‘America’s Next Top Model’ To Return For ‘Fierce-A-Fied Rebirth’ — Without Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model is making a return to TV just two months after it seemingly retired from the runway, but the legendary model won’t be showing her gorgeous face on the new version of the show. The long-running TV modeling competition, which ended its 12-year run in December, will be revamped for VH1, but the series creator and longtime host Tyra Banks will serve as an executive producer on the reboot of the series and not as host, according to Deadline.
America’s Next Top Model aired for a whopping 22 cycles over 12 years on UPN and the CW, and Tyra Banks was the host for the entire run of the reality hit. The modeling competition premiered in spring of 2003 on UPN and, three years later, went on to become the very first series to debut on The CW. But last fall, The CW announced that the show was being canceled, and its final episode aired in early December.
For the new version of the series, ANTM will move to New York. VH1 has already ordered 14 episodes of the revamp, but there is no word on the new show’s premiere date or who will fill Banks’ shoes as host.
In a statement about the new version of America’s Next Top Model, Banks said she exited for the “incredible, global brand” to get a second life.
“I am beyond excited to have the show reborn. I will continue as Executive Producer, but must turn my attention to new business endeavors, so I want to find a new host. I’m pumped to identify that person and bring back the show. Top Model fans, you demanded that the show come back, and VH1 answered the call. Get ready for a fierce-a-fied rebirth!”
In addition to Tyra Banks, many other famous faces from the modeling and fashion world appeared on the original version of the show, including Janice Dickinson, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Kelly Cutrone. Fans of the series will be excited to see if any of the previous judges will return or who will fill their shoes in the VH1 reboot.
Of course, while it’s a bit of a shock that ANTM is already coming back — let’s face it, we barely had time to miss the series — it’s not all that shocking that Tyra Banks won’t be back as the host of her baby. That’s because the 42-year-old former supermodel just had a baby of her own, which means she’s busier than ever. Banks and her boyfriend, Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, welcomed a son, York Banks Asla, via gestational surrogate last month, so Tyra’s knee-deep in diapers and bottles right about now.
Tyra Banks has been vocal about her struggles with fertility, so the birth of her son has been a very long time coming. So it’s not surprising that she has decided to scale back on some of her work-related responsibilities. Banks previously opened up to People about her fertility issues and said she had some regrets about waiting to have a child so late in life.
“When I turned 40, the one thing I was not happy about is that I did not have kids. When you’re like, ‘Okay, I’m just going to do it,’ then it’s not so easy as you get older.”
With the newly announced America’s Next Top Model and Tyra’s role as exec producer without the added responsibilities as host, it sounds like she will have the best of both worlds as she gets adjusted to her new role as a mom.
Take a look at the video below to see one of Tyra Banks’ most iconic moments on America’s Next Top Model, and stay tuned for more details on the VH1 revamp.
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter]
