Former Creative Director Breaks Silence on "America's Next Top Model" Race-Swapping Scandal

Former ANTM creative director Jay Manuel details his refusal to participate in the show's infamous race-swapping photoshoots and the resulting tension with Tyra Banks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 28, 2026, 5:09 AM EST

Source: Business Insider

The Implementation of "Hapa" and Ethnic Transformations

The controversy centers on two specific episodes: Cycle 4’s "Got Milk?" challenge, where models were assigned specific racial identities to portray, and Cycle 13’s "Hapa" shoot, which focused on bi-racial heritage. In these instances, white and lighter-skinned models were subjected to heavy makeup applications to darken their complexions—a practice that has been widely condemned as "blackface" in contemporary discourse. Jay Manuel disclosed that during the Cycle 4 production, he explicitly told executive producers he would not "sit in the makeup room" or oversee the application of darkening products, marking one of the first major internal standoffs in the show’s history.

Statistical Context of Racial Representation in Reality TV

While ANTM was often praised for its initial diversity—featuring 14% more Black contestants in its first five seasons than contemporary reality competitions—the execution of "diversity-themed" challenges has aged poorly. Historical data from the show's 24 cycles shows that while approximately 48% of the winners were women of color, the creative direction often relied on "exoticizing" models. Critics argue that instead of celebrating diversity, the show's 2005-2009 period frequently utilized "racial performance," where 1 in 5 international destination shoots involved some form of cultural costume or cosmetic skin alteration.

Transformative Analysis: The Power Dynamic of the "Tyra Room"

The conflict between Manuel and Banks illuminates a deeper "transformative" power struggle inherent in early 2000s media. While Banks viewed these shoots as "educational" or a way to "broaden the definition of beauty," the lack of an external ethics board allowed for creative decisions that ignored the historical weight of blackface. Manuel’s refusal to participate in the makeup process highlights a growing awareness of professional boundaries that the show’s rigid hierarchy often suppressed. This friction suggests that the "top-down" leadership style of the series created a culture where creative innovation was prioritized over the social ramifications of the imagery produced.