The most shocking America's Next Top Model makeovers in history: from horse mane to beard weave
Who could forget these?!America’s Next Top Model, which was renowned for its makeover episodes, is back in the headlines following the release of the Netflix doc, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.
The three-part series, which debuted on the platform today (February 16), will feature host Tyra Banks and her executive producer, Ken Mok, and many of our favourite contestants and judges.
The show, which enjoyed a whopping 24 cycles between 2003 and 2018, was a huge success. However, it has faced major criticism and backlash due to its treatment of the contestants, questionable photoshoots, and bodyshaming, to name just a few.
However, another standout from the show is some of the questionable and outrageous makeovers the contestants were forced to get.
Here, we’re taking a look back at the worst of the bunch. Sit tight!
Michelle from Cycle 4’s painful bleached look
Cycle 4 was an unforgettable series. I mean, who could forget Tyra shouting at Tiffany during her elimination?! For the makeovers episode, Michelle went into the salon with her natural brunette hair and was assigned bleached blonde.
Now, the idea of that doesn’t sound completely horrible. However, the pain the poor girl went through for the sake of the show was awful. While in the chair getting her hair done, she was in so much agony that she was filmed physically shaking. Jay Manual, who worked as the creative director at the shoots, seemed somewhat unbothered, carelessly explaining: “Michelle, she’s feeling the pain of being a bleach blonde. It is excruciating.”
After her hair was done, Michelle was thankfully pleased with the result. “They put me through hell, but I’m loving it now,” she said. However, throughout the rest of the series, Michelle’s hair clearly suffered and wasn’t given the maintenance it needed.
Molly from Cycle 16’s Raman noodle weave
Michelle wasn’t the only blonde who suffered following her makeover. During cycle 16, Molly, who finished as runner-up, was assigned a long, blonde curly weave.
To provide the makeover, the show apparently booked a “weave specialist” for it to be done. However, even a professional failed to execute the vision Tyra wanted.
While having her makeover done, Molly soon realised her hair wasn’t looking like how it was supposed to. After spending hours in the chair, she left the salon with her hair looking busted. Many compared her long curly locks to ramen noodles. The salon owner was especially unhappy, expressing: “Those extensions? What is that? Twisted Sister?” In an attempt to save the day, he tried to make her hair look presentable.
However, soon after having it done, Molly was forced to get her hair redone. In another failed attempt, Molly’s hair continued to look crazy, and as a result, Tyra gave up on the idea and had the weave taken out completely.
Brittany from Cycle 8 had a ‘hamster that died’ on her head
During Cycle 8, Brittany was easily one of the most photogenic contestants. However, despite a natural talent for the job, she struggled to maintain her makeover.
Entering the competition with short brown hair, Tyra insisted that in order to take her look to the next level, she needed a fiery red weave. However, in addition to the makeover process being painful, Brittany’s scalp suffered further when it started to feel sore and blister. As the competition continued, Brittany’s hair would appear a disaster. Even Tyra described it as a “hamster that died” on her head!
In one episode, she was in so much pain that she told Tyra, who agreed it wasn’t looking good, and had Brittany’s weave eventually removed weeks into the series. Finally!
America’s Next Top Model makeovers: Denzel from Cycle 21’s beard weave
The makeovers on America’s Next Top Model aren’t just for the hair on your head. During Cycle 21, Tyra assigned Denzel a beard weave. Gluing hair across the side of his face and under his chin, the strange look didn’t look natural and didn’t elevate his appearance in any way.
However, on the plus side, Denzel wasn’t mad at his makeover and said he was happy with it. You do you, Denzel!
Cycle 10 Marvita’s horse mane
Despite being 10 cycles in at this point, Tyra was clearly still not afraid to assign crazy makeovers that could go horribly wrong.
For Marvita that season, the former Victoria’s Secret model admitted she had a unique look planned. Instead of a regular long weave or a pixie cut, Tyra wanted Marvita to have a long horse mane-inspired look. Confessing that she had never seen the hairstyle on anyone before, Tyra said she had invented it. The results, thankfully, weren’t disastrous. However, the vision was rather questionable.
Funnily enough, it’s not a look that has since taken off. We wonder why…
Cycle 9 winner Saleisha was compared to Dora the Explorer
Saleisha walked into the competition not only confident, but with a lot of experience prior — causing quite a controversy at the time. However, despite impressing early on, her makeover certainly didn’t.
When explaining to each contestant what makeover she had assigned them, Tyra said Saleisha, who had long, dark curly hair, was going to be given a short bob, inspired by Hollywood actress Louise Brooks.
The look, however, was less Louise Brooks, but more Dora the Explorer, according to internet memes. It looked like it had been cut with a bowl on her head and was giving more mushroom than high-fashion. Sorry, Tyra!
Either way, the makeover essentially paid off when Saleisha won the show with the look.
America’s Next Top Model makeovers: Cycle 15’s Chelsey had the gap in her teeth widened
The show clearly has no limits when it comes to the makeover episode. During Cycle 15, blonde model Chelsey had her hair bleached to a more icy look. However, Tyra wasn’t quite done.
With a slight gap in her tooth, Tyra insisted she should visit the dentist and have her gap widened even further. Chelsey wasn’t phased by the permanent makeover. That said, Tyra did face heat from viewers after she forced Cycle 6 winner Danielle to have her gap closed after she said she didn’t want to.
At the time, Tyra claimed Danielle’s gap was “not marketable” and wasn’t acceptable for a Cover Girl commercial. As a result, viewers were not only confused but declared Tyra a hypocrite.
Brenda from Cycle 14’s short red hair was compared to Chucky
Brenda from Cycle 14 entered the show with long, fiery red hair. For makeovers, Tyra kept the red but ditched the length. Admitting that fiance loved “gorgeous long hair”, Tyra didn’t appear bothered, stating that she looked “too sexy” and needed to be edged out.
Tyra said she needed a more Halle Berry-inspired look. However, that was the last thing Brenda got. “My heart sank,” she admitted, adding: “I couldn’t help it, I was just crying.” While tearing mid-makeover, Jay told her she looked “a little older” and needed something with “edge”. Brenda believed her “best asset” was her hair and found it “painful” for it to be taken away from her.
During the show, Brenda’s makeover continued to be a topic of discussion. Her competition compared her to Miranda from Sex and the City, or worse, Chucky from the Child’s Play franchise. Ouch!
Ava’s mullet from Cycle 22 was an acquired taste
Mullets have always been an acquired taste, and that’s certainly what Ava from Cycle 22 was. Entering the show with long blonde hair, Tyra decided to chop it all off and give herself a look nobody was expecting.
Despite many contestants likely crying over it, Ava surprisingly embraced it and didn’t seem too phased. “I’m ready to rock it,” she said with a smile.
Popular YouTuber, Brad Mondo, who is also a hairstylist, reacted to the makeover online and boldly stated it is the “worst thing I have ever seen done to somebody’s head on America’s Next Top Model”. Like many, he was stunned that she looked it.
