Morbid Podcast: February Bonus Episode

Smizing Through the Trauma (February 28, 2026)

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Episode Theme:
A deep-dive, with Morbid’s signature dark humor, into the recent America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) documentary, “Smizing Through the Trauma.” The hosts (joined by Mikey) reflect on the show’s problematic legacy, examine the disturbing moments highlighted in the documentary, and share their personal reactions as past fans with new, critical eyes.

Main Theme & Purpose

This bonus episode explores the cultural impact and hidden traumas behind the reality TV phenomenon America’s Next Top Model. The Morbid hosts dissect the new documentary that reveals the behind-the-scenes manipulation, toxicity, and long-lasting impacts ANTM had on its contestants, especially young women. Using their characteristic blend of research, personal anecdotes, and candid critiques, Ash and Alaina focus on the show’s body shaming, racism, unsafe working conditions, and its failure to support mental health—all wrapped up with their witty banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Nostalgia and Initial Reactions

• Both hosts grew up watching ANTM and reflect on its outsized influence over their generation’s body image and self-worth.
  • Ash: “Anybody my age who was watching this back then, like, yeah, that's why we're all up and have body image issues.” (04:26)
  • Mikey shares that when watching reruns with her husband, he was “thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly horrified.” (03:52)

2. Body Shaming and Unrealistic Standards

• The panel consistently labeled women as "plus size" for being a size 6 or above.
  • Ash: “The women that they were calling plus size were literally size six women… that is ridiculous.” (04:49)
  • Elena: “They would refer to them as plus size and make it like a huge problem… girls who were not even plus size, they were like, oh my god, she's getting fat.” (04:54)
• The impact on viewers and contestants, feeling they'd never measure up, is a major point of discussion.

3. The Role of Hierarchy and Power

• The hosts criticize the toxic power structures on set, where contestants (usually teens or just 20) were subjected to older judges’ harsh criticisms and humiliations.
  • Elena: “Not for nothing... 18-19-year-olds getting criticized by 40-year-old men.” (05:34)
  • Ash compares it to toxic hierarchies she experienced in the hair industry (07:22) and how these dynamics emboldened predatory or abusive behavior.

4. The Shandy Incident (Sexual Assault & Exploitation) [09:10]

• They discuss the revelation that Shandy, a contestant accused on-air of cheating, was in fact sexually assaulted during filming, and producers repackaged it as drama for ratings.
  • Shandy’s quote: “I didn’t even feel sex happening. I just knew it was happening and then I passed out.” (09:53)
  • Elena: “They filmed the entire thing… then made it into a cheating scandal.” (09:40)
• Tyra Banks is heavily criticized for confronting Shandy on this subject as if it were her fault and later making Shandy re-watch the footage on The Tyra Banks Show:
  • Elena: “Tyra made her fucking watch it and then was like, what do you think about that? I was like, you’re diabolical.” (11:03)

5. Insensitive and Dangerous Photo Shoots [11:20]

• Hosts recap numerous disturbing themes:
  • Blackface and race-swapping shoots (11:26, 11:47)
  • Photo shoots forcing contestants to pose as murder victims immediately after personal tragedies (13:48), including JL and Kaelin.
  • Stigmatized stereotypes: making models pose as “drug addicts,” “bulimics,” or “unhoused people”
  • Dangerous shoots and runways: freezing pools (Carrie D. getting hypothermia—28:13), runways with pendulums and on docks where contestants could drown (27:09)
  • Body-shaming through photo edits—zooming in on stomachs, editing “eating” behavior to make normal acts look excessive. (23:38)

6. Racism and Misogyny on Set

• Black contestants were routinely called “ashy,” “angry,” or told they were “too African”—by both Black and white judges (18:50-20:22).
  • Elena: “They had a designer come in and was like, you're just... yelling of your Africanness too much.” (20:09)
  • YaYa, Ebony, and others faced both coded and explicit racism, which the show either ignored or weaponized for storylines.

