)Americas Next Top Modelhas ever seen.
For 13 years, we were rooting for her.
Check out our full Q&A with Banks below.
Credit: Michael Bezjian/Getty Images
For EWs extendedANTMfeature including quotes from Banks, Ora, and ANTMs newly crowned winner clickhere.
Many years ago, I was stressed with starting new businesses…
This was cycle 8.
It was very early.
My lawyer held an intervention of sorts, and said, What are youdoing?
You created this show.
Its starting to get traction around the entire world.
I beg of you not to do this.
But, I was so tired.
I was like, fine, fine, Ill just continue.
It was actually exciting.I wanted the show to continue; I wanted to keep it new.
Im not in the edit bay every day like I used to be.
In fact, I havent been in the edit bay every day for a couple of years.
I do have a really strong team that is taking the reins on the creative side.
Im not handholding this brand like I used to.
He talked to the girls about personal branding… so we saw this back then, happening already.
Now, social media is at an all-time high.
Wed be idiots to ignore it.
Its more of a responsible thing than a fashionable thing; its like responsible business.
A big part of maintaining a business is advocacy.
Even back to cycle 1, when you had Ebony, an openly gay contestant.
Even though I was a successful supermodel, I was hearing no quite often.
Being black and being curvy made me empathize with people who didnt fit the cookie cutter.
This has always been a passion of mine.
Its so nice to see its normalizing.
I guessTop Modelhas normalized what difference is in beauty.
Is the option there for you to step back in as head judge?
It does sting, but its a change of heart, I guess.
Would you ever step back into the role?I dont know.
I dont really think so.
Im hoping that we can continue to be successful where we are.
Somethingverysimilar happened onAustralias Next Top Model.Of course!
Were not getting our credit where credit is due.
We had meat dresses before Gaga rocked them and we had winner mistakes beforeSteve HarveyandtheAcademy Awards.
[Audiences are] on their phones and watching all different types of things on social media.
Its a good thing for the television community.
