'America's Next Top Model' winner Eva Marcille 'amazingly horrified' by docuseries

Marcille says she had 'absolutely no idea' about alleged body shaming, racism and bullying that occurred during production of the reality show.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Eva Marcille, the winner of Cycle 3 of 'America's Next Top Model', says she was 'amazingly horrified' after watching the bombshell Netflix docuseries 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model'. Marcille, who appeared on the show in 2004 under her maiden name Eva Pigford, admitted she was 'gobsmacked' and had 'absolutely no idea' about the 'horrible' acts that allegedly occurred during production, including body shaming, racism and bullying. While she defended show creator Tyra Banks, Marcille believes the producers must have been complicit in enabling the alleged wrongdoings.

Why it matters

The docuseries has shed light on the alleged mistreatment of contestants during the long-running reality competition show, raising questions about the responsibility of the show's producers and host Tyra Banks in perpetuating a toxic environment. As a former winner, Marcille's reaction highlights the disconnect between the contestants' experiences and the public perception of the show.

The details

Marcille said she was 'in awe' and had her 'mouth wide open' after watching the docuseries, as she had 'absolutely no idea' about the alleged wrongdoings that occurred. She believes the 'environment could not exist without producers aiding and abetting what was going on', citing her own experience in reality TV production. While Marcille defended Banks and acknowledged her apologies, she said the contestants who were 'sexually assaulted' or developed 'eating disorders' may never be able to fully forgive the host.

  • The docuseries 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model' premiered on Netflix in February 2026.

The players

Eva Marcille

The winner of Cycle 3 of 'America's Next Top Model' in 2004, who later joined the cast of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta'.

Tyra Banks

The creator and host of 'America's Next Top Model', who has been accused of perpetuating and being complicit in alleged bullying, body shaming and racial profiling on the show.

Lisa D'Amato

A contestant on Cycle 5 and the winner of Cycle 17: All Stars, who has long accused Banks and the show's developer Ken Mok of exploiting her childhood trauma for the sake of the show.

Tiffany Richardson

A contestant on Cycle 4 who had an infamous fight with Banks on the show, and has since labeled the host a 'bully' and a 'lying-ass bitch'.

Ken Mok

The developer of 'America's Next Top Model', who has been accused of exploiting contestants' childhood traumas for the sake of the show.

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What they’re saying

“I was in awe … my mouth was wide open. To be a part of a club and not know what's going on in the club is crazy.”

— Eva Marcille (CBS Mornings)

“That environment could not exist without producers aiding and abetting what was going on.”

— Eva Marcille (CBS Mornings)

“Tyra's all about making money. She doesn't have any real empathy for anybody else but herself.”

— Lisa D'Amato (Page Six)

“You know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera, YOU WAS A BULLY!!! You treated me like s–t and said the nastiest things about me and my son.”

— Tiffany Richardson (Social media)

The takeaway

The revelations from the 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model' docuseries have shaken the reality TV industry, exposing alleged systemic issues of body shaming, racism, and exploitation that may have been enabled by the show's producers and host Tyra Banks. As a former winner, Eva Marcille's reaction highlights the disconnect between the contestants' experiences and the public perception of the show, raising important questions about accountability and the need for greater transparency and care in reality TV production.