Medical emergencies, racism, sexual harassment; oh my! America’s Next Top Model just doesn’t know
when to stop shooting controversial photoshoots. Or do they? Keep watching to find out!
One of the most memorable and controversial photoshoots featured on "America's Next Top
Model" appeared in Cycle 4. Models were given a bizarre challenge by makeup artist Jay Manuel.
They were told this photoshoot was all about "taking on the persona of the other ethnicity
in the photograph and owning it." After being given ethnicities to represent, like East Indian,
and even races like African American, the models had their skin drastically darkened with makeup
as they donned the outfits of those cultures.
Even more shocking,
the models in blackface were paired up with child models who were actually Black.
"I'm a black girl with a nose job, come on."
"You are. You're a Jackson."
Many viewers who didn't watch the show while it aired were floored
when photos of this episode went viral on Twitter.
Fans were outraged that putting white models in blackface was normalized by Banks. As controversy
about this episode continued to spread, Banks took to Twitter and addressed it by writing:
"Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you.
Looking back, those were some really off choices.
Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs."
Not one to ever shy away from uncomfortable topics, in Cycle 8, Tyra Banks had the girls take
part in a photoshoot centered around political views. Each model was assigned a polarizing
political view about topics like abortion, the death penalty, and veganism to represent.
Models like Kathleen DuJour found the political angle of the shoot confusing
and was unsure of how to properly represent it. During elimination,
her confusion was used for cheap laughs, and the show portrayed her as a ditz.
Contestant Natasha Gal was confused by the concept of pro-choice, the political view
she'd been assigned. She also mentioned how she’d prefer to not be involved in political messages.
Photographer Nigel Barker wasn't much help in directing her, just awkwardly telling her:
"You're not getting rid of any baby, I hope."
In an interview with British YouTuber Oliver TwiXit,
Barker also revealed that sometimes the best photographs of the girls weren't chosen to air.
"There were times where I would even look at them I'd be like,
'Wait, that's not the best picture that I picked!'"
This led fans to believe that the models
were being purposely sabotaged simply for good television and cheap laughs.
In Cycle 7, the models took a trip to Barcelona and were given a seemingly
fun challenge that included filming a commercial in the language of Catalan.
The models even got to pick a handsome male model to kiss in the commercial.
However, the fun wore off when contestant Jaeda Young-Englund
selected a model who later told her that he didn't like Black girls.
Startled by his racist comment, she then voiced her concern to Banks, who told her:
"Well, you're going to have to give him a kiss to make him love some Black girls."
During the commercial shoot, Young-Englund found it hard to not only work with a racist model,
but to have to kiss him as well. As she began to cry, Jay Manuel told her:
"You can't cry because we don't have time to fix your makeup."
After pulling herself together and kissing him,
the judges later told her that she acted unprofessionally during the shoot
and that her issue should have never stopped her from completing the job.
In a 2020 interview with Variety, Manuel responded to the recent backlash of the show
and mentioned being uncomfortable with certain aspects of it, saying:
"Many times when you're working in an environment like that, you have to listen to your executive
producers, and ultimately the two voices at the top were Ken Mok and Tyra Banks.
There were sometimes several objections by other producers and myself about
layers that were added to creative, and we were just told to execute."
In Cycle 8, there was one photoshoot that was just too soon for one contestant.
The models were asked to participate in a crime-themed photoshoot that made
each model a victim of a gruesome, bloody crime.
They were each given a different cause of death, and had to "bring to life" the dead pose.
This set design was just too triggering for contestant Jael Strauss, as the photoshoot
occurred just a week after she found out that a close friend of hers had died of an overdose.
Strauss found it triggering to pose as a corpse, and mentioned that her friend's death was
weighing heavy on her mind that day. Looking back, many viewers found it insensitive that
Strauss was forced to participate in a photoshoot while she was grieving.
Fans admired her strength for continuing, and were heartbroken when she passed away in 2018
shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
In Cycle 4, the models participated in a photoshoot at a graveyard with the theme
of deadly sins. As the models pulled up to the shoot, contestant Kahlen Rondot was
immediately overcome with emotions and began to sob uncontrollably.
It was just one day after she found out her best friend had died in a car accident.
She even told the cameras that she didn't want to be there and was thinking about quitting the show.
As if things couldn't get worse for her, Rondot then had to pose in an eight-foot grave.
Fearing going home, she continued with the shoot and tried her hardest to get the best
shot possible. The judges loved her photos and complimented her strength in pushing through.
Viewers are still unsure if this photoshoot was planned with knowledge of her friend passing away,
or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence.
Watching her heartbreaking reaction to the graveyard still upset the audience.
Some viewers even consider it a moment where producers crossed boundaries.
In Cycle 7, after getting their hair and make-up done, the girls were asked to participate in a
nude photoshoot. A few contestants immediately felt uncomfortable with the theme of the shoot.
One contestant, Becky, immediately broke down in tears just thinking
about the backlash from her small town, and contestant Ginger Wells,
who was a self-proclaimed conservative, voiced her objections as well.
