In recent years, America’s Next Top Model has not necessarily aged with the grace of a cover star — something host Tyra Banks addressed in a recent speech at Essence‘s 18th annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards, held at Los Angeles’ Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel Feb. 27.
As she accepted the inaugural Luminary Spotlight honor, bestowed to celebrate her legacy across the fashion, TV and film realms, the model and TV personality discussed how the reality competition series didn’t always “get it right” over the course of its 24 seasons.
“Over 20 years ago I created a show called America’s Next Top Model,” Banks began, per People. “And you guys have no idea how hard we fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time when it didn’t exist, to show different beauties at a time when the world was like, ‘What? You casting that?’ A time when people in the fashion industry were telling me, ‘You putting the girls from the hood on your show?’ I was like, ‘Why can the girl from the trailer park become a supermodel but the girl that’s chilin’ in the park in the hood can’t?’ And we fought and we struggled and we made it happen.”
She continued, “Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb s—. But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the internet when there were 24 cycles of changing the world. And I am so excited that I, and so many of us, have opened that door for others to follow.”
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Premiering in 2003 and spanning three networks from UPN to The CW to VH1 and featuring guest judges from the late André Leon Talley to Law Roach, ANTM began facing criticism on social media in 2020; at that time, clips from the series began going viral online, including one in which Banks critiqued a model for not fixing her tooth gap, which she addressed in a since-removed tweet after being called out, writing at the time: “Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.”
The Essence awards ceremony will stream on March 3 at 8 p.m. ET, with the pre-show airing at 7 p.m. ET, on YouTube.