A CONTESTANT who starred on his 90s show America’s Top Model suggests a lot more went on behind the camera than viewers ever saw.
Former plus size model Sarah Harthshorne, 37, appeared on the show back in 2007 and claims that models ‘fainted every week’ during filming.
Lifting the lid on what it was really like on the show, which was hosted by Tyra Banks, Sarah made a series of shock claims.
Speaking on Vice TV docuseries Dark Side of Reality TV, she claimed: “A girl fainted every week.
“They warned us, they were like, ‘Don’t lock your knees!’ I was like, ‘These skinny b*****s, they’re fainting!’
“Then, 10 hours later I was like, ‘I’m fainting!'”
On the same season Sarah, who was 20 at the time and joined as a plus-size model, lost a significant amount of weight.
This was pointed out by judges ahead of her elimination but Sarah, who is now a comedian and writer, says the reason she wasn’t eating properly was because she couldn’t afford to.
She says: “The reason I was losing weight was, A, I was stressed, but also that I was trying to save money because we weren’t getting paid.
“So, I was only trying to eat very little and very cheap food.”
Season 9 saw another particularly concerning moment.
Heather Kuzmich lost her balance and had to be given oxygen through a mask on the set of an Enrique Iglesias music video.
In season 4 show host Tyra Banks had to call for medical assistance, when contestant Rebbeca Epley fell over, after being on the wrong end of criticism from judges.
Other incidents shown on screen, in the show which turned 21 this year, were season 6 winner Danielle Evans overcoming dehydration to do a shoot on the back of an elephant in Thailand.
Season 7 winner CariDee English got hypothermia following a shoot in a swimming pool.
And season 10 saw contestant Claire Unabia injure her neck after landing on a sheet of hard plastic.
Season 9 was the first to air on the CW Network and saw contestants competing to win a contract with Elite Model Management, a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics , and a fashion spread and a cover in Seventeen magazine.
The show hasn’t been without controversy over the years, none more so than models being asked to switch races for two photo shoots, which contestant Jennifer An said she was uncomfortable with.
Tyra eventually addressed this on social media when she wrote: “Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.”
America’s Next Top Model ran for 24 seasons over the course of 15 years.
The show premiered on 20 May 2003 and concluded its original run on 4 April 2018.
Often abbreviated as ANTM, the show was a reality television series created by Tyra Banks, who also served as the show’s host and executive producer.
The premise of the show involved aspiring models from across the United States competing in various challenges, photo shoots, and runway shows to win the title of “America’s Next Top Model.”
Each season typically started with a group of contestants who were gradually eliminated based on their performance, with the judges critiquing their work and progress.
The winner usually received a modelling contract, a fashion spread in a magazine, and other prizes that can help launch their modelling career.
The show was praised for its diverse casting and for bringing attention to different aspects of the fashion and modelling industry.
However, it has also faced criticism for certain controversial moments and the treatment of contestants.
Despite this, America’s Next Top Model remains a significant part of reality television history.
