America's Next Top Model aired its final television episode on April 10, 2018, concluding its 24th cycle on VH1. In this series finale, 20-year-old Kyla Coleman was crowned the winner over fellow finalists Jeana Turner and Shanice Carroll, marking the end of a transformative 15-year broadcast run created by supermodel Tyra Banks.
What Happened in the Final Episode on April 10, 2018?
The final episode of America's Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 24, titled "Next Level Season Finale," originally aired on the VH1 network on April 10, 2018. It marked the culmination of a cycle designed to modernize the franchise by removing long-standing physical limitations, including age caps, and featuring creator Tyra Banks returning as head judge after a one-season hiatus.
The finale opened with four contestants remaining: Kyla Coleman, Jeana Turner, Shanice Carroll, and Khrystyana Kazakova. Early in the episode, the panel evaluated the models based on their full body of work and final editorial shoots, eliminating Khrystyana Kazakova in fourth place. Shanice Carroll was eliminated shortly after, leaving Kyla Coleman and Jeana Turner to face off in the final runway and panel deliberation.
Cycle 24 Finale Progression (April 10, 2018):
- Top 4 Models
- Khrystyana Kazakova Eliminated (4th Place)
- Top 3 Models
- Shanice Carroll Eliminated (3rd Place)
- Final 2 Models
- Jeana Turner (Runner-Up) vs. Kyla Coleman (WINNER)
The Final Runway Show and Photo Shoot
The high-stakes runway challenge required the remaining models to walk alongside professional fashion models in a high-concept, high-fashion show organized by designer Philipp Plein. Unlike earlier seasons, which often relied on theatrical antics or extreme outdoor runways, the Cycle 24 final runway emphasized real-world industry standards, casting, and presence.
Alongside their runway walk, the final contestants completed an editorial photo spread for Paper magazine. The shoot was designed to showcase versatility, commercial appeal, and the modern digital presence necessary for fashion modeling in the late 2010s. The panel evaluated how each contestant transitioned from high-concept editorial poses to live runway movement.
The Winner Announcement: Kyla Coleman's Victory
During the final panel deliberation at the VH1 studios, the judges—Tyra Banks, plus-size supermodel Ashley Graham, Paper magazine chief creative officer Drew Elliott, and celebrity stylist Law Roach—evaluated the contestants' growth throughout the competition.
While Jeana Turner presented strong, high-fashion editorial poses throughout the cycle, the judges ultimately selected Kyla Coleman as the winner. Tyra Banks highlighted Coleman’s rapid growth, raw natural beauty, high-fashion proportions, and potential for long-term commercial and high-fashion success.
The prizes awarded to Coleman for winning Cycle 24 included:
- A talent contract with Next Model Management.
- A fashion spread in Paper magazine.
- A $100,000 cash prize sponsored by Pantene.
- An avatar inclusion in the official America's Next Top Model mobile game.
The Top 4 Finalists of Cycle 24
The final cycle of America's Next Top Model highlighted a diverse group of contestants who brought distinct looks, personal backgrounds, and modeling styles to the competition.
ANTM Cycle 24 Final Standings
| Contestant | Age* | Hometown | Final Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyla Coleman | 20 | Olympia, WA | Winner |
| Jeana Turner | 24 | Minneapolis, MN | Runner-Up |
| Shanice Carroll | 25 | Murfreesboro, TN | 3rd Place |
| Khrystyana Kazakova | 32 | New York, NY | 4th Place |
*Age at time of broadcast in 2018.
Kyla Coleman (Winner)
Entering the competition at age 20 from Olympia, Washington, Kyla Coleman initially struggled with passive poses and self-doubt during early episodes. However, as the competition progressed, her strong bone structure, height, and modern, effortless look made her a favorite among guest photographers and high-fashion judges. Post-show, Coleman proved to be one of the most commercially successful winners in ANTM history, signing with major global agencies like The Society Management and booking major campaigns for brands such as Calvin Klein, Off-White, Alexander Wang, and Ivy Park.
Jeana Turner (Runner-Up)
Jeana Turner was a standout contestant throughout Cycle 24, known for her high-fashion versatility and open advocacy for alopecia awareness. After revealing her alopecia condition during the makeovers episode, Turner removed her wig and embraced a bald look, producing some of the strongest editorial imagery of the season. Her journey was marked by intense competition, including a brief elimination followed by a comeback via a twist supported by Philipp Plein.
Shanice Carroll (3rd Place)
Hailing from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Shanice Carroll was celebrated by the judging panel for her relatable personality, strong commercial appeal, and vocal talent. Despite having limited formal modeling experience before joining the show, Carroll delivered steady improvements throughout the cycle, securing a place in the top three.
Khrystyana Kazakova (4th Place)
Khrystyana Kazakova, a body-positive model and activist who was 32 years old at the time of filming, represented the show’s decision to eliminate age restrictions for Cycle 24. Kazakova dominated much of the competition's photo shoots, winning multiple best-photo calls from the panel. Her fourth-place elimination surprised many fans, though she subsequently built a prominent career as a curve model and body-positivity advocate.
