I am sure you have seen the reality show Americas Next Top where women compete for money and a modeling contract.

The show began in the spring of 2003 on the UPN tv network with former supermodel and tv personality Tyra Banks as the show’s executive producer and the show’s host. The show begins each new cycle with the contestants competing in different challenges and photo shoots, and at the end of the show, one of the aspiring models is eliminated.

The girls go through makeovers at the beginning of each cycle as well which usually consists of hair cuts, color changes, and lots of tears and drama after. There are 3-4 judges that critique the girls performance in the challenges, the quality of the photo shoots, and overall appearance. The judges have been noted celebs that have been in the fashion industry such as former supermodels Twiggy, Janice Dickinson, and Paulina Porizkova, as well as the former American Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley.

Each week the girls go through different challenges that are kind of crazy and weird, but apparently necessary to test the determination and professionalism of the contestants. Some of the challenges have been to pose on camera as one of the deadly sins, to have a photo shoot with scary animals such as snakes and big spiders, and to take the plunge into icy cold waters while being photographed.

Each cycle lasted between 9-16 episodes, with the last portion of each cycle being shot in another country such as Paris, Barcelona, London, Bali, and Sydney; which adds to the excitement and beauty of the show and pushes the girls to do better each week to be able to travel to a unique destination.

The ultimate prize for the winner of each cycle is $100,000, a modeling contract with a major modeling agency, and a photo spread in a fashion magazine, not too shabby for an 18-year-old aspiring model. The show is considered to be a stepping stone for the girls to start their careers in modeling, and even many of the contestants that did not go on to win the title of Americas Next Top Model has gone on to do many different runways, commercial, and print modeling jobs because of the tv show.

The show just ended it’s 22nd season in December of 2015, bringing an end to it’s 12-year reign as one of the highest rated programs on the UPN network. The show has done so well that it is now shown in 170 countries and has spin-off shows in different international markets such as British Invasion in the UK. Towards the end of the shows final cycles, men were also allowed to compete. The show was entertaining and was filled with laughter, drama and lots of fights and tears between the girls.

It had a long, beautiful 12 years.