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After 12 years, 22 seasons, and more Tyra meltdowns than we can even begin to count, America’s Next Top Model is coming to an end. Though we will absolutely mourn what could’ve been, it’s hard to be sad when the series has gifted us with some of the greatest moments in reality television history. From awful makeovers, to epic breakdowns, to cringeworthy catwalk falls, let us remember all the good times that were had.
1. "We were all rooting for you!" from season 4
Okay, let’s just talk about amazing this is for a minute. I don’t know for sure, but I kind of want to say that this clip is the exact reason why YouTube was invented. Basically so that we could have the ability to rewatch it forever and ever until the end of time.
In what is pretty much the #1 crazy moment of reality TV on every list ever made, Tyra absolutely loses her mind and almost pops a forehead vein while screaming at Tiffany, a girl who, according to Tyra, just wasn’t taking the competition seriously in season 4. Tyra claims that she felt a maternal bond with Tiffany and after she watched the girl screw up time and time again due to a bad attitude, she just lost it. The line “I have never yelled at a girl like this in my LIFE” made history — and is now a go-to quote for cheer captains and sorority recruitment chairs, alike.
2. Elyse's rant from Season 1
As anyone who has ever been to an all-girls school, been a member of an all-girls team, or lived in an all-girls dorm knows, there is absolutely a thing as too much estrogen. And sometimes, well, it just gets the best of you.
After bunking in tight quarters with 20 other 20-somethings, poor Elyse of season 1 was just tired of the drama. And, so, in one of the most epic reality TV breakdowns ever, she went off in the confessional room. No one — including the judges — was safe from her verbal assault. She summed it up pretty perfectly when, right before getting up and walking out of the room, she looked at the camera with dead eyes and quietly said “Ugh. You bitches.” And with that, a reality TV star was born.
3. Danielle's crawl from Season 6
Poor Danielle.
In season 6, Tyra decided to up the ante and make the girls walk the runway in dangerously high heels. While most of them were surprisingly able to do it with relative ease, there were a few blunders — though none quite as bad as this one. In one of the most embarrassing moments in America’s Next Top Model history (and that says a lot), Danielle has such trouble walking that she literally has to crawl off the stage.
Try to watch it and not die of laughter. We dare you.
4. Rebecca's faint in season 4
Season 4 of America’s Next Top Model played this clip relentlessly — and for good reason. In the mid-2000s, reality TV was still pretty new — remember, this was before Kourtney desensitized all of us to pretty much everything ever when she pulled Mason out of her on the delivery room table — and clips like this served to show just how “real” and “omg shocking” reality television could be.
Obviously, the model, Rebecca, was totally fine and either just dehydrated or attention starved, but that one little collapse solidified her place in reality TV history.
5. Shandi's confession in season 2
Season 2 was basically just one crazy moment after another, but the worst episode was when the former ugly duckling turned knockout, Shandi, cheated on her boyfriend with a European model. It was pretty much one of the first times (again, reality TV was practically a zygote at this point) where viewers realized that most things were likely either staged or set up…and poor Shandi was set up to cheat on her boyfriend by producers. After being plied with alcohol and shoved in a hot tub with male models, the former band geek made the regrettable decision of kissing another guy. Of course, the deed, her resulting meltdown, and subsequent confession were all caught on camera for the world to see. Basically, it was this exact moment where all current 20-somethings were like “hmm...maybe I don’t actually want to be on reality TV.”
6. The nude girl-on-girl shoot in season 2
Ah. Another season 2 clip, why are we surprised? America’s Next Top Model was really at its prime during the first 6 or so seasons because everything was still so new and fresh. Nothing had yet been repeated. While still on the UPN channel, ANTM shocked the country by doing a girl-on-girl nude modeling segment…on primetime television. It was edgy, it was raw, and it was controversial. Basically, it was perfect reality TV.
7. Cassandra's makeover in season 5
Cassandra Whitehead was on season 5 of America’s Next Top Model and arrived on set with long, luscious, beautiful brown hair. Of course, knowing Tyra’s love for drastic makeovers, the Texas beauty’s hair was promptly chopped off and dyed blonde. After a loud — though expected — breakdown, Cassandra decided to accept her new look and make it work, but when stylists later wanted to cut her hair even more, Cassandra called it quits. In what was the greatest walk off ever, Cassandra basically said “Screw you guys. I’m going back to Texas where they sell hair extensions. Peace.”
8. The moving runway in season 7
In season 7, Tyra decided to spice things up by making the girls walk on a moving runway. And as if that wasn’t hard enough, the runway was over a pool of water. Of course, one of the girls had a dramatic spill into the water and of course, all of the judges acted surprised and a little bit miffed when it happened. Luckily, Eugenia was okay — though we’re not so sure her ego will ever be the same. After all, YouTube clips live forever.
9. Jade's evil plans in season 6
Jade of season 6 was probably the evil-iest evil villain to ever grace America’s Next Top Model, though to be fair, she owned the title. Justifying her mean girl attitude and ruthless, backstabbing ways, Jade explained to the girls that ANTM stood for “America’s Next Top Model” and not “America’s Next Top Best Friend” as some of her housemates seemed to think. While we do commend the fact that she owned her behavior, we will say that we’re happy to no longer have her on our televisions.
10. Tyra's circle of trust in season 8
For the most part, Tyra means well, but every now and again she puts on her therapist hat and chaos ensues. After hearing about a girl who wasn’t making friends in the house or really getting along with others, Tyra decided to take control of the situation. While most viewers expected her to ask the girls what was going on and help them sort out their problems, Tyra instead decided to have the other housemates simply go around in a circle and tell this poor girl why they hated her.
Yikes. And you thought your friend group was crazy sometimes.
11. The moving runway, part 2
Yes! Another fall. While it might seem mean to laugh at someone’s misfortunes, I have to justify it by saying “isn’t that the point of reality TV?”
Tricky Tyra decided to screw with her girls yet again by...yes, yet again making them walk on a scary runway. This time the runway featured a swinging pendulum. Unsurprisingly, poor Alexandra got knocked off the runway not once, but twice and busted up her leg (and her ego) in the process.
12. Eva's arachnophobia in season 3
Season 3 had the girls posing with a tarantula which, yes, is terrifying. But sometimes you have to do things you don’t like in order win a competition that will quite literally change your life. While most of the girls were scared, all but one sucked it up and dealt with it...save for Eva. For what seemed like the entire episode, Eva the Diva SOBBED over having to pose with a spider though, unsurprisingly, when push came to shove, she wiped her tears, posed, and looked fabulous.
Let this be a reminder that maybe your job isn’t as bad as you think. At least you don’t have to play with spiders.
13. Tyra, Tyra, Tyra
If we’re being really honest, Tyra’s crazy moments are probably the best thing about America’s Next Top Model. Every now and then she just unleashes a nugget of “WTF did she just say?” and it’s nothing short of spectacular. Those, without a doubt, will be the most missed. Oh, Tyra. Never change.
Related: Tyra Banks and Bryanboy on America's Next Top Model: College Edition
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