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00:00:07Tiffany I'm extremely disappointed in you this is a joke to you do you know that all of America is
00:00:14rooting for you do you know that you come in here with a defeatist attitude I don't have a bad
00:00:19it's a
00:00:23I have never in my life yelled at a girl like this when my mother yells at this is because
00:00:29she loves me
00:00:30I was rooting for you we were all rooting for you how dare you I have never in my life
00:00:35yelled at a girl like this
00:00:36I was rooting for you we were all rooting for you how dare you
00:00:40you have no idea what I had to do to come from where I was to where I am now
00:00:52I'm a cover girl mommy I'm a cover girl
00:00:56Tyra Banks set out to create a space for people that were not the ideal weight not the ideal height
00:01:04to show beauty in a different light to be on America's Next Top Model it felt like my dreams
00:01:11were coming true my life was forever changed I felt like I was part of something so big
00:01:16the only reason the door was open to me was because of Tyra hello my fears Mr. J I revered
00:01:24her
00:01:24it was just so cool to me to watch weird people on a show like that
00:01:29yay darling yes it was so huge 10,000 girls turned out for America's Next Top Model
00:01:37that time in television was just crazy it can make you or break you
00:01:43real thin teenage girls are being told you're too fat it was a reflection of the time she looks pudgy
00:01:49that's exactly how it was
00:01:51girl you've walked like you were on crack
00:01:53baby girl baby girl
00:01:55when we look at how these people were treated it raises a lot of concerns around exploitation
00:02:01they dress like homeless people for a shoot
00:02:03we are actually going to switch your ethnicities
00:02:06what is happening right now
00:02:07it's not about empowering women
00:02:09no this is not America's Next Top Best Friend look at my teeth
00:02:13I'm not prepared I'm not mentally prepared
00:02:16we were crushed
00:02:17one girl almost got hypothermia
00:02:19but I guess it made for good TV
00:02:21you'll be able to survive this
00:02:23no one on the show knew what we were signing up for
00:02:27why are we filming this
00:02:29this show wasn't meant to help us
00:02:31it was meant to break us down
00:02:32how many people were scared
00:02:34I always believed that she would have my back
00:02:37I was ultimately proven wrong
00:02:39Tyra Banks, I need an explanation
00:02:41it's time to talk about it
00:02:43all of it
00:02:45the good and the bad, the ugly
00:02:47Tyra Banks is once again training for her crimes against humanity
00:02:50Tyra Banks, you're a joke
00:02:52I don't hate Tyra Banks, I do think that she was a sellout
00:02:55I feel like I haven't heard from her in a while
00:02:56I wonder what she's up to
00:03:02Tyra, take one
00:03:06I haven't really said much
00:03:09but now it's time
00:03:18I was running for you
00:03:31I'm gonna take you to 2020
00:03:35COVID hit and the world was binging TV
00:03:40an Oklahoma man who goes by the name Joe Exotic
00:03:46and started to binge Top Model
00:03:50it got so big
00:03:53my OG
00:03:54my favorite things ever
00:03:56love, love, love that show
00:03:57and it brought so much joy to so many people
00:04:00these are my favorite America's Next Top Models
00:04:02and where they are now
00:04:03and so much anger
00:04:05Tyra Banks should have been called out years ago
00:04:08a lot of people were part of the next generation
00:04:16they didn't watch it back then
00:04:20and it went from this thing that everybody loves
00:04:22to like overnight
00:04:23like just a whole different lens
00:04:26look how wrong this is
00:04:27what I think is important is to understand where that came from
00:04:34early 2000s
00:04:37very white, very thin, very blonde
00:04:40heroine chic was still ideal
00:04:44models looked a certain way
00:04:46Heidi Klum, Giselle Bundchen, the Victoria's Secret Angels
00:04:49thin, tall, white women
00:04:51and then there's Tyra
00:04:55I remember my very first season in Paris as a model
00:04:59living in like a dorm
00:05:01it gets kind of hard, you know, being new
00:05:03and all these supermodels there
00:05:05and you don't really feel accepted
00:05:06just pounding that pavement
00:05:08trying to get to a place
00:05:10where you can pay your bills
00:05:11where you can be chosen
00:05:14six ACC's and the first five said no
00:05:17and I heard, you know, they were like
00:05:19oh, we don't want any black girls
00:05:20oh, your nose is too big
00:05:21oh, your lips are too full
00:05:22you start looking in the mirror like
00:05:24oh my god, am I ugly or what?
00:05:27that hurts deep
00:05:28I would go home and just feel defeated
00:05:30and just feel like, ugh
00:05:32I was constantly being told
00:05:34no, you can't do this because you're black
00:05:36there were not a lot of black models back then
00:05:38we were being paid so much less
00:05:42just because of the color of our skin
00:05:43even if it was proven that we would sell more
00:05:47did you know there's actually an interview
00:05:49accompanying this striking Fabrizio
00:05:52fairy photograph?
00:05:53yes, Tyra Banks speaks
00:05:55I saw Tyra Banks in person yesterday
00:05:59she was having lunch in the Four Seasons
00:06:01nobody in the Four Seasons recognized Tyra Banks
00:06:04she had her clothes on
00:06:06but I'm not scared of risk at all
00:06:09I'm not scared to fail
00:06:10it's about getting knocked down and getting back up
00:06:12I just said, let me just give it my all
00:06:15at 21, Tyra's already launched an acting career
00:06:18I'll get the last word, I'll know you not
00:06:20signed a lucrative cover girl contract
00:06:22it was amazing to see the black women
00:06:24dominating the modeling industry
00:06:25supermodel Tyra Banks is the first black woman to appear in the coveted cover picture
00:06:30when we saw Tyra, that was our open door to say that
00:06:34yes, for you too, this is possible
00:06:36I started thinking a little differently
00:06:38maybe this modeling might be something for me
00:06:41people said, oh, black girls aren't going to be successful
00:06:43you won't get any covers, no this, no that
00:06:45and I'll prove them all wrong
00:06:48I wanted to show that beauty is not one thing
00:06:51and I wanted to fight against the fashion industry
00:06:54and one day
00:06:56this idea just hit me
00:07:02what if
00:07:03I created a show
00:07:05where you saw what it took
00:07:08to become a model
00:07:10and for this show to represent
00:07:13not all white
00:07:15not all skinny
00:07:17but just showing all the differences
00:07:19and all the different types of beauties
00:07:21I had a feeling that I was going to change the beauty world
00:07:25this was my way
00:07:27to get back
00:07:30and so a couple of weeks later
00:07:32I was at drinks at the Standard Hotel
00:07:35with Ken Mock
00:07:41I remember getting a call from my agent saying
00:07:43hey, listen, Tyra Banks wants to meet you
00:07:45I was like, really?
00:07:48I remember that meeting to this day
00:07:50I walked up there
00:07:51and I thought
00:07:52it's going to be basically a vanity project for her
00:07:55she's not going to do any of the work
00:07:56I mean, she's just a model
00:07:58she's probably not very bright
00:08:00I said, look, Tyra
00:08:02what is it that you want to do?
00:08:04and she said she wants to do the show about modeling
00:08:06the making of a model
00:08:08there was a show called American Idol
00:08:10Kelly Clarkson had won that first season
00:08:12but I was always curious of like
00:08:14what is Kelly doing when she goes home?
00:08:17I want to marry American Idol and the real world
00:08:20and set it in the modeling industry
00:08:22and I pitched him the idea
00:08:24and he said
00:08:25oh, I can make this work
00:08:27Ken is like one of the godfathers of reality television
00:08:31I had created a show called Making the Band
00:08:33that followed the journey of people auditioning
00:08:36and then creating this boy band
00:08:38and seeing if this boy band could succeed
00:08:40so he explained to me
00:08:42you can't just be following people
00:08:43you have to have a format
00:08:45we had ten girls living in an apartment
00:08:47each week they would be taught a modeling skill
00:08:49then one model would be sent home
00:08:52the last model standing would then be named
00:08:55America's next top model
00:08:57I knew that one key to the success of the show
00:09:00would be to have really great coaches and judges
00:09:02that popped on TV
00:09:04and then she said
00:09:05we need a runway coach
00:09:06I thought she was going to mention some woman
00:09:09who like ran some modeling school
00:09:11or something that could
00:09:12she goes, no, there's this guy named Jay Alexander
00:09:14he's a six foot five African-American guy
00:09:17I'm like, what?
