Curse of: America’s Next Top Model

Episode: Psych Out

Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Bridget Armstrong

Brief Overview

This episode of Curse of: America’s Next Top Model takes a hard look at the psychological evaluations (psych evals) conducted on contestants before and during the show. Host Bridget Armstrong investigates how deeply personal trauma—shared in confidence—was instead used as fuel for reality TV drama, often with little regard for the contestants' long-term well-being. The narrative is shaped by firsthand accounts from former contestants, a reality TV psychologist, and inside sources, exposing a pattern of manipulation, lack of support, and the enduring mental health consequences for many women who appeared on ANTM.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Real Purpose of the ANTM Psych Evals

• Contestants were told the psych evals were for their safety, but the information was used to shape storylines and manipulate participants on and off-camera.
• Many contestants signed away confidentiality rights unknowingly, with contracts stating information could be used “in connection with the program in general” ([06:59]).

Notable quote:

"ANTM made a point of telling contestants the psych eval was for their safety, but they didn't mention its other use. Maybe because they knew the contestants wouldn't be so forthcoming with their personal trauma if they knew how it would be used."
— Bridget Armstrong ([06:59])

2. Exploitation of Trauma for TV Value

• Gina Turner (Cycle 24) shares how her traumatic childhood, including her mother’s addiction and experiences of sexual assault, were mined for dramatic effect during her confessional and exit interviews.

Notable moments & quotes:

• Gina describes a 7-hour exit interview focused almost entirely on her childhood trauma and suicidality:

  • “...they just kept focusing on me being suicidal. And it's like, I just want to talk about something happy... I was exhausted. I was physically so exhausted.” ([05:07])
  • The footage of her breaking down was used as her exit clip:
    • “That is literally the clip that they used for how I emotionally responded for losing the competition. And that will forever stick with me.” ([05:56])

• Gina’s experience marked the last ever episode of ANTM, highlighting the pervasiveness of this tactic (“they still couldn’t put me in a positive light... fuck them. Yeah.” [06:33]).

3. Trauma as Challenge Design

• Contestants’ revealed fears and traumatic experiences were shared with creative producers to inspire challenge design—setting up scenarios that deliberately provoked participants’ worst anxieties for entertainment ([12:18]-[13:14]).

Notable quote:

"Andrew [the producer] told me sometimes he would look at their casting files for personal phobias and design challenges to fuck with specific contestants."
— Bridget Armstrong ([12:24])

• Lisa D'Amato (Cycle 5 & 17) recounts sharing a story about cleaning up her grandmother’s incontinence at a funeral—then being subjected to an obstacle course in cow manure as a challenge.
  • “I realized what this is. I realized that they got this from my story of my grandma. I felt completely manipulated.” ([15:27])

4. Trauma Shared Beyond ANTM

• UV Gomez (Cycle 4) describes how trauma she disclosed during her psych eval was later used on Tyra’s talk show, inviting her to confront her mother on TV.
  • “It felt very grimy. We were there talking to a psychologist about all our woes and struggles, and then you're gonna bring it back up. It just felt very yucky.” ([10:57])

5. Overlooking Red Flags and Contestants’ Well-Being

• Multiple contestants (Lisa D'Amato, Gina Turner, Kimberly Razewski) discussed histories of childhood abuse, suicidal ideation, and addiction. Yet these were not grounds for exclusion—sometimes seemingly the opposite.

Notable moments:

• Dr. Stephen Stein, a psychologist for other reality TV shows, explained that histories of suicidality and substance abuse are typical red flags for casting ([23:29]).
• Lisa D’Amato describes self-medicating with alcohol due to the stress and repeated psychological manipulation:
  • “They kept abusing me with my childhood trauma. They kept manipulating my feelings, and it was just devastating. I was trying to self soothe. That's what the drinking was.” ([24:08])

6. Contestants’ Tragic Outcomes

• Kimberly Razewski (Cycle 10): Left the show after one episode; later revealed her mother and ex-boyfriend both died by suicide. Kim herself died by suicide in 2016 ([28:15]).

