Tyra Banks' hit fashion modeling competition show "America's Next Top Model" is coming to an end after 22 seasons. In anticipation of tonight's series finale, here's a preview of what to expect from the final episode, and also a look back at some of the biggest moments and most successful contestants from the last 12 years "ANTM" has been on air.
Banks and her panel of judges (including Kelly Cutrone and Miss J. Alexander) have narrowed down the cycle 22 competition to two female and two male contestants, according to Mic. Mamé Adjei, a 23-year-old from Maryland, will go head-to-head against 18-year-old Arkansas native Lacey Rodgers. Nyle DiMarco, a 25-year-old from Washington, D.C., goes up against 26-year-old Florida resident Mikey Heverly to be crowned the final "America's Next Top Model."
The show wasn't particularly known for creating supermodels out of its winners, though, The New York Times reported. Most of the winners from the 21 previous seasons have failed to make it big in the fashion world, but it did wonders for Banks' career, as she ventured off into various projects, most recently her short-lived talk show hosting gig "FABLife."
But out of all of the show's contestants, it was Analeigh Tipton who gained the most success from the show. Tipton, who placed third during cycle 11, went on to earn acting credits on "Hung," "The Green Hornet" and "Crazy Stupid Love," according to Vulture. She also had a starring role in the short-lived ABC series "Manhattan Love Story."
"ANTM" also solidified its role in pop culture history by introducing the adjectives "smize" (smiling with your eyes), and "flawsome" (describing someone or something as awesome despite its flaws), The New York Times reported. The series is also heralded as the longest-running fashion TV shows ever made.
It also produced one of the most emotionally raw moments of reality television, according to Bustle. The impassioned speech that Banks gave to axed model Tiffany Richardson showed the model yelling at the contestant for her lack of dedication to the competition. Banks' yelled quote of "I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you!" is one that's still referenced by fans even a decade after it originally aired.
Watch the clip below and be sure to catch the series finale of "America's Next Top Model," airing tonight at 9 p.m. on The CW.