When she mentioned not wanting to do the shoot, she was immediately told by Jay Manuel that it
was going to affect her place in the competition. Even the photographer asked her multiple times to
re-think the decision, and offered compromises to get her to go through with the shoot.
After getting help from the other models, she agreed to pose for only two nude
photos before walking off the set. She said: "When it comes down to it, it's not important
to me to just win something. I'm going to stick to my morals and standards no matter what."
Other models even made snide comments about her not fully participating in the shoot.
During elimination, Jay Manuel described her as someone not willing to fully cooperate
because of her objections to nudity, before deciding to eliminate her.
In Cycle 15, the models were instructed to co-star in a commercial with a male model and kiss them.
Upon hearing the theme of the shoot, contestant Kayla felt extremely uncomfortable and didn't
want to participate. She disclosed to Jay Manuel that she had been sexually assaulted as a child
and did not feel comfortable getting so intimate with a male model. She tearfully told him,
"This whole challenge freaks me out. I don't want to kiss them, I don't want to interact with them."
The theme of the shoot was a trigger for her,
and she explained that it was a secret she'd been holding her whole life.
After mentioning that she would walk away from a gig if it required her to kiss a male,
Manuel told her she needed to "deal with this" and properly heal. After being told
to "push away those painful memories," she still went through with the commercial,
even though she was visibly uncomfortable.
In Cycle 7, the models were pushed to the limit in a photoshoot that was completely
unnecessary and dangerous. In a shoot directed by Tyra Banks,
the models were placed in a freezing pool while they attempted to pose.
In the episode, viewers could see the models shake from the freezing temperature and
frequently complain about it. The photographer and Banks dismissed the claims by telling them
“cold is in your mind,” and “this is real modeling.” After countless shots, one model,
CariDee English, finally asked to leave the pool as she began to convulse.
She was immediately told that it was her fault for not speaking up earlier about being in pain.
Other contestants accused her of being dramatic and needing attention.
This episode is just another example of the contestants being pushed to their
limit and then being chastised for not being able to handle it.
One common theme of "America's Next Top Model" are photoshoots that up the ante with bizarre
accessories. Whether it consists of hanging from the ceiling or posing with a tarantula,
the models are always expected to put their fears to the side for the perfect shot.
In Cycle 6, the models were paired up with an elephant in the jungle for a shoot centered
around smooth, shaved legs. As the shoot unfolded, the elephant was not a happy co-star.
Each time the camera would flash, viewers could see it get startled and start to move frantically.
Models were simply told to "hold on tight" and do their best to pose during the animal's distress.
One contestant, Danielle, was just as miserable as the elephant. She had just
been released from the hospital for dehydration and severe exhaustion but was forced to power
through this shoot. During the elimination, the panel made light of her struggles.
"I had the IV, oxygen in the nose, dehydration, exhaustion, and a little bit of food poisoning."
"Danielle, you're kinda high maintenance, aren't you?"
Though her resulting photos were good and she later won the season, the judges used
this moment to highlight the power of "posing through the pain" and uncomfortable situations.
One of the most uncomfortable moments in "America's Next Top Model" was the
treatment of Keenyah Hill in Cycle 4. During a photoshoot in the jungle, Hill stopped and
addressed a male model who kept touching her inappropriately and moaning in her ear.
She voiced her concern to the crew, in hopes that someone would step up and establish boundaries,
but instead was met with annoyance.
Jay Manuel told her that she was being unprofessional and to carry on with the
shoot. When she spoke with the other models, she wasn't met with much support either.
"It's not fair for Keenyah to blame someone outside of herself for her shoot going wrong."
After the shoot, the male models were invited back to have dinner with them. Hill confronted
him about his behavior and once again she was shot down and accused of being dramatic.
On screen, there was no support for a woman who had just experienced harassment in the workplace.
During the elimination, Tyra Banks offered minimal support as well,
and simply told her it was her job to control the situation without disrupting the shoot.
Cycle 22 was the final season of "America's Next Top Model." It was groundbreaking for multiple
reasons. It not only featured its first-ever deaf contestant, but he also went on to win the season.
Nyle DiMarco won the hearts of viewers with his positive attitude,
swoon-worthy looks, and candidness. However,
just because they included him on the show didn't mean they were completely accommodating to him.
In one controversial photoshoot during the season, DiMarco was expected to model and
take directions on a completely dark set. Without being able to hear the photographer's directions,
he was left disorientated and confused by the signals they used with flashing lights.
With no interpreter by his side, he stumbled through the shoot,
missed the cues, and had lackluster photos.
To make matters worse, as he tried to explain the issue of attempting to work on a pitch-black set,
judge Kelly Cutrone cut him off as if he was giving meaningless excuses.
"Do you think that's your best shot?"
"No, I don't think it's my best shot."
"Ok, great."
"I think that –"
"No, that was the question. Thank you"
In an interview with Variety in 2020,
DiMarco discussed the need to represent members of the deaf community accurately:
​​"During my experiences on 'America's Next Top Model' and also 'Dancing With
the Stars,' I always felt branded as sort of one-dimensional. I was just the deaf person.
There was no real deep dive into who I am, what I liked, what I do every day, and things like that."
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, you can call the National
Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for additional resources.