Cycle 10, Episode 2: “New York City, Here We Come”

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Netflix documentary on America’s Next Top Model. The three-part series came out February 16, 2026!!

I have already watched and will for sure be sharing my notes.

Back to Cycle 10…

The models arrive in New York City in packs.

Kim is excited to be there.

Once everyone arrives, they have a “coffee klatch” at a table that’s too small.

Because there was an Amy and an Aimee that made it into the house, one of them had to change their names.

So now we have Amis.

It’s definitely “a miss” for me.

A courier wearing an “NYC” headband delivers a tube to the models with a map to their new model loft.

It looks like a department store.

There’s a room with bunk beds and one giant bed that multiple people are supposed to share? No, thank you.

Miss J and Mr. Jay (looking like The Matrix) stop by.

They take the models on a tour of the city, stopping in SoHo and Bryant Park where New York Fashion Week was held until 2010.

The producers really want you to believe that Kim is bored, planting the seed that she doesn’t care about modeling.

The final stop on the tour is Times Square and surprise! To celebrate ANTM’s return to NYC, the models are going to walk in fashion show right then!

It’s for Badgley Mischka, a brand I’ve never heard of.

Approximately 20 people from Middle America are the spectators.

It’s basically the audience for Good Morning America.

We get a sound bite from Kim about her outfit that shows she just doesn’t feel like fashion is her calling.

Lauren’s walk hasn’t improved since casting.

Miss J was not happy with it.

Tyra Mail this season comes from one of these text-crawler screens.

The models go to Elite Model Management where they meet with supermodel Paulina Porizkova who goes down the line telling them how horrible their skin is and how Dominque looks like “a transvestite version” of Robin Wright.

I love Robin Wright and Dominique and would feel so praised if anyone compared my looks to either of them. But damn, Paulina! Just because the model industry gives tough love doesn’t mean you should perpetuate it.

After getting read the house down boots, the models jet off in their ride a.k.a. Fab Cab.

This takes them to their first photoshoot. Mr. Jay explains it highlights the problem of youth homelessness.

This fashion shoot is done in partnership with The Reciprocity Foundation and I blame them for allowing the exploitative nature of this to happen.

Several of the models have experiences with homelessness. Marvita says she’s been homeless. Fatima lived in a shelter with her family when she first moved to the U.S.

But this was not the way to do it. Highlighting the problem of youth homelessness is great. Glamorizing it in this way was not correct. Taz, I’m talking to you!

Anda and Masha from last season are back.

Sutan tells Dominique that’s she “really beautiful”. I, of course, agree. But it’s ironic because Paulina told her she looks like a drag queen and Sutan (a.k.a. Raja) is one.

Everyone’s super complimentary of the background models. One of them is the one and only Isis.

More to come from her on Top Model.

Back at the house after the photoshoot, Kim tells Fatima how she likes modeling but finds the ridiculous price tags of high fashion unappealing to her.

More production stunts!

Tyra’s photo for panel is wild!

“Will pose for change”

Let’s not forget that time she went undercover as “homeless” on The Tyra Banks Show.

It was for like an afternoon!

The room for panel is gross but I guess that was the esthetic for 2008.

Nigel Barker and Miss J return as judges this cycle.

Miss J has a specially designed jacket with all the models’ names on it.

But then there’s an empty chair for the last judge…

It’s Paulina Porizkova!

Who enters from behind the models in a super awkward choice.

Bye, Twiggy!

The prizes this year are:

• A modeling contract with Elite Model Management
• A fashion spread and cover with Seventeen magazine
• A $100,000 dollar contract with CoverGirl cosmetics

My favorite photos of the week are:

Aimee

Dominique

Whitney

Fatima looks like a Precious Moments figurine and I don’t like it.

Her confessional look this season is amazing.

Kim is the last one to be judged to at panel. So I believe the producers knew Kim was going to say her truth.

She confesses that expensive clothes do not entice her and that maybe modeling isn’t for her. Tyra asks Kim if she wants to just go home. Kim says yes. So Tyra tells her to leave, which she does.

She then shows Kim’s photo and claims it’s one of the strongest. I don’t agree.

After her elimination, Kim clarified her departure on Tyra’s talk show. Her boyfriend had died from suicide only a few months before, which reminded her of her mother’s suicide when she was in seventh grade. So heartbreaking!

Kim modeled a bit after the show.

Eventually, she too died by suicide in 2016. Poor Kim and her poor family! RIP to her.

Kim’s departure wasn’t enough to satisfy the ANTM gods. Because there’s still an elimination! Atalya and Amis land in the bottom two. It’s the first week, so they’re both told they’re boring/not memorable.

Amis stays and poor Atalya gets eliminated. She’s gutted as she leaves.

Atalya was signed to Wilhelmina Models in New York — a huge deal!

And she’s no stranger to sexy.

The hair in this photo is unforgivable.

She is now a major fan of filters. Keep going, Atalya!

Thanks for reading. I hope to see you back here for Cycle 10, Episode 3. It’s makeovers!!!

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Fierce and love,

P