SPOIL ALERT* Are You Not Entertained Though?!? ( Netflix Top Model Documentary breakdown)

Summary

The Latest with Loren LoRosa

Episode Title: SPOIL ALERT Are You Not Entertained Though?!? (Netflix Top Model Documentary Breakdown)

Date: February 18, 2026

Host: Loren LaRosa

Guest: Taylor

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Overview

This episode dives deep into the new Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, unpacking its revelations, cultural impact, and the controversy surrounding Tyra Banks and the legacy of the iconic show. Loren LaRosa and guest Taylor blend personal anecdotes, fan observations, and robust critique with a light, conversational energy. The episode also touches on the changing climate of reality TV and the broader cultural significance of Top Model in the early 2000s.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

Nostalgia and the Legacy of Top Model

• Loren shares her decade-long love for America's Next Top Model, including her own experiences auditioning for the show.

  "I auditioned for Top Model probably like six times... I just knew that Tyra Banks and smizing was going to be my claim to everything." – Loren (14:10)

• Taylor and Loren reminisce about the era-defining presence of the show and its impact on young women aspiring to careers in modeling, acting, and TV.

[19:09] – The Era of Reality TV

• Both hosts reflect on how reality TV and storytelling were in their prime during the early 2000s, lamenting a lost era of drama and authenticity.

"Whether you were a Top Model fan or not, it reminds you of an era where... reality TV and storytelling [were] in a whole different place." – Loren (19:11)

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The Tyra Banks Controversy and Accountability

• Loren and Taylor parse documentary revelations, focusing on the long-standing criticisms aimed at Tyra Banks for her role as the show’s executive producer, host, and judge.
• Tyra's approach to “pushing for diversity” is balanced against moments in the show where she reinforced industry stereotypes or allowed questionable behavior to go unchecked.
• Questions about Tyra's vulnerability and accountability are discussed:

  "I don't think she was vulnerable... it was kind of just like, 'Yeah, I said that, but... the producers wanted me.'" – Taylor (18:28)

[20:49] – Top Model’s Problematic Moments

• Weight shaming, race, sexuality, and the infamous requirement for contestants to alter their appearance (e.g., closing a tooth gap).
• The hosts detail moments where Black contestants were called “ashy” or had their natural features criticized, highlighting industry—and show—bias.
• The emotional manipulation of contestants, especially the confrontation with Tiffany ("I was rooting for you!"), is dissected.

"Tyra got vulnerable as heck, but it was a lot of that’s the only... that's the only time I felt like she was vulnerable during the whole thing." – Taylor (18:07)

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Contestant Experiences and Fallout

[31:42] – Tiffany’s Response and Show Trauma

• Loren reads aloud Tiffany’s strongly-worded response to Tyra Banks and the documentary, expressing unresolved pain and frustration:

  "'Let’s keep it cute. You are one lying ass, tired ass ... You were a bully.'" – Tiffany, as quoted by Loren (32:14)

• Discussion includes how reality TV moments like Tiffany’s outburst become the totality of a contestant’s public narrative.

Successes and Aftermath

• Takara, Eva, Yaya, and other non-winners have forged successful paths, challenging the myth that only winning Top Model means making it.
• Surprise at models not being allowed to keep their own professional photos from the show dents the promise of the platform as a career launcher.

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Industry Context & Shifting Standards

[25:13] – Why the Show Was the Way It Was

• Loren—speaking from her own experience in modeling—lays out the fashion industry’s restrictive, Eurocentric beauty standards and how Top Model both reflected and tried (imperfectly) to challenge them.

  "I was literally told, 'Girl, you have too much personality. You are darker skinned, and your boobs are big and your lips are big. Where are you going?'" – Loren (25:13)

• The duo agree Tyra will always be viewed as a villain to some because she walked the line between authenticity and the need for reality TV drama.

[24:20] – Queer Representation and Exploitation

• The handling of contestant Ebony being outed as a lesbian on the show:

  "You could never do that today. You could never, like, basically put a person in a position where they have to out themselves in order to participate in something." – Loren (23:21)

[28:33] – Altering Black Beauty

• The infamous case of Dani being told to close her gap:

  "The ultimatums Tyra gave on the show was not okay... basically saying, if you don’t get [your gap] closed, then you’re leaving." – Taylor (28:50)

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Untold Stories and Behind-the-Scenes Drama

[35:05] – The Judges: More than Sidekicks

• Documentary shines a light on Ms. J, J. Manuel, and Nigel Barker’s diverse backgrounds, skills, and aspirations, breaking away from their portrayal as “Tyra’s sidekicks.”

  "This documentary did a really good job of showing their own aspirations... these people had lives and work before Tyra Banks." – Loren (35:03)

[39:31] – Ms. J’s Stroke: A Heartbreaking Update

• Loren breaks the news that legendary runway coach Ms. J is now unable to walk due to a stroke, leading to a poignant reflection:

  "'I used to teach the models how to walk, and now I can’t even walk.' I’m like, man, life hits you so hard. Good people, too." – Loren (41:05)

• Criticism of Tyra for not supporting Ms. J during his time of need:

  "That made me side eye her... he’s physically disabled and going through so much and you haven’t even like, not even a FaceTime. He says she text him." – Loren (41:36)

[43:32] – The Falling Out with Jay Manuel

• Taylor and Loren talk about Jay Manuel's split from Tyra:

  "When you’re telling me you want to leave the show that I created, we’re not friends anymore. Now I’m your boss and HR has to deal with you leaving the show." – Loren (43:23)

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The Future: Can Top Model Work in 2026?

