Nana is by Bridget Armstrong, pop-culture journalist and host of Curse of: America’s Next Top Model, to unpack the cultural phenomenon that was America's Next Top Model. Hosted and created by supermodel Tyra Banks, the show spanned 24 cycles over 15 years and inspired international franchises, including in Australia.

Bridget takes us back to 2003, when the show first aired, tracing how reality television and its ethics have evolved over time, from body shaming to increasingly unhinged photo shoots. Drawing on stories from former contestants and crew members, she breaks down the trauma many young women experienced both during and after filming. Bridget and Nana also revisit the infamous “we were rooting for you” moment and discuss how the show perpetuated racist tropes. They delve into the judges, the executives behind the show, and what the show’s legacy reveals about beauty and power.

They discuss the recent Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model and the show's cultural resurgence in recent years. They end by reflecting on the complexities of Tyra Banks herself and lines we draw between exploitation and entertainment in reality television.

Curse of: America's Next Top Model is out now on all podcast platforms.