The Jaw-Dropping 'America's Next Top Model' Makeovers You Definitely Forgot About
If you spent your formative years watching America's Next Top Model on UPN before it merged with the WB to create the mutant known as The CW, hello and welcome! This one's for you. America's Next Top Model reigned supreme for 24 cycles ("seasons" simply wouldn't do for this show), transforming aspiring models into bona fide models and asking one of life's most important and profound questions: You wanna be on top? And, of course, each cycle featured a much-anticipated makeover episode, which became more unhinged and OTT as the years went on.
While every cycle of America's Next Top Model is its own special journey (even the ones hosted by Rita Ora), we're here to focus on the show's early days in seasons 1-16. It was a simpler time back then, when Tyra was busy delivering musings like “modeling is being a ho, but making fashion.” Tyra and the Top Model producers also devised all manner of makeover decisions that ranged from inspiring, to baffling, to honestly very uncool—such as when they tried to get one contestant to close the gap in her front teeth...and, four years later, asked another woman to widen her teeth gap. Truly, wtf?
Check out 40 of the most dramatic makeovers from the early cycles of America's Next Top Model—or, as the initiated call it, Pot Ledom. Tears were shed! Hair was cut! Extensions were added! Brows were bleached! Mostly, though, everyone came out looking like a supermodel ready to "booty tooch" their way to the top.
Kesse Wallace: Cycle 1
Obsessed with Kesse's super '60s bottom lashes!
Yoanna House: Cycle 2
As Tyra put it, "it's very rooster."
Shandi Sullivan: Cycle 2
It's giving Laney Boggs from She's All That.
Nicole Burod: Cycle 3
Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element WISHES.
Amanda Swafford: Cycle 3
Tyra wanted to match Amanda's "icy blue eyes with some icy blonde hair" and it was honestly the correct call!
Yaya DaCosta: Cycle 3
Gorgeous before, gorgeous after.
Norelle Van Herk: Cycle 3
I scream.
Cassandra Whitehead: Cycle 5
Reminder: Cassandra quit the show when Tyra wanted to cut her hair even shorter.
Ebony Taylor: Cycle 5
Ebony was so psyched about this look that she started screaming with happiness when Tyra revealed it.
Nik Pace: Cycle 5
Looking incredible H2T, as Tyra would say!
Leslie Mancia: Cycle 6
The assignment was "understated sexy/simplistic sexy chic," which...mission accomplished, tbh.
Eugena Washington: Cycle 7
Give 👏 her 👏 the 👏 CoverGirl 👏 contract!
Brooke Miller: Cycle 7
She needed a little edge, okay??
Jaeda Young: Cycle 7
Her look was modeled after Halle Berry's, and honestly they nailed it.
Cassandra Watson: Cycle 8
STUNNING!
Natasha Galkina: Cycle 8
Feel free to save this look to your camera roll and bring it to your hairdresser.
Felicia Provost: Cycle 8
Literally OMW to cut bangs thanks to this photo.
Lisa Jackson: Cycle 9
Makes no sense to hide those cheekbones behind long hair, so great call here by Tyra and the team!
Sarah Hartshorne: Cycle 9
Not one season went by without someone getting this haircut.
Claire Unabia: Cycle 10
Let Tyra loose in a salon, and she WILL bleach your hair.
Saleisha Stowers: Cycle 9
QQ: Should I get a bowl cut?
Anya Kop: Cycle 10
Tyra was clearly back in her "we need to ice you out" phase here.
Clark Gilmer: Cycle 11
Okay, the "before" and "after" are both slightly blurry due to the CW being the opposite of HD, but this was too extreme not to include!
Celia Ammerman: Cycle 12
Choices were made that day.
Allison Harvard: Cycle 12
Choices were also made on this day.
Brittany Markert: Cycle 13
Okay, Tyra nailed this one.
Courtney Davies: Cycle 13
Whomst was in charge of styling this shoot?! I just wanna talk.
Erin Wagner: Cycle 13
If I had a penny for every time Tyra said the word "ice" when dyeing people's hair blonde...
Lulu Braithwaite: Cycle 13
I'm genuinely going to need someone to confiscate my scissors because I'm thisclose to cutting my own hair and recreating this look.
Sundai Love: Cycle 13
You can never go wrong with a Rihanna-inspired 'do!
Anslee Payne-Franklin: Cycle 14
Cycle 14: When Tyra discovered dramatic eyeshadow.
Tatianna Kern: Cycle 14
Top Model wanted to transform Tatianna into *checks notes*...Goldilocks.
Alasia Ballard: Cycle 14
In loooove with Alasia's look.
Brenda Arens: Cycle 14
Brenda straight up wept, and not out of happiness. You know what? Don't blame her.
Raina Hein: Cycle 14
I want what she has (those brows).
Gabrielle Kniery: Cycle 14
Tyra wanted to make Gabrielle look like a "wood nymph," which, okay!
Chelsey Hersely: Cycle 15
Don't say it...
Don't say it...
"ICE HER OUT!"
I said it.
Kayla Ferrel: Cycle 15
One of the coolest transformations on the show, IMO.
Brittani Kline: Cycle 16
Tyra was making some amazing decisions in cycles 15-16!
Dominique Waldrup: Cycle 16
Like, this just WORKS!
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