Former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Yaya DaCosta recently revealed she’s “fully forgiven” Tyra Banks for the “trauma” she endured while filming the fact competition show within the early 2000s.
Banks, who created the show in 2003, has been under fire since 2020 after problematic clips from the show have resurfaced online.
Through the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, Tyra Banks gave a speech during which she addressed the negative criticism she’s received through the years in regards to the way she treated women on “ANTM.” On Saturday, March 15, 2025, DaCosta, certainly one of the more recognizable names from the franchise, posted an Instagram video addressing her former boss’ words and revealed she’s moved on.
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Tyra Banks Says She Fought For Diversity On ‘America’s Next Top Model’
Banks, who was born and raised in Inglewood, California, began modeling at age 15. She had a highly successful profession, becoming the primary Black woman to seem on the duvet of popular publications, including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and GQ.
In 2003, the supermodel created the tv program “America’s Next Top Model,” by which aspiring models competed in an interactive show to win a modeling contract, a magazine spread, and a contract with a serious cosmetics brand.
The casts were diverse and sometimes featured many ladies of color, in addition to women of various heights and sizes. Banks, nevertheless, revealed her decision to be inclusive caused much pushback.
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“To point out different beauties at a time when the world was like, ‘What? You casting that? And what? Was it that?’ A time when people in the style industry were telling me, ‘You putting the ladies from the hood in your show?’ I used to be like, ‘Why can the girl from the trailer park change into a supermodel, however the girl that’s chillin’ within the park within the hood can’t?’ And we fought, and we struggled, and we made it occur,” Banks said in the course of the ESSENCE awards.
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Tyra Banks Admits She Didn’t At all times Get It Right
Later, during her speech, Banks admitted she and the production crew didn’t at all times “get it right” while filming the hit reality show. “I said some dumb sh-t,” she stated. “But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the web when there have been 24 [seasons] of fixing the world.”
Banks has been criticized for what many deem to be problematic behavior during her time because the show’s host. Previous clips show the supermodel making fun of a lady’s gap teeth, while others feature white models posing in blackface. “All of us evolve. All of us recuperate together. And I’m so excited that I, and so lots of us, have opened that door for others to follow,” she said.
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DaCosta Addresses Banks Video On Social Media
DaCosta, who appeared within the show’s third season and got here in second place, addressed Banks’ speech in a video she posted on Instagram. Within the lengthy clip, the model-turned-actress said she felt “compelled” to talk before saying she experienced “trauma” while filming the series.
The 42-year-old called out the producers for his or her “manipulative editing and weaponization of women’ weaknesses” and “catalyzing body dysmorphia to eating disorders.” She also explained that the “most shocking” moments didn’t “air” on television. Nonetheless, the “Chicago Med” performer revealed she learned to “regulate my nervous system” by being in such an environment.
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DaCosta Has ‘Fully Forgiven’ Banks For The Past
Elsewhere, in her video, DaCosta revealed she also attended the ESSENCE awards, but she missed Banks’ speech when she excused herself to the restroom. She, nevertheless, bumped into the previous “America’s Got Talent” host backstage and said that they had a “beautiful conversation.”
“I used to be so excited on this moment to walk over to her, to achieve for her hands and to greet her with warmth, with gratitude, with love,” she shared. “Something that I might not have been able to. The couple of places we’ve been in prior to now we didn’t speak. Probably each pretended to not see one another.”
DaCosta admitted she was “excited” to see Banks before saying the “ANTM” creator didn’t offer an “explicit apology” for things that went incorrect on the set of their show. Despite that, though, DaCosta was ready for Banks to know she had healed from her experience.
“Y’all, I held that woman, and when it was time for the hug to be over, I held some more. And I took a deep breath because I wanted her to feel what it seems like to be fully forgiven, appreciated, and loved,” she said.
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Reports Say Banks Is Difficult To Work With
Amid the backlash Banks was receiving for former “ANTM” episodes, she was hosting “Dancing with the Stars.” During that point, reports surfaced in regards to the former Victoria’s Secret model being a “nightmare” to work with.
Sources claimed the mother was “disrespectful” to the crew and gave “wild demands” before talking about her “toxic” energy. “Tensions are high within the ballroom. Between low rankings, COVID outbreaks, and constant managing of the Tyra backlash, the producers are on edge about every thing,” they revealed.
Banks departed the series in 2023 and told TMZ she was able to “concentrate on my business and my entrepreneurship, and in addition producing more TV.”
