did you try this?’ I thanks for that. That’s the solely method you modify. That’s the solely method you get higher is by any individual calling you out in your s***,” Banks says. “It is necessary. I need to let you already know that I would like you guys to be simply as open as I’m now by getting referred to as on my s*** by when any individual calls you out on yours. As a result of that day will come and proceed to evolve. As a result of that’s what we’re all doing.”
Preserve scrolling for a breakdown of which contestants and winners participated within the America’s Subsequent High Mannequin docuseries — and the place they stand with Banks:
Shannon Stewart (Cycle 1)
The runner-up from season 1 recalled her struggles with an consuming dysfunction earlier than and throughout the present. She expressed gratitude to Tyra Banks for talking out concerning the conversations surrounding weight on the present — and for sending flowers when Shannon Stewart didn’t win. Stewart in the end left modeling and dedicated to her religion.
Ebony Haith (Cycle 1)
The contestant from the debut season voiced frustration with Tyra Banks after the previous host introduced up her sexual orientation on display screen as a result of she “forgot the hazard” on the time. Ebony Haith was nonetheless blissful how her private life was portrayed — regardless of the obstacles she confronted as a Black lady.
Ebony didn’t really feel “protected” and felt “full disappointment” of how she was represented. She claimed Banks barely spoke to her on the present outdoors of feedback that felt focused, which is when she realized the host wouldn’t assist her.
The aspiring actress in the end stated Banks “very a lot disenchanted” her.
Giselle Samson (Cycle 1)
For Giselle Samson, it was surprising when America’s Subsequent High Mannequin wasn’t what she thought it was going to be. She stated she felt pushed by manufacturing to begin drama and her self worth suffered after watching Tyra Banks and others focus on her weight on the present.
Samson was an actual property agent after leaving modeling behind — and she or he has since joined a theater group.
Shandi Sullivan (Cycle 2)
Earlier than becoming a member of America’s Subsequent High Mannequin in 2004Shandi Sullivan labored at her native Walgreens in Missouri. She practically made it to the top of her season till she was sexually assaulted throughout a bunch journey to Italy. The assault was then used as a dishonest story line.
She expressed frustration with Tyra Banks and producers earlier than confirming she left modeling. Sullivan presently works with animals.
Bre Scullark (Cycle 5)
Bre Scullark, who now works with violent offenders to assist their rehabilitation, identified how the present lacked in supporting Black girls, contestants fighting consuming issues and extra.
Danielle Evans (Cycle 6)
Danielle Evans notably stayed longer throughout her season as a result of she agreed to do away with a spot in her enamel regardless of voicing points with the medical process. She gained her season however by no means discovered success as a mannequin due to the stigma that got here with showing on America’s Subsequent High Mannequin.
Danielle claimed she had a dialog with Tyra Banks, who admitted she knew the contestant wouldn’t succeed within the business. The previous mannequin, who’s now not within the business, stated Tyra’s ‘ intentions to start with had been good’ however ‘that s*** acquired misplaced.’
Joanie Dodds (Cycle 6)
Within the doc, Joanie Dodds recalled having to get her enamel ripped out for a problem. She consented to the process however claimed she didn’t understand the extent of the aftermath, which included “many orthodontic points” that “by no means acquired fastened.”
Dodds admitted she would like to do America’s Subsequent High Mannequin however not the identical method. She has since discovered success on house enchancment exhibits and that led to her proudly owning her personal enterprise associated to carpentry.
Dionne Walters (Cycle 8)
Throughout her seasonDionne Walters needed to do a photoshoot problem the place she posed as a sufferer of gun violence. Producers knew that Dionne’s mom was shot and paralyzed in actual life, which she didn’t suppose was coincidental.
Dionne tried to make it within the modeling business a number of instances but it surely wasn’t profitable. She additionally revealed she “wasn’t contacted” after being eradicated. Dionne is now a small enterprise proprietor and a realtor.
Whitney Thompson (Cycle 10)
Whitney Thompson was the primary plus-size winner of the present however that got here with feeling self acutely aware. She recalled being given garments that didn’t match that she needed to make work. Whereas Whitney acknowledged that the present “didn’t age nicely,” it was “additionally a mirrored image of the time.” The ice cream store proprietor expressed gratitude to Tyra Banks for opening the door for her to be on the present.
Keenyah Hill (Cycle 4)
Keenyah Hill recalled how her total narrative on the present surrounded her weight. She stated it made her really feel soiled to see the damaging edits of her consuming and the conversations surrounding her look. Hill additionally pointed to a problem the place a male mannequin was ‘aggressively hitting” on her and touching her – however her try and get safety become her being shamed.
Tyra Banks defended the response by saying she supplied the very best recommendation she might on the time. Banks admitted Hill deserved extra. In her confessional, Hill revealed she is a pose coach serving to aspiring fashions.