Jeana Turner opens up about her time on America's Next Top Model in an exclusive clip from VICE's Dark Side of Reality TV.
Turner was the runner-up in the final cycle of the popular reality competition show, and she moved fans to tears when she revealed that she was diagnosed with alopecia at the age of ten. Prior to her confession on the show, she had always used wigs to cover up her head, but in a poignant moment, she removed the wig and shaved her head.
"Removing the wig is really liberating, it's freeing," Turner stated on ANTM. "I feel as if the entire world can see me now. I feel like I can see myself now.
In a video shared exclusively with PEOPLE, Turner sobs as she admits in the docuseries that she "wasn't ready" to model bald.
"I wouldn't even run down my driveway to the mailbox if I didn't have my hair on," Turner said emotionally in the video. "Like I really wasn't ready for it to be shaven like that on TV."
Turner has been outspoken in her criticism of the show and its long-time host and creator, Tyra Banks.
"And then being told, 'Walk around like that.'" And you must believe it's lovely. "What if I don't?" She continued. "I obviously didn't think it was beautiful — I was covering it up with wigs."
She is one of many past contestants who have come out with complaints against the host and the show, and she discusses the fallout on the America's Next Top Model episode of Dark Side of Reality TV.
"We wanted to end the season with a bang, and America's Next Top Model delivered on that," showrunner Meghan Payne told PEOPLE. "As someone who grew up watching ANTM, I always looked forward to watching down the cuts to see what new information was divulged."
Payne stated that several of the show's confessionals were utilised "out of context" - Turner was particularly subjected to this harsh editing technique.
"Jeana Turner explained that they used one of her interviews about her being suicidal and upset, as a response to her sadness over losing a challenge," Payne claims, suggesting that Turner will have more to say about her experience on Dark Side of Reality TV.
Banks was contacted about the series, however she did not participate in the episode featuring ANTM. PEOPLE contacted a spokesperson from Banks for comment.
The show has examined other reality favourites, such as Toddlers and Tiaras and Hell's Kitchen, and America's Next Top Model will conclude the first season of this docuseries. Although a second season has not yet been confirmed, Payne believes the smash show Love Is Blind is "at the top of everyone's list" for a future deep dig.
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