Curse of: America’s Next Top Model

Episode: Fierce, Queer, and Flawed

Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Bridget Armstrong

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores America’s Next Top Model’s (ANTM) complicated legacy as a pioneer of queer and trans representation on reality TV, focusing on the stories of queer contestants—including Isis King, Kim Stolz, and Corey Wade. It examines how representation often came at the expense of the mental health and dignity of those being represented. The episode interrogates both the positive effects of visibility on ANTM and the harmful ways storylines were manipulated for drama and spectacle, offering a nuanced look at how a groundbreaking show both uplifted and exploited queer contestants.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Isis King: ANTM’s First Out Transgender Contestant

• First Impressions & Groundbreaking Visibility

  • Isis King was the first out trans contestant on ANTM, joining Cycle 11 (07:25).

  • She described herself as "born in the wrong body" and opened up about her transition on air (08:10).

  • The show’s frank discussion of gender identity was a first for many viewers.

    “I was born physically male, but mentally everything else I was born female.” – Isis King (07:35)

• House Dynamics & Bullying

  • Isis faced relentless, prejudiced questioning and outright transphobia from fellow contestants during auditions and in the house (10:40–15:10).

  • Some contestants confessed to being deeply uncomfortable around Isis, reflecting broader societal transphobia of the late 2000s.

    “You walk around like that in a small town, you’d get shot.” – Cycle 11 Contestant (16:40)

  • Despite the negativity, some housemates offered compassion and support.

    “For Isis to be so secure with who she is and not let anything bother her, it's very commendable.” – Contestant, (17:40)

• Private Moments, Producer Manipulation

  • Isis’ hormone injection scene, shown as a bonding and vulnerable moment on the show, was produced via manipulation. Isis says she repeatedly asked not to do it on camera, but producers coerced her by making it impossible to do off-screen (47:30–52:40).

  • Producers removed bathroom doors, compounding her discomfort and exposing her at vulnerable moments.

    “I just don’t want to do it on fucking camera. Me being trans in itself, that’s enough of an impact.” – Isis King (53:20)

• Aftermath and Mixed Feelings

  • Tyra Banks brought Isis onto her talk show to discuss her transition, arranged for her gender-affirming surgery, and sometimes strayed into invasive questioning of her body (1:02:20–1:07:00).

  • Isis feels gratitude for the platform ANTM gave her, but also trauma from the spectacle and lack of care for her privacy.

    “It’s easy to point fingers now... ‘cause they sure wasn’t coming to my rescue [back then]. They let me drown.” – Isis King (1:09:40)

2. Kim Stolz: Masculinity, Femininity, and Lesbian Identity on TV

• Cycle 5’s Openly Gay Contestant

  • Kim Stolz arrived in Cycle 5 as an out lesbian with an androgynous look, preceding the mainstreaming of terms like nonbinary and genderfluid (25:00).

  • Judges consistently sent mixed messages: she was chastised for being “too masculine” and then praised (and sometimes mocked) when she performed femininity.

    “You’re trying to be so sexy and so girly, and you look like a man in a dress…” – ANTM Judge (28:10)
    “Kim, I asked for you today…not you trying to do all that feminine stuff.” – Judge (32:30)

• Queerness as Storyline vs. Queerness as Identity

  • Kim’s entire storyline was her struggle to “feminize” herself for the competition, reducing her complex identity to a single narrative arc.

• Interaction with the Fashion Industry

  • The episode highlights how the fashion industry’s supposed queerness often excluded gender-nonconforming models, contrasting support for queer stylists with rigid expectations for models’ expressions.

3. Corey Wade: Queer Men Navigating Co-Ed Cycles

• Cycle 20’s Tokenization

  • Corey Wade entered as the first openly gay male contestant as ANTM went co-ed (1:20:30). Judges, notably Rob Evans, were obsessed with policing Corey’s masculinity:

    “You dress very feminine, you talk very feminine, like everything is feminine.” – Judge, to Corey (1:29:10)

  • Corey felt producers reduced him to a “token gay guy,” decided to play to the stereotype, and then received constant negative feedback for being “too feminine.”

