ANTM’s Most Controversial: Where Are They Now?

The Unvarnished Truth: Where are the America’s Next Top Model Contestants Now?

For over a decade, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) captivated audiences with its blend of high fashion aspirations and raw reality television drama. Often likened to a “Hunger Games” for the fashion world, the show subjected its contestants to intense scrutiny, demanding makeovers, and emotional breakdowns. While the glitz and glamour were on full display, a new Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, is pulling back the curtain on the often-traumatic experiences of the young women who competed for the title. This exposé has left many wondering about the current whereabouts and well-being of these former hopefuls.

The series itself was a product of its time, launched in 2003 by Tyra Banks, a groundbreaking Black supermodel who navigated the fashion industry as an outsider. However, the show she created often seemed to punish individuality, pushing contestants towards a singular, often unattainable, ideal. As former host Miss Jay acknowledged in the documentary, many contestants hailed from impoverished and unstable backgrounds, seeking validation and a way out through the show. This vulnerability, the documentary suggests, made them prime targets for exploitation by unscrupulous reality TV producers, a pattern that played out over 24 cycles.

The podcast The Curse of America’s Next Top Model hints at a darker reality, and the title is far from metaphorical. Since the show’s inception, many alumni have spoken out about their struggles with eating disorders, alleged sexual assaults, career sabotage, and the profound grief of losing loved ones. The directors of Reality Check, Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy, known for their work on documentaries about war crimes and geopolitical catastrophes, bring an unflinching gaze to the legacy of America’s Next Top Model, a show ostensibly about aspiring models posing and undergoing dramatic makeovers.

The central question lingering after watching Reality Check is a poignant one: did the immense pain endured by these contestants ultimately lead them anywhere meaningful? For some, like Leila Goldkuhl and Winnie Harlow, the answer is a resounding yes, leading to runways in Paris, editorials in Italian Vogue, and exclusive campaigns. However, for others, the journey has been marked by grief, financial ruin, and lasting mental health challenges.

Let’s take a look at where some of the most memorable America’s Next Top Model contestants are today:

Shandi Sullivan, Cycle 2

Shandi Sullivan, then 21, was a Walgreens cashier from her hometown when she applied for Cycle 2. Her unique, almost Tim Burton-esque aesthetic initially set her apart from the more polished contestants. Despite early criticism, a dramatic makeover that left her with striking platinum blonde hair revealed an ethereal quality that impressed the judges. However, Shandi’s time on the show became mired in controversy.

While filming in Milan, the show broadcasted a segment depicting what was framed as a cheating scandal. Shandi, who had a boyfriend back home, appeared in bed with a male model at the contestants’ apartment. Her tearful phone call confessing to her boyfriend, Eric, became a pivotal moment in ANTM history. In the Reality Check documentary, Shandi revealed a disturbing truth: she alleges the encounter was an assault. She claims producers invited men over and provided alcohol, leaving her heavily intoxicated and “blacked out.” She remembers only fragments of the event, stating she was aware something was happening but could recall little more than “him on top of me. Then I passed out.” Crucially, she asserts that the cameras continued to roll throughout the alleged assault. “No one did anything to stop it and it got filmed. All of it. Every moment of it,” she recounted in the documentary.

Creative consultant Jay Manuel noted that while ANTM had a rule against cameras following contestants into bathrooms alone, this protection didn’t apply as Shandi was technically not alone. Executive producer Ken Mok defended the production’s approach, stating they “treated Top Model as a documentary.” Shandi also revealed that her phone call to her boyfriend was delayed until she agreed to film it, and that both a soundman and cameraman later apologised to her.

Where Is Shandi Sullivan Now?

Shandi has since stepped away from the modelling world. Her relationship with Eric ended about a year after the show aired. She now hosts her own horror movie podcast, Urn Fulla Popcorn.

Shannon Stewart, Cycle 1

At 18, Shannon Stewart from Franklin, Ohio, was the runner-up in the very first cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2003. Her quiet Christian faith and reserved demeanour, defined by her own admission as a virgin who didn’t drink or smoke, made her something of an enigma on a show designed for drama. Alongside Robin Manning, she notably refused to participate in a nude photoshoot in episode seven, a decision that the inaugural season is now commended for respecting rather than ridiculing.

