When watching Reality Check: Inside ANTM, one thing became clear: America’s Next Top Model didn’t fall apart overnight.
It cracked at the foundation.
I don’t believe the show was created with malicious intent. In fact, I believe Tyra Banks genuinely wanted to challenge the modeling industry and open doors. But the moment the network began chipping away at that vision — starting with casting limits — the compromise began.
And once you start compromising your foundation, it’s only a matter of time before everything shifts.
The documentary raises a bigger question than whether Tyra was the villain. It forces us to look at unchecked power, silent bystanders, integrity under pressure, and the reality that Black women were not protected in the way they should have been.
Here are eight takeaways from Reality Check: Inside ANTM.