America's Next Top Model cycle 25 could feature 'AI contestant,' Tyra Banks rep speculates (exclu...

A rep for the model exclusively teases to EW the stillplanned &34;ANTM&34; revival, after Banks' SMiZE & DREAM brand removed AIgenerated models from its promo. America's Next Top Model cycle 25 could feature 'AI contestant,' Tyra Banks rep speculates (exclusive) A rep for the model exclusively teases to EW the stillplanned &34;ANTM&34; revival, after Banks' SMiZE & DREAM brand removed AIgenerated models from its promo. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiBiophotof93a23298bdd47ba9c13f53815fc469b.jpg) Joey Nolfi Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

A rep for the model exclusively teases to EW the still-planned "ANTM" revival, after Banks' SMiZE & DREAM brand removed AI-generated models from its promo.

America's Next Top Model cycle 25 could feature 'AI contestant,' Tyra Banks rep speculates (exclusive)

A rep for the model exclusively teases to EW the still-planned "ANTM" revival, after Banks' SMiZE & DREAM brand removed AI-generated models from its promo.

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul's Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 24, 2026 4:30 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Twiggy, Miss J. Alexander, Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker on 'America's Next Top Model'. Credit:

Michael Yarish/UPN

- Tyra Banks is still moving forward with plans to revive *America's Next Top Model*.

- A representative for Banks exclusively tells EW about cycle 25 and that "maybe cycle 25 features an AI contestant" in the future.

- EW reached out to Banks' team over the use of AI-generated models in the supermodel's SMiZE & DREAM ice cream brand's social media promo.

Tyra Banks is strutting forward with plans to revive *America's Next Top Model* — and ** has exclusively learned that a contestant generated with artificial intelligence isn't off the table for the next cast.

After Banks first revealed in the Netflix *Reality Check* docuseries that she was working on bringing *ANTM* back for cycle 25, a representative for the supermodel and ice cream mogul tells EW that an AI-generated model competitor isn't outside the realm of possibility.**

"What happens when *America’s Next Top Model* returns? Maybe cycle 25 features an AI contestant," the representative tells EW via text, in response to a prior inquiry about Banks' SMiZE & DREAM ice cream brand using (and later removing) AI-generated models in its promo imagery.**

Tyra Banks on the 'America's Next Top Model' panel.

Barbara Nitke/The CW/Courtesy Everett

The statement continues, "When it comes to creativity, personality, presence, and the ability to truly connect with people, Ms. Banks would still bet on the humans."

The last new cycle of *America's Next Top Model* aired on VH1 in 2018, after shifting network homes once before from UPN to The CW. In *Reality Check *— which included numerous criticisms from former contestants as well as an interview with Banks herself — the supermodel expressed her desire to reboot the series for an additional cycle.

"After the show, I had so many different ideas for my life. I'm obsessed with pivoting," she said. "I feel like my work is not done. You have no idea what we have planned for cycle 25."**

'ANTM' alum turned attorney analyzes Tyra Banks' legal filing over 'Reality Check' docuseries (exclusive)

'ANTM' alum Kayla Ferrel recalls 'pressure' to kiss male model after revealing childhood abuse

The announcement came over seven years after Banks previously told EW in an interview for her* Life-Size 2* film that she wanted to bring the controversial series back for cycle 25 — which she confirmed at the time would likely be its last, and that she would consider making the series a second all-star edition featuring fan-favorite contestants from prior seasons, following a similar rollout for cycle 17.

Its original run from 2003-2018 was met with widespread acclaim and popularity, though the series underwent a re-evaluation in the age of social media during the coronavirus pandemic, with many fans pointing out problematic depictions on the show.

Observations from viewers included body-shaming on the part of judges, portions of the show where Banks insisted that cycle 6 winner Dani Evans get a dental procedure to close a gap in her teeth, and photo challenges that required models to wear dark makeup to portray women of different races on cycles 4 and 13.

Tyra Banks on 'America's Next Top Model' cycle 6.

Though Banks sat for an interview for *Reality Check*, she later sued the show's directors and production company for allegedly creating a "false narrative" about her via "selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage." (Representatives for the Netflix series did not respond to EW's requests for comment.)****Later, after EW reached out to Banks' team on June 15, regarding the use of AI-generated models in SMiZE & DREAM ice cream brand's promotional posts on Instagram, at least four images were eventually removed from the company's grid.

Banks' rep additionally spoke on the matter in the statement to EW.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

"Models, creators, and businesses are all navigating that reality. Ms. Banks has spent her career championing talent, creating opportunities, and hiring models around the world including for SMiZE & DREAM in Australia. That commitment to people and the industry has not changed," the rep writes. "In fact, as Ms. Banks prepares to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her Sydney flagship ice cream shop at Darling Harbour, they will once again be working with models as part of that celebration."****The representative adds, "Using AI as a tool does not diminish the value of human creativity. It reflects the reality that every industry is adapting to new technology, and fashion is no different."

- Celebrities & Creators

- Entertainment Industry Roles

- Reality TV Stars

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Reality"

Read More

---

Source: Reality

Published: June 24, 2026 at 11:57PM on Source: MORNING MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle