America’s Next Top Lawsuit: Tyra Banks Sued by Former Contestant

Those of you who were America’s Next Top Model fans in recent years probably remember Angelea Preston. She was on the show during three different seasons–12, 4, and “All-Star” 17. She is now suing Tyra Banks, the creator, host, and judge of America’s Next Top Model, in a breach-of-contract suit.

Preston made it all the way to the very end of season 17, and then was disqualified. The suit alleges that she was actually the winner of season 17, and then once it was discovered that she had once worked as an escort, she was disqualified from the show and a new winner was chosen. That narrative, while coming from Preston and her lawyers, does seem like it could be consistent with the clip below from the show.

If you don’t feel like watching the clip–which is completely understandable–take my word for it that it’s incredibly vague. They essentially just say that information was brought to their attention by Preston herself, and that she was no longer eligible for the top prize. They then go onto discuss how they’ll be just judging between the two remaining participants, and that they wish Preston luck with all her future endeavors.

Preston claims that she was a legal escort, not an “escort” escort. She told the producers about it before the All-Star season even started filming. Then she claims she actually won, and then they called her and asked her all sorts of questions about being an escort. They then notified her she was disqualified. Preston explains why she’s coming forward with this now, saying:

..The assumption is correct. I did indeed win Cycle 17. Listen honey, I’m trying to write a book about my whole life and that part of my life is definitely, I mean my life is already interesting even before Top Model, I guess if you want to say, made me who I am or gave me my platform but, I guess that’s the part everybody wants to know. They want to know the real story. No I did not blab on Facebook or Twitter…What I will say about them taking it away from me, and I’ll keep it at that, until of course I get everything situated with a book deal, so I’ll throw that in the air. Basically, the reason it was taken away from me is hypocrisy…

If Preston had legitimately won the show, she would have been entitled to the prizes, which included a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, and a photospread.

The suit, however, asks for $3 million from Banks. The reasoning behind that is probably that had she won America’s Next Top Model, her career could have been launched and she could have made way more than the original $100,000.

It’s understandable why Banks and America’s Next Top Model would not have wanted to see the headline “Escort wins America’s Next Top Model.” But if they were really that concerned about it, they should have checked out Preston’s background before–regardless of whether or not she told them about her past endeavors. To retroactively disqualify her once she succeeded does seem like it goes counter to whatever paperwork must have been signed pre-show. It will be interesting to see if Preston gets the money–and revenge–she’s looking for.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.