[44:24] – Will the Magic Translate to a ‘Woke’ Era?

• Both agree that a new, modern version of Top Model would not be able to replicate the impact or drama of the original, due to cultural changes, “woke” sensibilities, and mental health awareness:

  "You’re going to need therapists on site. You’re going to need mental health days and mental health breaks. Especially... I just don’t think it will work..." – Loren (44:27)

• Speculation on a new format: An “Influencer House” filled with Instagram models, drama manufactured via social media metrics, and a lighter version of the cutthroat plotlines from the past.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I was so serious about getting on that show... because I thought getting on Top Model would be, like, a platform." – Loren (14:10)
• "We're striving for afterwards. But also, the ultimatums that Tyra gave on the show was not okay though..." – Taylor (28:50)
• "Tyra will always be the villain in the America’s Next Top Model story because she did what she had to do to produce the television show." – Loren (25:56)
• "The world itself is a little too woke for what was the best parts of Top Model." – Loren (45:15)
• On Ms. J: "'I used to teach the models how to walk, and now I can’t even walk.'" – Loren quoting Ms. J (41:05)

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Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:45 – Loren & Taylor recap their Valentine's weekend and share memories of New Edition, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton concert
• 14:10 – Loren’s Top Model audition saga; the show as a launching pad
• 18:07 – Dissecting Tyra’s accountability and vulnerability in the documentary
• 19:11 – Reminiscing about the golden age of reality TV
• 20:49 – Top Model’s most controversial moments: weight, race, and sexuality
• 23:21 – Discussion of Ebony’s outing and diversity on the show
• 25:13 – Fashion industry biases and the modeling standard, from Loren’s perspective
• 28:33 – The Dani “gap tooth” controversy; Tyra’s problematic ultimatums
• 31:42 – Tiffany’s infamous exit and her fiery response to the documentary
• 35:05 – Highlighting the judges’ (Ms. J, Jay Manuel, Nigel) stories and independence
• 39:31 – Ms. J’s stroke and the show’s emotional climax
• 43:32 – Tyra and Jay Manuel’s falling out and workplace boundaries
• 44:24 – Will a new Top Model ever recapture the original’s drama?
• 45:15 – The future: Influence of “woke culture” and mental health on reality TV

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Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is lively, candid, and unapologetically rooted in Black pop culture commentary, balancing nostalgia, critique, and genuine appreciation for what America’s Next Top Model accomplished. Loren and Taylor approach the documentary with critical affection, urging listeners to engage with it while remembering both its highs and its problematic lows.

Call to Action:
Loren closes by encouraging listeners to watch the documentary and check out her interview with Takara, highlighting her signature appreciation for her “lowriders.”

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This summary aims to deliver the essence and substance of the episode, offering insights and context for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

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[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything.

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And everybody knows you don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, y'. All. What's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. Baby, I'm in here looking like a little boy today. I am so comfortable, though. I just wanted to wear my trucker hat, and I was like, I need to swag it out. It's all about comfortability. We got Taylor on the podcast today. Taylor made it. So checking in behind the scenes of the grind. I'm excited to get to the conversation, so the check in shall be brief. Back on the ground. So checking it behind the scenes of the grind. How was your Valentine's Day?

[Taylor (Guest)]

You guys are with me. My Valentine's Day was really good. We went to this steakhouse. I cannot remember the name, but it's.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like a Brazilian steakhouse in Jersey or in New York.

[Taylor (Guest)]

No, New York.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, Kyle.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Or something like that. And the food was so good. And you know why it's good? Because we didn't feel any itis afterwards. Like, we felt stuck, still energized with all that meat and everything.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Did you have to put steak sauce on the steak? That's a good steak. That's. That's a good steak right there. When y' all put no steak sauce on it. I. I'm supposed to be laying off of red meat. That was my first thing I was supposed to be doing. And then now I just challenge myself to 30 days with no juice and no soda. Supposed to be just water for 30 days. Because I want to see, like, if it helps me not be tired. No, it really does. I'm tired right now. I'm tired right now. But Valentine. My Valentine's Day was good. I had to reroute or we had to reroute our plans. And we stayed close to Delaware because my mom got sick. So I just wanted to make sure I was closer to home for her. But it was good, though, I think. So Friday, it was like, rush home, figure out everything with Mom. Saturday, we went to Baltimore. We went to the New Edition concert. It's New Edition, Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton. Every time I go to concerts with people from, like, a certain era, I always feel like, you know how you be telling me? Like, you make me feel like I'm not doing enough when I watch them perform and I'm not a singer or anything like that. When I watch them perform, though, especially at this age, and, like, just the effort and the showmanship that they put into it, I'm like, yo, I'm lazy. I am lazy. Like, how dare I wake up the morning of and do my notes for the show or decide on my way to the podcast what we're going to talk about. Like, you comparing your work to network. Their work is crazy. They are the great. I want to be one of the greats. Like, I want, yo. Like, I promise you this. It was full. Like, we were at the. It was an arena. It was full.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Everybody was, like, up and dancing and single. All of the songs. Bobby Brown came out. I was so excited. I kept saying, I love you, Bobby, but Bobby Brown came out and I was so excited. It's like the celebrity of them is so big. I felt like that when they came to the Breakfast Club, too. I'm like, yo, I can't believe this is New Edition. And Boy Simon sitting right here in front of me. But seeing the crowd react to their songs, but just really react to them, like, they're just. I don't know. They're just so good at what they do. And they know songs back then were.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Something that I feel bad for. This new generation coming up that's missing it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like, we don't have it.

[Taylor (Guest)]

They don't know what real songs and real vocals are.

[Lauren LaRosa]

For real, for real. Even listening. We were listening to the music on the way to the concert and, like, just listening. Because some of the songs were so old, they were so young, so their voices sound so different. And we were listening to it and we were like, yo, they've been doing this for so long, long successfully. Like, listen to their voices. They sound like babies. And then to see them on stage, and not only are they on stage, but they do outfit changes. Like, they look like a. Everything is quality. The look, the Fabrics. I mean, the lighting is hitting the certain jackets. Even their placement was on point. They're doing the dances. Like, I felt like I was literally watching the New Edition movie.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Oh, wow.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then when Toni Braxton came on stage, I was like, this is not real. Like, she is not a real person. She sounds just like she sounds when you press play on, like, Apple music. Like, it was. I, I, I love Boys to Men. They looked amazing too. Like, same thing, ensemble together, they look amazing. I just wish I could hear them. I was really looking forward because I think when you think about Boys to Men, you think about harmony. I was looking forward to hearing them tear it down, go acapello at some points. And were they first or who was? No. So. Well, okay. I missed the very, very opening because we had went to the front entrance and then we had to go back around the side to meet the. The girl from the black promoters collective. Shout out to black promoters collective who? It was so last minute, us figuring out going to this tour just because I had to be home with my mom. And they figured it out. Like, so they came and grabbed us from, like, the side entrance. When we came in, I saw Birdman and that. I mean, that's, it's like all these legends just, like, in here, just chilling. So it's Birdman. And then he's walking. He has, like, a hood on, full gray beard. So it's like. Yes. And I think a girl beard, it threw me off. It threw me off guard too, because I don't know, like, just to see them aging.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

When you've always known them, they're kind of like fairy tale characters to me, like Birdman and Master P and New Edition, Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton. Like, these are all people that are timeless to me because of the big iconic careers that they've had across various genres of music or whatever. But, yeah, we were literally walking in and he walked by, he had his hood on, but I saw the gray beard and he, you know, he always has the glasses on. I was like, is that Berman? And the girl that was walking us in from the black promoters collective, she, like, laughed a little bit. She was like, yeah, that's him. I'm like, like it. And I don't get. It wasn't even like a starstruck. It just was like, y' all just all in here chilling. Like, y' all got all of this iconism in here. Just chilling like this, like, so, yeah, it was just good to see. But it was so good to see them in Show. It just makes you want. I mean, it made me want to tighten up. I'm like, okay, I got to care about my presentation. Not just my physical presentation, but the presentation of my work. Because you could tell, even with Boys to Men, even though I wish I could hear them better. And I wish that it's weird because, like, you could hear them singing. I have a clip will play. You could hear them singing, but it just wasn't the live performance I thought I was gonna get from Boys and Men. I can't describe it, but I get your saying, yeah, yeah. I would give it another shot, but I. I want. I go there listening to their, like, music and preparation. And then when you hear them, the track is louder than they are, in my opinion. So that was my only critique. But I don't know, like, just the way that they are about their craft and how they present it. And you can tell. Yo, you could tell them boys be practicing. Oh, my God. I mean, the dance steps is on point. Even Bobby Brown, like, I know that there's a video going viral of him talking about, like, he don't dance. And I. And I do have that clip. He did that moment in the show. But even Bobby Brown, like, he has, like, a solo. Some solo parts, because he comes on stage and then goes off stage. And I'm not mad at him for knowing when it's time for him to take a chill pill. Not mad at him at all. Because we want our legend here. We don't want him working and, you know, burning himself out. All of them, to be honest with you. But when they were, like, doing their, like, ensemble dances and, like, say, for instance, if Bobby Brown was in the front, he would just look back real quick and then get in lockstep with them with the dances, and then they would switch, and maybe Bobby would go, like, off to the back, to the side, and then another member, a new addition, would come up. Like, it was just good. It was the show.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I'm gonna see them next month.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So hopefully you're going to love New Edition. Like, I'm pro. Everybody was great. I love Tony. I love Boyz II Men. But New Edition made me feel like it was a hug. I don't know. Maybe because I thought about the movie or something, but I don't know. They just made me feel like it was a. Like I was literally being hugged by, like, my grandma or, like, my mom or something. Yeah. But I was being hugged by my man because it was Valentine's Day. It was. It was great. Even though we went out to eat. Afterwards we went to a spot called Angie's Seafood. I actually went there twice. I had such good crabs the night after the concert. I was like, can we go back before we leave? So we did that and then we dipped. So it was, it was a great time. And I got to see family unexpectedly this weekend. Yes. But you know what else happened this weekend?

[Taylor (Guest)]

The Top Model documentary Girl.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, wait, wait.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Let's take a commercial break and then.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Let'S get back into it.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Kim with the gold medal.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

You gotta pause me a little bit when I'm talking about that because. Okay, so I'm a huge Top Model fan. I auditioned for Top Model probably like, six times, like, wanting to be on the show. I just knew that Tyra Banks and smizing was going to be my claim to everything. I thought that's how y' all was going to meet me. I'm not even going to lie. I thought I was going to be on America's Next Top Model. The last year I auditioned was 2010, which was the year that I went to college. And I made it to. I got, like, one call back. I made it to, like, the. They call you back, and you're in this room full of models in New York, and they never call me back again after that. But that was the furthest I made.

[Taylor (Guest)]

It was the audition, though. You have to walk.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So, yeah, you come in, you walk. So the. There's, like, a huge audition, and I have, like, photos waiting. You know what? I think I'm gonna post that. Yeah, I have photos. My cousin from one year, I went. I think this.

[Taylor (Guest)]

How many. How many times did you audition?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I auditioned a good. Like, I used to. So every year from the time I turned, because I think you had to be 18 to go by yourself.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So from the time I could go by myself up until my freshman year of college, I auditioned every time they had an audition. So it probably was like five or six times. I was so serious about getting on that show because I thought getting on Top Model would be, like, a platform. And then, like, once I got on, I could, like, figure everything else out because I wanted to model, I wanted to act. I wanted to do the talk show thing. So I was like, I'll get on there. You know, Tyra's a mega star. We'll figure it out. Met somebody who was, like, you know, working with the team in another instance, not at the audition. And she changed the trajectory of my life. I text her last night and said, thank you. Like, God knew I needed to meet you. You literally saved my life. Kind of. Maybe not that I think, you know, anything would have happened to me. I don't know If I would have. I don't know what my experience on the show would have been, but she was. When I met her and told her, like, you need to cast me for Top Model, she was like, no, I don't. And I'm like, yes, you do. Why are you telling me that? And she was like, if you really want to be in this industry, let's talk about what you want to do. You don't need this. This does not need to be your entry. And I was like, what? But watching the show, I mean, I don't know, because Eva has had a great career. Takara. We talked about. We talked to Takara here on the podcast.

[Taylor (Guest)]

We did. We did research before the show, and a lot of the girls seem to have some success.

[Lauren LaRosa]

They're still doing things that are modeling, like, Right. Like, whether they're, like, teaching classes or modeling themselves. Well, I'll say the.

[Taylor (Guest)]

The winners. I don't know about everyone that was actually on this.

[Lauren LaRosa]

See, But Takara didn't win her season. Yeah.

[Taylor (Guest)]

But I think that season in general was. What season was that? Season three, six. I don't remember. But I feel like that season itself, because they. That's when they had Eva, Yaya, Takara. And I feel like it was just.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I love Yaya, too. I reached out to Yaya. I've reached out to Takara. We had her here on the podcast. Go check out that episode. We did an interview with her prior to the documentary dropping, and I told her I was gonna circle back once it came out. Did circle back, but haven't heard back. I also reached out to Eva's team, and I reached out to Yaya's team as well. Bri was on the documentary. She was another one of my favorites.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah. But I wanted to hear from, like, the girl Jade. I wanted to hear definitely from Tiffany, the girl.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, baby, I don't think we had enough time to hear from Tiffany. Tiffany is currently online right now airing the Girls Out. I want to read for you, Airing the Girls Out. Aaron. Tyra Banks. Okay. Let's say, like, damn what they did. So for those of you guys who do not remember Tiffany or her season of Top Model, might remember from this clip. Yes, from this moment. Undeniably one of the biggest moments in Top Model history. And they were very honest about that in the documentary itself. Just talking about how big this moment was, because, I mean, Tyra got vulnerable as heck, but it was a lot of. That's the only.

[Taylor (Guest)]

That's the only time I felt like she was vulnerable during the Whole thing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I felt like Tyra was vulnerable throughout the Top Model seasons when she would be fighting for like.

[Taylor (Guest)]

No, I'm talking about in the documentary.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, in the documentary. Yeah. I don't think she was vulnerable. Tyra Banks, you don't think she was vulnerable?

[Taylor (Guest)]

I felt like she was one of those things where it was just like she was talking about it, but she didn't have any empathy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

More Sorry. I don't think she.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Not necessarily more sorry. But just. It was kind of just like, yeah, I said that, but, I mean, the producers wanted me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like, I don't know.

[Taylor (Guest)]

It was just like, it wasn't her taking accountability of it. And it's.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I don't know. I think Jess felt the same way. Just hilarious. Because when I mentioned earlier on the Breakfast Club, we talked about this there too. I was like, tyra was taking accountability, but she was like, really? And I was like, what's up? A little bit. I just think. So the name of the documentary. Go ahead.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Oh, go ahead.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The name of the documentary is Reality Check Inside America's Next Top Model. So it's three episodes. So the first episode is on top. How do you know you want to be on top? I still remember the theme song. TV so good.

