It’s official: the title of “America’s Next Top Model” can now go to anyone of any age.
Tyra Banks — who will return as host of the show after taking a one-year break — announced on Saturday that the long-running series will no longer have an age restriction.
“There have been 23 cycles of ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ and every single cycle we say you have to be 27 years old or younger,” Banks said in a video posted to Twitter. “You know what I hear all the time? ‘Tyra, come on. Why have an age limit?’ So you know what? I’m taking that age limit off.”
“You want to audition for ‘America’s Next Top Model’? I don’t care how old you are, honey,” she continued. “You just need to know how to smize and be open to learning how to work the runway like a supermodel.”
Immediately, social media erupted in praise over the show’s move to be more inclusive.
However, some suggested that height requirements should also go, as models who are under the standard 5'7" can't audition.
One even suggested that they should have a season with zero restrictions whatsoever regarding height, age and body types.
While this is the first time in 23 seasons (also known as "cycles" in "ANTM" world) that the show has nixed age restrictions, it’s not the first time they have changed the requirements for their contestants. Cycle 13, for instance, featured women 5’7” and under; cycle 18 featured British models; and cycles 20 to 22 featured women and men.
As a result, some fans argued that getting rid of the age limit in the latest cycle is just another “angle” the show is trying to play for good ratings.
But as one user put it:
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