America's Next Top Model Contestants Get Paid Less Than You Think

Throughout the 2000s, every girl dreamed about being on the popular reality show, America's Next Top Model. Most recently, a former contestant finally shed light on a burning question on almost every long-time fan's mind: "What the heck were the models paid on the show?" 

Luckily, former ANTM contestant Sarah Hartshorne gave us the intel we so desperately needed. Hartshorne stood out as the only plus-sized model in the bunch. She ended up placing eighth in Cycle 9 after being eliminated following the Enrique Iglesias Music Video episode (via Reality TV World). However, she continued to model for Glamour, Vogue, and Skechers, according to her website. Unlike many models post-ANTM, Hartshorne has switched over into the comedic business. On her social media accounts, she posts funny stand-up snippets, self-love tips, and some secrets about her time on ANTM. In October 2020, Hartshorne told her 89K followers on TikTok about what it was really like living on set.

In the TikTok, Sarah Hartshorne starts by saying a shocking number for what they got paid for being on international television. She says that each girl got paid "a $40 stipend per day that went towards food, but that's the only money we got for doing the show. We never got residuals, and we got no other money." She said that she lived off of refried beans and iceberg lettuce during her time on America's Next Top Model. She continued by saying, "We were on set or on location most days for lunch, so we'd order out or go to craft services, but we were supposed to cook most of our breakfasts and dinners." Along with that, there was no microwave, and apparently, only a handful of girls knew how to cook. So they would normally all eat together, and most girls lived off of Hot Pockets and tater tots. She ended by saying that sometimes they'd embrace it and have junk food at night on the floor of the walk-in closet.

Sarah Hartshorne isn't the only ANTM alum to divulge what really went on behind the scenes. Cycle 23 winner India Gants (via YouTube), Angelea Preston (via YouTube), and Cycle 17 All-Stars Winner Lisa D'Amato are a few who have called out Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model (via YouTube) for their mistreatments, as well as their regrets and other things long-time fans were itching to know.