Former 'Top Model' Contestant Alleges Traumatic Hair Incident on Set

In a recent video, former America's Next Top Model contestant Adrianne Curry has come forward with allegations of a traumatic hair incident that occurred during her time on the show in 2002-2003. Curry, who won the modeling competition at age 20, claims that host Tyra Banks instructed the show's stylists to put a weave in her hair, despite their warnings that Curry's "white chick's hair is too fragile for this."

Curry alleges that Banks insisted the stylists proceed with the weave, and the result was disastrous. Curry says she was left with an "oozing wound" from the braids, and that half her hair was "ripped out." The damage, she claims, has been permanent, leaving her with a patch of short, sparse hair that "has never grown" in the affected area.

After the show wrapped, Curry says she had to seek help from a Black salon in Illinois to have the weave removed, a process that took "hours and hours" and left her with "horrific moist scabs all over [her] head." The salon stylists, Curry recounts, were shocked at the damage done to her hair.

Curry says the alleged hair incident has had lasting effects, both physically and emotionally. She expresses her belief that many of the makeovers on the show were "done just to torture us." As of 2025, Curry continues to deal with the permanent hair loss and damage from the weave.