Angelea Preston was on prime of the world after being topped winner of “America’s Next Top Model: All-Stars” in 2011.
However the runway walker’s world got here crashing down when producers of the sequence quietly stripped her of the title — allegedly because of her previous work as knowledgeable escort — months earlier than the season debuted that September.
“Winning ‘All-Stars’ was one of the best days of my life,” Preston, 38, of Buffalo, not too long ago instructed The Publish. “And the day they took that away from me was one of the worst.”
The New York native, alongside fellow traumatized “ANTM” alums, tearfully particulars her fall from glory in “The Dark Side of Reality TV: America’s Next Top Model,” a Vice sequence unveiling untold — and sometimes untoward — secrets and techniques of cult traditional, early-aughts reveals.
Sounding off with Preston is her substitute winner, Lisa D’Amato — who didn’t fare any higher.
“‘America’s Next Top Model’ f–king squashed my dreams,” the 44-year-old sobbed on digicam for the episode that airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. “It made everybody around the globe hate me. And it made me hate myself for years.”
D’Amato, who appeared in cycles 5 and 17, mentioned manufacturing portrayed her as an “alcoholic villain,” a misrepresentation that stigmatized her to modeling businesses and potential shoppers.
“They don’t care if you live or die afterwards,” D’Amato alleged of present executives. “Nothing occurred with my modeling profession.
“I’m basically just reality TV garbage.”
Premiering in Might 2003 on the since-defunct UPN community, “ANTM” shortly hooked audiences with its no-holds-barred panache.
For twenty-four seasons or “cycles” — as nicknamed by creator and trend icon Tyra Banks — the competitors sequence gave 3 million international followers a shiny, weekly glimpse on the generally ugly facet of picture-perfect magnificence, with cycle winners incomes the coveted “Top” title, in addition to a modeling contract, {a magazine} characteristic and a large money prize.
From makeover meltdowns by the attractive, 20-something contestants to funky photoshoot challenges and withering critiques from the judges’ panel, headed by Banks, it appeared no delicate topic nor secret insecurity was off limits till the present formally ended its 15-year run in 2018.
Banks, now 50, in the end apologized for “the insensitivity of some past ‘ANTM’ moments” in 2020, following social media outrage over resurfaced offenses made throughout filming — together with jabs about contestants’ enamel, heights and weights.
However the injury was perpetually finished within the eyes of quite a few peeved contributors.
Sarah Hartshorne, a cycle 9 star and former plus-size mannequin, beforehand instructed The Publish that rivals had been compelled to roll with the punches behind the scenes.
“Production kept us in the dark about almost everything because they wanted to keep us on edge,” mentioned Hartshorne, 37.
“Us being confused, tired, stressed, sleep-deprived and hungry just made for better TV.”
And within the new Vice program, the brunette doesn’t maintain again on her scorn in regards to the style.
“Competition reality shows in the early aughts were f–ked up,” Hartshorne hissed within the new episode.
“It was unpaid labor,” she added. “We were being subjected to a new world of entertainment that was cheap.”
Representatives for Banks didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
Cycle 4 competitor Brittany Brower revealed to The Publish that she tolerated “little annoyances and things I didn’t like during filming,” claiming that present execs generally — maybe unsurprisingly, given the style — amplified the drama for buzz.
“They’re all about ratings,” she mentioned in regards to the rancor that riddles actuality TV, earlier than acquiescing. “That’s life.”
But the now-married, stay-at-home mother of two made a shocking declaration that others have additionally copped to.
“I would 100% do it again,” mentioned the Florida-based mannequin, 42.
And her cycle 4 cohort Keenyah Hill, additionally discovered a silver lining to any behind-the-scenes brouhahas that brewed, saying that battling for Banks’ approval was a “surreal” privilege that put her on the map.
“No matter where I go in the world, I’m recognized,” Hill, 39, a prime 3 finalist in 2005, instructed The Publish. “I’ve been modeling for the past 20 years. I never stopped.”
She’s walked in New York, Paris and Milan trend weeks, and is now a posing coach to divas-in-training.
Plus, Hill credited “ANTM” with preserving a “Smize” — Banks’ catchphrase for smiling with one’s eyes — on her face by the years.
“I’d absolutely do it all over again,” she mentioned.
Preston, although, whereas nonetheless damage by “all the messy stuff that happened” and her “ANTM” ousting, can solely grasp onto her decades-old wounds for thus lengthy, regardless of the brand new on-air tell-all.
“It’s been a weird journey,” mentioned Preston, a mother of 1 and information producer — including that, shockingly, she’s “grateful” she even made it to air.
“I’m still a part of a show that made history.”
“The Dark Side of Reality TV” airs at 9 p.m. EST on Vice TV on Tuesdays.