00:09:19I was Jay Alexander
00:09:20queen of the catwalk
00:09:23my motto is
00:09:25walk like it's for sale
00:09:26and the rent is due tonight
00:09:28he just blew me away
00:09:30for most models
00:09:31getting that supermodel stride
00:09:33isn't that easy
00:09:34so who do they turn to for guidance?
00:09:36Jay Alexander
00:09:37Miss Jay taught me how to walk
00:09:40I've known Tyra since she was 16
00:09:43she had an idea
00:09:45America's next top model
00:09:46he was the first person I called
00:09:48hey, oh my god
00:09:50he was just this like
00:09:52godfather, mother, diva, extraordinaire
00:09:56he was the real deal
00:09:59I came out of my mother's stomach
00:10:01wearing high heels
00:10:02he had the most beautiful legs
00:10:05and Jay is a pioneer in himself
00:10:07the best fashion show you can get
00:10:09is watching black women
00:10:10going to church on Sunday
00:10:12because back then
00:10:14a lot of people were not expressing themselves
00:10:16like he was expressing himself
00:10:17girl, I knew I was
00:10:20I knew that he had something special
00:10:23I like the craziness
00:10:25just like the crazy
00:10:27and then we said
00:10:29okay, well, you know
00:10:29obviously in fashion
00:10:30the photo shoot is everything
00:10:32Tyra Tepp, Jay Manuel
00:10:34who was her makeup artist
00:10:35to be our photo shoot director
00:10:40my phone rang
00:10:43I picked up and it was Tyra
00:10:44and she was in LA
00:10:45so I'm thinking
00:10:46oh my god
00:10:47it must be almost 6 a.m
00:10:48she's like
00:10:49oh my god
00:10:50I have this idea
00:10:50it was the excitement in her voice
00:10:53that I responded to
00:10:55in my teens
00:10:56you know, most teenagers
00:10:58put music posters
00:11:00on their walls
00:11:04I had
00:11:06on my bedroom wall
00:11:07all the fashion ads
00:11:09of the time
00:11:14it's funny to look back
00:11:16because
00:11:17it was really a vision board
00:11:24I had done a lot
00:11:26in my career
00:11:26at that point
00:11:27but I felt like
00:11:28I was always trying
00:11:29to prove myself
00:11:34Tyra gave me that trust
00:11:36he was such a visionary
00:11:38one of the most talented
00:11:39creatives I've ever worked with
00:11:41ever worked with
00:11:43I was so, so grateful
00:11:45for the opportunity
00:11:46to just be me
00:11:50we were a complete team
00:11:52we were ready to go out
00:11:53and pitch the show
00:11:57Tyra was given
00:11:59pitch meetings
00:12:00at all the major studios
00:12:02we went to NBC
00:12:04we went to ABC
00:12:05we went to CBS
00:12:06we went to Fox
00:12:07if anyone was going to
00:12:09make the show a reality
00:12:10it was her
00:12:11we pitched this model
00:12:13reality show
00:12:14everywhere
00:12:15and
00:12:16it was just
00:12:16no
00:12:17what?
00:12:18no
00:12:18no
00:12:18networks were
00:12:19turning it down
00:12:20door slamming
00:12:21slamming
00:12:22slamming
00:12:23slamming
00:12:23they were like
00:12:24oh no
00:12:25reality
00:12:27no
00:12:28no
00:12:28no
00:12:29no
00:12:29no
00:12:29no
00:12:29no
00:12:30no
00:12:30no
00:12:31there was a stereotype
00:12:32with models
00:12:32models are unsympathetic characters
00:12:35they are vapid
00:12:37and that stayed with me
00:12:39and followed me
00:12:40for a very, very long time
00:12:43and then
00:12:45UPN is going to make this ball cooler than ever
00:12:48we go to UPN
00:12:53I can guarantee you
00:12:55UPN was the last stop
00:12:57on the pitching train
00:12:59by far
00:12:59an absolute
00:13:01dead last place
00:13:02we need to find a hit
00:13:04or there probably won't be
00:13:05a UPN
00:13:06when Tyra first came in
00:13:08I thought
00:13:09okay
00:13:09vanity pitch
00:13:10let's hear what she has to say
00:13:12and
00:13:13you know
00:13:14move on
00:13:14I was so nervous
00:13:16because that was the last one
00:13:18that was it
00:13:19so I stood up
00:13:21and I started walking like Miss J
00:13:25talking like Miss J
00:13:27you need to be able to slinky ink down the runway
00:13:29if you can't slinky ink
00:13:31you may look stinky stink
00:13:32acting like different characters
00:13:34and
00:13:34it was unlike anything anybody had really heard
00:13:37I just saw her face went from
00:13:39to
00:13:43when you're at the very bottom of the mountain
00:13:45you have nothing to lose
00:13:47we had no idea
00:13:48nobody had done a reality show like this
00:13:51it was just guessing
00:13:52but if it did work
00:13:53we had everything to gain
00:13:58I
00:14:00was freaking out
00:14:03if top model wasn't picked up
00:14:05what would I do
00:14:06where would I go
00:14:08what would I be
00:14:10I picked up the phone
00:14:12we got a yes
00:14:19I'd never had that before
00:14:20I'd never gotten a call
00:14:22that somebody said
00:14:23that they wanted to make my idea come to life
00:14:25like wow
00:14:27it was my payback
00:14:29you just have a magazine
00:14:31I have a TV show
00:14:33and so many people are going to see
00:14:35way more of this TV show
00:14:37than your magazine
00:14:39that is closing off so many beauties
00:14:42I'm going to show you
00:14:44what beautiful is
00:14:46let's go
00:14:47let's do this
00:14:55it all began a few months ago
00:14:57when we started a process
00:14:58that would change lives
00:15:00I was looking for America's next top model
00:15:02so I launched a nationwide search
00:15:04and people sent tapes in
00:15:05from all over the country
00:15:11right away
00:15:12I could see girls with potential
00:15:13because I am the true diva
00:15:16I come here
00:15:17and morbidly write my horrible poems
00:15:20I want to shake the dust
00:15:22off this small town
00:15:26at the age of five
00:15:27I wanted to become a model
00:15:29it was just so glamorous looking
00:15:31and I didn't think it was possible
00:15:33because I had like buck teeth
00:15:35stringy hair
00:15:36I was a little bit chunky
00:15:39I had a growth spurt
00:15:41and I was like hmm
00:15:42maybe this dream
00:15:43could become a reality
00:15:45I want to become
00:15:46American supermodel
00:15:48I am ready
00:15:49I sent in a video
00:15:50a few pictures
00:15:52I was so excited
00:15:56hello
00:15:56hi
00:15:57hi I'm Shannon
00:15:58hi Shannon
00:15:59hi Shannon
00:16:00hi
00:16:00hello
00:16:01Shannon
00:16:02I take it you're a very religious person
00:16:03have you always been religious
00:16:04yes ever since I was little
00:16:06I was probably saved
00:16:07around the age of 10
00:16:08but I got stronger over the years
00:16:10because you know
00:16:11practice makes perfect
00:16:12I love Shannon
00:16:13super Christian girl
00:16:15it says in your reputation
00:16:16that you're a virgin
00:16:16yes
00:16:17oh gosh
00:16:18they played that up so much
00:16:19but when I get married
00:16:20I told my mom
00:16:21I said
00:16:21my wedding's gonna be cut short
00:16:22and I'm gonna be gone baby
00:16:24my heart was like pounding out of my chest
00:16:28but then I got the call
00:16:30and Tyra Banks come on the phone
00:16:32and I about lost it
00:16:33you made it on the show
00:16:34and I'm like
00:16:35ah
00:16:37it's a moment I will never forget
00:16:41when it comes to casting
00:16:42I had a percentage of like
00:16:44okay let's give the public
00:16:45what they think pretty is
00:16:47because you have to meet people
00:16:48where they are
00:16:51now let me show you
00:16:52what's not obvious
00:16:54my name is Ebony
00:16:55and I'm actually originally from Harlem
00:16:57I know that I'm unique
00:16:58I knew nothing about modeling
00:17:00but I knew that my skin was popping
00:17:01and I had a great smile
00:17:03with my exotic look
00:17:05girl next door look
00:17:07when I was a little girl
00:17:08my nickname was actually ugly
00:17:10I am so serious
00:17:11I kind of blocked that out
00:17:12I think because of emotional issues
00:17:14with that
00:17:15but I always had this dream
00:17:16that one day I'd become
00:17:17an African princess
00:17:19I grew up in a beauty salon
00:17:21in Harlem
00:17:22women would come into the beauty salon
00:17:23and my grandmother would say
00:17:25oh let me let you meet
00:17:26my great grandbaby
00:17:28her name is Ebony
00:17:30tell her she's black and beautiful
00:17:32here I am in this beauty salon
00:17:34and the universe just brought
00:17:35all this love
00:17:37I started to understand
00:17:38the importance of beauty
00:17:39I always get that something is different
00:17:41whether it's my look
00:17:42my personality
00:17:43something is different
00:17:44she had a very striking
00:17:45beautiful face
00:17:46you know
00:17:47Ebony had a very
00:17:48very different look
00:17:51that was a reason
00:17:52why Tyra really wanted her
00:17:53in the show
00:17:55I remember walking in there
00:17:57and I used to love
00:17:59this brown cat suit
00:18:00that I used to wear
00:18:01that brown cat suit
00:18:02whenever I felt hot
00:18:03hey pretty girls
00:18:04hi
00:18:06I was like
00:18:07I'm gonna change
00:18:07some lives today
00:18:09the fact that I was
00:18:09the only girl from New York
00:18:11and my name was Ebony
00:18:12I had great pride in that
00:18:13the next girl
