America's Next Top Model

 Review

Common Sense Media says

A guilty pleasure in model form -- OK for teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that despite talk of modeling "talent," this is a show in which women are judged ultimately on their appearance. Contestants are often shown making disparaging comments about one another. There has been a same-sex kiss between two contestants, and a girl has cheated on her boyfriend. Product placement and tie-ins figure prominently; Cover Girl (a sponsor of the show) is referenced regularly. Although host Tyra Banks stresses that the most beautiful contestant won't necessarily win, the women are still judged on their looks, how well they photograph, and their ability to communicate personality.

  • Despite billing itself as a talent competition, the show tends to reinforce existing standards when it comes to evaluating women based on their looks. Tyra delivers some very mixed messages about personal empowerment and physical appearance. She has occasionally brought social or health issues into the show's narrative, including discussing eating disorders and homeless youth. There's also plenty of reality show interpersonal drama.
  • Contestants can be aggressive or catty toward one another, and judges
    have made derogatory comments about contestants' bodies (posture, butt,
    height, etc.). One contestant was given surgery to fix her crooked
    tooth. On the upside, the show has featured plus-size models and women from diverse backgrounds.
  • Occasional yelling, dramatic confrontations, discussions of past abuse.
  • Revealing outfits for photo shoots -- occasional nude shots, though all senstive parts are blurred. Discussions about sexuality, relationships. Over the course of the series, same-sex kisses, hints of sexual activity with male models, and occasional cheating on at-home partners has happened.
  • "Ass," "damn," "hell," etc. Stronger swearing is bleeped.
  • Prominent product placement. Major show sponsors, such as Cover Girl, are referenced by name at several points in each show. Products/photographers/fashion lines are occasionally promoted in photo shoots.
  • Characters drink in moderation. It was suggested that one contestant had a drinking problem. Some smoking, depending on season.

What's the story?

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL sends 13 women from around the United States down the runway in the hopes of being crowned America's Next Top Model and winning lucrative modeling and cosmetics contracts and a magazine fashion spread. Each week, another model hopeful is eliminated in a competition. Judges -- including hostess Tyra Banks and a revolving panel that includes fashion/modeling icons like Twiggy, J. Alexander, Nigel Barker, and Jay Manuel -- rate the contestants on runway ability and appearance in photographs. Between being photographed and walking the runway, the contestants make friends and enemies with one another, adding to the show's drama.


Is it any good?

 

The competition aspect of America's Next Top Model is entertaining, and viewers are likely to find some of the characters interesting and engaging. Contestants come from a variety of ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, and several talk about seeing modeling as a way to overcome their difficult circumstances. This nod to diversity is definitely a step forward and has the potential of creating talking points for parents and teens -- highlighting the very different and unique faces of beauty.

 

But parents can expect some strong language during fights, as well as some less-than-positive images of women (cattiness, value based on physical appearance) and problematic messages about women and their bodies. But for mature teens, it's a peek into the fashion world and an absolute guilty pleasure.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about how important beauty is to a person's success. What messages does the show send about body image? Do shows like this make girls feel bad about themselves?

  • What role do makeup, lighting, airbrushing, etc. play in creating the images that teens see in magazines?

  • How real is the drama portrayed on this show? Can you tell how producers have heightened tensions or exaggerated situations through careful editing?


This review of America's Next Top Model was written by
Kid, 11 years old
April 25, 2011
 
Amazing Show!
This is a really good show that was created about Tyra Banks. It teaches girls who want to be models how to be models and that even if they are different Tyra always calls them " Beautiful "
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Parent
August 15, 2010
 
Stick with America the Story of Us.
wow 14 and up an iffy ? really?? i thought it was iffy for ages 8-13, when i was 7 i watch one at a time--no more, then when i was 8-9 i keep wachein it, when i was 10-13 some people doesn't want me to watch this especially mom or my moms side of my family. my cousins Natalie and Anthony Minasian camed to me to watch that show but now when i was at my cousins they never got heard of ANTM some one changed it so i do advise sticking with AtSoU. so yes 14+ is good. Acacia(oringinally 10 now 11) and Kaylee(oringinally 7 now 8) love this show theyre my ex-friends. Should be Ratd TV-14 which means it;'s for 14 and up Go the other way and Watch The A Team or America The Story Of Us, 3 of them should be TV-14 and on century fire! America The Story Of Us is TV-PG and on history. i watched ATSOU when i was 10, i will keep watching it forever sometime. The A Team should be 10 and up, not 11.