7. Victim-Blaming and Sexual Harassment [24:02]

• Contestant Kenya’s experience of on-set harassment is a prime example:
  • Ash: “If the male model is grabbing you take him off. And she says she’s uncomfortable. Goodbye.” (25:01)
  • Tyra and Nigel lecture Kenya in judging to “control” the situation and “keep it light” when dealing with harassment.
  • Elena: “We don’t want to make the man who’s touching without your permission to be uncomfortable with the situation. Yes, we do.” (26:32)

8. Humiliation as Entertainment (Tiffany's Elimination) [35:46]

• A major point is Tyra’s viral outburst at contestant Tiffany, once celebrated as “rooting for you,” now viewed as a public shaming:
  • “Humiliating… she also sits there and, like, humiliates her family… you don't take it to that level no matter what. And you don't, in the middle of that, take it to a place of talking about her family situation. No, that's none of your fucking business.” (37:42–38:01)
• The hosts stress the double standards for how women are expected to handle rejection—don’t show anger, but also don’t be too composed.

9. Contestant Wellbeing and Aftercare

• Eliminated girls were sequestered in hotel rooms, not sent home, compounding their trauma and isolation (30:52).
• There were no mental health professionals involved, despite clear risks and emotional manipulation (31:26).

10. Industry Gaslighting and Tyra’s Accountability [39:04]

• Tyra’s documentary appearances are called out as dismissive and insincere.
  • Ash: “You basically said, well, it was of the time. It was. Production was there.” (39:09)
  • Elena: “You answered for nothing.” (39:03)
• Tyra’s inaction after learning about the realities her contestants would face post-show (esp. as “reality TV” models faced different, worse opportunities) is a crucial critique.
  • Ash: “This was never a show for young aspiring models. This was a show to humiliate women…” (43:09)

11. Memorable, Empathetic Contestant Stories

• Danielle: Pressured to close her tooth gap (40:14) and lose her accent (41:23) but stood firm.
• Takara: Targeted for her body and personality, given no wardrobe options, then blamed for not “selling” the photos (43:38).
• Many contestants have since spoken out in the documentary and beyond, sharing ongoing effects.

12. Looking Forward

• The hosts express anticipation for the next documentary with more contestant voices (44:52), eager for more in-depth survivors’ stories and possible redemption arcs (esp. with Janice Dickinson).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “plus size”:
  • Ash: “The women that they were calling plus size were literally size six women… that is ridiculous.” (04:49)
• On hierarchy:
  • Elena: “I don’t understand hierarchy systems. I logically don’t understand hierarchy systems.” (07:49)
• On Shandy’s assault:
  • Shandy (quoted): “I didn’t even feel sex happening. I just knew it was happening and then I passed out.” (09:53)
• On Tyra’s lack of accountability:
  • Elena: “You answered for nothing.” (39:03)
• Regarding the show’s legacy:
  • Ash: “This was never a show for young aspiring models. This was a show to humiliate women…” (43:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:52 – Mikey’s first impressions & partner’s horror watching ANTM
• 04:26–05:00 – Body image issues and “plus size” label
• 09:10–11:10 – The Shandy situation (sexual assault and its handling)
• 11:20–15:00 – Offensive and exploitative photo shoots, blackface, dangerous conditions
• 18:50–20:51 – Racism, code-switching, and the show’s approach toward Black contestants
• 24:02–26:32 – Kenya’s harassment on set, victim-blaming, Tyra’s advice
• 28:13–28:57 – Carrie D. gets hypothermia but is blamed for “not knowing her limits”
• 35:46–38:01 – The infamous “We were rooting for you!” Tiffany elimination
• 40:14–41:42 – Danielle stands firm about her gap and accent
• 43:09 – The show’s central problem, summed up

Tone & Style

The conversation is raw, heartfelt, humorous, and at times biting, as the hosts process their shared (and generational) nostalgia for ANTM alongside the disturbing realities revealed in the documentary. Ash and Alaina lean into honesty and empathy, regularly referencing moments that were normalized back in the 2000s but are now clearly harmful.

Final Reflections & Next Episode Tease

• Both hosts agree the ANTM documentary is "disturbing" and "eye-opening" (48:34).
• They promise a follow-up episode when the next documentary—focusing even more on former contestants’ perspectives—airs in March.
• The March bonus episode (March 31, 2026) will have a special guest (Chef Riley Meehan) and focus on Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell.

In Summary

This bonus episode of Morbid is a nuanced, irreverent, and powerful reckoning with a major pop culture moment. The hosts tear apart ANTM’s toxic legacy while showing empathy for its contestants, asking hard questions about how reality TV has shaped public attitudes on beauty, consent, race, and ambition. The detailed recap and critique will help listeners (especially Millennials) process their own relationship to the show—and look forward to further conversations as more survivors speak out.