America's Next Top Model

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America's Next Top Model (ANTM or Top Model) is a reality television series in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry. It was created by talk-show host and supermodel Tyra Banks, who also serves as the host, head judge, and executive producer. She co-produces the show with Ken Mok and Anthony Dominici and performs the opening theme, which is produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.

The first "cycle" premiered on May 20, 2003 on UPN and became one of the network's highest-rated shows. The series moved to UPN's succeeding network, The CW, for the seventh cycle, and is currently the network's highest rated series Advertisers pay $61,315 per 30-second slot during the 2011–12 television season, the highest of any series on The CW. On October 16, 2012, The CW renewed the show for a 20th season, which will premiere in summer 2013 and will feature female and male contestants for the first time, so it will be called America's Next Top Model: Guys & Girls.

Each season of America's Next Top Model has from 9–13 episodes and starts with 10–14 contestants. Each episode, one contestant is eliminated, though in rare cases a double elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel. Makeovers are administered to contestants early in the season (usually after the first or second elimination in the finals,) and a trip to an international destination is scheduled at about two-thirds of the way through the season (usually with five or six contestants remaining.)

It was announced in April 2012 that photographer Nigel Barker, runway expert J. Alexander, and creative director Jay Manuel would not be returning to the show for the nineteenth season, as their contracts were not renewed. Banks stated that it was a difficult decision but the show needed a "new boost" and that she hoped to work with "her guys" in the near future.

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1 [May 2003] Adrianne Curry, Shannon Stewart
2 [Jan 2004] Yoanna House, Mercedes Scelba-Shorte
3 [Sep 2004] Eva Pigford (petite), Yaya DaCosta (Tokyo)
4 [Mar 2005] Naima Mora, Kahlen Rondot
5 [Sep 2005] Nicole Linkletter, Nik Pace
6 [Mar 2006] Danielle Evans, Joanie Dodds
7 [Sep 2006] CariDee English, Melrose Bickerstaff (Spain)
8 [Feb 2007] Jaslene Gonzalez, Natasha Galkina
9 [Sep 2007] Saleisha Stowers. Chantal Jones (China)
10 [Feb 2008] *Whitney Thompson, Anya Kop (Rome)
*Plus-size model (size 10 instead of size 2)
11 [Sep 2008] McKey Sullivan, Samantha Potter (Amsterdam)
12 [Mar 2009] Teyona Anderson, Allison Harvard (Brazil)
13 [Sep 2009] Nicole Fox, Laura Kirkpatrick (Petite models 5'7" & under)
14 [Mar 2010] Krista White, Raina Hein (New Zealand)
15 [Sep 2010] Ann Ward (6'+), Chelsey Hersley (London)
16 [Feb 2011] Brittani Kline, Molly O'Connell
17 [Sep 2011] Alll-Stars: Lisa D'Amato, Allison Harvard (Lisa was from Season 5)
18 [Feb 2012] Sophie Sumner, Laura LaFrate [Brit Invasion]
19 [Aug 2012] Laura James, Kiara Belen [College Ed.] (Jamaica)
20 [Aug 28, 2013] Friday @ 7 with 8 guys added

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Criticism

Yahoo!'s "Shine" lifestyle website blasted the show's cruelty and elements of humiliation, saying that some of the girls' critiques from the "cruel and unusual" judges are "really cruel and cringe-inducing," and that the show "humiliates and degrades young women." They created a list called "10 reasons why 'America's Next Top Model' is bad for women, humans," citing such things as giving an unrealistic vision to girls (both on the show, and watching) about what life as a model is like, and "always espousing empowerment and female strength and then forcing the contestants into embarrassing scenarios far outside the realm of real-life modeling." One such scenario highlighted was when two final contestants "were made to wear bikinis so skimpy that the producers had to blur out Allison's butt cheeks," and performed a "creepily sexual mud fight," after which the contestant Teyona Anderson was "commended for taking her weave in her hand and whipping it around on the runway like a sexy feather boa."

Allure magazine criticized the show in its October 2006 issue, saying that ANTM "hasn't exactly produced any actual supermodels."

Ken Mok and Tyra Banks noticed that most of Cycle 8's girls were unusually heavy smokers. "Tyra and I understand the influence 'Top Model' has on a generation of young people, and we want to make sure we get the right message to our audience," Mok said, which then prompted the "green" theme of Cycle 9.

The winner of Cycle 9, Saleisha Stowers, was discovered to have been in a Wendy's commercial, on a catwalk in the Cycle 6 show and an episode of Tyra Banks Show prior to the Cycle 9 event. The CW network said she had revealed her role in the Wendy's commercial, and "after reviewing the commercial, it was determined that her appearance did not amount to 'modeling' experience, and therefore did not exclude her from participating in the show."

After filming Cycle 10, the producers of America's Next Top Model were served with a lawsuit from Michael Marvisi who owns the loft used as the Top Model house. The lawsuit claims that the contestants as well as the production crew caused an estimated $500,000 in damages to the loft. Marvisi claims the contestants engaged in food fights, made holes in the walls, caused water damage to the bathroom, damaged a $15,000 chandelier beyond repair, and caused $90,000 worth of damage to an electrical store. Also, the production crew has been accused of damaging the flooring and making holes in the ceiling for lighting equipment.

