Reality-Based Television: America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model (ANTM) is a fashion-themed, one-hour reality-based television program in which women compete in various modeling challenges for the chance to earn a contract with a major modeling agency, become a spokesperson for a well-known cosmetics company (CoverGirl), and be featured in a fashion photo spread in a national or international magazine. The program was created by former runway and Victoria's Secret model Tyra Banks, and it premiered on the United Paramount Network (UPN) on May 20, 2003. On September 20, 2006, ANTM began airing on the CW Network, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. Since 2003, ANTM has had 15 cycles (or seasons), with each cycle lasting between 9 and 13 weeks. The program airs two cycles per year, usually in September and March. Like most reality programs, ANTM's seasons tend to be shorter than non-reality-based programs, which typically have seasons ranging between 20 and 24 episodes. Show participants are required to be 5 feet, 7 inches in height or taller, and between the ages of 18 and 27. The program tried a new approach in cycle 13, accepting only women shorter than 5 feet, 7 inches.

The format for ANTM has remained constant since the show began. The first episode highlights the audition process and features between 20 and 24 young women who compete with one another to win one of 14 coveted spots to be on the show. Once the participants are chosen, they move into a luxurious house or apartment together, usually in New York or Los Angeles. Each episode, which covers approximately one week of real time, features a modeling challenge and a photo shoot. Challenges are associated with a theme in the world of modeling, such as appearing in a runway show, learning how to pose, perfecting the runway walk, selling a commercial product, or visiting prospective employers in “go sees” (a “go see” is a visit to a designer who is looking to hire a model for his or her next fashion show). Models are critiqued on their portfolio pictures, how they look in and display clothes, and how they walk. Challenge winners usually receive a material prize, such as diamond jewelry, a night in a luxury hotel suite, or a designer gown. The second half of the show consists of a photo shoot, which usually involves a theme. Some past themes have included posing with animals (such as snakes, sheep, and horses), incorporating nature into a pose (standing next to a tree with leaves painted on the body), and beauty shots (close-up photos focusing on the face, usually used in cosmetics ads). At the end of each episode, all of the contestants appear before a panel of judges who critique each contestant's photo and comment on how well she performed in the photo shoot and other exercises. Tyra calls contestants individually, hands the models their photos, and tells each whether she is “still in the running to become America's next top model.” The first person called is also the one voted best photo of the week. This woman has her photo displayed in the house for one week as digital art. One contestant is eliminated at the end of each episode.

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