00:18:14that's coming to New York City
00:18:15really doesn't have far to go
00:18:17because she's from New York City
00:18:18and it's Miss Ebony
00:18:21I remember when I called her name
00:18:22she just
00:18:25she just lost it
00:18:26and she pulled it back together
00:18:28real fast
00:18:29but I remember being in that room
00:18:30and feeling that energy from her
00:18:32it was beautiful
00:18:34when we were casting
00:18:36we got a lot of pushback
00:18:37from the network
00:18:38if you had one person
00:18:39of a different color
00:18:40that was their definition
00:18:42of diverse
00:18:42that was not my definition
00:18:44or Tyra's definition
00:18:46of diversity
00:18:49we had to do the final casting
00:18:51with the president of Viacom
00:18:52the parent company
00:18:53of CBS and UPN
00:18:55a guy named Les Moonves
00:18:56Les we're here Les
00:18:57how are the ratings
00:18:58over the other networks
00:18:59well I think we have
00:19:00more new shows
00:19:00that are working
00:19:01than the other guys do
00:19:02so
00:19:02arguably the most powerful man
00:19:04in Hollywood
00:19:05we really wanted
00:19:06a Hispanic Latina girl
00:19:08on the show
00:19:09and
00:19:09he did not want
00:19:11this Latino girl
00:19:12on the show
00:19:12what the hell
00:19:13I lost it
00:19:15Tyra was arguing
00:19:17with Les
00:19:17to the point
00:19:19it almost got physical
00:19:20how dare you
00:19:21do you understand
00:19:21and if you want to talk business
00:19:23let's talk business
00:19:24Tyra
00:19:25pull back right now
00:19:26it's Les Moonves
00:19:28let's not torpedo the show
00:19:30before we even get it
00:19:31on the air
00:19:31we had to replace her
00:19:32then we went searching again
00:19:34searching again
00:19:35and we found Giselle
00:19:37take one
00:19:42my name is Giselle Sampson
00:19:44and this is my mom
00:19:46okay so with the audition process
00:19:49on that first day
00:19:50with Tyra Banks
00:19:51I do remember her
00:19:52asking me
00:19:53so Giselle
00:19:54if this show
00:19:56made you famous
00:19:58what would you do?
00:20:00wow
00:20:00why is this making me emotional now
00:20:02this is weird
00:20:04because the feeling was
00:20:06oh my god
00:20:07I made it
00:20:09as a young girl
00:20:10I just was so excited
00:20:12and I was so happy
00:20:15to feel like
00:20:15you're gonna make it
00:20:17like this is something
00:20:17you're gonna be part
00:20:18of something so big
00:20:19and um
00:20:22I was a part
00:20:23of something so big
00:20:27this real life
00:20:29I'm from a small town
00:20:31I have a dream of modeling
00:20:33oh my god
00:20:35now I'm living in this
00:20:36New York City apartment
00:20:37with nine other girls
00:20:38and I have eight weeks
00:20:40to prove
00:20:40I'm America's next top model
00:20:42oh my gosh
00:20:43Tyra
00:20:44have you seen her walk
00:20:45and take pictures
00:20:46and she just moves
00:20:47I was like
00:20:48oh my god
00:20:48I'm gonna be on TV
00:20:50nobody really knew
00:20:51what to expect
00:20:52nobody was nervous
00:20:53you know
00:20:53everybody's taking a chance
00:20:54Mr. Mock Tyra
00:20:55all young people
00:20:56would have dreamed
00:21:01we shot that whole thing
00:21:02in a hotel
00:21:03the girls were living
00:21:04in one room
00:21:05or suite really
00:21:06the judging room
00:21:08was in another room
00:21:08they had an acid
00:21:10burn in my stomach
00:21:11because there was
00:21:12just so much to do
00:21:13I mean Ken Mock
00:21:14turned into a cameraman
00:21:15because we were
00:21:16cameraman short
00:21:17didn't have the budget
00:21:18there was this moment
00:21:19it was just Tyra and I
00:21:22sitting in the control room
00:21:23and I could see
00:21:24in her face
00:21:25she's like
00:21:26okay I'm doing this
00:21:27it's surreal
00:21:29the producers
00:21:30didn't have a lot
00:21:31of experience
00:21:32Tyra certainly
00:21:32didn't have experience
00:21:33the show had a lot
00:21:35to prove
00:21:35there are so many things
00:21:36that it takes
00:21:37to be a top model
00:21:38and you guys
00:21:39are gonna be put
00:21:40through lots of
00:21:41different tests
00:21:42teach
00:21:43today's lesson
00:21:45is going to be
00:21:45about establishing
00:21:46a look
00:21:47for yourselves
00:21:48challenge
00:21:49today we're going
00:21:50to do go see
00:21:51you've got four hours
00:21:52to do this
00:21:53and you've got
00:21:54five postings
00:21:55photoshoot
00:21:55today we're doing
00:21:56beauty shots
00:21:57smile with your eyes
00:21:58a little bit
00:21:58good
00:21:59we got it
00:22:00judging
00:22:00once a week
00:22:01you'll be evaluated
00:22:02and someone
00:22:04will be eliminated
00:22:05whoever's name
00:22:06I call
00:22:06will go on
00:22:07and will still
00:22:08be in the running
00:22:08to become
00:22:09America's next top model
00:22:10oh my gosh
00:22:11how many times
00:22:12she had to say that
00:22:13you're still in the running
00:22:14to become
00:22:14America's next top model
00:22:15still in the running
00:22:15towards becoming
00:22:16America's next top model
00:22:16you're still in the running
00:22:17to become America's next top model
00:22:18you're still in the running
00:22:18to become America's next top model
00:22:22that's it
00:22:23got it on the first try
00:22:24okay
00:22:24the winner will receive
00:22:25a contract with Revlon
00:22:26a fashion spread
00:22:27with Marie Claire
00:22:28and a contract
00:22:29with one of the world's
00:22:30top agencies
00:22:31Wilhelmina
00:22:33it was a price package
00:22:34that would help them
00:22:35really get a head start
00:22:36into the modeling industry
00:22:37by the end of the show
00:22:39we would build
00:22:40the perfect model
00:22:41that could now
00:22:42go out into the real world
00:22:43and try to pursue
00:22:45our modeling career
00:22:45if I win this
00:22:47I can become a supermodel
00:22:48I was like
00:22:49this is gonna change
00:22:50my life forever
00:22:56you're showing
00:22:57the behind the scenes
00:22:58of what the fashion world was
00:23:00most of it is not glamorous
00:23:01at all
00:23:02you got the air push-up bra
00:23:04two silicone inserts
00:23:06and toilet paper
00:23:07you've got enormous cha-cha
00:23:09oh my god
00:23:10I was sent here
00:23:12by Tara Banks
00:23:13to have all the girls
00:23:15with a Brazilian bikini wax
00:23:16this is gonna go on television
00:23:19you're all fucking funny
00:23:21really really funny
00:23:24man
00:23:26I really want to go to Brazil back
00:23:28let me tell you something
00:23:28they got me good with that
00:23:30I didn't even know
00:23:31what a Brazil wax was
00:23:33I have never
00:23:34ever ever
00:23:36done a Brazilian wax
00:23:38again ever in my life
00:23:39better be
00:23:40the damn supermodel
00:23:41after this
00:23:42that's all I have to say
00:23:48this was not just a show
00:23:50about modeling
00:23:50but it was
00:23:51a Cinderella story
00:23:52hello everybody
00:23:55so today as you guys can see
00:23:56you're at the Lepine Salon
00:23:57you guys are already fierce
00:23:58we're gonna make you
00:24:00fear
00:24:00no one will walk out
00:24:02looking like what they walked in
00:24:04alright
00:24:05deep break
00:24:06from day one
00:24:07I knew that we needed
00:24:09to have a makeover
00:24:10Shannon
00:24:11I want to bleach you out more
00:24:12I want to just brighten you up
00:24:14we might even add a little bit
00:24:15more hair extensions
00:24:15to thicken you up
00:24:16when you see this beautiful specimen
00:24:20this beautiful like little fawn
00:24:22and then you put her through this process
00:24:26and then she turns into this princess
00:24:28it also shows possibility
00:24:30but you know they hate it
00:24:32they hate it
00:24:34I don't like to show anybody
00:24:36I'm going through pain
00:24:37so I didn't say anything
00:24:38but Giselle cried
00:24:40Giselle whined
00:24:42Giselle moaned
00:24:43Giselle groaned
00:24:45I can't
00:24:46okay
00:24:49I'm just used to the way
00:24:50I had my hair
00:24:50so I'm kind of concerned
00:24:52about the length
00:24:53don't look so sad
00:24:55models are canvases
00:24:56yeah
00:24:59no you don't
00:25:01hey girls
00:25:01wow you guys have been busy
00:25:04J. Manuel is like a genius
00:25:06some of them actually like him
00:25:08he's so cute
00:25:09but the nature is like
00:25:10he's gay
00:25:11so just because you're not feeling well
00:25:13you don't want to go
00:25:14should there be the
00:25:15that reason
00:25:15well I mean you don't look deathly ill
00:25:17oh yeah that's the shady part
00:25:19so then it's silly
00:25:20and you go back home
00:25:21and you do what
00:25:22work at Burger King
00:25:23the Burger King line
00:25:25that was probably a little shady
00:25:27it's one of Miss J's
00:25:29favorite moments
00:25:30he's very direct
00:25:31with some of the girls
00:25:32marry rich
00:25:33and have a baby
00:25:35wow
00:25:36yes I made fun of them
00:25:38and I was just doing my thing
00:25:40the one and the only
00:25:41top runway trainer
00:25:42I have known him since I was 17 years old
00:25:45his name is J. Alexander
00:25:46come out here J!
