ANTM - Netflix (smize!)

[NooNakedJacuzziness]

Anyone watching the America’s Next Top Model expose on Netflix? Just watched the first episode, it’s quite compelling. I used to love it back in the day, what with Noted Fashion Photographer Mr Nigel Barker, the go-sees, makeovers, the two Jays, etc. Shame it seems things were a bit toxic behind the scenes (still gonna watch the whole thing though!)

Guys, I am in no way condoning the show or Tyra, but I think we need to be careful not to turn it into a witch hunt that vilifies the main woman, while giving the men much more of a free pass. Why is everyone talking about Tyra this way, and nobody is mentioning eg that producer guy- who was clearly pushing the nature of the show, expressed far less remorse or self reflection than Tyra, was in it for no other reason than commercial (while I believe Tyra did genuinely want to make a positive change at least to start) and was far more central to producer decisions? I am quite sure eg, he will have been the one who was called (if anyone was) about whether to intervene in the Shandi situation, or decided that her call to her boyfriend should be filmed. That is the producer’s role. He will have been the one who decided to send men and alcohol over to the girls’ flat - Or with Nigel and Jay most likely, dreaming up the mad photoshoots….they were the creative production side. The fact that Tyra was also fired from her own show demonstrates that the producer and platform gave her a very poor contract that stripped her of ownership. I am not saying she should be exempt of criticism, but why is the Black woman the only one from this whole picture who is being vilified above everyone else? The woman who herself has been through so much of what these models went through, experiencing sexism and racism all the way already? While the producers of this show give the three other male presenters this gorgeous, caring empathy-provoking scene at the end to show what great guys they all were?

I think you are falling into a trap here of being part of the misogyny you are trying to protest.

It’s a good point and I reflected on that myself, but many of the victimised girls themselves blamed Tyra as the one calling the shots. The two Js were diplomatic but clearly had a view about her from the way she treated them too.

According to one of the winners, no.
It was absolutely seen as a distraction to high end Clients who wanted their product to be the focus.
Even the contract wasn't worth the paper it was signed on according to the winner.
She was living in a Model house and sat home alone day after day while all her roommates were landing big jobs.

I’ve just caught up on this. Wow, so much to talk about but I won’t ever look at Tyra in the same light again. How she treated Shandi in the interview afterwards, firstly showing the clip knowing how she felt about it, and then asking why she didn’t watch it was just awful! I’d be interested to hear what she said when she shouted at that girl she’d been invested in, that wasn’t shown. And how she treated Jay when he told her he wanted to leave!

The 00s was a totally different era in many respects. I’m mid 40s and remember it well, and watched ANTM and bought all the magazines every week. The front covers every week showed celebrities and had arrows point out their wobbly bits and any weight they’d put on - it was horrendous but just accepted - there would be outrage if it happened now!

And this was because of her having been on ANTM. It went against her, as back then there was stigma against people who had been on a reality show.

God I remember the magazines with wobbly bits and arrows, horrendous! It’s funny because nowadays we wouldn’t see it done overtly like it was then, instead do you notice garbage papers like the Daily Mail will post deliberately unflattering photos of celebs with some innocent caption “X is on holiday!” knowing FULL WELL it is going to incite discussion about their body. They don’t get called out on body shaming, but they still get clicks and engagement from others who will rip to shreds the photo in the comments. Entirely purposefully.

They might not be as obvious about it these days, but they’re still fuelling the misogynistic machine because it is still generating engagement.

Awful. I wasn’t aware of that as I don’t read ‘news’ there or anywhere similar and the things I see seem much more positive about embracing all bodies, which also seems to reflect in the attitudes of the younger generation that I know. Although I fear this will change again in the future (I’m not going to elaborate as that’s for another thread).

I remember having a stressful job and spending my Saturday afternoons lying on the sofa binge watching old episodes back to back. I loved it, really fancied Nigel too.
I watched the UK version too but it wasn’t as gritty.
The Shandi story was heartbreaking. She was incapable of consent and was taken advantage of in every way.

I never watched the original show, but I enjoy anything that's about behind the scenes. Miss J was the most entertaining one in it. Tyra was the only woman who did well out of this. She stepped on all those young women, and none of them got any where with modelling

I'd be amazed if she has any true friends. She seemed to use her mates as stepping stones, and then just dropped them when they no longer served her. She didn't even see her friend when he had a stroke, and she wouldn't acknowledge what went on with the other one.