Tyra Banks Reflects on ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Controversies in Fresh Netflix Documentary

Tyra Banks has admitted to going “too far” during moments on America’s Next Top Model, revisiting the show’s controversial history in the new Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. The three-part series, released February 16, 2026, examines the impact of the reality competition series that ran from 2003 to 2018.

Behind the Scenes of a Reality TV Juggernaut

America’s Next Top Model, created by Tyra Banks, Ken Mok, and Kenya Barris, captivated audiences for 24 seasons, attracting a global viewership exceeding 100 million at its peak . The show followed aspiring models as they competed in challenges and faced weekly eliminations, with the winner receiving a modeling contract and a magazine spread.

Banks Addresses Past Criticisms

The documentary features interviews with Banks, as well as former judges Nigel Barker and J. Alexander, and creative director Jay Manuel . Banks addresses several controversial moments from the show’s run, including a heated exchange with contestant Tiffany Richardson from season four.

“I went too far. I lost it,” Banks says in the documentary, reflecting on the incident. “It was probably bigger than her…It was family, friends, society, black girls, all the challenges we have. So many people saying we’re not good enough. I think all of that was in that moment. That’s some black girl stuff that goes real deep inside of me, but I knew I went too far.”

Pressure to Conform and Past Missteps

The documentary also revisits instances where Banks pressured contestants to undergo cosmetic procedures, such as a dental procedure for model Dani Evans. Banks stated she apologized to Evans and acknowledged the difficult position she was in, citing pressure from agents who believed Evans wouldn’t discover work with a gap in her teeth .

Banks addresses a photoshoot that involved contestants portraying different races, which drew criticism for resembling “blackface.” She initially defended the concept as an attempt to showcase the beauty of different ethnicities, but acknowledged the backlash, stating, “I didn’t think it was controversial, I was in my own little bubble in my own little head…The world was like, ‘are you crazy, have you lost your mind?’” .

Difficult Decisions and Show’s Legacy

Banks also recounts the difficult decision to let go of long-time judges Barker, Manuel, and J. Alexander in 2013, calling it “the hardest news I ever had to deliver in my existence.”

Despite the controversies, Banks expressed gratitude for the criticism the show has received, stating, “I thank you for that. That is the only way you change, that is the only way you secure better – by somebody calling you out on your sh*t. It is important.”

America’s Next Top Model was ultimately cancelled in 2018 due to declining viewership. Banks has since hosted other television shows, including Dancing With The Stars and America’s Got Talent, and launched a flagship ice cream store in Sydney, Australia.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is currently streaming on Netflix.