Tyra Banks has confirmed Rita Ora will replace her as host when the revamped version of America's Next Top Model debuts on VH1.
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Reports Ora landed the coveted Top Model role first surfaced last week. The British singer and actress previously served as a judge on the UK editions of The Voice and The X Factor.
"Rita and I spoke today. I love her," Banks told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday of the woman who will be taking her throne. "[Rita] was like, 'Tyra, I don't want to fill your shoes, I want to create my own shoes.' So I was like, 'I got you boo.'"
After The CW announced Top Model's cancellation in October 2015, VH1 revealed in February 2016 it had picked up the long-running reality series for a "reinvented" 23rd season that will still be executive produced -- although not hosted -- by Banks, who served as Top Model's host for all 22 prior seasons.
"[Rita] was like, 'I just want some advice and some help,'" Banks, 42, revealed. "So I'm going to have a session with her in person. I'm going to give her the ins and the outs, but I said, 'Make it you. Do you.' She's gotta make it her's."
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Banks told ET that the new and improved version of Top Model will borrow ideas from the show's international versions, such as the Asia and South America franchises, where the hosts are singers and not former models.
"This is perfect," Banks stated, referencing Ora's participation.
While Banks' main role on the series will be behind the scenes going forward, that doesn't mean she's going to disappear entirely.
"I might dip [in]," Banks noted of potential on-camera appearances. "There will be a couple dips. Not a lot of dips. It's just like, 'Pow! What's up?' And then, 'Okay, I'm out!'"
America's Next Top Model debuted in May 2003 on UPN and became the first series to air on The CW in September 2006. Its format later launched into 30-plus countries and has been The CW's most successful reality series and its longest-running series thus far.
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Top Model's 22nd edition, which was supposed to be its last, aired its finale in December 2015. Banks had said the show ran its course creatively and producers wanted Top Model to go out on a high note. However, there was an immediate initiative to resurrect the show, led by executive producer Ken Mok.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski