Jay Manuel Shares Biggest Regret on ANTM After Watching Docuseries

Jay Manuel is revisiting life on top.

After watching the Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, the show’s former creative director has been thinking about his time on the series and now realizes there’s one thing he wishes he’d done differently.

In a recent interview about his 2020 novel, The Wig, the Bitch and the Meltdown, Jay said he wished he’d been better at setting limits and standing up for himself during the production process. He felt pressured and regrets not pushing back more when things got difficult, as reported by People magazine.

He explained that the priority during those photoshoots was always the safety of the models. He now realizes his responsibility was to ensure a truly safe environment and that he should have been more assertive in addressing concerning situations.

The 53-year-old revealed he originally worked on the show to support Tyra Banks, as he started as her makeup artist.

Jay described a successful Black model who had overcome significant obstacles in the industry. He noted that Black models often face low pay, mistreatment, and are easily dismissed. When every other network rejected her project, UPN agreed to support it, and Jay told her he would stand with her and make it happen.

He added, “We all went into it with great intentions.”

Jay acknowledged that things became chaotic during filming, explaining he struggled to set firm personal boundaries while participating in the show.

He initially had complete creative control over the model photoshoots, but that changed after the fourth season due to the increasing number of sponsors involved.

Jay explained that the show became popular, attracting sponsors and a team overseeing its production. However, he didn’t have creative control over all aspects, specifically mentioning the controversial ‘race-swapping photo shoot’ which received negative feedback.

In the Netflix documentary, Jay explained that he decided to quit after the eighth challenge. Unfortunately, when he told Tyra, she didn’t react the way he’d expected.

Jay said they missed a chance to have a really honest and open conversation, which he’d hoped for.

He was worried about being excluded from future seasons if he didn’t come back for cycle nine. Once filming began, Jay remembered that Tyra only talked to him when the cameras were rolling.

Jay explained that while they filmed scenes where they played and laughed together, he wasn’t permitted to talk to her when the cameras weren’t rolling.

For more bombshells Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, keep reading.

Shandi Sullivan, a finalist on Cycle 2 of America’s Next Top Model, was involved in a controversial situation during filming in Milan. A scene aired on March 16, 2004, in the episode “The Girl Who Cheated,” showed her in bed with a male model who had been at a party with the contestants. Shandi later explained in the 2026 Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model that she had been very drunk and doesn’t remember what happened, and she believes the show’s producers should have stepped in.

Shandi mentioned in the show that she believes someone should have intervened after the events following the hot tub scene. She felt things had escalated too much and that they needed to help the person involved get out of the situation.

During the same episode of America’s Next Top Model, Shandi broke down in tears, then called her boyfriend to admit to infidelity. She also reached out to a model she’d met in Milan to inquire about sexually transmitted diseases.

Tyra Banks addressed the situation with Shandi on Reality Check, stating she recalls the story but feels uncomfortable discussing the production details, as that falls outside her area of expertise.

In the documentary, executive producer Ken Mok explained that they approached Top Model like a real-life documentary. He said they told the contestants from the beginning that cameras would be filming them constantly—24 hours a day, seven days a week—and would capture everything, both positive and negative.

Tyra clarified that while she wasn’t in charge of the overall story – that was Ken Mok’s role – she did become a highly skilled editor. She emphasized that the show didn’t air everything that was filmed.

TopMob News reached out to Tyra and Ken for comment but did not hear back.

I was so excited to watch Cycle 6, and it was amazing to see Danielle ‘Dani’ Evans win! What a lot of people don’t know is that both Dani and the incredible Joanie Dodds actually went to the dentist as part of their overall makeover on the show. It was a really thorough process for both of them!

Joanie spent the entire night at the dentist and had four teeth pulled. However, as she explained in the Netflix documentary, she was thrilled, saying it felt like winning the lottery because she’d always been insecure about her smile. Ken commented on Reality Check that it was a really difficult experience for her.

Dani initially wasn’t interested in getting the gap between her front teeth closed, because she liked her smile. When Tyra Banks asked her on America’s Next Top Model if she thought she could still be a successful model with the gap, she confidently said yes.

After her mom pointed out she might be eliminated if she didn’t listen to Tyra, Dani explained that she decided to do what was asked of her, and the gap in her teeth was fixed, as shown in the documentary.

Tyra admitted in her book, Reality Check, that she’d apologized to Dani for previously suggesting she get her teeth changed. However, Tyra explained that back in 2006, she felt stuck in a difficult situation.

Tyra Banks recalls agents telling her she wouldn’t succeed because of her teeth. She admits she could have simply accepted their judgment, but now realizes it’s easy to see what she should have done in retrospect.

Dani strongly disagreed with Tyra’s comment in the documentary, saying, “That’s completely untrue. Getting my gap closed hasn’t helped my career at all. You were aware of the impact you were creating for the show.”

