Smize though your heart is aching: ‘America’s Next Top Model’ to end in December

After debuting on the now defunct UPN over 12 years ago, “America’s Next Top Model” is coming to an end. Currently in Cycle 22, the reality show has not been picked up for a 23rd season by the CW.

Created and hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks, the competitive reality series sought to find the best up-and-coming models and, at its peak, garnered over 6 million viewers. The series is the longest-running show on the CW and the last vestige of UPN.

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On her Instagram feed, Tyra Banks posted an extensive message about the end of the show, speaking of how proud she was of what the show accomplished and going on to tell fans: “May your photos (and selfies) be forever fierce. May you always find your light. And may you werk hallways like runways. Always remember, you are beautiful & bootyful. And please, keep on smizing each and every day for TyTy.” (Smizing, for the uninitiated, means to smile with only your eyes. It’s just one of many phrased coined by Banks during the run of the show.)

CW President Mark Pedowitz said of the show: “‘America’s Next Top Model’ was a successful franchise for two networks, first at UPN and then the CW, and it became not just a ratings hit, but a global pop culture phenomenon. I want to thank Tyra and [producer] Ken [Mok] for all their years of success in establishing a show that was not just popular in the U.S., but all across the world.”

The decision to not renew “Top Model” means that the series finale will air Dec. 4, though the network is in talks for a retrospective special to air sometime in late 2016.

Twitter: @midwestspitfire

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