TV schedule: every Friday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: The CW
Genre: Game Show, Reality
America's Next Top Model Story Summary:
America's Next Top Model is a popular reality series and competition that has been on the air for eighteen cycles spanning the course of nine years. The show features a womens' modeling competition, where women participate in various photo shoots and other modeling challenges in the hopes of becoming the overall winner of the competition and going on to fulfill a real career in the modeling industry.
Typically, the show starts with anywhere between ten and fourteen women, all of which are generally aged between eighteen and twenty five. The women are chosen by judges over the course of modeling try-outs, which are held in various locations, such as shopping malls, across the country.
Each cycle of America's Next Top Model is filmed in a different location, and the contestants often travel to various countries and landmarks to participate in competitions, go-sees, and photo shoots.
At the end of each weekly episode, the contestants' performances in their shoots and other activities are assessed by a panel of three judges. After deliberation by the judges, one contestant is chosen to be sent home and the process is repeated each week until only one model remains: America's Next Top Model.
The judges of the competition can vary from cycle to cycle, and during some episodes, guests judges have been brought onto the panel as well. However, Tyra Banks (a high fashion model herself) has always been the host, main judge, and creator of the show itself. Other judges over the years have included fashion icon Twiggy, model Janice Dickinson, and runway coach J. Alexander.
The grand prize awarded to the winner of each cycle of America's Next Top Model is a full modeling contract with a large company, as well as the model's image on the front cover of a high fashion magazine.
However, in the past, runners up from the show have also been offered impressive modeling contracts and other jobs in the field. Therefore, it is desirable for any contestant to finish as one of the top several models left standing.
America's Next Top Model continues to be a popular show for young girls and women alike, as many enjoy following the progress of the contestants from the beginning of the cycle until the end. In addition, the show has often brought plus-sized models into the competition, sending a positive message to girls everywhere that top models do not necessarily have to be extremely thin.
