ANTM star Nigel Barker issues warning to new judges and contestants as Tyra Banks teases Cycle 25
'A lot of people were afraid to step out of line'ANTM judge Nigel Barker has offered his advice for potential new judges and contestants after Tyra Banks teased Cycle 25 during Netflix’s documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.
During the explosive doc, host and executive producer Tyra Banks hinted at a comeback, eight years after its final series.
Despite the huge controversy that continues to surround the show, she announced: “You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25.”
Would Nigel Barker return to ANTM?
After Cycle 18, Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander were axed from the show after playing a huge part in its legacy.
In the doc, Tyra explained that she was told by the bosses above her that they needed to be let go. As a group, they had agreed to announce the news via a joint press release, where each of them was to have their own quote, allowing them to say goodbye their way.
However, before they could even do so, a story “leaked” to Page Six that stated they had been fired. Nigel insisted it was the “lowest point for me”.
While exclusively speaking to TV Guide, Nigel revealed whether he would ever return to the show.
“The answer is probably no,” he admitted. “People ask me that all the time, and I say ‘probably’ because I’m old enough to never say never. But it really depends on the how and the why. What would it be about? What are we trying to do? If it could be done right, maybe — but the world has completely changed. The industry isn’t what it was.”
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Nigel also noted that there are “a lot of differences and nuances in the industry today that simply didn’t exist when we did Top Model”, declaring that “models aren’t discovered the same way anymore”.
He elaborated: “Now, if you don’t have a strong social media following, it’s hard to get booked, regardless of how you look. Designers and magazines choose models with big numbers behind them because they bring a built-in audience that helps sell clothes or magazines. It’s not just about how great someone looks in the garments — it’s also about reach. How do you tap into that model’s audience? How newsworthy are they?”
‘There were certain unspoken rules’
Meanwhile, Nigel warned anyone thinking of signing up for a new series by sharing a piece of advice.
“It’s hard for me to tell anyone else what to do, but you have to be able to say no. To say, ‘I’m done,’ or ‘Stop,’ or ‘That’s not okay.’ That’s a big part of it,” he said.
“It’s about being able to draw a line and decide what you’re willing to accept. When we were younger and filming the show, there were certain unspoken rules. A lot of people were afraid to step out of line or refuse something because they thought they’d be blacklisted or lose work. You were told that if you didn’t comply, your career would suffer,” Nigel continued.
During episode three, Jay Manuel expressed how wanting to leave the show after Cycle 8 left him fearing his career would be sabotaged.
Nigel added: “But the industry has shifted. Between the Me Too movement and broader cultural changes, people’s understanding of what’s acceptable has changed dramatically. There’s more awareness about boundaries and accountability. Even things that feel obvious now — like having parents on set for younger talent — weren’t always standard practice. The biggest thing is knowing you have the right to protect yourself and to speak up.”
