Former Top Model competitor Toccara Jones steps in to defend Tyra Banks amid crazy rumors that alleged the Smize founder exploited some of her hit show’s former contestants. The next American top model.

Jones said TMZ that it was unrealistic to expect Banks to hand out serious money to be on the show because well… it was just a competition. She thinks Tyra well deserves of all the money she’s made from the decade-long series. The next American top model debuted with UPN in May 2003. The reality TV series and interactive contest followed aspiring models as they competed for a chance to break into the modeling industry and a huge cash prize. Banks was the show’s creator and executive producer until its final season in 2018.

Jones told the outlet that unfortunately many newbies in the modeling industry are underpaid, noting that it was absolutely “unheard of” for models to be paid in a competition. She thinks that was the whole point of the cash prize. You get paid when you win, don’t you?

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The allegations surfaced following a scathing interview that Season 9 Supermodel contestant Sarah Hartshorne had with The post office earlier this month. Hartshorne claimed it wasn’t all glitz and glamor behind the scenes.

“We weren’t paid at all to be on the show,” revealed the 34-year-old plus-size model.

“We received a daily allowance of $ 38 in cash that we had to use to pay for our own food. And they didn’t even give us a microwave to heat the food.

She alleged that the show’s production crew kept all the girls “in the dark about most” and that most of the time everyone was absolutely “tired, stressed, sleep deprived and hungry” for the whole time. shooting. According to Hartshorne, who now works as a comedian, The next American top model did absolutely nothing for his career.

“Being on ‘America’s Next Top Model’ hasn’t really opened the doors to the modeling world for a lot of people. It just gives aspiring models a glimpse of what to expect if we are to be successful in the industry. », She added.

After the interview was leaked, reactions spilled over to social media, with some fans calling Banks about the alleged abuse. On Twitter, Hartshorne responded to a netizen who commented: “The fact that the girls on ANTM were paid $ 40 per episode, and Tyra and the judges were doing BANK, is kinda sick.” Hartshorne replied, “$ 40 a day, no residue, and we had to pay for food. “

Ouch!

According to Forbes, The banks took advantage of a serious salary from the show. It is estimated that the Dancing with the stars won host $ 30 million in just 12 months as creator and host of The next American top model. Sadly, this isn’t the first time Banks has come under fire for mistreating former contestants. In May 2020, social media critics tore the star apart for the way she treated sixth cycle winner Danielle Evans. The Inglewood, Calif., Native berated Evans for refusing to undergo reconstructive dental work in order to appear “more marketable” to mainstream media, The post office Noted. After the backlash, Banks took to social media to apologize.

So what do you think? Was Tyra stingy or are you on Queen Smize’s side on this one? Tell us below!

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