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Teen, 13 years old
August 15, 2010
 
Stick with America the Story of Us.
wow 14 and up an iffy ? really?? i thought it was iffy for ages 8-13, when i was 7 i watch one at a time--no more, then when i was 8-9 i keep wachein it, when i was 10-13 some people doesn't want me to watch this especially mom or my moms side of my family. my cousins Natalie and Anthony Minasian camed to me to watch that show but now when i was at my cousins they never got heard of ANTM some one changed it so i do advise sticking with AtSoU. so yes 14+ is good. Acacia(oringinally 10 now 11) and Kaylee(oringinally 7 now 8) love this show theyre my ex-friends. Should be Ratd TV-14 which means it;'s for 14 and up Go the other way and Watch The A Team or America The Story Of Us, 3 of them should be TV-14 and on century fire! America The Story Of Us is TV-PG and on history. i watched ATSOU when i was 10, i will keep watching it forever sometime. The A Team should be 10 and up, not 11.

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Teen, 14 years old
May 31, 2010
 
Can be kind of annoying
I have been watching this show for a few years. I do think it is very entertaining, but only about one out of all the girls could be a positive role model. What I don't like is how occasionally they have to do a photo shoot without clothes. I don't think that is right. Also the girls fight with each other a lot, mostly it is about stupid little things. The language they use with each other is not good either. I don't understand why they feel like they have to get in fights with one another and pick sides.
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Teen, 14 years old
December 10, 2010
 
Good for teens+, but not for tweens
I like this show a lot, but I can see how it would be inappropriate for anybody under 11/12. There are occasional nude shoots and swearing, as well as a lot of focus on body image, as can be expected since the show mainly revolves around modeling. Even though the show does ship the idea of being beautiful on the "inside and out", and some shoots do reflect that idea - like a shoot to show the consequences of smoking or standing up for yourself - being beautiful on the outside is the way for the contestants to win in the end. At the same time, however, the show does focus on diversity and embracing imperfections. I think parents should watch with their kids if they're 11-12 or under, but it's ok for teens.
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Adult
August 14, 2011
 
America's Next Anorexic Drug Addicted Chain Smoking Little GIRL!
I modeled professionally years ago in my teens & early 20's. I'm 40 now & feel disgusted that I ever wanted to be a "supermodel." Then again, I was a typical teenager! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, ENERGY, & INTELLIGENCE ON THIS SHOW. IT'S GARBAGE. Tyra Banks is NOT who she says she is. She's phony balogna. Steer clear of the modeling industry (billion-dollar a year BUSINESS) period. It's a SICK & TWISTED world/lifestyle. UNLESS your daughter (or son) has their head on reeeally straight & isn't one bit naive (I don't know many teens who do/are), keep them away from watching this disgusting SCRIPTED t.v. show.

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Teen, 15 years old
July 8, 2010
 
good show, esspecially if you want to be a model
it gives helpful tips on modeling and its a good show for someone like me, because i want to be a model. Nice pictures, too. But its best for teens 15 and older. Not a good show for teenage boys! But ok for teen girls but ones 13 and under might get the wrong idea and become annorexic or something.
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Parent of 11 and 12 year old
May 14, 2010
 
NOT FOR BOYS
i don't like the idea of boys watching this show.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 29, 2010
 
this show is showing how girls could be successful and beautiful, although there some swearing and some stuff
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Teen, 16 years old
July 28, 2010
 
Yay For Older Girlsies :]
Sometimes ANTM shows girls fighting or cussing, but there is probably only like one fight a cycle that's really bad. In one cycle, two girls, Kim and Sarah, have a lesbian romance, and not only this but there are a lot of "being sexy" or "sex" lessons on the show for the models. Tyra also says she accepts everyone, but when girls aren't a size 0 she critisizes them and tells them to loose weight. So sometimes, maybe once a cycle, the show isn't really for teens or kids. But other than those minor problems, the show is amazing and one of my addictions.
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This review of America's Next Top Model was written by
TV rating:TV-PG
Networks:Bravo, CW, Oxygen
Cast:J. Alexander, Nigel Barker, Tyra Banks
Genre:Reality TV

This review of America's Next Top Model was written by
 

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