Tyra Banks will crown the last winner of “America’s Next Top Model” on Friday, when the show comes to an end after a long 22-season run.
To celebrate the end of an era, TheWrap looks back at 13 of the most outrageous “Top Model” moments from the show’s 12 years, which began on UPN in 2003 and then moved to The CW.
From Elise’s epic tirade to a model fainting on camera, relive the reality TV insanity below.
In a priceless moment of unfiltered honesty, Elyse from Cycle 1 hit her breaking point and unleashed an incredible rant about her competitors. The third place finisher took down the other models over their religion, insincerity and boring stories. “Let me f–king die … you bitches.”
“This is not ‘America’s Next Top Best Friend'”
Jade from Cycle 6 proved to be one of the show’s most memorable characters for a variety of reasons (including a hilariously awful performance in the acting challenge), but she will be best remembered for introducing the phrase: “This is not ‘America’s Next Top Best Friend'” into the lexicon.
Jade bows after she’s eliminated
The other thing Jade will be remembered for? Her amazing exit speech — complete with bow.
Michelle is accused of having “flesh eating bacteria”
Bullying among the models was pretty standard for “Top Model” over the course of its run, but nothing came close to the treatment Michelle received in Cycle 4 when the rumor mill turned her skin blemishes into the result of “flesh eating bacteria.”
Tyra pretends to faint
Banks is not one to shy away from dramatics, even if it brings others to tears. During an intimate moment with the models in Cycle 6, the host dramatically pretended to faint, only to jump up moments later and explain that it was actually a lesson in acting the whole time.
Rebecca actually faints
During an episode in Cycle 4, one of the models memorably keeled over during judging, causing panic among the cast and crew. Her fainting spell was later attributed to dehydration.
“This is my signature walk. This is what’s going to make me famous.”
“Top Model” had no shortage of quotable moments, but one of the best was Cycle 2’s Camille declaring that her “signature walk” was going to make her famous during go-sees. She neither booked the job nor became famous.
Shandi cheats on her boyfriend
Reality television nowadays gets a lot of flack for being manipulated by producers and contestants putting on a front for the camera, but when Cycle 2’s Shandi confessed to her boyfriend on camera that she had slept with another man, their public meltdown was as genuine as it gets.
Tyra puts the models in her music video
Banks can call herself a lot of things, but “pop star” isn’t one of them. And that’s not for a lack of trying. The host had all the Cycle 2 contestants appear in the video for her first and only single, “Shake Ya Body,” proving that not everyone is cut out for the pop game.
Tyra puts the models in her music video … again
Tyra tried to replicate the magic of “Shake Ya Body” by having the contestants of Cycle 22 star in a music video for a song called “BOOTYful.” Except this time, instead of launching a pop career, Tyra was pushing her cosmetics line, TYRA Beauty.
Though this wasn’t seen on screen, one of the most dramatic moments in “Top Model” history was when Angelea was disqualified as the winner of the “All-Stars” season after her past as an escort came to light.
The show goes co-ed
Beginning with Cycle 20, the show opened itself up to both male and female contestants, leading to an astonishing number of love triangles for just three seasons.
“We were all rooting for you”
Easily the most famous moment from “Top Model’s” entire run, Tyra yelling at Cycle 4’s Tiffany for not living up to her potential is the highest of the show’s highs.
22 Most Groundbreaking Reality TV Shows (Photos)
SURVIVOR Now in its 30th season, viewers have tuned in to the reality game show in droves since 2000 to watch ordinary people physically, mentally and strategically duel with each other in order to win $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor.
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AMERICAN IDOL The first televised competition show to let viewers vote on the talent themselves, "Idol" may no longer be a ratings juggernaut, but it still proves exciting.
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THE BACHELOR Though the actual long-term success rate remains shockingly low, viewers do seem to love the idea of "the bachelor" selecting from a pool of beautiful women in order to find a wife.
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PROJECT RUNWAY Even viewers not into fashion can understand this show's appeal: a reality competition that requires its contestants to actually make something to prove they deserve to win.
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REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY The originator of the "Real Housewives" brand, "RHOC" showed viewers that being rich doesn't spare people messed-up lives; oftentimes, it actually makes those messes worse.
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JON AND KATE PLUS 8 Viewers tuned in to get a glimpse of how an exceptionally large family operates, but they stayed once Jon and Kate decided to divorce.
TLC
JERSEY SHORE The housemates show earned record ratings for MTV, due in large part to controversy of how Italian-Americans on the East Coast were portrayed.
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THE OSBOURNES At one time MTV's highest rated show, it offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a rock legend and his family. Viewers also tuned in to see if Ozzy was ever not stoned. (He wasn't.)
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THE HILLS Originally a spinoff of "Laguna Beach," this semi-scripted series initially followed Lauren Conrad's pursuit of a career in fashion, but slowly degenerated into a series of feuds with Heidi Montag.
MTV
THE REAL WORLD Before it regressed to the mean, "The Real World" was one of the first reality shows to explore issues facing young adults: sex, religion, death, politics and even AIDS.
MTV
AMAZING RACE Combining a physical reality competition with exotic locales most viewers will never get a chance to see continues to prove a winning formula.
CBS
DEADLIEST CATCH This fishing boat-based program offers a rarity for viewers: a docu-series about a dangerous profession. Coast Guard rescue squads have frequently been a part of the show.
Discovery
BIG BROTHER If you throw a number of volatile personalities into a room together, you can bet people will tune in to watch the explosions.
CBS
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE If Tyra Banks could find the world's next supermodel, why can't RuPaul do the same for drag queens?
Logo TV
PAWN STARS It's hard to say what's more appealing: getting a dose of history in everyday artifacts that are brought in for appraisal, or the interactions of the colorful Harrison family that owns the shop.
History
AMERICAN CHOPPER Centered on the Teutel family and their shop, the series showcased contrasting styles and verbal arguments between Paul Sr. and his son. Arguments drove ratings until Junior's dismissal from the show.
Discovery
TOP CHEF Fans of good food love this competition show about aspiring chefs cooking their way to the prize money awarded to the winner.
Bravo
HERE COMES HONEY BOO BOO Described as both offensive and exploitative, this spinoff of "Toddlers & Tiaras" instantly became must-see-TV and made its 6-year-old star a cultural lightning rod.
TLC
JACKASS Who wouldn't want to watch a group of friends torture and humiliate each other? Such is the appeal of "Jackass," which spawned three (and a half) movies and an acting career for Johnny Knoxville.
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KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS Attracting instant notoriety for a sex tape featuring its star, this Kardashian chronicle has proven to be one of the most popular reality shows of the current era.
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DUCK DYNASTY Following a Louisiana family made wealthy by their duck-hunting products, the Robertsons became cultural icons for their ZZ-Top beards and frank yet cheerful outlooks.
A&E
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