Whether you’ve been watching America’s Next Top Model since Cycle 1 or you’re new to the reality show’s fabulous diva dramas and fashion fights, there’s been plenty of excitement both on and off the screen. With a new cycle set to return on January 9, here are 20 facts about the highs and lows of Tyra Banks‘ America’s Next Top Model.
Avon Calling?
Cycle 1 winner Adrianne Curry is now an Avon Lady. She sells Avon, not as a model, but as a representative. The former contestant recently revealed that she’s so good at selling Avon that she was among the top 30 sellers nationwide.
International Love
45 countries have their own Top Model versions of the show, including Vietnam, Estonia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Several more countries are starting their first season of the show this year, including Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar. There are also many multi-country competitions like Asia’s Next Top Model, Caribbean’s Next Top Model, Benelux’ Next Top Model, and Africa’s Next Top Model.
America’s Next Top Chef?
The ANTM house doesn’t come with personal chefs or a cleaning crew — the contestants are responsible for doing all their own cooking and cleaning in the house.
I Will Always Love Yaya
In 2015, Cycle 3 runner-up Yaya DaCosta starred as Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biographical drama about the singer’s life. The film was the directorial debut of actress Angela Bassett. Since her elimination from the reality show, DaCosta has appeared in several films and TV shows and currently has a starring role in the NBC series Chicago Med.
Smells Like ANTM
ANTM has its own perfume. Called Dream Come True, the fragrance is described as “an upbeat, optimistic, and sweet fragrance, designed to evoke the glorious moment of victory.”
Hermione Your Own Business
Sophie Sumner, runner-up of Britain’s Next Top Model’s Cycle 5 and winner of Cycle 18 of America’s Next Top Model, once lived with British Harry Potter actress Emma Watson. The pair met when they both attended the private boarding school for girls, Headington School, and have been friends ever since.
Musical Model
In 2008, Cycle 5 winner Lisa D’Amato launched a rap, electro-rap, and hip-hop music career. She has since released two albums, collaborated with Grammy-nominated record producer Cisco Adler on several tracks, and performed at Coachella, SXSW, and various clubs around Hollywood and Vegas.
A Wink and a Nod
In Cycle 1, ANTM judge Janice Dickinson liked Elyse Sewell so much that she would wink at her whenever the contestant was safe. In the final three, when the judges returned from deliberation, Janice shook her head at Elyse before the announcement so Sewell knew she was about to be eliminated.
Nigel’s Model Past
The mother of ANTM judge and photographer Nigel Barker was a former Miss Sri Lanka contestant. This early exposure to modeling reportedly played a big role in Barker’s respect for the profession.
Tyra Who?
Contestants only see Tyra once a week. Despite the limited time with the contestants, the aspiring models all appreciate the time she gives. In an article for Bustle, Cycle 9 contestant Sarah Hartshorne revealed “I only saw her once a week, and there were a lot of us and only one of her, but she was always very nice and insanely knowledgeable about basically everything. Tyra Banks should be the mayor.”
A Winning Winner
Cycle 15 winner Ann Ward was the first contestant to rank first among the models for the first five weeks of the show.
The Biggest Loser
Cycle 10 winner Whitney Thompson landed in the bottom two a total of four times, making her the winner with most bottom two appearances.
Sci-Fi Models
In 2011, Tyra Banks released a YA sci-fi fantasy book titled Modelland which was loosely based on her modeling experience.
A Contestant With Balls
Cycle 21 winner Keith Carlos had a short-lived career in the NFL, having signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and the New York Giants in 2013.
Maybe Stick to Modelling?
The final six contestants of Cycle 2 appeared in Tyra Banks’ music video “Shake Ya Body.” Later, Tyra bashed her music career on Watch What Happens Live, saying, “Let me just do a public service announcement right now. My name is Tyra Banks and I’m here to tell you that you may have a dream, you may have something that burns inside of your heart and desire — but if you do not have the talent for it, boo, let it go.”
A Different Kind of Therapy
Cycle 9 winner Saleisha Stowers made an appearance in Robin Thicke’s 2009 music video “Sex Therapy.”
Blood and Struts
Despite how the aspiring model was depicted on the show, Cycle 12 runner-up Allison Harvard wasn’t really obsessed with blood. She says her comments were edited out of context. In a Reddit AMA, the former contestant revealed, “Editing is truly ridiculous. Before everything was spliced up–I had prefaced that statement with my fascination in forensics–and–genetic blood disorders. I used to want to be a mortician and I have always been intrigued by human anatomy. Blood is interesting to me but I never meant for it to come out like a Halloween-esque statement.”
Internet Famous
In her teens, Allison Harvard was also an internet meme known as “Creepy Chan.” The future ANTM contestant was active on sites like DeviantArt and Flickr in the mid-2000s for sharing her art and creepy photos which caught the attention of the internet.
When Tyra Met Miss J
Tyra and Miss J first met backstage at a runway show. The pair quickly became friends when Miss J helped Tyra perfect her catwalk strut. Tyra was also responsible for giving the future ANTM runway coach the nickname “Queen of the Catwalk.”
Beauty Comes In All Ages
For the first time in the reality TV show’s 15 years on air, this year’s America’s Next Top Model removed the age limit for applicants. In previous years, applicants had to be 27 years or under, but now the title is up for grabs for anyone over the age of 18.
America’s Next Top Model Cycle 24 premieres on January 9 on VH1.