• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Yaya DaCosta Calls Out 'ANTM' For Its Problematic Past With Blackness

Yaya DaCosta Calls Out ‘ANTM’ For Its Problematic Past With Blackness
Getty images
By Danielle Kwateng-Clark · Updated October 24, 2020
America’s Next Top Model should probably thank the heavens that Twitter wasn’t around when it started in 2003. On Saturday, actress Yaya DaCosta shared two videos on Instagram after viewers of Love & Hip Hop Miami sent her clips from the show. Musician, Amara La Negra has been struggling on the VH1 reality show to get her message of inclusivity across. In one episode, the singer is criticised for her afro and black pride. DaCosta had a similar incident on season three of America’s Next Top Model when she proudly wore her hair natural and dressed in an Ankara-print top. “Every once in a while (more and more often these days), we are reminded of how far we still have to go surrounding issues of tolerance and ethnic sensitivity,” DaCosta said in her Instagram post acknowledging her time on the Tyra Banks’ produced competition show.   “Trump’s latest comments about immigrants are a fresh example of that, but it is NOTHING NEW. He’s been expressing bigotry and protecting other racists since day one. Same hate, new day… I know that this might seem trivial next to the serious threat our country is currently facing, but people keep sending me videos of Love & Hip Hop Miami, saying that it reminded them of me as a young girl, learning to navigate the new phenomenon of reality TV.” “Unfortunately, 14 years later, nothing has changed. Same ignorance, new show… It took a lot of work to heal from that experience and looking back, I feel so much for that eager, vulnerable young version of myself. There are so many things I would whisper in her ear… @amaralanegraaln I truly applaud your strength. As another brown-skinned, curly-headed woman with African roots and Latin branches, I stand with you.” In the clip DaCosta shared, she’s being ridiculed by all the judges —including, host Banks— for looking too “intense.” “It looks like you’re about to ride a giraffe,” judge Nolé Martin said, while judge Rebecca Weinberg stated, “You have this intensity to prove your blackness, and I think sometimes it’s overbearing.” Banks added fuel to the fire by saying, “This [photo] is amazing, but what’s not amazing is your appearance. Think a little more glamour as opposed to natural.” DaCosta was also forced to apologize to the judges after being called “defensive,” for criticizing the kufi cap they wanted her to wear. Banks has yet to comment on the resurrected clip. But to be honest, racism —subtle or not— is nothing new. Fashion, music, film (the world in general) has never fully embraced people of color —and the optics of what’s considered attractive only adds insult to injury. It only makes sense for black pride —in the face of racism and colorism— to be considered “intense” because black pride is the antithesis of both. To be proud of one’s blackness is to defy a society that systematically seeks to disenfranchise black people. We doubt the ‘Top Model’ judges would have got that point. Nothing about DaCosta and Amara’s stories are new. But in a new world of social media holding peoples’ feet to the fire, maybe some people will think twice before making ignorant remarks about black pride.
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now