Tyra Banks is finally stepping out from behind the smize to confront the complex legacy of the show that redefined beauty standards. While America’s Next Top Model became a global phenomenon, it also left a trail of controversial moments that have lingered in the public consciousness for decades. Now, the woman at the center of the storm is ready to address the cameras.

How a new documentary managed to secure the most elusive interview in reality television history.

According to Tudum, in the new docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Tyra Banks sits down with directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan to dissect her influence on the industry. She acknowledges her long-standing silence regarding the criticisms of the program, stating that the time has finally arrived for her to speak.

“I haven’t really said much,” and “But now it’s time”, Banks said in the documentary. Executive producer Vanessa Golembewski emphasizes that maintaining an honest perspective required Banks to participate strictly as an interview subject. The production team functioned on a foundation of trust, ensuring that the former supermodel had no creative input or final edit authority.

“Tyra’s perspective was always important to the series, but it was just as important that her involvement was as an interview subject only”, Golembewski said to Tudum.

Even former collaborators like Jay Manuel have noted that this decision signals a significant level of personal growth for Banks. Director Mor Loushy believes the series highlights how the show altered societal views on fashion and identity, as mentioned by Tudum.

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The focus now shifts toward the creative minds and the structural framework that brought this investigative project to life.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model serves as a deep dive into the mechanics of a show, America’s Next Top Model, that balanced aspiration with intense psychological pressure. The project is helmed by the acclaimed duo Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, who are known for their work on American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden.

The production focuses on the reality of the contestants, offering a platform for the women who lived through the environment of the early 2000s. By blending archival footage with fresh testimonials, the team explores the top model phenomenon from both a nostalgic and a critical angle.

The docuseries is currently available for streaming on Netflix, arriving at a time when the public is re-evaluating the ethics of early reality programming. It provides a definitive account of the rise and fall of the series and the internal dynamics of its cast. Viewers can now witness the full scope of the fashion revolution that Tyra Banks ignited over twenty years ago.

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What do you think about watching Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model? Let us know in the comments below