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Me too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, my God. TV used to be so good. Like, the fact that I remember the theme song, I remember, like, sitting and watching upn. No, because watching this documentary really makes you. Whether you were a Top Model fan or not, I think it reminds you of an era where, like, reality TV and storytelling wasn't on a whole different place. A completely different place. The second episode is called still in the Running, which is what Tyra would say at the end of each episode when she would, like, be voting some of the models off based on who did well on the photo shoot challenges. She'd be, like, still in the running. And that means that you weren't being voted. Voted off. And in rooting for you, that goes back to the moment with the model Tiffany that we were talking about. But yeah. So Top model early 2000 show dominated the airwaves, and now this documentary drops in what Taylor was talking about. When it comes to tyrant accountability, a lot of people for a very long time have always criticized Tyra Banks for some of the decisions she made as the EP and one of the creators of America's Next Top Model. Everything from, you know, the things that she allowed the woman to endure when it came to, like, there were, you know, we talked to Takar here on the podcast. Make sure y' all Check that episode out about an incident where, you know, her weight came into question. They were 20, and they were literally, like, grabbing at her waist and didn't have clothes for her. And then, you know, we got to hear from one of the girls in. I believe it was episode one. Was it episode one where we talked about.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I don't know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We got to hear from Bri. Not Bri. We got to hear from Danny.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Danny, yeah. Who.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know, there was a whole. The black. The black girl had to get her gap closed up. But then the white girl came in there, like, this is chic, and this will.

[Taylor (Guest)]

But that's what bothered me about it, because in that moment, Tyree was like.

[Lauren LaRosa]

She blamed the exact.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah. She painted.

[Premier Protein Ad Announcer]

She goes. I mean, they were telling me in.

[Taylor (Guest)]

One ear, like, she would never make it. So, you know, I just went with it. But it's like, Tyree, you're going against what you were trying to do with the show.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And that's the thing, I think for Tyra Banks to be, you know, iconic, right? She's an iconic supermodel. I saw somebody saying threads. Tyra Banks was never on top because she doesn't have as many Vogue covers as, like, a Naomi Campbell. And I'm like, girl, do you understand how hard it was for a black supermodel, period? Let's not count Vogue covers. She had movies. Tyra Banks was one of the biggest models in the world and one of the. Not even just black models. She was one of the biggest models in the world. Biggest black models in the world. Right. But her thing was the fact that they called her plus size and she was a black woman. So for you to come in this. And there are some episodes that they show throughout this where she's, like, fighting back. You know, her and Janice Dickinson used to get into it over, like, the weight conversation and Janice telling the girls to lose weight in Tyrus, like, you know, but then you have things like she's calling, you know, there. There's one model that was seasons early on, and they called her Ashy. It talked about how rough her skin was and how.

[Taylor (Guest)]

And the girl. They were talking about Ebony.

[Olympics/NBC Ad Announcer]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I don't know what they were talking about. Her skin looks smooth as hell.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But that was the thing. I think. I think what it was was that you have. It goes back to what you said about Tyra not sticking to what she. The purpose in some of it. But I think some of it she had to do for the plot.

[Taylor (Guest)]

That's because that's the thing. That's a problem.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. Because that girl Ebony's skin was flawless. She was beautiful. That is why Tyra chose her. We could all look at Ebony and see what Tyra was trying to do with Ebony as a model. Right. And then when they shave her hair and they're talking about the texture of her hair, look at who's shaving her hair. They don't look like us.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Right.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then you're talking about the retouching and how the photos aren't coming out correctly. But that has always been a thing in the industry of, like, not only, like, makeup shades and stuff like that, not matching, but like, who's your art department? Who's shooting the girls? Who's lighting them? Do they understand our skin? Do they understand our. Our tones? And. And I think, you know, she felt through to the wayside. And with Ebony, when they talked about the fact that she was a lesbian.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Oh, yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And she was like, she didn't have a chance to. You could never do that today. You could never, like, basically put a person in a position where they have to out themselves in order to participate in something.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I thought maybe I heard it wrong. I thought she was like, she didn't care.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So they knew she put it on her application. But she said a lot of her family in the world. Her. The world, like, that was her. Her card, her calling card was, she's a lesbian black girl. You know what I mean? Like, but then she said her family, for the most part, found out from the show and she was saying that she wished that they had kind of given her the option to build out her story a little bit more before leaning into like, oh, you're gay. And a lot of. Because a lot of the women in the house weren't comfortable with it. They had like, the super white Christian girls who were like, oh, my God, you're gay. What the hell?

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And you black. And I do understand. I mean, it's a show at the end of the day, and that's what.

[Taylor (Guest)]

And that's the thing too, when it comes to that thing. Also, entertainment wise, in this business.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Do feel like Tyra got too addicted to, like, oh, this is going to be great for the show, regardless of what it was like. And that's why the challenges were so kind of crazy out there.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But I think if I'm. And I'm not defending Tyra. Right. I don't. I don't know how I feel either way. It's like, I understand people's upset, but I also understand the industry at the time. I, you know, as a person that, like, I told y', all, like, modeling, I thought that was going to be the thing that I was doing. The only reason I ended up over here on the entertainment side is because in the couture space, which is what she was grooming these girls for, I was literally told, girl, you have too much personality. You are darker skinned, and your boobs are big and your lips are big. Where are you going? What couture Runway or magazine is ever going to have you?

