Honestly, if you grew up in the early 2000s, America's Next Top Model seasons weren't just a TV show. They were a lifestyle. You probably remember exactly where you were when Tyra Banks screamed, "I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!" at a bewildered Tiffany. It was high-stakes, high-fashion, and high-drama, all wrapped in a weirdly addictive package that somehow lasted for 24 cycles.
But looking back now? It’s a lot. The show changed so much from that grainy, low-budget first season in 2003 to the high-gloss VH1 era that ended in 2018. It’s kinda fascinating how a show about finding a "supermodel" mostly just found really great reality TV stars, though a few genuine icons did slip through the cracks. Let's get into what actually happened over those 15 years of smizing and "booty-tooching."
The Golden Era (Cycles 1–6)
The early days were basically the Wild West. Tyra was actually there! Like, she'd hang out in the house and give the girls actual advice. In Cycle 1, it felt like a documentary. You had Adrianne Curry, the punk-rock girl from Joliet, and Elyse Sewell, the cynical pre-med student who basically hated everyone but took amazing photos. It was raw. No one knew the "rules" of reality TV yet.
Then came Cycle 3, which is widely considered the peak for many fans. This is the season that gave us Eva Marcille (then Eva Pigford). She was short, she was "diva-ish," and she was TV gold. Remember "Brownie-gate"? Or when the girls went to Japan and had to do a Campbell’s Soup commercial in Japanese? It was ridiculous, but we couldn't look away.
🔗 Read more: Men I Trust Kansas City: Why Their 2025 Midland Show Still Has People Talking
By Cycle 6, the show had perfected the formula. If you ask any hardcore fan, they’ll tell you this is the best season ever. Period. You had Jade Cole, the self-proclaimed "biracial butterfly" who remains the greatest reality TV villain of all time. You had Dani Evans and Joanie Dodds—two incredibly talented models who actually deserved to be there. Watching them compete was like watching a real sport, only with more hairspray and higher heels.
When Things Got... Weird (The Mid-Cycles)
Somewhere around Cycle 7 or 8, the show started leaning way harder into the "camp" factor. The photoshoots went from "actual editorial" to "you’re a dead body in a dumpster" or "dress up like a famous landmark."
Cycle 10 was a big turning point because it crowned Whitney Thompson, the show's first plus-size winner. It was a huge deal at the time, though if you go on Reddit today, people are still arguing about whether she actually deserved it over Anya Rozova or Fatima Siad. Honestly, Fatima is one of the few who actually went on to have a massive high-fashion career, walking for brands like Hermes and Ralph Lauren.
The "High Fashion" Pivot
Tyra eventually realized the industry wasn't taking the show seriously. So, for Cycles 15 and 16, they tried to go "High Fashion." They brought in André Leon Talley (RIP to a legend) and offered a prize of a spread in Vogue Italia.
- Cycle 15: Ann Ward won. She was 6'2", extremely shy, and broke the record for the most consecutive "best photos."
- Cycle 16: This cast was actually incredible. Brittani Kline and Molly O'Connell were legit models. Even the drama felt more professional, though Alexandria being the "house villain" kept things spicy.
The Gimmick Years: All-Stars, Brits, and Boys
After Cycle 16, the show kinda hit a wall. To keep it fresh, they started introducing "themes."
Cycle 17 (All-Stars) was basically a fever dream. Bringing back fan favorites like Allison Harvard and Angelea Preston seemed like a great idea, but the photoshoots were mostly about "branding." They had to write songs and eat hot dogs. It ended in total chaos when Angelea was disqualified right at the end, and Lisa D’Amato won instead. To this day, the "Angelea disqualification" is the biggest mystery in the show's history, involving lawsuits and rumors about her past.
💡 You might also like: Why the Cartoon of PAW Patrol Still Rules the Living Room
Then came the co-ed cycles (20–22). Adding guys changed the dynamic completely. Suddenly, it wasn't just about modeling; it was about "show-mances." While it was a bit of a mess, Cycle 22 gave us Nyle DiMarco, the first deaf winner. He was a revelation. He proved that the show could still find someone with genuine star power and a meaningful message.
Where Are They Now? The Real Success Stories
It’s a running joke that America's Next Top Model never actually produced a top model. But that’s not entirely true. You just have to look at who didn't win.
- Winnie Harlow (Cycle 21): She was eliminated twice and didn't even make the top five, but she is arguably the most famous model to ever come from the show. She’s a global superstar.
- Lio Tipton (Cycle 11): They (formerly Analeigh) became a very successful actor, appearing in movies like Crazy, Stupid, Love.
- Yaya DaCosta (Cycle 3): Another runner-up who conquered Hollywood. She starred in Chicago Med for years.
- Leila Goldkuhl (Cycle 19): She’s a high-fashion darling. If you look at Givenchy or Dior runways, you’ll likely see her.
Why We Still Care About America's Next Top Model Seasons
So, why do we keep re-watching these cycles on streaming? Maybe it's the nostalgia. Maybe it's the fact that Tyra Banks is a fascinating, chaotic human being who created a world where "smizing" was a legitimate life skill.
But really, it's about the dream. For a lot of girls (and later, guys) who felt like outcasts in small towns, the show was a window into a world that seemed glamorous and reachable. It was messy, often problematic (the "race-swapping" shoots did not age well), and frequently ridiculous. But it was also groundbreaking. It featured trans models, models with disabilities, and models of all ethnicities long before the rest of the industry caught up.
✨ Don't miss: Why the After the Fall 2014 movie is Still One of the Most Unsettling True Crime Adaptations
How to Re-watch (and What to Look For)
If you're planning a binge-watch of America's Next Top Model seasons, don't just watch for the photos. Look at how the industry changed.
- Watch Cycle 1 to see how "raw" reality TV used to be.
- Watch Cycle 6 for the absolute peak of entertainment and personality.
- Watch Cycle 16 if you actually want to see good modeling.
- Skip Cycle 19 unless you really like a convoluted point system that makes no sense.
The best way to enjoy it now is with a grain of salt and a lot of snacks. It’s a time capsule of the early 2000s—the fashion was questionable, the low-rise jeans were everywhere, and Tyra was always, always watching.
Next Step for You: If you're looking for where to stream these, most cycles are currently available on platforms like Hulu or Peacock, though some of the later VH1 seasons can be harder to track down. Check your local listings or streaming apps to see which "era" of Top Model is currently available to you.