TL;DR: America's Next Top Model is back in the cultural zeitgeist thanks to the Y2K fashion obsession and the new 2026 Netflix docuseries, The Price of the Smize. While the original show is a masterclass in "guilty pleasure" reality TV, it’s also a landmine of 2000s-era body shaming, problematic "makeovers," and questionable ethics. Best for Ages 14+ with plenty of context.
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If you missed the initial 24-season run, America's Next Top Model (ANTM) was the brainchild of supermodel Tyra Banks. It followed a group of aspiring models competing for a contract, featuring iconic (and often traumatizing) "makeover" episodes, high-fashion photo shoots, and a panel of judges who weren't exactly known for their "gentle parenting" styles.
In 2026, the show has found a second life. Between TikTok creators recreating "silent library" challenges and the massive viewership of the new docuseries The Price of the Smize, your teen is likely seeing Tyra Banks' face more often than yours right now.
It’s easy to dismiss this as "brain rot," but there’s a reason America's Next Top Model is trending again:
- The Y2K Aesthetic: Gen Z and Gen Alpha are obsessed with the early 2000s. The low-rise jeans, the thin eyebrows, and the digital camera grain of the early seasons are peak "aesthetic" right now.
- The Drama: Reality TV today is often polished and influencer-heavy. ANTM was raw, messy, and featured people who weren't afraid to be "the villain" before "clout" was even a word.
- The "Call-Out" Culture: A lot of teens are watching it through a lens of irony or social criticism. They love pointing out how "canceled" the judges would be today.
- The New Docuseries: Netflix’s 2026 hit The Price of the Smize has pulled back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes treatment of contestants, turning the original show into a "true crime" style fascination.
Let’s be real: ANTM hasn’t aged well. If your teen is bingeing the original cycles, here’s what you’re actually dealing with:
The early 2000s were the era of "heroin chic" and the "size zero" obsession. You will hear judges tell girls who are a healthy size 4 that they are "plus-sized" or "losing their neck." For a teen struggling with body image, this can be incredibly triggering.
The show frequently put contestants in high-stress, sleep-deprived situations to manufacture drama. The 2026 docuseries highlights how little support these young women had. It’s a great opening to talk about how "reality" TV is constructed and how people can be exploited for entertainment.
Race and Cultural Insensitivity
There are several episodes across the 24 cycles that feature "cultural" photo shoots involving darkened skin tones or stereotypical costumes that are, frankly, horrifying by today’s standards. These aren't just "of their time"—they were controversial even then, and they require a real conversation about why they were wrong.
Learn more about navigating problematic legacy media with your kids
If the toxicity of America's Next Top Model is a bit much for your family, but your teen loves the fashion and competition, try these instead:
While still a reality competition, it focuses on the skill of design rather than just the physical attributes of the models. It’s much more "pro-creator" and less "pro-shaming."
This makeup artistry competition is incredibly creative, diverse, and generally much kinder. It celebrates unique beauty rather than trying to fit everyone into a 2004-style box.
For the teen who is actually interested in the industry of fashion, this documentary provides a fascinating (and much more realistic) look at Vogue and the work that goes into high fashion.
Wait, a farming game? Hear me out. If your teen is stressed by the high-pressure social dynamics of reality TV, a "cozy game" like Stardew Valley is the perfect digital palate cleanser. No one is going to judge their "smize" while they're harvesting parsnips.
- Ages 11-13: Probably a skip. The nuances of the irony are lost here, and the body image messaging is too potent during the peak of puberty.
- Ages 14-16: Watch together. This is the prime age for the "media literacy" talk. Use the 2026 docuseries The Price of the Smize as a companion piece to deconstruct what they’re seeing in the original show.
- Ages 17+: They’ve likely already seen the memes. At this point, it’s about making sure they recognize the difference between "fashion" and "exploitation."
Don't go in with a lecture. Use the "Screenwise Method" of curious questioning:
- "I saw that clip of the makeover episode—how would you feel if a boss told you that you had to shave your head to keep your job?"
- "The judges are being really harsh about her weight. Do you think people still talk like that in the fashion industry today, or has it changed?"
- "Why do you think the producers chose to edit that girl as the 'villain'?"
America's Next Top Model is a fascinating, often cringey relic of the past that has somehow become the "it" show of 2026. It isn't "dangerous" in the way an unmoderated social app might be, but it is heavy on outdated social values.
If your teen is watching, don't ban it—that just makes it cooler. Instead, use it as a bridge to talk about how much our culture has (hopefully) grown since Tyra first told us to "make it fashion."
Next Steps:
- Watch the first episode of The Price of the Smize on Netflix to understand the current controversy.
- Ask your teen who their favorite "cycle" winner is—it’s an easy way to start the conversation.
- Take our Screenwise Survey to see how your teen's reality TV consumption compares to other families in your community.