Ebony Haith, who starred in the first cycle of ANTM in 2003, is one of the stories explored in an upcoming Netflix documentary which delves into some of the show’s most standout controversies.
The model from New York, who was 23 at the time, was told by the judges that her skin texture looked “ashy” and she was described as “too harsh”.
Ebony tells Newsbeat that she is “still healing” from the experience 23 years later.
“It seemed as though my race, my skin complexion, my hairstyle became so loud that I couldn’t be this innocent girl having this fun experience,” she says.
Over the years, viewers have argued the views and comments shared on the show were a product of their time.
But Ebony disagrees, and says plenty of people at the time were shocked by her treatment.
“The fact that an American show decided to take a black girl from New York named Ebony and to tell the world her skin texture was too rough,” she says.
“It was amazing at how many people were embarrassed at the way I was treated on the show.”
Ebony says those conversations have never stopped.
“I literally today will go on a bus. People will see me either put their heads down or they will start the conversation,” she says.
She says that no-one from production has called her since to discuss or apologise for what happened and she has not seen Tyra since the series was broadcast.