    “They just wouldn't stop with that. If you want to be a male model, you need to man up, mask up…” – Corey Wade (1:35:50)

• Resistance and Growth

  • Corey defended his androgyny on the show and later came out as nonbinary. He describes a profound emotional toll, but credits ANTM with pushing him toward LGBTQ advocacy (1:44:10).

  • Despite the exploitative environment, his stand resonated with viewers and sparked broader conversations about gender expression.

    “That’s a fight or flight moment. When you’re on a judges panel and being told you’re too gay, that’s a fight or flight moment.” – Corey Wade (1:41:00)

• Missed Opportunities

  • Corey believes true normalizing would have meant treating his queerness as just another trait, rather than a spectacle or issue to be overcome.

    “That would have been so daring just to, like, treat it like it was nothing.” – Corey Wade (1:50:30)

4. Behind the Scenes: The Cost of “Trailblazing” TV

• Production’s Priorities

  • Across cycles, producers sought viral, emotional moments that would draw ratings—often at contestants’ expense.

    “ANTM was always thinking about the story, not necessarily the contestants.” – Bridget Armstrong (24:00)

• Audience Impact vs. Contestant Harm

  • The stories of Kim, Isis, and Corey show a recurring theme: ANTM’s approach genuinely helped shape cultural acceptance, but inflicted lasting wounds on those who became symbols.

    “While I can say ANTM played a pivotal role in changing attitudes towards queer people in pop culture, it seems like the contestants are the ones who bore that cost.” – Bridget Armstrong (1:18:05)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

Isis King’s Story

• On her identity:

  “It’s not something I chose. This is who I’ve always been.” – Isis King (08:30)

• On being made a spectacle:

  “I just don’t want to do it on fucking camera. Me being trans in itself, that’s enough of an impact.” – Isis King (53:20)

Kim Stolz’ Story

• On being out and proud:

  “I don’t want to say masculine, but I might as well… I want to be out. Like, I’m gay. And I’m really proud of it.” – Kim Stolz (26:10)

• The contradictions from judges:

  “You’re trying to be something that you’re not… you look like a man in a dress.” – Judge (28:10)
  “I suggest you get some male fashion magazines—when men model, they’re slightly feminine, right?” – Judge (32:50)

Corey Wade’s Story

• On realizing his casting’s purpose:

  “The second I understood they were trying to centralize my queer identity and diminish my whole persona... I definitely took those cues and I ran with it.” – Corey Wade (1:21:10)

• On standing strong despite criticism:

  “I’m proud to have been able to stand ten toes down and have those conversations.” – Corey Wade (1:44:50)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 07:25: Introduction of Isis King—her story and the significance of her casting
• 10:40-15:10: Isis endures prejudice and transphobia from fellow contestants
• 23:00: ANTM’s track record with queer contestants and judges
• 25:00: Kim Stolz enters Cycle 5 as an androgynous, openly lesbian contestant
• 28:10–32:50: Judges’ contradictions over Kim’s gender expression
• 47:30–52:40: The real story behind Isis King’s hormone injection scene
• 53:20: Isis describes bathroom privacy violations and loss of safety
• 1:02:20–1:06:40: Tyra’s talk show segment featuring Isis’s gender-affirming surgery
• 1:20:30: Corey Wade explains being set up as “token gay guy” on Cycle 20
• 1:29:10–1:35:50: Judges’ repeated policing of Corey’s masculinity
• 1:44:10–1:50:30: Corey reflects on his pain, growth, and what ANTM could have done better
• 1:18:05: Bridget Armstrong synthesizes the cost-benefit of ANTM’s queer representation

Reflections on ANTM’s Legacy

• A dual legacy of progress and pain: The show’s bold casting and visibility for queer and trans contestants profoundly shifted American attitudes.
• Contestant narratives were often reduced to digestible, dramatic arcs at their personal expense.
• Current reflections from contestants show gratitude for their impact, but also note manipulation, lack of support, and emotional scars inflicted by the show.

Final Words

“I feel so many different ways about this. I’m proud, but I’m angry, but I understand, but I’m angry, but I’m grateful.” – Corey Wade (1:59:00)

Next episode preview: The series will shift focus to body shaming and ANTM’s fraught relationship with eating disorders among contestants.

Note: Tyra Banks and ANTM executive producer Ken Mock were invited to provide comment for this episode but did not respond before airing.