What to Know
In a new Netflix docuseries, Tyra Banks addresses the recent backlash surrounding America’s Next Top Model. The show, which started in 2003 and ended in 2018, was obviously extremely popular and influential, but watching old episodes in more recent years has made some people notice just how problematic it really was. And Ashley Graham, who was once a judge on the show, is glad that Tyra is “fessing up to it.”
The docuseries, called Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, came out on Netflix on February 16. Ahead of the show’s premiere, Ashley shared her thoughts and revealed that she actually couldn’t wait to watch it.
Ashley said the show took things too far.
Although she admitted that she and her fellow judges were “hard on the girls in a loving way” at times, she also acknowledged the harm the show caused. During an appearance on Jenna and Sheinelle ahead of the docuseries’ premiere, Ashley said, “Now we were like, you know, hard on the girls in a loving way because I knew what it’s like to get criticism. I know what it’s like for people to tell me you’re not good enough or be a better model, like ‘What is that? You don’t even know what you’re doing.’ But…there was a lot of lines crossed, I think, throughout the whole [series].”
She’s glad Tyra willingly participated in the docuseries.
In the docuseries, Tyra reflects on the show’s controversial moments and the impact that it had. The docuseries’ executive producer, Vanessa Golembewski, told Tudum that “Tyra’s perspective was always important to the series, but it was just as important that her involvement was as an interview subject only.” According to Vanessa, Tyra agreed to participate without having creative control.
But Ashley felt that addressing the controversy in this way still gave Tyra some level of control. “I’m glad that Tyra’s fessing up to it and talking about it,” she said. “I also think this is very Tyra. She’s taking control of the situation, and she is that person.”
At the same time, Ashley made it clear that she loves and appreciates Tyra. “I love Tyra, and I’m always going to ride for her because she gave me some amazing advice, opportunities. She’s a girl’s girl,” she said.
So far, the new docuseries has been criticized for focusing heavily on how the show was a product of its time. Critics have argued that it doesn’t make Tyra look great, and also doesn’t go deep enough when examining the show’s controversies.