Network Evolution: From UPN to The CW and VH1
The airing of the final episode on April 10, 2018, closed out a 15-year broadcast history that spanned three distinct television networks. The show's changing network homes reflected wider shifts in American television broadcasting, youth demographics, and reality TV production formats.
ANTM Broadcast Network History:
- UPN (Cycles 1–6: 2003–2006)
- The CW (Cycles 7–22: 2006–2015)
- VH1 (Cycles 23–24: 2016–2018)
- The CW (Cycles 7–22: 2006–2015)
The UPN Era (2003–2006: Cycles 1 to 6)
America's Next Top Model premiered in May 2003 on the UPN (United Paramount Network). During its initial six cycles, the series established the fundamental tropes of competitive reality television. It combined behind-the-scenes glimpses of the fashion industry with high-stakes photoshoots, weekly eliminations, and panel critiques led by Tyra Banks, Janice Dickinson, Nolé Marin, and Nigel Barker. The show quickly became UPN’s highest-rated series, demonstrating the commercial viability of fashion competition shows.
The CW Era (2006–2015: Cycles 7 to 22)
When UPN merged with The WB to create The CW in September 2006, ANTM served as the flagship reality program for the new network. Cycle 7 opened The CW’s inaugural prime-time schedule.
During its nine years on The CW, the franchise underwent several creative rebrands to sustain viewership:
- High Fashion Cycles (Cycles 15 & 16): Partnered with Vogue Italia to align the show with luxury fashion brands.
- All-Stars & British Invasion (Cycles 17 & 18): Replaced non-professional formats with returning fan favorites and international models.
- Co-Ed Cycles (Cycles 20, 21, & 22): Introduced male contestants into the competition for the first time starting in 2013.
The CW officially canceled the series after Cycle 22 in December 2015, citing declining network ratings and shifting viewer demographics.
The VH1 Revival (2016–2018: Cycles 23 to 24)
In 2016, cable network VH1 picked up the rights to revive the franchise. Cycle 23 reformatted the series to focus on pop culture, digital branding, and influencer culture, featuring singer Rita Ora as host while Tyra Banks stayed on as an executive producer.
Responding to fan demand, Tyra Banks returned as the head judge and host for Cycle 24 in 2018. VH1 shifted the program's focus back to fashion while modernizing its casting guidelines—removing the age limit of 27 and placing greater emphasis on body diversity and social media presence. Episode 15 of Cycle 24, broadcast on April 10, 2018, stands as the final original episode produced for television.
Why Cycle 24 Became the Franchise Finale
Although VH1 did not explicitly market the April 10, 2018 episode as a permanent series finale at the time of its broadcast, no subsequent cycles were commissioned or produced in the years following. Several economic, cultural, and operational factors contributed to the conclusion of the franchise.
Shifts in the Modeling Industry and Social Media
When ANTM launched in 2003, aspiring models relied almost entirely on traditional talent agencies, print portfolio casting, and physical go-sees. By 2018, platforms like Instagram and TikTok had fundamentally altered model discovery. Fashion brands increasingly scouted talent directly through social media channels, making the traditional reality competition model less relevant to modern industry recruitment.
Traditional Modeling Scouting (2003) vs. Modern Digital Discovery (2018+)
- 2003:
- Open Calls
- Physical Portfolios
- Agency Signings
- TV Competitions
- 2018:
- Instagram/Social Media
- Direct Brand Engagement
- Influencer-Model Hybrids
Production Costs and Fragmented Viewership
Linear television viewership declined significantly across cable networks in the late 2010s. The cost of producing high-budget international travel episodes, securing rights to high-fashion clothing lines, and hiring top-tier photographers became harder to justify against traditional cable ad revenues.
Re-evaluation of Reality TV Formats
By 2018, public perception of mid-2000s reality television had evolved. Retrospective streaming of early ANTM cycles led to critical commentary online regarding strict weight requirements, intense makeover reveals, and harsh panel critiques from earlier seasons. While Cycle 24 attempted to address these critiques by embracing body diversity and removing age caps, public interest in the format had waned.
Franchise Overview: Key Eras and Network Evolution
To understand how the final episode on April 10, 2018 fits into the overall history of America's Next Top Model, the table below outlines the structural shifts across all 24 cycles of the franchise.