After securing second place, Shannon moved to New York and signed with a modelling agency. Her career included print work for brands like Bakers Shoes and Dillard’s, and appearances in publications such as ELLE Girl. She later returned for the All-Stars cycle, finishing in sixth place.

Where Is Shannon Stewart Now?

Shannon found the modelling industry lacked depth once the cameras stopped rolling. She has expressed growing tired of “being seen only on the surface.” She now hosts a podcast called Out of Focus, which she describes as a platform for “real, raw stories about identity, pressure, faith, and what happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would.” She is also writing a memoir of the same title. Shannon and her husband lead a church community in North Carolina called Be Renewed. She makes a brief appearance in Reality Check.

Robin Manning, Cycle 1

Robin Manning, at 26, was the eldest contestant in the inaugural Cycle 1 of ANTM. She was often edited as the season’s antagonist, her devout Christian faith clashing with the more secular views of her housemates, particularly Elyse Sewell. As the series’ first plus-size model, Robin was eliminated after refusing a nude photoshoot. Former judge Janice Dickinson frequently commented on Robin’s age and size, suggesting she was too old and too large to pursue a modelling career. She ultimately placed fourth.

Where Is Robin Manning Now?

Following America’s Next Top Model, Robin pursued acting, appearing in films like Holla (2006) and Without You (2005). She also engaged in print work, including modelling for church-related publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine and Grace magazine. Additionally, she featured in hat campaigns for the plus-size fashion brand Especially Yours.

Tiffany Richardson, Cycle 4

The infamous moment Tyra Banks rose from the judging table and screamed, “WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU,” at Tiffany Richardson has become one of television’s most viral clips. However, according to Reality Check, the experience on set that day was harrowing. The full quote from Banks was: “I have never in my life yelled at a girl like this. When my mother yells like this it’s because she loves me. I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you!”

Tiffany had previously attempted to join ANTM in Cycle 3 but was disqualified after a physical altercation during a night out in West Hollywood. She returned for Cycle 4, informing the judges that she had completed anger management. During a challenge requiring her to read complex names from a teleprompter, she struggled and eventually gave up, refusing to continue. Banks interpreted this act as a reflection of Tiffany’s character and her unwillingness to seize opportunities. Upon her elimination, Tiffany met the dramatic atmosphere with a stoic, wry remark: “Cheer up, waterheads,” she told her tearful fellow contestants. Banks, in turn, completely lost composure.

Former judge Nigel Barker later commented that the outburst was not humorous in person. He added that not everything Banks said made it to air and that lawyers were present on set the following week. Jay Manuel corroborated this, stating he would “probably never repeat the lines that were said in that room that day.” Banks herself has acknowledged her actions were excessive, reflecting that the moment encompassed more than just Tiffany, but also the broader struggles faced by Black women, societal pressures, and the constant battle against being told they are “not good enough.”

Tiffany has since labelled Banks a “bully” on Instagram. In a now-deleted post, she reportedly wrote that Banks had treated her “like shit” both on and off camera and had “said the nastiest things about me and my son.” She also claimed the viral scene was edited to suggest Banks’ anger stemmed from care, when the reality of her words was quite different.

Where Is Tiffany Richardson Now?

Tiffany stepped away from modelling after the show, later admitting she was “young and crazy” at the time and regretted not capitalising more on the opportunity. In 2017, she found a new calling in caring for individuals with mental disabilities at a group home, a role she credits with profoundly changing her as a person.

Tragedy struck in October 2023. As reported by The Sun, Tiffany’s son, Chadrick, whom she had spoken about during her time on Cycle 4, was fatally shot at a GameStop store in Florida. Reports indicate Chadrick allegedly attempted to steal approximately $600 worth of Pokémon cards from behind a counter. A manager, an ex-Marine, reportedly fired what they described as a “warning shot,” which tragically struck and killed Chadrick, a 21-year-old Miami college student.