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Cycle 20 of America's Next Top Model: Guys and Gals

The CW - Fridays at 8 p.m.


Prizes - a $100,000 Guess ad campaign (CEO, Paul Marciano), a fashion feature in Nylon magazine and a modeling contract with Next Model Management.

Judges: Tyra Banks, Kelly "cutthroat" Cutrone PR maven, supermodel Rob Evans, correspondent Bryanboy (Bryan Grey Yambao, a Filippino fashion blogger)

16 Contestants: Alex, Bianca, 18, Kanani, Don, Renee, 24, Nina, 18, Marvin, Jiana, 20, Chris H., Cory, 22, Jourdan, Chlea, 20, Jeremy, Chris S., 24, Mike and Phil.

America's Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 20 season premiere opened with Tyra Banks revealing how the show has added a new twist, revealed months ago, men competing alongside female contestants. The action-packed two hour season premiere has eye candy for both male and female fans of the show. Thirty-five semi-finalists participate in a smokin' hot fashion show which determines who makes it to round two. Next, the remaining hopefuls go before the camera in a larger than life photo shoot where any passerby can help determine who stays and who is eliminated. The final 16 are revealed.Even though the cast has already been revealed, viewers get to see crowds of hopefuls all over the country doing their best version of a runway walk in the hopes of making it to the semi-finals.

This is the first cycle of America's Next Top Model to include more than 14 contestants, as well as the first cycle to feature male contestants.

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I watched the opening session of Cycle 20 and was not impressed. It is too chaotic with the mix of the guys and gals in the same residence seeming more interested in partying than modeling. At this point I'm not sure I'll bother to watch any more episodes.

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Where Are They Now?
1. Adrianne Curry has been pretty busy since being crowned the first winner in 2003. Two years later, she was featured on The Surreal Life, where she met future husband Christopher Knight (Peter on the classic 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch), and the couple went on to star in their own show, My Fair Brady. (They divorced in 2012.)Curry has appeared in Playboy twice and has been big on the game-show circuit, hosting a show called Ballbreakers and appearing on the Match Game and Family Feud. She’s also let her geek flag fly high, dressing as popular sci-fi characters at conventions.

2. Yoanna House. House made her debut as a runway model at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2004, walking for fashion designers Petro Zillia, Custo Barcelona, Sue Wong, and John Sakalis. Her most visible modeling assignments immediately after her win include a commercial for the Declare Yourself voting campaign, a cover story for Psychology Today magazine. spread in Hannah Anderson, Jane, Look for Less Ads, Metro Style, Careline, Jacksonville which she had a cover and spread, Sue Wong 2005 Line, The August 2010 edition of Jacksonville. She also became host of The Look for Less in 2005, replacing Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The following year, House was named "the face" of The CW network[9] and appeared in commercials and web advertisements for the fledgling network.

3. Eva Pigford. One of the shortest winners in Top Model history—at 5 feet 7 inches, she’s the same height as Nicole Fox, who won the “short girls” season—Eva Pigford was known in her season for her tough attitude and camera presence. After modeling for a bit, she turned to acting and has since had recurring parts in Smallville and The Young and the Restless. She also appeared in the 2007 Chris Rock film I Think I Love My Wife.

4. Naima Mora. She wasn’t typical of models or of reality television contestants. The former ballet dancer was peaceful, with a soft voice and Mohawk that she said reminded her to keep centered. Since she won Top Model, she’s written an ebook memoir, Naima Mora Model Behavior, and recently has concentrated on music. She now sings for a band called Galaxy of Tar, which is working on its second album.

5. Nicole Linkletter. Linkletter is currently signed with Nous Model Management in L.A., Diva Models in Singapore, Dream Models in Hong Kong, Agence Presse in Tokyo (signed to by the model scouting firm ModelScouts.com) , and the L.A. Models runway division, Paragon Model Management in Mexico, M and P Model Management in London and SMG Models. She has appeared in numerous magazines worldwide, most recently had a cover and fashion spread for Nylon Mexico. In 2010, Nicole became a featured model on the Forever 21 clothing website.

6. Danielle Evans. She has been featured in MetroStyle, Elle Girl, Jewel Magazine, In Touch Weekly and Essence. She is one of few ANTM alumnae to be given a showcard for NY fashion week, an honor she received multiple times, including TRIAS, Farah Angsana and Mara Hoffman Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week. Evans also walked for Michael Knight and Zang Toi in NY Fashion Week Spring 2012 show. Dani was one of only a few Top Model winners to have her CoverGirl contract renewed and do multiple ads for the brand.

7. CariDee English. She was the winner of the blonde showdown of Season 7, risking hypothermia when Tyra Banks insisted the skinny models do a shoot in a freezing pool. Her modeling résumé is long and includes appearances on the covers of Seventeen, Inked, and In Touch. She’s walked for J.C. Penney and in many fashion weeks. But the bubbly blonde once thought her psoriasis would stop her from modeling. She’s now a spokeswoman for the National Psoriasis Foundation and even attended a congressional briefing on psoriasis to bring awareness to the disease.