During the eighth cycle of the show, the models participated in a photoshoot with a disturbing theme: they were styled to look like crime victims, even appearing deceased. Dionne Walters, whose mother was paralyzed by gun violence, was specifically asked to portray a shooting victim, which was deeply personal and challenging for her.

She explained in Reality Check that she believed people were trying to provoke an emotional collapse from her, hoping to see her fall apart. She was relieved, however, that they didn’t get the reaction they were looking for.

Ken admitted he was completely responsible for the shooting, calling it a mistake in a written statement. He now realizes it glorified violence, describing it as ‘crazy’ and saying he looks back and thinks, ‘I was an idiot.’

In the documentary, photo shoot director Jay Manuel revealed he struggled significantly with a shoot for a Got Milk? campaign during Cycle 4, where the models swapped races. He even requested to be removed from working on that specific shoot.

In his book Reality Check, Jay recounted Tyra telling him, ‘Let me deal with this in front of the cameras with the contestants – you just focus on your work.’ He realized his involvement was becoming restricted, and the photoshoot would proceed whether he was fully involved or not.

You know, looking back on my time with the show, I really didn’t see the controversy brewing. I was so focused on showcasing the beauty of women of color – brown and Black women specifically – that it felt like the right thing to do. I genuinely believed I was making a positive statement. But when the episodes aired, the reaction was…intense! People were shocked, and honestly, I was surprised too. It was a real wake-up call to how differently things could be perceived.

And thinking about it now, she added, “I understand 100 percent why” it was an issue.

Looking back on my time on Cycle 4, it really strikes me how much the show seemed to play on my personal struggles. It wasn’t a surprise to me, but it’s interesting to reflect on now, that I was given the ‘gluttony’ card during that Seven Deadly Sins photoshoot. And honestly, being cast as the elephant during the safari shoot in South Africa? It felt… deliberate. It’s like the universe—or the producers—knew exactly what themes to hit on with me.

As a lifestyle expert, I remember watching a season of America’s Next Top Model where one contestant, Keenyah, unfortunately faced a lot of comments about her eating habits from the other girls. The judges even brought up concerns about her weight, which was really tough to see unfold on national television. It just highlights how much pressure these young women are under and how easily body image can become a topic of conversation – and scrutiny – in the modeling world.

In her book, Reality Check, Keenyah explained that realizing her life was headed in that direction felt deeply unfair and unpleasant.

She explained that a video segment had been altered to falsely suggest she’d eaten three bagels when, in reality, it was just one.

Tyra Banks explained that when discussing weight on America’s Next Top Model, her intention was to celebrate diverse beauty. However, she also pointed out that the fashion industry at the time had very limited and strict beauty standards, and the show operated within that reality.

As someone who’s spent years observing how we relate to ourselves, let me tell you, it’s rarely a simple fix. I often hear people think addressing one negative self-perception will solve everything, but that’s just not realistic. In my experience, and as Keenyah shared in her book, Reality Check, acknowledging the initial problem – in her case, negative body image – was only the beginning. The issues kept surfacing, and the pressure didn’t stop there.

During a photoshoot in South Africa, Keenyah claimed one of the male models made unwanted advances towards her. She said he was only wearing a loincloth and was touching and grabbing her, taking advantage of the situation. Keenyah recalled thinking about how Tyra Banks would handle it, and decided she would politely and professionally stop the shoot and express her discomfort.

But when she did that, as seen on ANTM, nothing happened.

Later in the show, Tyra told Keenyah she needed to find a way to advocate for herself without creating unnecessary drama or conflict.

Tyra said on Reality Check that she “was trying to empower” Keenyah at the time.

Looking back, I realize the best advice would have been to immediately stop what was happening,” the 52-year-old explained. “That’s what should have happened, and that’s what we understand now about protecting women. To Keenyah and Booboo, I sincerely apologize. None of us – myself or the network executives – understood the situation at the time, and while I did my best, she deserved better treatment. She truly did.

In her book Reality Check, Tyra Banks described a difficult moment during Cycle 4 of America’s Next Top Model when Tiffany Richardson became discouraged while trying to read from a teleprompter and wanted to quit. Tyra felt she had a strong reaction to the situation.

Tyra explained she simply wanted to help this woman transform her life. She believed the woman had the potential to be a truly exceptional supermodel, but she worried the woman was losing confidence and giving up – not just on the competition, but on herself in a more profound way.

So commenced her “We were all rooting for you!” outburst at judges’ table.

Reflecting on the situation, Tyra admitted she overreacted and went too far. She explained that it stemmed from deeply personal experiences as a Black woman, saying, ‘It was probably bigger than her…That’s some Black girl stuff that goes real deep inside of me.’ Ultimately, she acknowledged her mistake, stating, ‘But I knew I went too far.’

According to a document Jay shared, Tyra responded with a simple “I am disappointed” after he emailed her saying he was considering leaving the show after season eight.