Leila Goldkuhl, Cycle 19

Leila Goldkuhl’s story stands out as one with a genuinely positive outcome, at least within the fashion industry’s competitive landscape. Hailing from Massachusetts, Leila had studied marine biology and textile design before entering Cycle 19, the ill-conceived “College Edition,” in 2012. She quickly became a standout, earning a perfect score of 30 for her taxidermy photoshoot in episode two. Despite being eliminated in week five, the show’s new social media twist allowed eliminated contestants to have their photos scored by the public. Leila, with the highest average fan score, was voted back into the competition in episode nine, much to the chagrin of her fellow contestants and vindication of the judges. She finished third, paving the way for a career that would soon overshadow the show’s drama.

Where Is Leila Goldkuhl Now?

In 2013, Leila signed with Next Model Management in Los Angeles. She worked in Australia and South Korea before achieving a career-defining moment: a worldwide exclusive runway debut for Givenchy during their Spring/Summer 2016 show in September 2015. Since then, she has walked for esteemed designers and brands including Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Chanel, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Valentino, and Versace. Her work has graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, multiple editions of Vogue, V, W, and Marie Claire. In 2015, Cosmopolitan recognised her as one of the most successful contestants in the franchise’s history. By 2018, Models.com ranked her among the top 50 working models globally. She married photographer Robbie Masterson in 2017 and they have two children.

Whitney Thompson, Cycle 10

Whitney Thompson made history as the first plus-size winner of America’s Next Top Model, though the show’s relationship with this achievement was notably complex from the outset. Thompson, a Florida native who modelled throughout Cycle 10, found herself in a typical ANTM predicament: praised for representing “real women” one moment, only to be undermined the next. She recounted instances where nothing on set fit her, requiring production to cut open and clamp garments, an experience she described as “demeaning.” Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, she emphasised that “failure wasn’t an option,” not just for her but for “every single curvy woman (and man) watching.”

Where Is Whitney Thompson Now?

After her win in 2008, Thompson modelled for CoverGirl, Saks Fifth Avenue, and appeared on the cover of Italian Vogue. She later transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding Supermodel, a jewellery and candle brand, in 2009. She married artist Ian Forrester in 2014 and has two children. Currently, she owns and operates Pink Pelican, an ice cream and fudge parlour in Panama City, Florida. Whitney appears in Reality Check.

Danielle ‘Dani’ Evans, Cycle 6

Dani Evans grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, in what she described as a home with “black mould and roaches.” Her brother encouraged her to apply for ANTM as a means of escape. Upon arriving for Cycle 6, she had a gap between her front teeth that she cherished, a feature that connected her to her grandmothers. The show, however, had different plans. Tyra Banks famously questioned on camera, “Do you really think you can have a CoverGirl contract with the gap in your mouth? It’s not marketable.” Dani initially refused to have it altered. Banks persisted, and the show nearly eliminated her. Ultimately, Dani relented, explaining, “It was my one-way ticket out on one side, or keeping my gap and going back to Little Rock, Arkansas. What you think I’m gonna choose, fam?”

Remarkably, she won the cycle regardless. Ironically, a few seasons later, the show sent another model to the dentist to have her gap widened. When asked about this in the documentary, Evans responded with disbelief: “Girl, that is absolutely ridiculous.” Banks has since offered an apology, citing pressure from industry agents who advised her that Evans “will not get work with those teeth.” In Reality Check, Evans rejected the apology, stating, “Bull f—ing s—. Me getting my gap closed is not opening any doors for me.” She also revealed that Banks later admitted to her directly: “I knew there were certain doors you couldn’t get into because you did ANTM and I did nothing about it.” Evans has spoken about spending “twenty years in the real modelling industry” facing rejection because of the show’s stigma, lamenting, “It’s my life and it was toyed with constantly.”

Where Is Dani Evans Now?

Dani Evans did build a successful modelling career after the show, working with Ford Models, CoverGirl, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret, and appearing in campaigns for Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. In 2017, she founded Monrowe, a unisex line of ready-to-wear hats named after her jazz musician grandfather. She is currently working on a memoir and describes her journey as one of “awakening, both spiritually and emotionally.”

