Cannonball with Wesley Morris Tyra Banks Is (Kinda) Sorry
Mar 5, 2026
Michaela angela Davis, writer, editor, stylist and cultural commentator, reflects on America's Next Top Model and the new Netflix docuseries. She discusses why the show mattered to Black audiences and how Tyra Banks became a symbol of accessibility. Conversations cover problematic production practices, mishandled Black hair, public confrontations, and debates about accountability.
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Tyra Made Modeling Feel Within Reach
- America's Next Top Model made modeling feel accessible to ordinary Black girls by centering Tyra Banks as a relatable figure.
- Michaela angela Davis recalls Tyra as "our girl," who brought fashion into living rooms and made regular girls imagine a shot at modeling.
Takara Gave Full Figure Black Joy
- Takara Jones became a stand-out contestant who reclaimed fuller Black bodies on mainstream TV and inspired later performers.
- Michaela names Takara her favorite and connects her energy to a lineage from Pearl Bailey to Meg Thee Stallion.
Production Neglected Black Hair Care
- The show demonstrated racial carelessness by failing to staff Black hair and makeup expertise for Black contestants.
- Michaela recounts a hair-cutting incident where production left holes in a Black contestant's head because they lacked appropriate clippers and stylists.