00:25:49I'm going to show you how to walk in a tight skirt
00:25:54oh loved Miss J
00:25:56forgot to brush her teeth
00:25:58we had this natural banter
00:26:02J loves to do an expression in an eye roll
00:26:05and I feed into it
00:26:07like we literally just fold together like this
00:26:12don't listen to her
00:26:13she's crazy
00:26:13she's just up
00:26:14gray and green
00:26:15and then there was a support
00:26:19because it was like
00:26:21like gay wonder twins activate
00:26:23we were together
00:26:23so you know they can't attack us
00:26:25I get it
00:26:26I know it sounds ridiculous today
00:26:27but it was such a different time
00:26:30people would write
00:26:30and say like
00:26:31what the hell is this on my screen
00:26:33like how are you like showing this
00:26:35I said
00:26:36suck my dick
00:26:38I wanted to know if it's okay
00:26:39if my girlfriend come over
00:26:40for about an hour or two today
00:26:42Ebony's a lesbian
00:26:43and I found this offensive
00:26:45when I first auditioned for the show
00:26:47the first thing Tyra says to me
00:26:49she goes
00:26:49we see that you're gay
00:26:50we know you're a lesbian
00:26:51how do you feel about
00:26:52expressing that on national television
00:26:55that's kind of how the world
00:26:56found out I was gay
00:26:56and how the world met me
00:26:58I had hoped at least
00:26:59they would pull me to the side
00:27:00and say how do you want to approach this
00:27:01you know
00:27:01they forgot the danger of that
00:27:03not a problem line
00:27:04I'm very
00:27:04that's very open about it
00:27:06I wanted to come out
00:27:07because I wanted other celebrities
00:27:09to do the same
00:27:11nice sweetie
00:27:14I was just happy that they showed me
00:27:16and my partner together
00:27:17smiling and showing the reality
00:27:21I think it was new to see that on TV
00:27:24at the time
00:27:25there was just no queer representation
00:27:27on television
00:27:28and like God knows
00:27:29what this was going to look like on TV
00:27:32you know I'm very serious about this
00:27:34we are in a competition
00:27:35and my plan is to win
00:27:36there is nothing else but that
00:27:38uh oh
00:27:39Tyra Mayle
00:27:40eliminations
00:27:41one of you will be eliminated
00:27:45really nervous about
00:27:46our next elimination
00:27:47I didn't know who was going to win
00:27:48I really really really really really want this
00:27:52who are we going to cut this week
00:27:54Shannon
00:27:55judges could be a little cruel
00:27:57I hated walking into the judging room
00:27:59like oh my gosh
00:28:00what are they going to say to me this time
00:28:02it looks like you landed from another planet
00:28:03because you have so much teeth
00:28:05maybe she should have a few removed
00:28:07I'm thinking to myself
00:28:08which teeth would you like me to pull out
00:28:11would it be my two front teeth
00:28:12like who says that
00:28:13iconic reality TV villain
00:28:15Janice Dickinson
00:28:16she looks kind of like child prostitute
00:28:18you gotta get over it
00:28:20I'm sorry
00:28:20you gotta get over it
00:28:21Janice was obviously extremely provocative
00:28:25dip it bitch
00:28:26dip it
00:28:26you're dead in my book
00:28:27and she's a diva
00:28:28world's first supermodel
00:28:30you want to talk about a legitimate
00:28:32bona fide supermodel
00:28:35who'd had such a career
00:28:37I've been in this industry
00:28:38for quite a long time
00:28:40making me probably
00:28:41the most opinionated person
00:28:43on the panel
00:28:44I love Janice
00:28:45like she was very outrageous
00:28:46as a character
00:28:48this is the worst photograph
00:28:49I've ever seen
00:28:50you look deranged
00:28:51and it looks like you have a penis
00:28:53she had no filter
00:28:55you gotta work on the thighs
00:28:56it's got the booty thing
00:28:57you gotta kind of
00:28:58you really watch the diet
00:28:59and exercise
00:29:00it's not all about your gorgeous face
00:29:01it is about the booty too
00:29:04let's just call it as it is
00:29:06Robin first of all
00:29:07is too old to be starting
00:29:09and fat
00:29:10she's huge
00:29:10she's not going to be a top model
00:29:12she won't
00:29:13she should work for a car toppling company
00:29:15you know Janice offered
00:29:17that very harsh opinion
00:29:19that absolutely exists in the industry
00:29:23my name is John
00:29:24and I'm going to be your trainer
00:29:25we're going to do a little test
00:29:27height
00:29:27and weight
00:29:29I had an eating disorder
00:29:32terrific
00:29:33114
00:29:33am I the lightest one?
00:29:35yeah
00:29:36yeah
00:29:37it started when I was 14
00:29:39I got tall
00:29:40and then all of a sudden
00:29:41my baby fat was gone
00:29:43and so I was like
00:29:44wow
00:29:45what do I have to do
00:29:46to keep this
00:29:46one point I got down
00:29:48to like 114
00:29:49I think that's when
00:29:50I passed out
00:29:50and I was like
00:29:51oh my gosh
00:29:51I could see it
00:29:52but still
00:29:53it was just like
00:29:54this wicked taskmaster
00:29:55constantly telling me
00:29:56you're not thin enough
00:29:57you're not thin enough
00:29:59the pressure
00:30:00that the industry
00:30:01can put on you
00:30:02to be a certain size
00:30:05it's actually quite awful
00:30:07the full figured market's changing
00:30:09I'm going to say
00:30:11the exact opposite
00:30:12than what these people
00:30:14in fashion
00:30:14have been telling women
00:30:15for years
00:30:16which is
00:30:17peaceful
00:30:17I think that you guys
00:30:19are the problem
00:30:20with America
00:30:20I think you are the problem
00:30:22of why women
00:30:22are leaning over the toilets
00:30:24at this very moment
00:30:25and vomiting
00:30:25after they've eaten
00:30:26or taking laxatives
00:30:28after they've eaten
00:30:29I thought
00:30:29oh my god
00:30:30I love the fact
00:30:31that she is fighting
00:30:32for this
00:30:32I really do think
00:30:34she was not just
00:30:36wanting to produce a show
00:30:37but she was also
00:30:38trying to help us
00:30:39Tyra was trying
00:30:41to teach us
00:30:42how to pose
00:30:42in front of the camera
00:30:43how to walk down
00:30:44the runway
00:30:45along those strides
00:30:47come together girl
00:30:48I ain't mad at ya
00:30:49oh you pull this together
00:30:50oh you pulling it together
00:30:51okay
00:30:52practice makes perfect
00:30:55I taught a girl
00:30:56how to walk
00:30:57with confidence
00:30:58Netflix
00:30:59it's like
00:31:00whoa
00:31:01oh my god
00:31:02you are really
00:31:03really quite beautiful
00:31:05when you see me
00:31:06in the last runway
00:31:07challenge
00:31:07I really
00:31:08just left it
00:31:09all out there
00:31:10I had to walk
00:31:11that runway
00:31:11like my life
00:31:12depends on it
00:31:15a decision is made
00:31:17America's next
00:31:18top model is
00:31:23Adrienne
00:31:24I was devastated
00:31:27but after the show
00:31:29Tyra sent me
00:31:32flowers
00:31:33it was the biggest
00:31:34bouquet of flowers
00:31:34I have ever seen
00:31:35in my life
00:31:38I came to New York
00:31:39I called IMG
00:31:40that was like
00:31:41my dream agency
00:31:42and they signed me
00:31:43I was so excited
00:31:46I was gonna dream big
00:31:47no matter the cost
00:31:52two or three months
00:31:53after I had filmed
00:31:55top model
00:31:56I'm back home
00:31:57in LA
00:31:57and somebody's like
00:31:59are you like
00:32:00on a show
00:32:00or something
00:32:01and I'm like
00:32:02what do you mean
00:32:02why what
00:32:03there's like
00:32:04a billboard
00:32:04of you
00:32:05in Hollywood
00:32:10there was a huge
00:32:11billboard
00:32:12in downtown LA
00:32:14and the whole
00:32:15side of the building
00:32:16said America's
00:32:17next top model
00:32:20I remember
00:32:21saying
00:32:21look at that girl
00:32:22she's beautiful
00:32:23you know
00:32:23what
00:32:24oh my god
00:32:24look at her
00:32:25she's fierce
00:32:26and my mother
00:32:27I never forget
00:32:27her saying
00:32:27that's you
00:32:28and I was like
00:32:29that is me
00:32:31okay
00:32:32we're off now
00:32:36I was just so excited
00:32:37for the show
00:32:38to air
00:32:39because it was
00:32:40something that I was
00:32:41so proud of
00:32:41and that I thought
00:32:42was gonna catapult
00:32:43me into things
00:32:45so here I am
00:32:46trying to do
00:32:46my own PR
00:32:47I made postcards
00:32:49and I put
00:32:49my little picture
00:32:50my headshot
00:32:51on one side
00:32:52and then the premiere
00:32:54date of America's
00:32:55next top model
00:32:56on UPN
00:32:57and I mailed it
00:32:59to every manager
00:33:01every agent
00:33:02gonna get discovered
00:33:03and it's gonna be
00:33:05amazing
00:33:06and I'm gonna make it
00:33:09even though we had
00:33:10been in the editing bay
00:33:11for weeks and weeks
00:33:12and weeks doing this
00:33:13watching it
00:33:14when the world
00:33:15was watching it
00:33:15was a whole
00:33:16different situation
00:33:19when we were
00:33:19shooting cycle one
00:33:21I had no clue
00:33:22what was gonna go on air
00:33:25the viewing party
00:33:26was at my apartment
00:33:27Tyra was there
00:33:28even her mom came
00:33:29I was extremely
00:33:31nervous
00:33:31oh my god
00:33:34Shannon
00:33:34you're still in the running
00:33:35to becoming
00:33:36America's next top model
00:33:37when the episode
00:33:40ended
00:33:42Tyra immediately
00:33:43went into
00:33:44my office
00:33:45to the computer
00:33:46to go check out
00:33:47like chat rooms
00:33:51I was freaking out
00:33:55Tyra was nervous
00:33:57there was a lot
00:33:58riding on her
00:33:59networks want ratings
00:34:01they want things
00:34:02to like resonate
00:34:03it was very
00:34:04very intense
00:34:06my phone rang
00:34:07and it was Iman
00:34:10that called
00:34:11I had been working
00:34:13with Iman
00:34:13and her husband
00:34:15David Bowie
00:34:16on his heathen album
00:34:17and she said
00:34:18we watched
00:34:19and she hands
00:34:21the phone to David
00:34:22I believe
00:34:23I might be of service
00:34:24and David said to me
00:34:27you found the place
00:34:28where you need to be
00:34:31I'll never forget it
00:34:35the fairytale began
00:34:38it's hot babes
00:34:39catfights
00:34:40and a whole lot of drama
00:34:41the addictive reality TV hit
00:34:43America's next top model
00:34:45I remember thinking to myself
00:34:47this is so much better
00:34:50than I ever could have thought
00:34:51I am hooked on 30 seconds of it
00:34:53I'm so happy
00:34:54I'm telling you
00:34:55you have the TiVo
00:34:56do you have TiVo?
00:34:56it's it
00:34:57believe me
00:34:57I already called
00:34:58it's in the TiVo right now
00:34:59I'm like damn
00:35:00okay
00:35:00these ratings are crazy
00:35:02they realize
00:35:03huh
00:35:05Tyra may be going
00:35:06to something here
00:35:07Tyra designed a program
00:35:08in which models
00:35:10just get their
00:35:11their crotches waxed
00:35:13it wasn't just about
00:35:14oh let's have their
00:35:15I mean their
00:35:16right
00:35:18it wasn't about
00:35:19let's have their
00:35:19when the show started to air
00:35:22it really was
00:35:23shocking
00:35:25because
00:35:25it wasn't what I thought
00:35:27it was going to be
00:35:28my face is definitely
00:35:29pimple eyes
00:35:30Giselle
00:35:31found out that
00:35:32pretending
00:35:33to be insecure
00:35:35is a great way
00:35:36to fish for compliments
00:35:38in our confessionals
00:35:39I could feel the push
00:35:41of producers
00:35:43trying to
00:35:45navigate
00:35:45us against each other
00:35:46you're asking for massages
00:35:48while we're cleaning up
00:35:49instead of cleaning the tub
00:35:50like you said you were going to do
00:35:51that's immaturity
00:35:52I have no time for that
00:35:53so and so said this about you
00:35:56excuse me
00:35:57what
00:35:57Giselle
00:35:58you worthless
00:36:00you're so
00:36:02bitchy
00:36:02stupid
00:36:03you're worthless
00:36:04your parents must be ashamed of you
00:36:06Giselle
00:36:07I like Giselle
00:36:08you know I like Giselle
00:36:09because it just seems like
00:36:10she wants this
00:36:11but I think she needs to tighten up
00:36:12she's got a wide aim
00:36:13it's kind of wide
00:36:16I'm walking away
00:36:17I'm 18 years old
00:36:18growing into my body
00:36:19and she's like
00:36:20Giselle
00:36:21she's got a wide ass
00:36:23I think she needs to tighten up
00:36:24she's got a wide aim
00:36:25it's kind of wide
00:36:26they did these clothes
00:36:28so dark
00:36:30they chose
00:36:31to put that in there
00:36:34how I left feeling about myself