Jay explained that after their email conversation, everyone simply stopped talking. He felt it could have been a chance to really connect and discuss things openly, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Instead, Jay continued, he was asked to return for Cycle 9 and he was too afraid not to say yes.

He mentioned the possibility of being unofficially blocked from future opportunities. While that specific term wasn’t used, he felt that was the likely outcome.

As we started shooting Cycle 9, Tyra and I weren’t really talking outside of when the cameras were rolling. She just wasn’t engaging with me off-set, which was a little tricky to navigate, honestly. It was definitely a professional boundary she was setting at the time.

Jay explained that while they filmed scenes together where they played and laughed, he wasn’t permitted to talk to her when the cameras weren’t rolling.

When asked about Jay, Tyra didn’t want to discuss it publicly. “I need to talk to him directly,” she explained. “I don’t want to get into it here. He’s a really good person.”

Whitney Thompson, the winner of Cycle 10 of America’s Next Top Model, revealed in a recent documentary that she was often given clothes that didn’t fit—sometimes they even had to be cut open to make them work. At 5-foot-10 and a size 6, Thompson was the show’s first and only plus-size winner, and she described the experience of constantly being reminded she didn’t fit the standard sample size as “demeaning.”

Whitney explained that while her family could have easily provided clothes that fit, they chose not to, and she handled it as best she could. She added that appearing vulnerable could lead to being dismissed or disregarded.

Winning that competition felt huge, being from Florida and all. Then came the contract with Elite, but it was tough because they didn’t have a plus-size division at the time. I really had to push for my place, but I’m so proud that I ended up being the first plus-size model to work with so many major brands. It was a real fight, but worth it!

Jay explained that the judges sometimes chose photos to display not because they were the model’s strongest, but because they could find something to criticize – he even mentioned an instance where they focused on visible armpit hair.

He also explained that he was sometimes instructed to help a weaker contestant, specifically because her story arc was so compelling, to maintain the illusion that she was still a viable competitor.

Jay explained that if the photos aren’t good quality, it will be difficult to justify keeping the person in the competition.

Nigel admitted in the document that they hadn’t always made the correct decisions, saying, “We sometimes removed the wrong person, but that’s just part of the process.”

Tyra realized they could have done more to prepare the contestants, explaining that not everyone would achieve stardom.

Jay explained that after someone was eliminated, they were filmed packing their belongings, leaving the apartment, and then a production assistant would take them to a hotel.

Several former participants say that once you’re eliminated, you’re required to remain on the show until the season finishes, and you aren’t allowed to contact anyone – not even family – immediately after.

Runway coach J. Alexander, also known as Miss J, explained in the documentary that while he sympathized with the contestants, he knew the fashion industry was incredibly competitive. He said, “The real world will take advantage of you and discard you quickly.”

After leaving the show, it’s a big adjustment,” explained Dionne from Cycle 8, who placed fourth. “You suddenly have to face real life and decide what to do next – whether to pursue modeling, move to New York, or something else. There’s no support system to help you figure things out; you’re on your own.”

Jay remained on the show until Cycle 18 in 2012, when he, Miss J, and Nigel were all let go.

In the documentary, Ken and Tyra remembered being told by network executives that the show needed to evolve.

Tyra explained she was given permission to make any changes necessary, and as a result, she had to say goodbye to three projects she was very passionate about.

Nigel said losing his job was incredibly difficult and felt unfair, joking that it was like being a contestant voted off the show. Jay described the experience as a harsh shock, feeling especially stung because he’d made significant compromises when he initially joined years ago.

Jay explained that he, Nigel, and Miss J were promised a press release with quotes explaining their departures from America’s Next Top Model. However, Page Six published the news of their firings first.

Nigel admitted that was likely his lowest moment. Jay followed up, questioning why those who had been with the show from the beginning weren’t allowed to leave with dignity, suggesting it was a calculated decision.

Tyra shared in the documentary that letting the three contestants go was the most difficult thing she’d ever had to do, and she was so upset she cried herself to sleep that night.

She also believes Jay, Miss J, and Nigel remained skeptical that the instruction originated from a higher authority, despite her and Ken’s explanations.

J. Alexander revealed in his book, Reality Check, that he was in a coma for five weeks following a stroke on December 27, 2022. Although he’s regained his speech, he still uses a wheelchair to get around.

The 67-year-old shared in the documentary that after spending time teaching artificial intelligence models how to walk, they themselves are currently unable to do so—but are determined to regain that ability. They expressed confidence in their recovery and hinted at a future return, saying their story isn’t finished yet.

He mentioned that Jay and Nigel came to see him while he was in the hospital, and Nigel later wondered if Jay even wanted him to see him like that. They connected again more recently while filming the Netflix documentary.

Miss J mentioned Tyra hadn’t come by yet, though she’d texted him saying she wanted to. He confirmed, “But she hasn’t visited so far.”

2026-02-25 05:20

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