Netflix’s ‘Reality Check’ Critiques ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and Tyra Banks
Netflix’s new docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, critically examines the controversial reality TV show and its host, Tyra Banks. The three-part series addresses several troubling aspects of the show, including body shaming, racism, and questionable production choices.
Significant Issues Addressed
The documentary provides a platform for former contestants and panelists to share their experiences. These include personal traumas and the difficult environment they faced while vying for success. Notable individuals featured include:
- Shandi Sullivan (Cycle 2): Discussed producers’ lack of intervention after a nighttime incident that left her feeling traumatized.
- Keenyah Hill (Cycle 4): Recounts her experiences of inappropriate behavior from a male model, which went unacknowledged by producers.
- Dani Evans (Cycle 6): Reveals pressure from Banks to alter her appearance by closing the gap in her teeth, conflicting with later encouragement towards a white contestant to enhance their features.
Tyra Banks and Accountability
Tyra Banks, who has been both criticized and praised throughout the show’s history, acknowledges her past mistakes. In 2020, she tweeted about the “off choices” made during the show, showing a degree of humility about its impact. Her commitment to showcasing diversity in beauty conflicted with the reality of production pressures and expectations on contestants.
Critical Perspectives
The series not only highlights stories from models but also from panel judges, including J. Alexander, Jay Manuel, and Nigel Barker. They provide insights into the manipulated and unethical conditions behind the scenes, contributing to the show’s controversial legacy.
Progress and Contradictions in Body Image
As the documentary unfolds, it examines the struggles for body positivity and inclusivity within the fashion and modeling worlds. Although America’s Next Top Model aimed to challenge industry norms, it often succumbed to the same problematic standards it sought to change. This contradiction reflects ongoing challenges in promoting true diversity in media.
While some contestants, like Whitney Lee Thompson Forrester from Cycle 10, gained opportunities due to the show, many others faced ridicule or pressure to conform to conventional beauty ideals, demonstrating that progress in representation is not always straightforward.
Conclusion: A Reflection on Reality TV
Ultimately, Reality Check serves as a critical lens through which we can understand the contradictions of America’s Next Top Model and Tyra Banks’ role in it. As viewers, we are reminded that while moments of progress may appear, they are often accompanied by a complex legacy that requires continuous reflection and action.