| Era / Network | Cycles | Broadcast Years | Primary Host(s) | Notable Strategic Changes | Key Winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPN Era | Cycles 1–6 | 2003–2006 | Tyra Banks | Established core format, live runway challenges, panel critiques, iconic makeovers. | Adrianne Curry (C1), Eva Pigford (C3), Danielle Evans (C6) |
| The CW Era (Early) | Cycles 7–14 | 2006–2010 | Tyra Banks | Broad commercial themes, introduction of petite model cycle (C13), international destinations. | Jaslene Gonzalez (C8), Whitney Thompson (C10), Teyona Anderson (C12) |
| The CW Era (High Fashion) | Cycles 15–16 | 2010–2011 | Tyra Banks | Partnership with Vogue Italia, high-fashion prizes, couture modeling focus. | Ann Ward (C15), Brittani Kline (C16) |
| The CW Era (Specialty Formats) | Cycles 17–22 | 2011–2015 | Tyra Banks | All-Stars (C17), British Invasion (C18), Social Media Voting (C19), Male & Female Models (C20–22). | Lisa D'Amato (C17), Jourdan Miller (C20), Nyle DiMarco (C22) |
| VH1 Era (Reboot) | Cycle 23 | 2016–2017 | Rita Ora | Digital branding focus, pop culture focus, Tyra Banks as Executive Producer only. | India Gants (C23) |
| VH1 Era (Final Season) | Cycle 24 | 2018 | Tyra Banks | Removal of age limits, emphasis on body positivity and inclusivity, series conclusion. | Kyla Coleman (C24) |
Cultural Impact and Modern Legacy
During its 24-cycle run, America's Next Top Model fundamentally shaped reality television production, popular culture vocabulary, and fashion media.
Shaping Television Tropes and Terminology
Tyra Banks introduced terms into the pop-culture lexicon that extended far beyond the fashion industry, including:
- "Smize": Smiling with one's eyes to convey emotion in still photography.
- "Fierce": High-energy, confident modeling expression or presence.
- "Booty-Too-Tooch": Posing technique emphasizing body angles.
The series also pioneered formatting elements now standard in competition television, including dramatic makeover episodes, dynamic panel judging setups, and elaborate weekly photoshoots.
Diversity and Representation
Long before mainstream fashion fashion magazines and runways adopted broader diversity initiatives, ANTM routinely cast women of color, trans models (such as Isis King in Cycle 11), petite models, and models with visible physical differences or conditions. Cycle 22 crowned Nyle DiMarco as its first Deaf winner, and Cycle 24 removed age limits entirely, allowing women over 30 and 40 to compete against younger models.
Key Diversity Milestones in ANTM:
- Cycle 10: Whitney Thompson becomes the first plus-size winner.
- Cycle 11: Isis King becomes the first openly transgender contestant.
- Cycle 22: Nyle DiMarco becomes the first Deaf winner.
- Cycle 24: Removal of the upper age restriction (casting models aged 30+).
The Shift to Retrospective Analysis
In the years following the April 10, 2018 finale, streaming platforms brought early seasons of ANTM to new audiences. Modern viewers often evaluate early episodes through a contemporary lens, pointing out past industry standards around body weight, race-swapping photoshoot concepts, and intense mental pressure placed on contestants.
Former judges and contestants, including Paulina Porizkova, Nigel Barker, and Jay Manuel, have publicly discussed both the positive impact and the challenging production environment of the show. Tyra Banks has acknowledged these critiques, noting that certain shoots and comments reflected the fashion industry standards of their respective eras while affirming that ongoing conversations about representation in media are necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the final episode of America's Next Top Model air?
The final episode of America's Next Top Model (Cycle 24, Episode 15, "Next Level Season Finale") aired on April 10, 2018, on the VH1 network.
Who won the final cycle of America's Next Top Model?
Kyla Coleman won Cycle 24 on April 10, 2018. At 20 years old, she beat runner-up Jeana Turner and third-place finalist Shanice Carroll.
Why did America's Next Top Model end after Cycle 24?
While no formal cancellation announcement was made immediately following the April 10, 2018 broadcast, the show ended due to shifting fashion industry practices, the rise of social media modeling discovery, declining linear TV ratings, and high production costs associated with the format.
How many total cycles of ANTM were produced?
A total of 24 cycles (seasons) were produced and broadcast between May 2003 and April 2018 across UPN, The CW, and VH1 networks.
Was Tyra Banks the host for the final episode?
Yes. Tyra Banks returned as host and head judge for Cycle 24 in 2018 after taking a step back during Cycle 23, when Rita Ora hosted the show.
Where can viewers watch episodes of ANTM today?
As of 2026, select seasons of America's Next Top Model are available for streaming on subscription platforms such as Hulu, Paramount+, and ad-supported services like Pluto TV, as well as digital video-on-demand purchase via Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Streaming availability varies by region and licensing agreements.
Summary and Final Recommendation
The airing of the America's Next Top Model final episode on April 10, 2018, brought an end to one of the most influential competition series in television history. By crowning Kyla Coleman in its 24th cycle finale, the show concluded its 15-year transition from standard fashion-industry competition to a platform focused on digital presence and body positivity.
For researchers, pop culture enthusiasts, and media historians studying reality television evolution, ANTM serves as a primary case study in how cable and broadcast programming adapted to digital disruption. Viewers interested in exploring the history of the franchise are encouraged to compare the high-fashion emphasis of Cycles 15–16 against the modern influencer-focused strategies of Cycles 23–24 to see how global fashion marketing evolved over two decades.
