Tyra Banks has retreated to a new life in Australia as a Netflix series exposes claims of ‘psychological torture’ and body shaming on the set of America’s Next Top Model.
The supermodel moved to Sydney in 2023 with her partner and her son York Banks Asla, 10, who she shares with ex Erik Asla.
The move came after the TV personality’s US$4.7 million ($6.6 million) home was destroyed in the California wildfires.
Speaking on Sunrise, Banks revealed that she was in Sydney when she received the news that her oceanfront mansion in Malibu had been decimated.
“I lost my house,” she said. “I haven’t really talked about it yet, but yes, I have.
“I just didn’t want to draw a lot of attention to me. I feel like there’s a lot of people that need that attention, so I haven’t really talked about it, but I can’t sit here and not tell the truth, so yeah, we lost our house.”
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Banks moved her family to Australia in 2023. Photo: NBC News
Banks is living her Australian dream from central Sydney, where she has been giving fans on social media a glimpse into her life through video tours of her favorite places including Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbor and the Sydney Opera House.
During an appearance on Today With Jenna & Friends, the America’s Next Top Model host shed light on the reasons behind her family’s move Down Under.
The Coyote Ugly star said she “fell in love” with Australia after spending more time there while working on her ice cream brand SMiZE & Dream.
“I go to Australia a lot because that’s where we made a lot of our ice cream and recipes in this big factory,” she explained to host Jenna Bush Hager.
“I just fell in love with it. Every time I went back and went back…”
Banks said she felt her business had incredible potential in Australia, noting that it is one of the “three countries that eat the most ice cream” alongside America and New Zealand.
“So I thought, ‘I’m happy here and they like to eat ice cream. So, are we going to do this, family?’ And we did that,” she added.
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
While Netflix’s new docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model relives the most controversial moments from Tyra Banks’ reality TV stint. Image: Netflix
The three-part docuseries pulls back the curtain on the dark reality behind the quest for modeling fame. Photo: Bill Inoshita/CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images
Banks’ move comes as the Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model relives the most controversial moments from her reality TV stint.
One of the biggest moments in the three-part series was the unraveling of Banks’ longstanding friendship with creative director Jay Manuel.
Manuel joined the series as creative director when it debuted in 2003, but says he tried to leave just four years later.
After season 8, he sent an email announcing his departure, but received a response from Banks that read, “I’m disappointed.”
He claims the working relationship has deteriorated and describes the environment as increasingly isolating.
“It was clear I wasn’t allowed to talk to her outside [being on camera]” he says in the documentary. “It was like psychological torture, I felt broken.”
Manuel claimed he felt pressured to stay on the show for fear of being blacklisted in the industry, ultimately staying until 2012.
One of the biggest moments of the series was when producers brought up Banks’ past friendship with fellow judge Jay Manuel. Image: Netflix
When asked about the on-camera rift 20 years later, Banks declined to go into detail.
“No,” she replied. “I’d rather… yeah, I should call Jay. He’s a special man.”
However, a year after the documentary was filmed, Manuel said he is still waiting for that phone call.
“I never got that call. I don’t think I’ll get a call. She has my number,” he told People.
In Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, participants open up about accusations of fat-shaming and a lack of protection.
Contestant Shandi Sullivan recalled the moment she lost her virginity while drunk and “blacked out” during Season 2.
The producers “should have said, ‘OK, this has gone too far, we need to get her out of here,'” Sullivan said.
A few moments in particular have sparked the loudest reactions, including her infamous meltdown. Image: Netflix
Budding models also told their own stories, alleging fat-shaming. Image: Netflix
Meanwhile, contestant Keenyah Hill claimed she was groped by a male model and told the judges. However, they chided her for not being more playful.
“I tell Keenyah, ‘boo-boo, I’m so sorry.’ None of us knew [how to best handle that situation],” said Banks.
“Network executives didn’t know, and I did the best I could at the time. She deserved more.”
Banks also spoke about her infamous meltdown in 2005, during which she yelled at contestant Tiffany Richardson when the budding model gave up on herself.
“I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you! How dare you!” Banks said during the viral clip.
Reflecting on the moment, Banks said, “I just saw all that [work] go down the drain. I just saw her not believing in herself and giving up and not just giving up on a modeling competition, but deeper. …I went too far. You know, I lost it. It was probably bigger than her. … Those are black girl things that go very deep into me.
Insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that the incident was worse than what was broadcast and that Banks had to be escorted out of the building.
Parts of this story first appeared in Broker and was republished with permission.
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