00:36:36in that moment
00:36:37has stayed with me forever
00:36:42why does my ass have to be so wide
00:36:44like that's how I talk to myself
00:36:46you know
00:36:48to this day
00:36:53when I went on that show
00:36:54I knew people would be against anything that I represent
00:36:56being a black woman that's gay or whatever it is
00:36:59but I did think that I would be protected
00:37:04I thought the first episode was fabulous
00:37:06I was so excited to be a role model
00:37:08and then when I saw the makeover
00:37:10Ebony
00:37:11this little piece of hair right here
00:37:12that extra little thing
00:37:14gone
00:37:14gone
00:37:15spark me
00:37:17that's when I felt the full disappointment
00:37:19of the way I was represented
00:37:24I'm sitting there
00:37:25and I have three of the top stylists
00:37:27over my head
00:37:28laughing my hair texture
00:37:30it was really just frustrating
00:37:31when people did not have the correct clippers
00:37:33everybody basically said
00:37:35they didn't know what to do
00:37:36so we leave a little time
00:37:37oh how can they go wrong with a caesar
00:37:41should we write her name in it
00:37:42yeah
00:37:45I kept thinking this was a test
00:37:47that at any moment
00:37:49Mr. J would say
00:37:50Ebony you're fabulous
00:37:51you know
00:37:51or Ebony you've handled this well
00:37:54they end up giving me three bald spots
00:37:57yeah
00:37:57very disappointing
00:37:59and it's very upsetting to an African American woman
00:38:02to go into a salon
00:38:03and the person to do her hair incorrectly
00:38:04it's very inappropriate
00:38:05I mean Tyra would not have this
00:38:07she's too fierce for this
00:38:08girl I do it all the time
00:38:09girl I do it all the time
00:38:11it's not a style
00:38:11it's hard
00:38:12as I'm trying to figure out
00:38:13how can I fix my hair
00:38:14Tyra calls me
00:38:15it's the end of the day
00:38:17and this was like the first time
00:38:18we really even had a conversation
00:38:20because she barely spoke to me on the show
00:38:21so I'm thinking
00:38:23that my sister
00:38:24is going to understand
00:38:26I thought she was going to say
00:38:28girl don't worry I'll go to Harlem
00:38:30and she says
00:38:31the judges have been talking to me
00:38:33and they've been saying
00:38:35that you have been showing up ashy every day
00:38:39and I'm blown away
00:38:43she didn't say
00:38:44oh you know
00:38:44you're dealing with a little acne
00:38:46or you know what Ebony
00:38:47your skin looks a little irritated
00:38:49I didn't understand
00:38:50why they chose those specific words
00:38:53when this is a word
00:38:54that's been used in history
00:38:55to make us feel less than
00:38:57with your skin texture
00:38:58being an African American woman
00:38:59it should be like butter
00:39:01at the retouching session
00:39:02your photo was the hardest
00:39:04that we had to do
00:39:07wait a minute
00:39:07am I being treated differently
00:39:08because I'm a black girl
00:39:09what's happening here
00:39:12I was like
00:39:13let me just be quiet
00:39:14supposed to make my skin fabulous
00:39:16there's grease all over
00:39:18because of her new
00:39:18moisturizing regime
00:39:20ugh
00:39:21after you put the
00:39:22your stuff on
00:39:24could you make sure
00:39:25you like
00:39:25fairly clean your hands
00:39:26just because
00:39:27it gets on the doorknobs
00:39:28and it's like slippery
00:39:33um
00:39:34okay I'll try to concentrate
00:39:36just this that
00:39:36that's all I have
00:39:37I mean I don't even know
00:39:38if it's a real big problem
00:39:39or anything
00:39:41I remember on the show
00:39:43thinking to myself
00:39:44oh my god
00:39:44there's so much I want to say
00:39:46but I really had to
00:39:47be still
00:39:50there's nothing I can do here
00:39:51that's going to make it better
00:39:52whatever narrative they're creating
00:39:54they're going to do this
00:39:55I love the color of her skin
00:39:57I really do
00:39:58but up close
00:39:59she just looks so old
00:40:00it's going to be hard with Ebony
00:40:01she's very aggressive
00:40:02and very angry
00:40:04Ebony just
00:40:05is much too harsh
00:40:08for me
00:40:08I just
00:40:10don't get it
00:40:14you and I both know
00:40:15looking at Ebony
00:40:16her skin is actually gorgeous
00:40:19Ebony was
00:40:20out of the time
00:40:21she was dark skinned
00:40:22she had a shaved head
00:40:23and she was gay
00:40:25that wasn't cool on TV
00:40:26so she got the aggressive edit
00:40:28I realized that Tyra and the judges
00:40:30aren't going to help me
00:40:30I know I have to protect myself
00:40:32but you're forgetting
00:40:34I was in high school
00:40:35three, four years ago
00:40:36and I felt that
00:40:38I felt that
00:40:39innocence
00:40:40and I just
00:40:41oh my god
00:40:42I'm so sorry
00:40:49I actually haven't thought
00:40:49about this in years
00:40:50and I've actually never
00:40:51talked about this
00:40:52but
00:40:54my heart was breaking
00:40:55as I'm on this national show
00:40:57thinking that the world
00:40:58would be proud of me
00:41:02Will Giselle and Ebony
00:41:03please step forward
00:41:11Giselle
00:41:13even as you stand here
00:41:14right now
00:41:16it's like
00:41:17where is the self-esteem
00:41:20Ebony
00:41:21when you come into the room
00:41:22we sense
00:41:23a chip on your shoulder
00:41:24a type of anger
00:41:26that makes you
00:41:26push yourself too hard
00:41:27to the point
00:41:28where you lose focus
00:41:29and you become
00:41:30difficult to work with
00:41:35when I was eliminated
00:41:36I was so brokenhearted
00:41:38I go to run
00:41:39and literally
00:41:39I wake up
00:41:40the first line of steps
00:41:41and my body just gave out
00:41:43and I started to cry
00:41:47the producers
00:41:47were like
00:41:48Ebony you're gonna get work
00:41:49you are so amazing
00:41:51and in my mind
00:41:52I just knew
00:41:52that wasn't true
00:41:55after the show
00:41:57I would hear
00:41:58a lot of young girls
00:41:59come up to me
00:42:00and go
00:42:00oh I probably can't be a model
00:42:02because my skin is rough
00:42:03like yours
00:42:05my heart was broken
00:42:10the agents and managers
00:42:11were not interested
00:42:12in having anything
00:42:13to do with me
00:42:15because
00:42:15they just saw reality
00:42:17I was the girl
00:42:18who had no confidence
00:42:19and who's gonna want
00:42:19to hire that girl
00:42:20who's gonna want
00:42:21to sign that girl
00:42:25I believed now
00:42:26that I wasn't good enough
00:42:28I'm not gonna make it
00:42:42I started to think
00:42:44that it really wasn't
00:42:45a model show
00:42:46that this was really
00:42:47a new way
00:42:48of making TV shows
00:42:50and I don't think
00:42:51that any of the girls
00:42:52were prepared
00:42:53for what reality
00:42:55was gonna become
00:42:56they say for UPN
00:42:58this show is what
00:42:59Survivor was to CBS
00:43:00yes
00:43:01huge
00:43:01putting UPN on the map
00:43:03I'm very happy
00:43:04and proud of that
00:43:04it was the most watched
00:43:05show on the network
00:43:06like by this much
00:43:07yes
00:43:08much to everyone's surprise
00:43:10it became
00:43:10the breakout show
00:43:12this show became
00:43:14the water cooler show
00:43:15where people then
00:43:16went to work
00:43:17the next day
00:43:18and said
00:43:18oh did you watch
00:43:19this
00:43:19you don't even
00:43:21have to believe
00:43:21it just really hurts
00:43:22telling I'm really weak
00:43:24I'm really proud of myself
00:43:25next American's top model
00:43:27is not a plus size model
00:43:28why
00:43:29and Tyra was
00:43:31everywhere
00:43:32we do another
00:43:33oh you're doing
00:43:34another one
00:43:35are we really
00:43:35yeah
00:43:36and then my team
00:43:37were telling me
00:43:38Tyra
00:43:39this is not normal
00:43:41you may never
00:43:42be able to repeat
00:43:43this success
00:43:44with anything
00:43:45that you ever do
00:43:46ever again
00:43:48I was like