Isis King, Cycle 11 & All-Stars (Cycle 17)

When Isis King first appeared at an ANTM Cycle 10 photoshoot, not as a contestant but as an observer, creative consultant Jay Manuel noticed her and suggested she consider auditioning. Tyra Banks, watching from the sidelines, sent a producer to find her and encourage the same. This serendipitous encounter led America’s Next Top Model to cast its first openly transgender woman, albeit unintentionally. What was not accidental was the talent and presence King brought to Cycle 11 in 2008.

King arrived with seven years of experience competing in New York’s underground ball culture scene, the vibrant world immortalised in Paris Is Burning. She possessed a natural runway walk. At the time, she was living at the Ali Forney Centre, a shelter for LGBTQ homeless youth in New York, a detail the show didn’t heavily emphasise but which underscored the precariousness of the life she was striving to escape. GLAAD’s president hailed her casting as an “unprecedented opportunity.” New York magazine named her the season’s cause célèbre. She placed tenth, eliminated before the coveted overseas trip, a particularly harsh blow given her circumstances. She later returned for the All-Stars cycle in 2011, finishing in twelfth place.

Where Is Isis King Now?

King has become, by a considerable margin, the most successful actress to emerge from any ANTM cycle. According to IMDB in 2019, she appeared in Ava DuVernay’s Emmy-winning Netflix series When They See Us, portraying Marci Wise, the deceased older sister of Korey Wise in the Central Park Five narrative – a role with clear personal resonance. She has since appeared in The L Word: Generation Q, Shameless, Good Trouble, and The Bold and the Beautiful. From 2021 to 2023, she starred as Sol Perez in the Amazon Prime romantic comedy series With Love.

On the runway, she has walked for Fenty by Rihanna, Christian Cowan, Betsey Johnson, and Gabrielle Union’s line for New York & Company. She has fronted campaigns for Savage X Fenty, Verizon, IKEA, and Abercrombie & Fitch, among others. King is a GLAAD ambassador and has served on the board of the Ali Forney Center, the same shelter where she once resided. She boasts 170,000 followers on Instagram.

Winnie Harlow, Cycle 21

With a portfolio featuring some of the world’s most prestigious brands and fashion houses, Winnie Harlow is undeniably the most successful contestant in America’s Next Top Model history. However, she maintains that the series “didn’t do anything” for her career. In a 2018 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Harlow stated that her success truly began after the show, noting, “[My success] started after the show, ‘cause that really didn’t do anything for my career. Which, it doesn’t do anything for any model’s career, realistically.” She added, “I thought, ‘That’s going to be a career starter.’ But it was really a reality TV show. That’s not what I signed up for.”

Harlow’s breakthrough came when British photographer Nick Knight contacted her after seeing her photos online. The subsequent photoshoot went viral. “I got campaigns from there, and it hasn’t stopped since,” Harlow said. She has since walked for Marc Jacobs, Schiaparelli, Versace, Coach, and Moschino. She holds the distinction of being the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway. In 2018, she attended the Met Gala with esteemed American designer Tommy Hilfiger, cementing her status as a fashion icon. She has been a regular attendee at the event since. Harlow has a massive 10 million followers on Instagram, surpassing Tyra Banks herself. On Instagram, she has vocally pushed back against headlines that frame her condition as suffering, stating, “I’m sick of every headline ending in ‘Vitiligo Sufferer’ or ‘Suffers from Vitiligo.’ Do you see me suffering? The only thing I’m Suffering from are your headlines and the closed minds of humans who have one beauty standard locked into their minds when there are multiple standards of beauty!”

Winnie Harlow is currently engaged to NBA player Kyle Kuzma.

What Is The Curse Of America’s Next Top Model?

The term “curse” often refers to the alleged negative aftermath experienced by many contestants, including eating disorders, mental health struggles, career setbacks, and personal tragedies. While some found significant success, the show’s demanding and often exploitative environment has been a subject of intense scrutiny.

Who Was The Most Successful America’s Next Top Model Contestant?

Winnie Harlow is widely considered the most successful America’s Next Top Model contestant of all time. Despite finishing sixth in her cycle, she has graced major runways, made history with Victoria’s Secret, and amassed an estimated net worth of $5 million USD.