[Taylor (Guest)]

I don't even know what that means.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That means that I'm not white and coke thin. And that was the industry standard for a very long time. So I think, you know, she. And not just the fact that she focused on bringing black women in because she was bringing in girls of white, black, yellow, and different who all had something to get over, whether it was weight, whether it was self confidence, whether it was their, like, their. Their religious backgrounds, which would prevent them from work. Like, different things that would prevent them from working because there was so much to be up against. And that was Tyra's story. Yeah. So I understand what she was trying to do. I just think there's no way. Tyra is never not going to be the villain in the America's accept model story because she did what she had to do to produce the television show. At the end of the day.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah. And I was telling you that earlier. I was like, at the end of the day, too. So many people. That's outraged. You still was watching this show, though.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So how outraged were you? I know I was. I was. I don't remember. I'm not. I'm not really outraged now. I'm not that average. Nothing surprised me. I do think, looking back, though, it was the first time where I felt like an adult. I'm like, oh, shoot. Looking back, that was crazy. You know, like, older people say that to you. Like, man, yeah, our day would do this and our day that. I felt like, shoot, that was my day. And I didn't even know. I didn't even know the shower stuff with Shandy. Yeah. So there was a girl from Cycle two season two who did. So it's being labeled as a sexual assault, but during the time the episode aired, as if she had just gotten too drunk, got in a shower with a guy, had sex, and cheated on her boyfriend. But she had said, you know, she says that she had communicated that she was not coherent enough to make certain decisions and, you know, all of that. But even. Even if. Right. Like, even if the words sexual assault were not being thrown around or being brought up with Shandy's episode. I still think it's crazy to record some of the stuff that they were recording. And I don't know if I thought it was crazy then because that's.

[Taylor (Guest)]

But also telling you, like, because reality tv, that wasn't the first time around. Yeah. And maybe that's where also I was like, okay, sure.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I think we just had different limits.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Like, I. I was surprised that the girls weren't able to keep the photos that they shot during the show.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm not surprised because I know when you do shows like that, like, they want everything and they want to own everything.

[Taylor (Guest)]

That sucks though, because then how are they gonna present themselves to other agencies?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I mean, I don't know how much you are able to like use almost like not licensed, because I'm sure they didn't have to pay for it. But I'm sure that there were some stipulations in there of like, you can use things in certain ways. So like to present when you're going on. Go sees to agencies. Go Seeds are like auditions to agencies, but like for them to take and potentially publish or do anything monetary to make money off of it. Heck no.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Well, no, I was. I would think they're just using it to show their headshot. Like, just saying.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I didn't know they weren't allowed to do that.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah. I'm surprised. And that. I think when it comes to that documentary, I was more surprised with certain things than versus like shot like, like, like outrage. Yeah. Because the. The Gap thing took me. I did not. I didn't watch the other seasons after.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I knew about the Gap thing.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I didn't know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I was always confused because I felt like Dani was so pretty with her Gap. I feel like the Gap, I mean, she's pretty without it or with it a little bit more clothes, but I feel like her Gap, it gave her personality to her face. And I thought that, that. I always thought that that mattered.

[Taylor (Guest)]

We're striving for afterwards. But also, the ultimatums that Tyra gave on the show was not okay though, because she was like basically saying, if you don't get clothes and you're leaving.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The industry, is that it's like crazy.

[Taylor (Guest)]

You hear?

[Lauren LaRosa]

You ready or you're not.

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[Olympics/NBC Ad Announcer]

It's an Olympics you'll never forget. Primetime in Milan the Moment Chloe Kim.

[Lauren LaRosa]

With the gold medal. Flex the Stars Ilya Malinin out of.

[Olympics/NBC Ad Announcer]

This World the spectacle from beautiful northern Italy with very special guests every night of the olympics. Experience the world's biggest show. Primetime in Milan tonight 87 Central on.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Tiffany is the model who got into it with Tyra where Tyra was the whole I'm rooting. We were all rooting for you. I was rooting for you. We were all rooting for you. So she posted in Listen, when Tyra let her go from that season, I knew I'M like, I wasn't mad at Tyra for that. I'm like, she not ready. Like, she's not in a position where she's really ready to do this. Like, all you gotta do is read something on a teleprompter.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah, but what I want to watch the episode over again because what was some. Something else was going on with Tiffany.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Maybe there was something else going on at the time. I don't remember the actual full episode. I just saw it in the flashback on the documentary. But I don't know. I felt like she wasn't in a space to like, again. It's like it's now or never. Like, what you gonna do? So Tiffany posted in response to the documentary. She said, hold up, Tyra Banks. Let's keep it cute. You are one lying ass. Tired ass be. You know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera? You were a bully. You treated me like she's a lot of cousins there. You treated me like s H I t and said the nastiest things about me and my son. That is not how the argument went. But y' all edited it to make like. To make it look like you cared. Also, f the shade room. I don't know what they did. F your weird fans. And F you, Tyra Banks. I bet you you won't sit down me face to face and talk about it. Also, f my family, too. Oh, she's mad at her family, too. Y' all don't ever defend me. I got more money and helping more people than all or many of the top models. But that's the update y' all give. That's a dang shame it's giving. Y' all still hating on little black. Ask me. Then she tagged Tyra Banks again. She called Tyra Banks to hoe. She said, just let it go. It's been over 20 years. So she's basically saying of all the things that y' all could be talking about that I got going on right now, why is that what y' all give the update on? But I mean, to be fair, if she was in the doc, the other girls got to talk about what they're doing right now. Exactly. So. But you gotta talk about your storyline. And that was her storyline. Like, you were the girl who left. They tried to get you help from what they seen, from what they said, allegedly. Like, they talked about anger management, all that. And then she came back on the show and it didn't work out. Still. And in that moment, that moment is one of the biggest moments From Top Model. Yeah, she crazy. I would've had a non profit. We were all rooting for you.

