It’s safe to say that of all the episodes we were blessed with during the 21 season run of America’s Next Top Model, the makeover episodes were the most iconic and traumatising. In around episode 3 or 4 Tyra Banks, Ms Jay and Jay Manuel would take the aspiring models to a salon such as Warren Tricomi and one by one either make their life or kill their hopes and dreams. From bleach to bad weaves and shaved teeth, we literally saw it all.
Over the course of 15 years and 24 cycles, we watched hundred of makeovers but some of them stand out in Top Model history. And with the new Netflix documentary helping us relive some of the most jaw-dropping moments of the icon show, we have been thinking about just how crazy some of these “makeovers” truly were.
Personally at the time, I remember 12 year old me thinking, “Girly, you are a model. Stop crying.” But these were also the days that Kelly Cutrone was telling staff that crying was banned in her office and the ‘circle of shame’ was a prominent fixture on weekly magazines. Now, looking at these often teen girls, bawl their eyes out after their waist long hair is shaved into a pixie cut, hits different. Before diving into the doc, I rewatched all the makeovers thanks to Brad Mondo’s YouTube series. Here are the ones I found still look just as bad, decades later…
Everyone’s clicking on…Catie, Cycle 2 
YouTube
YouTube
I actually remember being completely horrified by Catie’s reaction to this makeover – ‘Buckle up, baby this is showbiz’ I thought, as a 12 year old sat in front of Living TV. But in reality, her hair was given an unnecessary overly-dramatic change. I mean look at it, it was sliced and diced and then bleach within an inch of its life. The styling above also ages her at least 30 years! My favourite part is that Tyra admits ‘It’s a little Oliver Twist looking’, way to sow hope, Ms Banks.
Molly, Cycle 16
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YouTube
Ramen noodle hair. That’s the famous comparison of Molly in this makeover, which has persisted to this day. She is truly giving Justin Timberlake, circa 2000, a run for his money. I think the craziest thing about Molly’s makeover is that they decided to do a weave on her. Why? Surely bonded extensions made much more sense for her straight, European hair? The weave ended up looking so bulky they had to thin it out with scissors, with even Jay Manuel saying they would ‘fix it after the shoot’. Ouch.
Chelsey, Cycle 15
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YouTube
This one was less about the hair (but back to the hair later) because in what world would it be ok to shave someone’s teeth for a competition? Only on ANTM. Chelsey had beautiful teeth with a natural gap, but on makeover day, Tyra and her crew decided they wanted her to have a ‘Lauren Hutton’ smile and sent her to the dentist to shave a wider gap between her front teeth. Yes, they removed her enamel permanently. Hair is one thing, but to make a permanent change is wild. And then to top it off, they made her hair a horrible brassy yellow.
Kayla, Cycle 15 
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YouTube
Ok, this is less about the finished look, which Kayla werked in her photoshoot, this is about two things. The fact that this was such a trust the process look. I mean, the bleached brows and literal Elmo red hair? I would have bawled my eyes out. And while the finished look serves, I can’t imagine how hard it was to grow that red out. Red hair dye lingers in your pigment forever so, Kayla girl, I feel for you.
Cassandra, Cycle 5
YouTube
YouTube
Cassandra was the biggest crybaby of the bunch but she got the bad end of the stick, because, like Catie, her hair was cut from down her back to a pixie crop and scalp bleached. It literally looks like her eyes are still glassy from the tears in her photoshoot, poor girl. And then after all that she was eliminated in the next panel. Yikes.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo’s Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
