TYRA Banks is returning to television and will be facing her critics head-on when ANTM returns for Cycle 25 with some major changes, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
Nearly a decade after America’s Next Top Model went dark, the mogul is plotting a comeback and understands that this time around, she needs to “correct past mistakes,” The U.S. Sun has learned.
ANTM is officially gearing up for Cycle 25, and insiders have exclusively spilled that the revamped season will include at least three big shake-ups that will help right the wrongs from the show’s earlier years.
The iconic modeling competition, created and hosted by Tyra, 52, at the height of her career, originally premiered in 2003 on the UPN network before later moving to The CW.
The series ran for 24 cycles, ultimately ending in 2018.
Now, nearly a decade after its final season, a source revealed that Tyra is determined to reframe the franchise for a new era.
“Tyra wanted to correct the mistakes from the original show,” an insider exclusively told The U.S. Sun. “She did not think that a simple interview would be enough for everything that happened in the original seasons.”
“She knows that the show took it too far and she knows that things that they did back then would not fly by today’s standards.
“This is her chance and her way of trying to have a more positive impact on the modeling industry.
“She learned a lot during the show and has learned a lot from her mistakes and the viewer feedback in the years since it’s been off the air.”
One of the biggest changes? A renewed focus on inclusivity.
According to the insider, Cycle 25 will spotlight “diverse body types, backgrounds, and more modern designers that are going to be a part of the show.”
While ANTM was praised for featuring plus-size and transgender contestants in some seasons, the series faced backlash for controversial challenges, harsh critiques of women’s weight or appearances, and storylines many fans now call outdated.
This time, the insider insists, the tone will shift from shock value to empowerment.
Fresh Blood
Another major change will be a fresh face behind the panel.
“There will also be a new judge that has not been on the show before, and they are eyeing millennial models that still have experience under their belt but can speak to younger fans,” the source said.
However, longtime fan favorites may not be completely out of the picture.
“Miss J is most likely going to return. He is being offered a spot along with Nigel Barker and some more faces may return,” the insider revealed, referencing runway coach J. Alexander and fashion photographer Nigel Barker.
“Jay Manuel could pop up but he’s least likely to return right now due to his fallout with Tyra. They are still not on great terms.”
Creative director Jay Manuel previously opened up about tensions behind the scenes after he said Tyra fired him.
Over the years, the judging panel consisted of Tyra as the leader of an ever-changing panel that at one point included Nigel, Jay, Miss J, fashion icon Twiggy and supermodel Janice Dickinson.
Model Behavior
There is also a chance that Cycle 25 could bring back familiar competitors rather than do a season of fresh faces.
“There’s talks of it being an All-Star season of past contestants and winners but that hasn’t been decided yet,” the source shared.
If greenlit, it would mark a trendy nostalgia play for the franchise, which previously aired an All-Star cycle in 2011.
New Home
In addition to casting and creative updates, ANTM will also reportedly land on a new network, though the insider did not confirm which one.
The original series debuted on UPN before becoming a staple on The CW, and later VH1, with Rita Ora briefly hosting Cycle 23 when Tyra stepped back.
Now, with Tyra firmly back in control, the reboot appears positioned as both a comeback and a course correction.
The fashion icon shocked fans when she announced ANTM is returning for Cycle 25 while promoting her upcoming Netflix docuseries.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/tv/15938760/americas-next-top-model-changes-tyra-banks-mistakes-reboot/