00:43:49what you talking about
00:43:50I'm gonna do it again
00:43:51so are you gonna
00:43:52are you gonna bring
00:43:53that show back
00:43:54yes we got picked up
00:43:54for a second season
00:43:55our ratings were
00:43:56really skyrocket ratings
00:43:57on UPN
00:43:58so we'll be
00:43:59we'll be back in January
00:44:00America's next top model
00:44:02airs Tuesday nights
00:44:03at 9 on UPN
00:44:05and very soon
00:44:06there'll be an orgy
00:44:10oh my god
00:44:12it's like
00:44:12we're a big hit now
00:44:14now I've got to
00:44:14deliver a second season
00:44:23modeling never crossed
00:44:25my mind
00:44:26growing up
00:44:27it wasn't something
00:44:28I aspired to do
00:44:33my boyfriend at the time
00:44:34Eric
00:44:35he's like
00:44:36you could be a model
00:44:36like why couldn't
00:44:37you be a model
00:44:38we just were watching
00:44:40TV one day
00:44:40and a commercial
00:44:42came up about
00:44:43a casting for this show
00:44:44that I'd never heard of
00:44:47being the top model
00:44:48ain't no picnic
00:44:49sure there's the glamour
00:44:51but on the road to the top
00:44:52there's cutthroat competition
00:44:54okay let's go
00:44:57my name is Shandy
00:44:59I work at a Walgreens
00:45:01I'm a service clerk
00:45:02at the casting
00:45:03I just yelled
00:45:04I don't want to work
00:45:05at Walgreens anymore
00:45:08really loud
00:45:09like just really really loud
00:45:10just screamed it
00:45:11and then I made myself laugh
00:45:12and everybody else
00:45:13started laughing
00:45:16all right
00:45:16whatever
00:45:17that was an experience
00:45:18okay
00:45:21just went back to
00:45:22our little life
00:45:24in Kansas City
00:45:25yeah
00:45:25and they called me at work
00:45:26while I was at Walgreens
00:45:27and they're like
00:45:28so you made the cut
00:45:35I was like
00:45:36okay
00:45:38no idea what I'm getting
00:45:39myself into
00:45:40at all
00:45:45welcome to your new crib
00:45:47go to the fourth floor
00:45:48it's a bling bling
00:45:50punk funk
00:45:51mod kind of world
00:45:52up in here
00:45:52stake your claim
00:45:54tire
00:45:56oh look at this place
00:45:59look at the bedroom
00:46:02after the success
00:46:03of the first cycle
00:46:04our budget
00:46:05grew tremendously
00:46:07we had our own
00:46:08sound stage
00:46:08and we built
00:46:10this beautiful
00:46:10table
00:46:11for the judges
00:46:12and we built
00:46:13a beautiful backdrop
00:46:14for the girls
00:46:14and we had a runway
00:46:15on an aircraft carrier
00:46:17I'm not wasting any time
00:46:18I'm throwing you
00:46:19straight on a runway
00:46:21no training
00:46:22no nothing
00:46:23I want to see
00:46:24what you got
00:46:24oh my god
00:46:27I'm looking at
00:46:28these heels
00:46:29these boots
00:46:29oh goodness
00:46:30I have been in a hole
00:46:32yeah
00:46:33I had no idea
00:46:34how to do a model walk
00:46:35whatsoever
00:46:36Shandy
00:46:37your runway walk
00:46:39I've never seen
00:46:40a runway walk
00:46:41that bad in my life
00:46:44look up
00:46:45look up
00:46:45look
00:46:45she should learn
00:46:47how to walk
00:46:48in cycle two
00:46:49it became sport
00:46:51for Janice
00:46:52to bait Tyra
00:46:53if the body
00:46:54could just
00:46:55slim down
00:46:55150 pounds
00:46:57that would be good
00:46:58then she'd be 30 pounds
00:46:59that would be better
00:47:00it was definitely
00:47:01getting to her
00:47:03and I was like
00:47:03why is she doing that
00:47:04to her
00:47:04and Tyra would talk
00:47:05to me
00:47:06she's like
00:47:06I let it go
00:47:07she's driving me crazy
00:47:08but I let it go
00:47:09but I know
00:47:10it was getting to her
00:47:12and I considered myself
00:47:13like besties
00:47:14with Tyra
00:47:16and she spent
00:47:17a lot of time
00:47:17at my house
00:47:18sleeping over
00:47:19if I'm in LA
00:47:19I would spend time
00:47:20at her house
00:47:21you start sharing secrets
00:47:22you're very much
00:47:23in each other's world
00:47:24I feel like she knew
00:47:27I would do anything
00:47:29for her
00:47:29she's gotta go
00:47:31so you're gonna throw
00:47:32somebody away
00:47:32because they have
00:47:33one bad shot
00:47:33yes
00:47:34so I was armed
00:47:36and ready
00:47:38she looks like
00:47:38a porno star
00:47:39no she does not
00:47:40yes she does
00:47:41so do you
00:47:43and I was just
00:47:43ready to go back at her
00:47:45we're talking
00:47:45Silicon Valley
00:47:47alley at the other
00:47:48end of the table
00:47:48I felt like
00:47:49I was getting one
00:47:50for the team
00:47:51because she'd been
00:47:52battling Tyra
00:47:53and everybody
00:47:55I mean I revered her
00:47:56stand up
00:47:57let's see the girdle
00:47:58you're wearing
00:47:59Janice yours is already
00:48:00surgically cinched
00:48:01I snapped one thread
00:48:02and it's down
00:48:02I wasn't my best self
00:48:04during the judging
00:48:05not nice
00:48:06at all
00:48:07honey look at your face
00:48:08please
00:48:09and your dyed hair
00:48:10please
00:48:10okay
00:48:11but that was
00:48:12that was the Janice
00:48:13thing
00:48:13and to balance her
00:48:14out
00:48:14we needed Nigel
00:48:18I'm Nigel Barker
00:48:19I'm gonna be your
00:48:20photographer for your
00:48:21fashion suit
00:48:23the network said to me
00:48:24we need a judge
00:48:25who is a photographer
00:48:26but this is what we want
00:48:28good looking
00:48:29straight and white
00:48:33I know he's got
00:48:35his Sri Lankan
00:48:36you know
00:48:36his mob
00:48:38I'm half Sri Lankan
00:48:39half English
00:48:40my mother's success
00:48:42as a fashion model
00:48:43gave her the ability
00:48:45to go to the UK
00:48:46and start a completely
00:48:47new life
00:48:49so perhaps more
00:48:50than other people
00:48:51we were acutely aware
00:48:53of what fashion
00:48:55and beauty could do
00:48:58I started modeling
00:48:59in the 80s
00:49:00and I was surrounded
00:49:01by the world's greatest
00:49:02photographers in fashion
00:49:03I looked at the industry
00:49:05and I thought
00:49:05well if I want to stay here
00:49:06there's only one side
00:49:08of this camera
00:49:08I need to be on
00:49:09and it's not this side
00:49:10it's that side
00:49:14I remember looking at Ken
00:49:15and being like
00:49:17I think this is the one
00:49:18I had no idea
00:49:19what I was in for
00:49:20come on out Nigel
00:49:21hi ladies
00:49:22hi
00:49:22how are ya
00:49:23he's just instantly
00:49:25charismatic
00:49:26you look glamorous
00:49:29charming
00:49:30the British accent
00:49:31we're like
00:49:32that guy's hot
00:49:33I'll never forget that
00:49:35we're like
00:49:35that guy's really hot
00:49:36he's been waiting
00:49:37to undress me for days
00:49:39oh my god
00:49:40we've got
00:49:41the tall
00:49:42sexy
00:49:43and very English
00:49:44Nigel Barker
00:49:45our photographer
00:49:46ladies
00:49:48when you know
00:49:48the network
00:49:49said to me
00:49:49we're looking for
00:49:50a good looking
00:49:51straight white photographer
00:49:52it did eat away at me
00:49:54it's like
00:49:55well the J's are a hit
00:49:56but we're not straight
00:49:57we're not white
00:49:58I mean
00:49:58networks are really
00:50:00that blunt
00:50:00they know what they
00:50:01want to see
00:50:02in what role
00:50:02so I
00:50:03didn't need to be
00:50:04the mean one
00:50:05or the funny one
00:50:06I would be the
00:50:07straight man
00:50:07eye candy
00:50:08and luckily
00:50:08that was my role
00:50:09on the show
00:50:10the theme
00:50:11for today's shoot
00:50:11is the Garden of Eden
00:50:13my first major shoot
00:50:15they were new
00:50:16bring in
00:50:17the Adams
00:50:18alright guys
00:50:19there were hundreds
00:50:21of people in this room
00:50:22and we're just standing
00:50:23butt naked
00:50:26I was nervous
00:50:26but it was like
00:50:27nervous and excitement
00:50:28all at the same time
00:50:30oh my goodness
00:50:31look at my butt
00:50:33I have a butt
00:50:35Jenny did you ever
00:50:36think you could
