AceShowbiz - Tyra Banks once held the influential role of shaping aspiring models’ futures through her hit show America’s Next Top Model. However, recent revelations have put her career under scrutiny as former contestants and insiders expose troubling practices behind the scenes of the popular 2000s reality series.

Last month, a Netflix documentary titled Reality Check uncovered serious allegations, including the producers’ cover-up of a sexual assault incident during filming. The film also revisited past accusations of racism and fat-shaming that had long shadowed the show’s legacy. This exposé reignited public debate about the ethics of the series and its treatment of contestants.

Following this, Tyra Banks has faced a fresh wave of criticism with the release of E!’s Dirty Rotten Scandals, a competing documentary that, unlike Reality Check, was criticized for failing to hold her adequately accountable. The film did not feature Tyra directly but included candid interviews with former contestants and judge Janice Dickinson, who did not hold back in her harsh assessment, labeling Tyra a “hardcore b***h.”

Lisa D’Amato, winner of Cycle 17 and the All Stars season, also spoke out about her negative experiences. She vowed to continue speaking up, accusing Tyra and producer Ken Mok of “profiting off the tears and the trauma of the girls.” Lisa’s candid remarks shed light on the psychological toll the show took on many participants.

The controversy intensified around the 2011 season when Angelea Preston was stripped of her title after it was revealed she had previously worked as an escort. Though she originally won Cycle 17 and was set to receive a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, her crown was revoked due to an anonymous contestant’s report to Tyra. Instead, runner-up Lisa D’Amato was declared the winner, leading Angelea to sue the show for breach of contract.

On Dirty Rotten Scandals, Angelea explained, “My dream was right there, like somebody dangling candy in front of a kid. They gave me $300 cash like some pity money and sent me on my way.” Fans were left confused by her sudden disappearance from the show, as no explanation was given on air. Angelea recalled feeling “used” and “like a throwaway,” while Lisa claimed Angelea was “set up from the very beginning” to be disqualified.

Though Angelea filed a $3 million lawsuit against Tyra and the CW network three years later, she eventually dropped the case, admitting, “I realised I wasn’t going to win.” She emphasized that while she did not receive money, the lawsuit helped the public recognize she was the rightful winner.

Another contestant, Jeana Turner, alleged that her struggle with alopecia was exploited for dramatic effect. During the makeover episode, she was famously encouraged to shave her head despite being previously told she would receive a wig. Jeana expressed that the show’s deceptive editing made it seem as though she felt empowered, but in reality, she felt “so small.”

Jeana also noted that the season’s prize was a contract with Pantene, a haircare company, rather than a cosmetics brand, making it impossible for her to win considering her hair loss. She questioned, “How was I ever going to win when Pantene was a hair company? I don’t have hair!”

Lisa D’Amato reflected on the grueling nature of the competition, saying, “All of us were sleep deprived, all of us weren’t able to eat enough food.” Despite her challenging experience, she returned six years later for the All Stars cycle, seeking “redemption” and a chance to “change her life.”

Even the winners found the rewards less than anticipated. Cycle nine model Sarah Hartshorne revealed that the $100,000 modeling contract was more a promise of potential work rather than guaranteed income, stating, “They’re under no obligation to pay you.”

Cycle two winner Yoanna House shared her struggles, saying, “For one year I was indebted to America’s Next Top Model. I had to do a lot of appearances [and] I never got paid for any of them.” She described living in hardship during her contract, “sleeping on a couch and figuring out how to eat.”

Yoanna also disclosed the severe pressure to lose weight for jobs, which led to a workout disorder. She became dangerously underweight, didn’t menstruate for two years, and was warned that continuing such extreme dieting could affect her fertility.

Keenyah Hill, another contestant, faced harsh criticism from judge Janice Dickinson who targeted her body image. Keenyah recalled being labeled for her “gut” despite being very thin. She revealed that the on-air insults had lasting effects, including difficulty eating in public and witnessing others develop eating disorders after watching the show.

Janice Dickinson herself revealed that her harsh approach was encouraged by Tyra Banks, who wanted the judges to be tougher, similar to Simon Cowell’s style on American Idol. Janice alleged that models were psychologically tortured to boost Tyra’s ego, saying, “The producers, especially Tyra, were begging me to be harsher and cruel.”

Janice also spoke about a notorious meltdown by Tyra when eliminating contestant Tiffany Richardson, describing it as frightening and suggesting Tyra acted out of jealousy, especially targeting Black contestants. She claimed Tyra tried to portray herself as a “tough teen mum” to the girls but failed to offer them genuine support or confidence.

According to Janice, many contestants left the show “completely depressed and depleted” while Tyra profited immensely. She summarized her experience by stating, “America’s Next Top Model really tortured these girls for Tyra’s ego. I was there and I saw it for four seasons. She was a hardcore b***h.”

Lisa D’Amato also criticized how her personal history was used against her. She said her childhood abuse was “weaponised” to create storylines, adding that she was filmed intoxicated in the model house and that a stigma around her drinking has lingered ever since. Lisa accused producers of intentionally depriving contestants of sleep and food to manipulate outcomes and narratives.

Throughout the years, many former contestants have detailed how the show’s environment was toxic and orchestrated to generate drama rather than nurture talent. They described a culture where contestants were pitted against one another, body-shamed, and mentally drained, all while the show’s producers, including Tyra Banks, reaped financial benefits.

Despite the growing backlash and these troubling accounts, Tyra Banks has not publicly addressed many of the specific allegations. The competing documentaries, Reality Check and Dirty Rotten Scandals, have brought these issues to light, but the conversation around accountability and reform within reality television continues.

As these revelations circulate, questions remain about the true cost of fame and the responsibilities of those who create and profit from such shows. The stories shared by former contestants serve as a cautionary tale about the ethical boundaries often crossed in pursuit of entertainment and ratings.

In sum, while Tyra Banks once wielded significant influence in the modeling world through America’s Next Top Model, the recent wave of exposés and personal accounts from contestants paint a far more complex and troubling picture of the show’s impact. The controversy surrounding her leadership and the show’s practices continues to challenge Tyra’s legacy in the industry.