Few television shows have shaped fashion culture the way America’s Next Top Model did. Now two very different documentaries have dragged the franchise back into the conversation — and with them, fresh talk about whether the series might actually return.
A tale of two documentaries
– Netflix’s miniseries — produced around Tyra Banks — plays like an origin story: behind-the-scenes footage, archival clips and extended interviews that trace how the format was built and how Banks’ vision shaped the show. It mixes nostalgia with frank reflections about choices made on set and off.
– E!’s program leans the other way. Headlined by firsthand accounts and sharper critiques (including commentary from Janice Dickinson), it foregrounds contested episodes and the toll the competition took on some contestants.
Why both matter
Taken together, these projects do more than retell familiar scenes. The Netflix piece can rehabilitate and re-contextualize the show’s creative achievements; the E! exposé presses for accountability. When retrospectives pull in opposite directions like that, networks and streamers start listening. Industry executives weigh not only audience appetite but also the reputational risks of rebooting a format now under renewed scrutiny.
Is a comeback realistic?
Tyra hints at the possibility of a “cycle 25” in the Netflix film — a tease, not a promise — and that’s enough to ignite speculation. The franchise hasn’t aired a new season since cycle 24 on VH1 in 2018, but name recognition remains strong. That makes a return attractive commercially: built-in viewers, familiar branding and potential advertiser interest.
But the landscape has changed. Any revival today would be judged on more than ratings. Advertisers, talent and audiences all expect clearer safeguards, fairer casting, and better mental-health support for contestants. The question isn’t only whether the show can pull an audience — it’s whether producers can do so without repeating past mistakes.
What a responsible relaunch would require
– Transparent casting and contracts that don’t exploit hopeful participants.
– Independent welfare oversight and accessible mental-health resources during and after filming.
– Diversity in bodies, backgrounds and career goals — and meaningful pathways for long-term development, not just a moment in the spotlight.
– Clear editorial guidelines so sensationalism doesn’t trump safety.
How the industry is likely to respond
Executives will map risks against rewards. A cautious rollout (pilots, third-party audits, public welfare commitments) could reassure partners and sponsors. Ignoring structural reform, however, risks backlash and could doom any revival before it begins. Beyond this franchise, the debate feeds a larger industry push toward ethical reality production — and successful reforms here could set a new template.
The bigger picture
These documentaries have done what good retrospectives do: they complicate our memories. They remind viewers that a show can be simultaneously influential and flawed. Whether America’s Next Top Model returns as a revamped, accountable format or remains a chapter in reality-TV history will depend on how seriously stakeholders take those competing narratives.
What to watch next
Look for official licensing talks, pilot announcements and — crucially — concrete welfare plans. If a reboot moves forward, the details will reveal whether producers are chasing nostalgia or trying to rebuild the franchise for a different era. Either way, the conversation is only beginning.
