The Fight to Change Fashion’s Face
When Tyra Banks created America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) in 2003, she wasn’t just launching a reality show—she was igniting a movement. At a time when the fashion industry was unapologetically homogeneous, Tyra envisioned something radically inclusive: a space where beauty wasn’t just limited to size zero, porcelain skin, or privileged backgrounds. She fought hard to bring diversity to prime-time television, and in doing so, she laid the groundwork for conversations around representation that are still ongoing today.
In a recent public appearance, the now 51-year-old supermodel and entrepreneur reflected on the early days of ANTM, reminding the world of just how much resistance she faced. “You guys have no idea how hard we fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time when it didn’t exist,” she said. “People in the fashion industry were telling me, ‘You putting the girls from the hood on your show?’”
Her response was unapologetic: “Why can the girl from the trailer park become a supermodel but the girl that’s chillin’ in the park in the hood can’t?”
From Controversy to Cultural Reset
Throughout its 24-cycle run, America’s Next Top Model was both revolutionary and problematic. It dared to bring transgender women, plus-size models, and models from underrepresented racial and cultural backgrounds into the mainstream. Tyra Banks opened doors in an industry that had always slammed them shut.
But the show was far from perfect.
In recent years, ANTM has faced a wave of online backlash. Viral clips resurfaced showcasing controversial moments—harsh critiques, problematic challenges, and tone-deaf comments from judges. The internet, never short of receipts, began stitching together some of the show’s worst missteps, forcing a re-examination of its legacy.
Tyra, never one to shy away from hard truths, addressed the criticism head-on: “Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb s—,” she admitted, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd. But she wasn’t there to apologize for trying. “I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the Internet when there were 24 cycles of changing the world.”
A Legacy Beyond Ratings
The power of ANTM wasn’t in its ratings (though those were impressive). It was in its ability to influence an entire generation of viewers—and aspiring models—who had never seen themselves represented on screen. For many young women and queer individuals, ANTM was the first time they saw someone like themselves on a runway, in a magazine, or claiming their space in beauty and fashion.
Models like Yaya DaCosta, Dani Evans, Analeigh Tipton, Fatima Siad, and Isis King (the show’s first transgender contestant) have gone on to break their own barriers in industries that are still catching up to Tyra’s 2003 vision.
The show’s reach extended far beyond the modeling world. It inspired global franchises in over 30 countries, each adopting Tyra’s blueprint for inclusive casting and personal transformation.
The Audacity of Representation
At its core, America’s Next Top Model was an audacious experiment in what representation could look like on TV. Tyra and her team took risks—some that paid off, and others that missed the mark. But through the messy, often cringe-worthy lessons, the show never abandoned its core mission: to prove that beauty has no single definition.
Whether it was pushing for plus-size acceptance before it was marketable or giving space to underrepresented stories long before “diversity” became a buzzword, Tyra challenged the status quo.
And yes, the industry still has miles to go. But for many, ANTM was the first chapter in the book of possibility.
What Comes Next for Tyra’s Legacy?
Tyra Banks may have stepped back from the modeling world, but she remains a force in pop culture and entrepreneurship. From skincare and beauty lines to her role in education and mentorship, she continues to elevate voices and challenge norms.
Her recent remarks are a reminder: legacy is not about perfection—it’s about impact. And America’s Next Top Model, with all its flaws and its fierce runway walks, has left a mark on the world that can’t be erased by a few resurfaced soundbites.
As Tyra said it best: “I am so excited that I, and so many of us, have opened that door for others to follow.”
In the end, ANTM wasn’t just about modeling. It was about possibility. And that’s a runway worth walking.