8. Jaslene Gonzalez. This top model was proof of perseverance. She was cut after the semifinals of Season 7 but tried again during casting for the next cycle and won it all. Unlike some of the other Top Model alums, Gonzalez has stayed mostly in the realm of modeling. She’s modeled for US Weekly, In Touch, Vibe Vixen, Seventeen, Time Out, and Latina magazine.

9. Saleisha Stowers. Saleisha caused some controversy during her season over a previous appearance in an advertisement for Wendy’s. The show’s rules state that participants can’t have modeled for national campaigns prior to casting, but the producers let Stowers stay in. Since the show’s end, she has modeled for magazines such as In Touch, OK!, and Essence, and walked in several fashion weeks. Like other alums before her, she also has appeared in a daytime TV soap, grabbing a recurring role in All My Children.

10. Whitney Thompson. The first and only plus-size winner so far, Whitney Thompson has modeled and become a spokeswoman for the National Eating Disorders Association. She shot a Cover Girl commercial with singer Rihanna and has modeled for Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Forever 21. In 2009 she launched a line of jewelry and candles called Supermodel. “I’ve tried to make my collection real,” she said. “It’s stuff that I love and I would wear and I’m a supermodel so I was thinking, ‘Hey! Supermodel.’ It’s easy.”

11. Brittany "McKey" Sullivan. In 2005, Sullivan met her husband Sam Sullivan at the Bristol Renaissance faire where he was working. They married January 19th, 2012 at the Wilderness Hotel in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Sullivan announced they are expecting their first child on April 2, 2013

12. Teyona Anderson. Teyona has been fairly quiet compared to the other past winners. She claimed her prize package, which included a cover and spread in Seventeen. But though Anderson has walked in a few shows and is still represented by an agency, there hasn’t been much else of note lately.

13. Nicole Fox.This redhead was the winner of the “short girls” cycle, when the contestants could not be taller than 5 feet 7 inches. Fox pushed it by being exactly that height, but she was far and away the best contestant during her season. She skated to the end, never appearing in the bottom two being considered for elimination. She’s since modeled for Forever 21 and Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow line, and also popped up in an episode of The Bold and the Beautiful.

14. Krista White. Krista won the 2010 cycle of ANTM after working as a retail manager; she has the distinction of being the oldest winner at the ripe old age of 24. White didn’t get along with many of the other girls and wasn’t exactly beloved by the audience for her loud personality, but lately she seems to be doing well. She’s modeled for Betsey Johnson and Nicole Miller, and walked in the BET “Rip the Runway” show.

15. Ann Ward. One of the most memorable things about this winner was her impossibly tiny waist. During the show, runway coach Miss Jay was able to wrap both his hands around her middle and touch his thumbs together. Ward herself was far from tiny, though, towering over the other girls at 6 feet 2 inches, even without heels. With those stats, it’s no wonder she’s been embraced by the high-fashion community. She’s done a spread in Vogue Italia as part of her prize package, been on the cover of Valet magazine, and walked for Vivienne Westwood.

16. Brittani Kline. Sometimes reality-show contestants don’t want the recognition they’ve earned. After the show, Brittani chose to go by the name “Autumn” instead and cut her hair to a close crop. “My agency wanted to strip the whole Top Model off me and basically sell me as a model, and not a reality-TV model,” Autumn said in 2011 of the switch-up. It must have worked: she landed a six-page editorial spread in Vogue Mexico as well as her prize, a spread in Vogue Italia.

17. Lisa D’Amato. Never has a contestant on America’s Next Top Model had such ups and downs as Lisa D’Amato. She was originally a contestant on Season 5 of the show, but failed to reach the end. After her first go-around, D’Amato fell on hard times and ended up on Celebrity Rehab to seek help for her addictions to alcohol and cocaine. She came back for the All Stars season looking better than ever and eventually walked away with the top prize. She’s continued to model, appearing in campaigns for Old Navy, Gap, and Target. She’s also started up a music career with some success, working with LMFAO, 3OH!3, and Hyper Crush.

18. Sophie Sumner . British fashion model, Sophie was seen playing Deepika Padukone's friend in the Bollywood movie Cocktail as Deepika's close friend. She, Allison Harvard and Dominique Reighard were featured and walked in the 25th anniversary of Bench Universe-2012 Denim and underwear Show in September. In December 2012, Sumner became a cover girl for MEG Magazine for their frosty December 2012/January 2013 issue. In 2013, Sumner opened the runway and wore the designs of Singaporean designer, Frederick Lee during the finale of Asia's Next Top Model.

19. Laura James. She is the daughter of actor John James (Jeff Colby on1980s Dynasty TV show). As part of her prize package, ahe had a campaign with Nine West and Smashbox Cosmetics and became the face of the ANTM perfume "Dream Come True." She also won a cover and a spread in Nylon magazine. On March 28 2013, she shot a campaign with Guess along with world-renowned DJ Tiësto and Meghan Von Wiggins for WMag Event.