14 of the most uncomfortable moments on 'America's Next Top Model'
Business Insider
February 20, 2026
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"America's Next Top Model," a groundbreaking reality TV show that launched in 2003, has been widely criticized for its controversial and often insensitive moments. The show, which propelled the careers of many models while redefining reality television, has faced intense backlash over the years. A new Netflix documentary, *Reality Check: America's Next Top Model*, delves into the darker side of the franchise, revealing incidents that range from racially insensitive photo shoots to mistreatment of contestants. These moments have sparked widespread criticism for their insensitivity, including allegations of blackface, fat-shaming, and ableism.
One of the most notable controversies involved white contestants being forced to wear makeup that darkened their skin tone to mimic Black women, including in a "biracial" photo shoot where models were instructed to portray two ethnicities. The creative director for these shoots admitted to feeling deeply uncomfortable but was pressured by top executives, including Tyra Banks and Ken Mok, to proceed. Contestants described the experience as humiliating, with one contestant stating that she looked like "a Black woman with a nose job." These incidents have been widely condemned as examples of cultural insensitivity and blackface.
The show also faced criticism for its treatment of contestants during photo shoots. For instance, in Cycle 10, models were asked to pose as homeless women while actual unhoused individuals stood in the background wearing high-end clothing. Contestant Fatima recalled feeling emotional during the shoot, noting that she was inspired by one of the homeless women's beauty but struggled with the disparity between her own situation and the glamorous outfits they wore. Critics called the photo shoot exploitative and out-of-touch.
Another highly controversial moment occurred when contestant Jael Strauss had to endure a traumatic makeover after being told to remove her hair extensions, which took hours to install. She later revealed that she was also
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/20/2026