'America's Next Top Model' To End After Cycle 22; Final Ep To Air On Tyra Banks' Birthday
Major sad news for runway fans: "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 22 will serve as the final season of the reality show after its long run of 12 years as confirmed by CW, according to Variety.
Series creator, host and judge Tyra Banks announced the news about "America's Next Top Model" today via Twitter, saying that the current season of the show will be its last cycle and she believes that "it's time." she also posted a longer message on her Instagram account saying how proud she was of what the show has become, and that she never thought that it will run on 22 seasons.
Banks - who is a top model herself - expressed her gratitude to loyal viewers and supporters of "America's Next Top Model" around the world. "We are a global force that has so many international versions around the world because of YOU!" she says. "That's amazing and beyond anything that I ever dreamed."
"America's Next Top Model" Cycle 22 premiered in August with a subtitle of "Guys & Girls" as it featured both male and female contestants similar to the 2 previous seasons. The final episode will premiere on Banks' birthday, Dec. 4 as reported by Washington Post.
TV channel CW confirmed the news regarding the show's cancellation. President Mark Pedowitz stated that the show wasn't just a hit, but a pop culture phenomenon. He says, "I want to thank Tyra and Ken (Mok) for all their years of success in establishing a show that was not just popular in the U.S., but all across the world."
Ken Mok produced the show along with Banks.
"America's Next Top Model" originally aired in May 2003, with the concept of aspiring models who will compete for the title and the one-time opportunity to begin their career in the modeling industry. The show managed to get international versions and include special editions, which include plus-size models, male contestants for the later seasons and even petite models gained an opportunity to join the said reality show. The current season has been noted to lift the height restriction for aspiring contestants.