Netflix’s new docuseries about “America’s Next Top Model” has plenty to say about an alleged culture of exploitation, sexism, and racism lurking behind the scenes of one of reality TV’s formerly proudest hits. But across three episodes, “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” catalogs story after story of young women being body-shamed, manipulated, and pushed to emotional extremes in a way that once again treats their trauma as alarmingly trivial.
From invasive dental procedures mandated by “Top Model” judges — to troubling late-night encounters with men the girls met while traveling abroad — “Reality Check” presents its limited cast of contestants earnestly, but it tells their side of things only in part. More than 300 people competed on “Top Model” over the course of the show’s 24-season run, but just 10 contestants appear in Netflix’s new account. Worse, “Reality Check” co-directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan subject the women…