The year was 2005, and the world was captivated by the hit reality show “America’s Next Top Model.” However, even with its success, the show constantly pushed boundaries to increase shock value and entertainment. It was during Cycle 4, Episode 5 that they aired their most controversial photo shoot yet – one that involved the models posing as different ethnicities from their own, resulting in accusations of “blackface and brownface.”
Host Tyra Banks and judge Jay Manuel recently opened up about their feelings towards the infamous “race-swapping” shoot in a new Netflix docuseries, “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” Banks admitted that at the time, she didn’t see the shoot as controversial. She believed it was her way of showcasing the beauty of different races. However, once the episode aired, the backlash was swift and widespread.
The shoot, themed around Got Milk?, depicted the models holding three-year-old children while embodying various cultures. Black women were styled as Native American and Korean, while a white woman was transformed into a traditionally African woman. Manuel, who directed the shoot, expressed immediate discomfort with the concept. Growing up in South Africa under apartheid, he was acutely aware of the implications of “race-swapping,” which made the shoot incredibly challenging for him.
Despite Manuel’s reservations, the shoot went ahead as planned. Viewers could see his unease during the episode, as he struggled to explain the concept to the models. The discomfort was palpable, leading Hulu to remove the episode from their streaming platform. The controversy did not end there, as a similar shoot was carried out in Cycle 13, four years later, with models portraying two distinct races in a sugar cane field.
Reflecting on the shoots, Banks acknowledged that looking back with a 2020 lens, she understands why people were upset. She welcomes the criticism as an opportunity for growth and evolution. The supermodel believes that being called out on problematic issues is essential for personal growth and progress.
“Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking reality show’s most controversial moments.
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.