When Tyra Banks was brainstorming the iconic reality show America’s Next Top Model, she enlisted her close friend and personal makeup artist, Jay Manuel, to be the photo shoot director. More than two decades later, Manuel is shedding light on the behind-the-scenes drama of ANTM and his once-close friendship with Banks in a new Netflix documentary series.
“I considered myself besties with Tyra,” Manuel revealed in Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. “She spent a lot of time at my house, sleeping over. You start sharing secrets. You’re very much in each other’s world.”
Their relationship extended beyond the professional realm, with Manuel expressing his admiration for Banks. However, as time passed, tension arose, leading to Manuel’s attempt to resign from the show in 2007. Disagreements over the show’s creative direction, including controversial concepts, strained their once-strong bond.
Despite their rift, Banks reached out to Manuel to join America’s Next Top Model as the photo shoot director, a role he initially embraced with enthusiasm. However, as the show evolved into more sensationalized territory, Manuel felt disillusioned and eventually decided to leave the show.
Following his departure from ANTM in 2012, Manuel pursued other ventures, including working as a red carpet fashion correspondent for E! and establishing his own cosmetics company. Despite the challenges he faced on the show, Manuel remains respectful of Banks as a model and businesswoman.
As the documentary sheds light on their complicated relationship, Banks’ guarded response hints at the lingering tensions between them. While she acknowledges Manuel’s creative talents, their once-close friendship appears to have been strained by the challenges they faced during their time on America’s Next Top Model.
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a raw and revealing look at the complexities of the fashion industry and the personal dynamics that shape it.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.