• Jael Strauss (Cycle 8): Struggled with drug addiction after the show, eventual recovery, and then died of breast cancer in 2018.

• Renee Alway (Cycle 8): Discussed own history of childhood abuse and addiction, became homeless, was imprisoned after the show, and blamed part of her downfall on ANTM’s impact and lack of support ([42:36]-[44:35]).

• Many contestants shared that there was little-to-no follow-up or support from the production after elimination; sometimes, just a 10-minute phone call with a therapist ([44:35]).

7. Industry Standards vs. ANTM

• Dr. Stein shared that other reality shows he works on provide up to three therapy sessions for eliminated contestants and referrals for further care, a standard ANTM did not meet ([45:35]).
• Bridget Armstrong points out that even as industry standards evolved, ANTM did not improve its post-show mental health offerings ([46:05]).

8. Reflections on ANTM's Legacy and Moral Responsibility

• Bridget sums up the show's ethos: psych evals and trauma were tools for casting the most entertaining, not healthiest, participants.
• The show failed to consider or provide for the contestants’ long-term well-being.

Notable quote:

"It picked apart women's traumas and bodies to entertain us. And afterwards the show didn't even check on them... That's what other shows were doing at the time. And it didn't seem to learn or change its process as the rest of the industry took more accountability for their contestants well being."
— Bridget Armstrong ([47:59])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I just remember for hours and hours on end, they just kept focusing on me being suicidal... I don't want to talk about any of that shit.” — Gina Turner ([05:07])
• “That is literally the clip that they used for how I emotionally responded for losing the competition. And that will forever stick with me.” — Gina Turner ([05:56])
• “ANTM made a point of telling contestants the psych eval was for their safety, but they didn't mention its other use.” — Bridget Armstrong ([06:59])
• “They had guys there with champagne, so they're like, okay, well, if we can't get them from the interviews, we'll get them right away and see who can get drunk and get this thing going.” — Lisa D’Amato ([25:10])
• “It's almost like a setup for failure. Once you're done with reality TV, they don't look back at you...it's just over. It's done.” — Renee Alway ([43:06])
• “It picked apart women's traumas and bodies to entertain us. And afterwards the show didn't even check on them.” — Bridget Armstrong ([47:59])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:09] — Bridget outlines the episode’s focus on psych evaluations and triggers.
• [02:57] — Gina Turner describes what she was told about the purpose of evals.
• [04:16] — Gina details the seven-hour exit interview and manipulation.
• [05:07] — Gina describes being emotionally exhausted and used for a dramatic exit clip.
• [06:59] — Bridget discusses the confidentiality waiver and contract language.
• [10:09] — UV Gomez recounts her trauma being shared and exploited by Tyra’s talk show.
• [12:18]-[13:14] — Producer and Lisa D’Amato reveal trauma-informed challenge design.
• [15:27] — Lisa describes realizing the manure challenge was pulled from her trauma.
• [21:29] — Lisa details the severity of her abuse history.
• [23:29] — Dr. Stein on red flags during psych evaluations.
• [28:15] — Kimberly Razewski shares her experience with suicide loss.
• [38:49] — Renee Alway’s story of post-show downfall and absence of support.
• [44:35] — Renee on lack of outreach after filming.
• [45:35] — Dr. Stein discusses better industry standards.
• [47:59] — Final reflections on ANTM’s legacy and the use of trauma.

Conclusion & Episode Takeaways

• The psych evals on ANTM were less about safety, and more about mining contestants for “good TV” content, often to the detriment of their mental health.
• Many contestants had significant histories of trauma and mental health issues, which were not only overlooked during casting, but actively exploited for TV drama.
• The show provided little post-elimination support, contrasting with evolving norms in the reality TV industry.
• The episode leaves listeners to ponder the moral accountability of reality TV producers, especially when it comes to the long-term well-being of young, vulnerable talent.

Next Episode Teaser

Bridget teases a look at how ANTM focused more on making good TV than producing successful models—hinting at more revelations about the show’s priorities and ethical shortcomings.