One of reality television’s most influential and definitely most controversial franchises is coming back to screens.
Netflix is revisiting “America’s Next Top Model” with a docuseries that looks at the cultural footprint the hit series left more than two decades after its debut.
“Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” digs into what was really going on behind the scenes of “ANTM,” with former contestants and crew members talking openly about the pressure, the outrageous challenges and the dramatic makeovers the show became known for. According to Netflix, it features new interviews with former models, judges and crew members who reflect on the intense environment and what it was like to compete under constant scrutiny.
The streaming service describes the series as a mix of nostalgia and honesty, giving fans a chance to reexplore the moments they loved while also hearing stories that never made it to air. The docuseries also dives into how “ANTM,” which reached a global audience of over 100 million people at its peak, shaped beauty standards and reality TV as a whole. Tyra Banks’s influence is a major part of the conversation, too, from her groundbreaking ideas to the decisions that sparked backlash years later.
Banks, who hosted the first 22 cycles of the show, gave fans a preview of what’s coming in the show’s trailer.
“I haven’t really said much, but now it’s time,” the 52-year-old host said.
“I knew I went too far, [on ‘ANTM’]” Banks added. “It was very very intense, but you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing. More and more and more.”
She also owns up to some of the comments and decisions that didn’t land well, saying she doesn’t want her entire legacy reduced to a handful of viral clips.
“Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb shit,” Banks said back in February 2025 while accepting the Luminary Spotlight honor at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. “But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the internet when there were 24 cycles of changing the world. And I am so excited that I, and so many of us, have opened that door for others to follow.”
When does ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ come out?
The three‑part series premieres on Feb. 16, 2026.
Who is in the docuseries?
“Reality Check” features host Tyra Banks, creative director Jay Manuel, runway coach Miss J. Alexander, photographer Nigel Barker and producer Ken Mok.
Models highlighted in the series include Giselle Samson, Whitney Thompson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans and Keenyah Hill.
