America's Next Top Model (season 1)

(ages stated are at start of contest)

Cycle 1 has received positive reviews from critics. Despite its low budget, E. Alex Jung commentened how this worked to the show's advantage, praising how Tyra “wanted to reflect the reality of life as a working model” and acknowledging that “there was something about the low production value that reflected that simple truth.” He also praised it in comparison to other seasons of America's Next Top Model, commentening how “ANTM’s first season felt like a glimpse into how fashion actually worked” whereas later seasons “became campier, more ludicrous, and vaguely surreal.” Jung also states that Cycle 1 “was the only season where the contestants didn’t readily buy into the project” and commended the season for respecting their decisions, such as when Shannon and Robin refused to pose nude.[16]

Margaret Lyons also praised the season, describing it as “impeachable” and “one of the best seasons, debut or otherwise, that any reality show has ever had.” She argued that “ANTM helped usher in the era of profession-based reality contest shows” but viewed it more positively compared to the rest of America's Next Top Model's seasons, commenting how “nothing has ever quite lived up to the perfection of season one” and how “the grossness of Tyra’s constant idiotic catchphrases, and the repetitiveness of the challenges (have) eventually eroded my passion for the series.”[17]

• Tessa Carlson modeled for Noah Kalina and Joey Quintero.
• Katie Cleary has worked with Deal or No Deal and has done print modeling. She has been an on-camera host for TV Guide Channel, E! News, and HDTV's Get Out. Her acting credits include How to Get Away with Murder, Chuck, The Break-Up, The Lake House, and Iron Man 2.[18]
• Adrianne Curry although not receiving her contracts Revlon and Wilhelmina,[19] she has still modelled for several magazines, including Life & Style Weekly, Us Weekly, Star, OK!, Stuff, People, Maxim, made the Maxim Hot 100 list in 2005, Max (Spanish), Marie Claire and Spanish Marie Claire. She shot campaigns for Von Dutch, Von Dutch Watches, Salon City, Macy's, Famous Stars and Straps, Lucky, Ed Hardy, Kinis Bikinis, Beverly Hills Choppers and Merit Diamonds. She has walked for Jaime Pressly and Pamela Anderson. Curry was signed with Wilhelmina Models and Avenue Modeller,[20] and is no longer a model. She was married to actor Christopher Knight from 2006 to 2012.
• Ebony Haith was signed with Downtown Model Management.
• Robin Manning is pursuing an acting career and has been in two movies, and has done church-related print work.
• Nicole Panattoni modeled for various companies. She is married to BMX rider Cory Nastazio.
• Giselle Samson now works as a hostess for Carnival Cruise.[21]
• Elyse Sewell signed with multiple agencies in Asia and later graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong.
• Shannon Stewart has done print work for Bakers Shoes, Dillards and Speedo Aquatic Fitness Line. She has been signed with Ford Models and Elite Model Management. She participated in the America's Next Top Model All Stars cycle alongside other former contestants,[22] finishing in sixth place.

• In an Instagram livestream, Jay Manuel revealed that Cycle 1 had such a low budget, that he was the one on the computer, throwing the photos up onto the screen during panel.

• Manuel also revealed that during the filming of episode 7, when the black and white photos that Tyra Banks sigo came up on the screen before panel, Janice Dickinson said “Who shot these photos?! They’re horrible!“.

After winning Cycle 1, Adrianne Curry was meant to receive a contract with Revlon and Wilhelmina Models, but she never received it. America's Next Top Model and Tyra Banks ignored her when she contacted them about the issue,[23] and Curry was subsequently erased from the show.[24] Although she appeared on Cycle 2, and was briefly mentioned in Cycle 20 as part of a challenge, she wasn’t featured in the opening credits for Cycles 7, 8 or 9 alongside the other previous winners of America's Next Top Model,[25] and a photo of her didn’t appear in the contestants’ New York residence alongside the previous Top Model winners.

• America's Next Top Model, cycle 1 at IMDb
• America's Next Top Model, cycle 1 at TV.com