When Tyra Banks announced this week that this season of America's Next Top Model (ANTM) will be its last, dedicated fans immediately began to lament the show's end. They vlogged about it, created compilations of ANTM's best (and worst) moments, and took to twitter over and over again to express their grief and surprise (or lack thereof).
Yet even as people all over the country (and perhaps the world) were reacting to the show's cancellation, two thirds of the show's past winners stayed quiet-- including the show's last three "Top Models." While Cycle 21 winner Keith Carlos did retweet Tyra's initial twitter announcement, the absence of any other acknowledgement seems... odd. Since ANTM was an important part of these models' lives for a time, and since the show boosted them into modeling careers with varying levels of success, wouldn't it make sense that they might at least want to acknowledge that?
Apparently not.
Even a few of the past winners who posted anything seemed to be doing so more out of obligation or self promotion than any actual emotional response.
Bah bye, top model. Thanks for letting me blue steel my way into old age. Also, I was the only one with PAYshun!
http://t.co/6juhrQj2e1
— Adrianne Curry (@AdrianneCurry) October 16, 2015
Bye #ANTM cheers to the catch #22 bittersweetness of this last season. Regardless of everything I think we can all agree that we learned a lot. I also appreciate that I was welcomed in that disfunctional family. I'd have it no other way! :-) 📺💄👙🚺🚹👠👗 #RIP #ANTM #cancelled
A photo posted by ⠀⠀ ☀🃏🎪L¡ϛ△ D'△Ɱ△⊺O🍒🃏☀└A (@lisa_damato) on
Here, gratefulness is tempered with ego. The statement of Season 1's Adrienne Curry that she was the only one with "PAYshun" reeks of superiority, and Season 17's Lisa D'Amato didn't even bother to choose a picture that reflected her experience on the show-- unless those peace signs by her eyes are meant to represent the 22 seasons? Well, points to her for the Catch 22 illusion, anyway.
Other models did actually seem to acknowledge their connection to the show. Of the seven past winners who have posted on twitter or instagram so far, some focused most on their gratitude...
Through the tears, the drama, the love and everlasting friendships over 22 seasons.. Thank you for letting me be part of the family, sad to see such a good thing come to an end but then all good things must 🌟 #antm
A photo posted by Sophie sumner (@sophiesumner8) on
especially toward Tyra!
Hail the Media Queen @tyrabanks ..paved the way for dreamers and carved her own destiny w HARD work #beautyandbrains pic.twitter.com/1vgz40rsuB
— Yoanna House (@Yoanna_Official) October 15, 2015I can't believe that after 22 Cycles, America's Next Top Model is coming to an end! This show has completely changed the face of the modeling industry all over the world. Thank you, @tyrabanks for an incredible opportunity! It changed my life. #antm #plus #model #over #topmodel #whitney #winner #love @cw_antm
A photo posted by Whitney Thompson (@whitneyantm) on
While others, like Season 11's McKey Sullivan, focused more on the experience itself than her (now nonexistent) modeling career.
Sad about ANTM. So happy to have been part of something that was such a sensation. It changed my life and introduced me to lifelong friends.
— McKey Sullivan (@GrandmaMayo) October 15, 2015
Sal Stowers from Cycle 9 couldn't even fit her thoughts into one tweet. Instead, she had four! You can see her account here.
As we all get ready to say goodbye to the original televised modeling competition, we wonder: what could possibly fill the impending void that it promises to leave behind? What will we do now with that one sacred hour a week (or, if you're like me, 3 hours every three weeks, or 15 minutes four times a week, etc.)?
Don't worry, because Tyra's got you covered with Life Size 2.
