With 24 cycles and an upcoming 25th, America's Next Top Model has been a major staple for many reality TV fans dating back to the early 2000s. As the longest-running title in reality television, America's Next Top Model has created memorable moments that have proven that modeling is everything but easy.
The challenges hosted by legendary Tyra Banks and reviewed by notable judges have become iconic in the pop culture landscape. It all started somewhere, with the show arguably being at its best in its early days. According to these ratings on IMDb, fans determined which seasons were the best between cycle 1 to cycle 10.
Season 5 - 5.8
Season 5 had the contestants put a "Bling On It" from the runway to fashion shoots in the cycle's international destination of London, England. That included a wide range of challenges such as posing in a London park to dressing in an outfit within the theme of Bollywood.
The highest-rated episode was "The Girl Who Gets A Boob Job" where the ladies had a photoshoot pretending they had or were undergoing plastic surgery. Posing with an IV to implants, the girls applied these elements in an empowering, glamorous way. Janice Dickinson, who is considered the first supermodel, also makes a surprise guest appearance.
Season 9 - 6.0
The highest averaged viewed cycle of America's Next Top Model, season 9, was impactful not only with its viewership but it was also in the last season Twiggy was a featured judge. Despite this large audience for this cycle, it has one of the lowest ratings between one cycle and ten.
However, the first episode, "The Girls Go Cruisin," had the highest overall score for this particular cycle. The girls spent time on Royal Caribean's Adventure of the Seas, rocking life-vests down a runway as well as completing a stunning beach photoshoot at St. John’s, Antigua.
Season 2 - 6.0
The world was introduced to one of the core judges of America's Next Top Model, Nigel Baker. The cycle's tagline "They are all gorgeous, but only one has what it takes," was greatly conveyed with some of the final winner's prizes such as a contract with IMG Models and a cosmetic campaign with Sephora. However, the cycle started with the girls' first challenge of walking a runway on one of the largest US Navy ships, USS Intrepid.
Some other challenges included being featured on Tyra Bank's music video for "Shake Ya Body", and even modeling while they were 100 feet in the air. The highest-rated episode was "The Girl Who Is the Next Top Model" with one contestant cutting their hair before the final beauty shot and even breaking their heel during the final runway challenge.
Season 4 - 6.1
This cycle was noteworthy not only because it took place in Los Angeles and not New York City but also due to the many jaw-dropping moments. In one episode, a model collapsed while her photo was being reviewed by judges, scaring everyone and immediately calling for an ambulance. For the first time in the history of the show, two contestants were eliminated simultaneously because they both lacked passion and motivation. These contestants also pushed Tyra to the edge, inspiring the iconic Tyra Bank meme "we were rooting for you!"
This moment is also the first time Tyra exploded on the show, mainly because one of the two eliminated contestants was laughing as they were saying goodbye. The highest-rated episode of this cycle is the last one, 'The Girl Who Walked On Water," where the finalists were stunned they would have to walk on water during a fashion show in Cape Town, South Africa.
Season 8 - 6.1
From a prom fashion show from different eras to a crime scene victim theme photoshoot, season 8 was full of challenges that pushed the boundaries of America's Next Top Model, especially with the cycle's phrase "Welcome To The Jungle Ladies." One challenge assigned the girls with different names that were more Hollywood, creating their new goal to flatter celebrities at a Hollywood party such as Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, who has been guest-starred on many other shows. This same challenge led rapper 50 Cent to push one of the contestants into the party's pool. The girls even received an acting crash course from Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry before heading out to the international destination of Australia.
The highest-rated episode was the first, "The Girl Who Won't Stop Talking: Part 1," which had a photoshoot about controversial political issues and thrift clothes at Goodwill then their outfits were sold to raise money for Goodwill itself.
Season 10 - 6.1
Going back to their roots of New York City, the show provides a fresh look with this change of location as well as a new judge, Paulian Porizkova. The show also chose to add one more contestant. The girls posed with beef from New York City's meatpacking district and learned proper etiquette for fashion world events such as cocktail parties.
The international destination was in Rome, where the girls had to film a CoverGirl commercial in Italian and also went to a gladiator fighting school. Tied at 7.0, both the episodes "If You Can't Make It Here, You Can't Make It Anywhere" and "Welcome to Top Model Prep" had the top ratings.
Season 3 - 6.2
This cycle was major for the series because it started the show's partnership with CoverGirl. With the tagline "Beauty In Progress," it had many challenges that conveyed this message. The girls had to complete a photoshoot after climbing 14 flights of stairs and give poised interviews on a red carpet.
In the cycle's international destination of Tokyo, the girls were tested by how they would act on a set that involved eating food for a commercial, in this case, umeboshi. In the highest-rated episode, "The Girl Who Everyone Thinks Is a Backstabber," the girls were given luxurious makeovers but then had only 10 minutes to get ready for an industry party while on a limousine on their way to a major event.
Season 7 - 6.3
From winning $32,000 from jewelry worn on a shoot to interviewing stars with Entertainment Tonight, season 7 had many great prizes with some incredible challenges taking place in Los Angeles to the international destination of Barcelona, Spain. One was an impromptu shoot photographed by Tyra herself of the girls wearing scary-looking contact lenses.
Another challenge was an action shoot where the girls had to take photos of themselves with remote-controlled cameras, leading to one contestant denting the car of NASCAR's Stanton Barrett. One of the prizes was a guest spot on the hit show One Tree Hill. The episode "The Girl Who Marks Her Territory" had the highest rating, where the ladies had to shoot a photo above the Los Angeles International Airport runway.
Season 1 - 6.7
In May 2003, season 1 of America's Next Top Model aired with its catchphrase "One Girl Has What It Takes." The girls are iconic on their own for being part of the first cycle that launched the show into its stardom. From modeling with a snake to wearing singer and movie star Jennifer Lopez'sswimwear, the first group of contestants displayed a range of challenges.
The first cycle's international destination aligned with another major fashion city. The finalists were flown to Paris and completed a lingerie photoshoot. They also were judged by four men by their attitude and couture while at a restaurant. The highest-rated episode was "The Girl Who Becomes America's Next Top Model," which revealed the first winner of the series.
Season 6 - 7.5
With the highest ratings, season 6 premiered in March 2006 with its international destination of Thailand's Bangkok and Phuket. As the "Fairy Tales Come True" tagline, the contestants faced some glamorous and unexpected challenges. This cycle led to finalists being disqualified from a prize for their tardiness to attending a workshop at The Groundlings. After impressing a notable TV show host Nick Cannon with their acting and improv skills, the winner received a guest spot on Veronica Mars. The finalists also performed a Thai classic dance with the winner having a dinner date with Thailand's Elle fashion editor.
The highest-rated episode of this cycle, "The Girls Go to Phuket," had finalists traveling by a Thai taxi or "Tuk Tuk" to meet Thai designers. They also learned bout the local history in Phuket such as the 2004 Tsunami and completed a photoshoot with Nigel Barker for a spread for ElleGirl magazine.