America's Next Top Model (often shortened to
Top Model or abbreviated as
ANTM) is a
reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of
America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the
modeling industry.
The show was created and is hosted by talk-show host and former
model Tyra Banks, who also serves as the head judge and executive producer of the show. The first "cycle" premiered in May 2003 and was one of
UPN's highest rated shows. The show's seventh cycle was the first of the shows among regular programming on UPN's successor network,
The CW, and thus far is the network's highest rated series.
The show will continue until at least the 2009-10 season.
The opening theme is performed by Tyra Banks and is produced by
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Banks co-produces the show with
Ken Mok and Anthony Dominici for 10 by 10 Entertainment and Bankable Productions, syndicated internationally by
KingWorld (and its successor
CBS Television Distribution), and domestically as a "presentation" of
VH1.
For the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 television seasons,
ANTM was the #1 show in average viewers on The CW.