[Taylor (Guest)]

That was probably humiliating for her though, like, so she's probably not thinking positive to make it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But, you know, my thing is, how is it humiliating for you? They gave you another chance.

[Taylor (Guest)]

No, I'm talking about that moment that, like, I'm sure people were probably in her face. Like we were reading for you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then I feel like, girl, Tyra got so hood. You don't know my life. You don't know what I've been through. I'm like, girl will tell us.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm actually surprised. I feel like low key. They edited some stuff out because I'm.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Surprised she didn't say nothing back.

[Lauren LaRosa]

They had to. Of course. They actually had to bring in attorneys to set the next day. Oh, yeah. You only bring in attorneys where there's some things that say where you. You try and protect your talent. Yeah. So definitely things were edited a hundred percent.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I'm surprised, honestly, that James Dickinson didn't get more backlash.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like, she's the one. She was military. She was miserable. Yes.

[Taylor (Guest)]

And.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I think a lot of what she did was like, how she felt, but I think there were parts of it that was just for the plot. Like, she loved to take Tyra Banks off.

[Taylor (Guest)]

That was crazy to me how she acts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But it was. But I think the documentary did a good. I think the documentary was very fair in showing their dynamic. So the dynamic between Tyra and Janice, the dynamic between Ms. J and J Manuel and Nigel and Tyra Banks and their dynamic without Tyra Banks as well, too. And the reason why I say that is because I feel like every time I've ever watched anything or watched an interview or like read anything that has to do with Nigel, who was the photographer, Ms. J, who was the Runway coach, also a judge. And then Jay Alexander, who would do like, kind of like their creative direction and help, you know, the models on set. It always talked about them in a way where they were just kind of like Cyrus. Like Cyrus. Tyra's like sidekicks in a way. I think this documentary did a really good job of showing their own aspirations, why they came into it and that these people had lives and work before Tyra Banks. Like, J. Manuel was very successful at. At the point that he, you know, was. That's how he even knew Tyra bank. So was Ms. J. So was Nigel.

[Taylor (Guest)]

You know, also talk about how Jay Emanuel. Yeah, his face card is ridiculous.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yo.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Still.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I don't know what that's like I feel like he got like a, like a, like it's like a VIP limited version of Botox that don't nobody else get because he don't even look. He don't look bad. You know, he's did something to keep it that. Yeah, it's so sharp and like, but it don't look over. Overdone.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah, exactly.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's what I'm saying. Like he just looks so soft and so like glowy and just get a chance like, let me know. So I do want to get into everything we found out about Ms. J and the stroke that he suffered that has now left him paralyzed. But let's take a break and then we'll come back and get into it.

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[Public Legal Disclaimer Announcer]

Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice.

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Complete disclosures [e-mail] disclosures if you're struggling.

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[Olympics/NBC Ad Announcer]

It's an Olympics you'll never forget. Prime time in Milan.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The Moments Chloe Kim with the gold medal.

[Olympics/NBC Ad Announcer]

Flex the Stars.

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Ilya Malinin out of this World the.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

So one of the, like, final moments of the of the docu series is a moment where we find out some breaking News exclusively. So Ms. J, who is Runway coach extraordinaire, Tyra Banks, literally, he's helped Tyra Banks learn how to walk on the Runway when she was in her prime. We found out that he no longer can walk after suffering a major stroke. This was so sad they opened it because the whole time throughout the docu series, Ms. J is sitting down. So you don't know. And I could tell. I mean, some of the news had broke prior to me watching it, but just in how he was talking. It wasn't the same how he would talk on the show. It wasn't as sharp. You know, some. Some sentences and some words are more drawn out, which happens with stroke. Like, you know, it can affect your speech and things as well. But when he opened up the scene where he's showing us the room that he's been that he was staying in for some time, and it's like a hospital bed in the room. And I'm like, oh, my God. Because Ms. J was always so full of life.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

In a coma and waking up and not even knowing where he was or, like, what happened. Ms. J was so full of life. Still is, you know, still is full of life. But I just can't imagine Ms. J, you know, the vulgar, the Runway, like, everything in the scene. And, like, just for anyone who, I mean, you didn't model, but you understand what I'm saying? But for us as models, Ms. J was like, that's mother. She is on the listen up and down the Runway, baby, giving it to you, how it need to be served up. And the line where Ms. J says, I used to teach the models how to walk, and now I can't even walk. I'm like, man, life hits you so hard. Good people, too good people get hit with the craziest Things.

