Catch the tea in ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
Catch the tea in ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
The three-part series offers the inside scoop on the 24-season reality show, from Tyra Banks, judges, & contestants.
“America's Next Top Model” captivated audiences with its fun fashion competition. The show’s 24-season run, from Tyra Banks, came to an end in 2016, but viewers are still talking about it and its controversies. Now, “Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model” dives behind the scenes to show what really happened and address the criticisms. The new three-part series premieres exclusively on Netflix on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at 3:01 a.m. ET. You can watch it with a subscription to Netflix.
How to watch ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
- When: Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 at 3:01 a.m. ET
- TV: Netflix
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to Netflix.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
When will episodes of ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ drop on Netflix?
The three-episode docuseries premieres on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. You can watch all three episodes the same day if you’d like to.
Can you watch ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ for free?
Netflix does not offer a free trial, which means you will need to sign up for a paid subscription if you would like to watch “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” You can subscribe for just one month, watch the three episodes, and cancel before you’re charged again. A subscription starts at $8 per month if you don’t mind ads. The ad-free tiers cost $18-25 per month, depending on the additional features you want.
Of course, existing subscribers can enjoy the series at no additional cost.
Netflix
Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”
Watch the trailer for ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’
What is ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ about?
“Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” looks at the series and its problematic history. “America’s Next Top Model” was created by Tyra Banks, and she was joined by Ken Mok and Kenya Barris. The show welcomed aspiring models to the stage, giving them a chance to compete in a series of challenges. Each week, they faced the judges and a potential elimination. By the end of a season or cycle, just one received the coveted title of “America’s Next Top Model,” along with a spot in a fashion magazine and contracts with fashion and modeling brands.
While the show promised a great start for the winners, it was filled with plenty of highs and lows. In recent years, some of the lowest moments have resurfaced and received heavy criticism. Part of this is due to the judges’ treatment of the contestants. In “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” Banks, Mok, and former judges Jay Manuel, J. Alexander (Miss J), and Nigel Barker. They address the show’s controversies, as well as the problems with the modeling industry.
Viewers will also hear from several former contestants and winners, including Whitney Thompson, Giselle Samson, Shannon Stewart, Shandi Sullivan, Dani Evans, and Keenyah Hill.
Will you be watching ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’? Let us know whether you enjoy it in the comments below.
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model
What started as a glamorous launchpad for aspiring models became a pop-culture juggernaut defined by explosive drama, public meltdowns, and controversies that still fuel viral moments today.