health
March 6, 2026
'America’s Next Top Model' Groomed a Generation
The long-running reality series taught Millennials that beauty is work. We’re still recovering.
TL;DR
- Models are genetically gifted and require a balance of distinctiveness and adaptability.
- Reality television, including 'America's Next Top Model' (ANTM), often presented unrealistic notions of transformation and self-improvement.
- Tyra Banks aimed to reform the modeling industry with ANTM but often replicated its pressures and emphasized suffering for beauty.
- The show subjected contestants to painful procedures, body shaming, and psychological stress, blurring the lines between challenge and exploitation.
- ANTM's underlying message was that beauty is not innate but a skill to be honed through labor and self-optimization, contributing to current beauty standards.
- While the show aimed to challenge industry norms, it ultimately served as entertainment and product placement, with contestants receiving little compensation.
- The show's legacy is tied to the concept of 'girlboss' capitalism and the idea that relentless work can lead to success, regardless of personal cost.
- Contestants who asserted themselves often faced backlash, highlighting docility as a valued trait on the show.
- 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model' revisits these issues, prompting reflection on the show's impact and the evolving definition of beauty.
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