[Taylor (Guest)]

And then Tara didn't even want to visit.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That made me side eye her. That made me sign her. Because I feel like when you, man, when your people down for you, they down for you. Right? Like, they rolled with her through so much. That show was new. Imagine how much she had to figure out on the fly. And they figured it out together. And he's now in a position where like, he. He's physically disabled and going through so much and you haven't even like, not even a FaceTime. He says she text him.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm like, man, he's crazy.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Situation with her and J. Manuel. Like, did you. Did you see on his Instagram, he. It seemed like he was throwing shade to her too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, he's been.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The shade between. Like, I knew that there were things between them. I just don't know if I knew how bad, like, like what it was. You know what I mean? Like, but I knew.

[Taylor (Guest)]

We only heard in the documentary, you only hear one side of the story and there's no shade to. To Jay Manuel.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Sorry, my friend.

[Taylor (Guest)]

But. Because he was saying that he wanted to, you know, pivot his career. And when he told Tyra that, she just goes back and says, I'm disappointed.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. But okay, so here. Sorry that came up again. But here's, here's my thing about the whole, like, Tyra and how she handled him. Once he told her that he didn't want to work there anymore or work with her anymore. Right. I understand as a person and as the person I am, I would never end something that way unless there was like a really like. To me, there was no real reason for her to do that. They, they. There weren't arguments, they didn't dislike each other.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah. I thought it was weird that he emailed her. Why don't you just tell her in person?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I think it had gotten to a point where they were growing apart. Things were happening. He was becoming his own star, his own name, his own celebrity. You know what I mean?

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But still, you know, I don't. I just. If it were me, I just wouldn't want things to end that way.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And would have done everything I could to not make it in that way, but it seemed like it got to a point for the both of them where business is business. And he did what he needed to do to keep himself on that show for as long as he needed to until he decided to step off and pivot. And she did what she needed to do to protect herself. Because at that point, when you're telling Me, you want to leave the show that I created. We're not friends anymore. Now I'm your boss and HR has to deal with you leaving the show. It was very clear she didn't produce it. It was so clear. I feel like if she had produced it, there would have been a lot more not added in. It was so clear to me that she didn't. That's why I was so surprised that she was so involved because you could tell she didn't have creative control.

[Taylor (Guest)]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because some of the stuff I'm like, girl, you look crazy. Crazy as hell right now. Talking about season cycle 25. So they're saying even when in. In the opening episode when they're talking about Tyra pitching this show and it, you know, people were not running to do reality.

[Taylor (Guest)]

I wonder how Tyra's gonna do cycle 25.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't think cycle 25 is going to be successful. I think them, the girls nowadays are going to be too soft. They're going to need in this again. I'm totally here for people being in tune with themselves, but you going to need therapists on site. You're going to need mental health days and mental health breaks especially. You can't say certain words and like I just don't think it will work. Not it can work and we'll watch it, but I don't know if it'll be as great because we tuned in for a certain level of like, oh, shoot, they really doing that. It's gonna be like the impact or what's in the white world that's like where like they just grab a bunch of social media stars and put them all together in the house. Yeah. So like, like the hype house for the White House. People that listen. For the black people that listen. If you've ever watched Impact Atlanta or Impact New York where they grab all of the social. The biggest people on social media and put them in a house. I think they'll do that. Like that'll be. Cuz she was already kind of leaning into like that in the later seasons. I think this time around it'll be. She grabs the biggest girls. Yeah, the biggest girls from Instagram. And then you're going to have a few girls sprinkled in who have like 2,000 followers who maybe have a look but like need a big transformation because you love a storyline, you love a beginning, middle, end. You need to see the transformation. And you're going to throw them in a house together and just see what. How it works and just. And whatever the challenges are today, like followers and still race in size. Whatever the challenges are today, they'll just, like, spin it. But I just think. I think the world itself is a little too woke for what was the best parts of Top Model because people pissed about it right now. Like, I probably. They probably mad at me for saying that those were the best parts of Top Model. It was. That's why certain moments here, the drama in the craziness, everything we just talked about, I just don't. I wouldn't want the headache if I was her.

[Taylor (Guest)]

And yeah, I think we are, too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We got.

[Taylor (Guest)]

We got filters now. Nothing's the same.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I would not want that. Might be a thing to watch. They'll do like a challenge with a filter. Or it'll be like girls showing up who don't look like their filters. Or it'll be girls showing up that. We should close out now. It's a different time. It's 2026. We are inclusive. It's time to close out. This has been another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. I tell you guys, every single episode, y' all could be anywhere with anybody talking, talking about all these things, but y' all choose to be right here with me. My lowriders. Make sure you make sure y' all go watch the doc, but make sure you also go listen and watch our interview with Takara we talked about before the doc even drops. Okay?

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[Taylor (Guest)]

Hey, this is US Olympic gold medalist.

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[Taylor (Guest)]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

A clear path and a team that.

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[Taylor (Guest)]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Best mortgage, we chose PennyMac.

[Taylor (Guest)]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.