Last week’s episode of America’s Next Top Model was an emotional one, with contestant Jeana — who suffers from alopecia — removing her wig and gaining back her confidence. This week’s episode was far darker, with two contestants having emotional breakdowns, and one quitting the competition altogether.
Liz, the contestant whose quirky pink hair matched her personality, admitted having trouble living with the other girls. During the previous panel, she actually was the bully, bringing up Brendi’s strained family relationship.
Already in a fragile state, Liz was pushed over the edge when the other girls stayed up partying while she tried to sleep. Admitting that she gets “emotionally disregulated” when she doesn’t get enough rest, Liz confronted the partyers before leaving the house in the middle of the night. No contestant in the show’s history 24-season history has ever left the house.
Reality TV sets are very controlled environments, and Liz’s departure was both unexpected and disruptive. She ended up showing up to panel the next day, where host Tyra Banks intervened — another first. Opting to put her health before her modeling career, Liz left the show altogether.
Other contestants have been victims of bullying on the show, notably Victoria in Cycle 19. Demelza Reveley, the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model in 2008, reportedly lost a cover of Vogue Australia reportedly in part to her bullying of a fellow contestant during her season.
Only a handful of ANTM contestants have ever quit the show: Cassandra in Cycle 5 quit over her hair, Ebony in Cycle 7 chose to leave during panel, as did Louise and Alisha in Cycle 18. Kimberly in Cycle 10 and Ondrei in Cycle 16 left because they were grieving loved ones. In Cycle 19, Maria quit after refusing to cut her hair or pose nude. Liz is the first contestant to quit over bullying.
Despite Liz’s departure, the elimination panel was still held. Contestant Rhiyan found herself in the bottom two after continually repeating that she felt like she wasn’t good enough. Earlier in the episode, she revealed that she would feel better if she lost weight, leading contestant Rio to speculate that Rhiyan had body dysmorphia (a potentially debilitating mental disorder). During panel, Rhiyan was so emotionally upset that she couldn’t even look at the judges.
“Sometimes we look in the mirror and we don’t see our own beauty,” Banks told a teary Rhiyan after she got eliminated.
For more resources, check out www.stopbullying.gov (sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services) and the Mayo Clinic’s entry on body dysmorphic disorder.