00:50:37look that beautiful
00:50:39the ugly duckling
00:50:40to the swan
00:50:41that was my story
00:50:43Miss Shandy
00:50:45with that brown hair
00:50:46that just looks like
00:50:47I'm stalking the shelf
00:50:49at Walgreens
00:50:51we are going to make
00:50:53you a platinum blonde
00:50:55I didn't feel
00:50:56really pretty then
00:50:58even though I was told
00:50:59I was pretty
00:51:00and that I was like
00:51:00the norm
00:51:01for beauty standards
00:51:02but I didn't feel that way
00:51:04everything just looks
00:51:05so good
00:51:05everything's come together
00:51:06and I feel so pretty
00:51:08I know
00:51:10I finally felt pretty
00:51:11and had some confidence
00:51:14that I didn't have before
00:51:24a lot of these girls
00:51:25came from very difficult
00:51:27family backgrounds
00:51:28who were not supported
00:51:29by their mom
00:51:29or their dad
00:51:31you heard a lot
00:51:32of those types of stories
00:51:33from girls
00:51:34who came to the show
00:51:34who were not getting
00:51:36validation at home
00:51:37but they were coming
00:51:38to the show
00:51:38to get validation
00:51:41I've gone through my life
00:51:43being you know
00:51:44the black sheep
00:51:45of the family
00:51:45and not having anyone
00:51:46to talk to
00:51:47or explain my feelings to
00:51:51I left home
00:51:54the summer after
00:51:55high school
00:51:56ended
00:51:56I was 18
00:51:57I packed up two suitcases
00:51:59and just
00:52:00bought a plane ticket
00:52:01and didn't tell my parents
00:52:03I was leaving
00:52:03and just
00:52:04saw my dad
00:52:05on the way out
00:52:06he's like
00:52:07where are you going
00:52:08I was like
00:52:08I'm moving
00:52:10I'm leaving
00:52:11and he's like
00:52:11alright
00:52:11have a nice life
00:52:12I was like
00:52:13alright bye
00:52:15I haven't felt
00:52:16loved by my parents
00:52:17in a long
00:52:17you know
00:52:18probably since
00:52:19I was a little kid
00:52:21hi
00:52:22hi
00:52:23hi
00:52:24darling
00:52:24hi how are you
00:52:26fine
00:52:26you're sleeping
00:52:27yes
00:52:28hi
00:52:29psychic intuitive works
00:52:30it's gonna be a lot of fun
00:52:31Susan's a psychic
00:52:32and we're gonna get
00:52:33the psychic consultation
00:52:36see I think
00:52:36what's going on
00:52:37with Shandy
00:52:37is Shandy and his family
00:52:39does anybody hug you
00:52:44that's okay
00:52:45Shandy
00:53:00it was heartbreaking
00:53:02and you want to be able
00:53:05to tell their story
00:53:06of what they've
00:53:08gone through
00:53:09in their life
00:53:10and how it's affecting
00:53:12their journey here
00:53:14seriously I think
00:53:15I've grown more
00:53:16in like the past
00:53:16couple weeks
00:53:17than I've grown
00:53:17like in the past
00:53:18couple years
00:53:19and if I go back
00:53:20home to like
00:53:20my life
00:53:21I don't want you
00:53:22to go back
00:53:22to your life
00:53:23before going
00:53:23there's always
00:53:24Walgreens
00:53:24yeah
00:53:24everyone's like
00:53:25no more Walgreens
00:53:26for Shandy
00:53:26look at that
00:53:27as your past
00:53:28and look at
00:53:28this whole experience
00:53:29as being
00:53:30your future
00:53:34I'm five foot nine
00:53:36I look so fine
00:53:37yes all my fans
00:53:38are so divine
00:53:39top models
00:53:40pack quick
00:53:40on the road
00:53:41always gone
00:53:42pack your bags
00:53:43y'all
00:53:43you're going to Milan
00:53:48wow
00:53:50I'm pretty much
00:53:51in shock
00:53:51I'm just like
00:53:53okay
00:53:54let's go
00:53:55let's go now
00:53:58going to Milan
00:54:00that was the first
00:54:01time we went
00:54:03abroad for the
00:54:04end of the show
00:54:06which is what the
00:54:07show became known
00:54:07for
00:54:09you know we tried
00:54:10to take the models
00:54:11to places where
00:54:12the industry was
00:54:13you know major
00:54:16those early cycles
00:54:17they really gave me
00:54:19complete autonomy
00:54:20with certain things
00:54:24we went to Verona
00:54:25because I knew
00:54:26we could get
00:54:26the location
00:54:28I just
00:54:29had this vision
00:54:30of this strong
00:54:31editorial
00:54:32with these women
00:54:34and just these gowns
00:54:35on these steps
00:54:37fabulous big
00:54:38Sanya
00:54:39designer's dream
00:54:44Shandy looked
00:54:44awesome
00:54:45with the hair
00:54:45the glasses
00:54:46the gown
00:54:49Shandy
00:54:49she looks like
00:54:50she's an Italian
00:54:51ball
00:54:51hand down
00:54:52baby
00:54:52I don't know
00:54:53how she came
00:54:53from Walgreens
00:54:54to this
00:54:55that's where
00:54:55they all come
00:54:55from Walgreens
00:54:56and Berry Queen
00:54:57Shandy
00:54:58completely
00:54:59blew me away
00:55:00this is perfection
00:55:02personified
00:55:03I'm crazy about it
00:55:04and you know what
00:55:05your long limbs
00:55:06really work very well
00:55:07the photographer
00:55:08gave notes
00:55:08to everyone
00:55:09not only were you
00:55:10his hands down
00:55:11favorite girl
00:55:12yours were some
00:55:12of the best
00:55:13photographs he's
00:55:14taken all year
00:55:14once I started
00:55:16hearing feedback
00:55:17from the judges
00:55:18on the photos
00:55:18I was like
00:55:20wow
00:55:22I actually
00:55:24have a chance
00:55:24to win
00:55:25this whole thing
00:55:25cool
00:55:32did you want
00:55:32to stay
00:55:33in the running
00:55:34did you want
00:55:35to win it all
00:55:36I did until
00:55:39until what
00:55:40happened in Milan
00:55:41and then I
00:55:42didn't care
00:55:45when we first
00:55:46got there
00:55:47they said
00:55:48you're gonna
00:55:48go to a bunch
00:55:49of ghosties
00:55:50ciao
00:55:50ciao
00:55:52here's how
00:55:52you'll be
00:55:52getting around
00:55:53Milan
00:55:53now come
00:55:54and choose
00:55:54your driver
00:55:55I was like
00:55:56that sounds
00:55:57really fun
00:56:02that was all
00:56:03day long
00:56:03it took
00:56:03all day long
00:56:07and then we
00:56:08went back
00:56:08to like
00:56:08our little
00:56:09house that
00:56:10we were
00:56:10staying at
00:56:11and I don't
00:56:12remember who
00:56:13said it
00:56:14but somebody
00:56:14was like
00:56:15how would
00:56:15you guys
00:56:15feel about
00:56:16having like
00:56:17the guys
00:56:18that were
00:56:18on the
00:56:19mopeds
00:56:19like come
00:56:20by and
00:56:22have dinner
00:56:22with you
00:56:22guys
00:56:23and like
00:56:23we'll have
00:56:23some wine
00:56:24and stuff
00:56:24I was like
00:56:25yeah that
00:56:26sounds fun
00:56:28I'm just
00:56:29excited
00:56:29just like
00:56:30have a night
00:56:31we were
00:56:32just like
00:56:32talking
00:56:33drinking
00:56:36I don't
00:56:37think I'd
00:56:38eaten anything
00:56:38at all
00:56:39or had
00:56:40any sleep
00:56:42I remember
00:56:43getting in
00:56:43the hot tub
00:56:44I remember
00:56:45April Mercedes
00:56:46getting in
00:56:46the hot tub
00:56:50and then
00:56:50I just
00:56:50remember
00:56:51the guy
00:56:51looking at
00:56:52me
00:56:52and I
00:56:52looked at
00:56:53him
00:56:53and I
00:56:54was pretty
00:56:54drunk
00:56:54at that
00:56:54point
00:56:58everything
00:56:58kind of
00:56:59after that
00:57:01it was just
00:57:02a blur
00:57:05all I remember
00:57:06is just like
00:57:06just like
00:57:07remember him
00:57:08on top
00:57:08of me
00:57:10I was
00:57:11blacked out
00:57:13no one did
00:57:14anything to
00:57:14stop it
00:57:17and it all
00:57:18got filmed
00:57:18all of it
00:57:21every moment
00:57:22of it
00:57:22a more
00:57:28difficult territory
00:57:29is Shandy
00:57:30Shandy
00:57:31okay
00:57:31you remember
00:57:32the story
00:57:33was Shandy
00:57:33um
00:58:04I
00:58:05I
00:58:06I
00:58:21made no
00:58:22mistake
00:58:23High heels, high stakes
00:58:25Can't forget, I made no mistake
00:58:34This thing, do your thing
00:58:36Top model, all I'm saying
00:59:04Top model, all I'm saying
00:59:51Top model, all I'm saying
01:00:21Top model, all I'm saying
01:00:23Top model, all I'm saying
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