Ever since quarantine started I began to rewatch old shows and movies that I loved growing up, one of those shows being America’s Next Top Model. ANTM first premiered in 2003 and continued for 24 cycles. I started watching it when I was 6 and every Friday I would watch it with my sister. I even had the ANTM Wii game. The makeover episodes were the best episodes and when it came down to the two finalists it was the most stressful and tense episode. But I am not 6 anymore and when I started to rewatch the seasons I realized how problematic this show was and I just want to know how this show got away with this. From racism, fat-shaming, to homophobia and transphobia. Sadly, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The first issue that can be pointed out right off the bat is fatphobia and just the overall judgment of women that were considered to be plus-size during the early 2000s. In numerous episodes, usually in the first two, we are introduced to a model that is not like everyone, in other words, their weight not being at most 120 lbs. This so-called issue would be mentioned so much that you would think that was the point of the show. These beautiful contestants would hear “You’re overweight” or “in the modeling industry we don’t have people like you”, all of which are incredibly awful. Some would take these comments as constructive criticism but in reality, they were sly insults.
In Cycle 5, Kim Slotz, an openly gay contestant, explained to the judges once that she was gay and wanted to feel free because she was proud of who she is. Tyra Banks’ response to Slotz was to not bring up her sexuality so much.
‘I want to be out, like I’m gay and I’m really proud of it’, said Stolz.
Figuring what who you are and being confident enough to tell the world that you are gay is a moment that should feel exhilarating but to have an influencer like Banks to tell you not to talk about how you are is incredibly heartbreaking.
Next on the list is racism. Did you guys notice there was blackface in the show? Well, it happened on numerous occasions. You can represent black culture without using a foundation color that clearly is 3 or more shades darker than yours. In Cycle 4, a contestant even said “I’m a black woman with a nose job.”, and so I ask again. How did this show get away with this? How did Tyra, a beautiful black woman, get away with this? There is an episode where a white contestant even told Yaya DaCosta, a black model, and actress, that she acts “too black”.There have been so many moments in the show involving race that make you question pretty much the existence of this show.
”I think there’s a certain thing of, being proud, like I’m black and proud. But I’m not like walking down the red carpet [saying] “I’m black, I’m black”, you know what I’m saying?’ said Banks.
Moving on to transphobia. Isis King, a transgender model, actress, and fashion designer, made her depute appearance in Cycle 11. She was the first-ever transgender contestant on the show. Throughout the cycle, Isis was constantly misgendered and treated differently because of who she was. There even was a fellow contestant that misgendered and practically threatened King.
“If I have to get along with Isis I will, but if it comes between me and my goal to win, I will stomp that man right out of the competition.”, Clarke, a contestant, said.
The disrespect and the amount of bullying done throughout this show is unfathomable.
America’s Next Top Model should not have lasted as long as it did. Over the years as time went on the realization of how twisted and mind-boggling this show was has gotten a lot of attention in the past few here. The only thing we can do now is to make sure we hold not only Tyra Banks but also those within the production accountable for their actions. Remember that beauty is not about if you are transgender, gay, black, or plus size. It is all about how to present yourself because you are hot and you deserve to strut your stuff like the goddess you are. (:
The beauty of a woman
isn’t in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes;
Because that’s the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman
isn’t in a facial mole;
But true beauty in a woman,
is reflected by her soul.
It’s the caring that she cares to give,
the passion that she shows;
And the beauty of a woman
with passing years only grows.
-Audrey Hepburn “The Beauty of a Woman”