Rita Ora replaces Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model – and everyone is outraged

The British singer will front the show when it launches on VH1
Head judge: Rita Ora is heading stateside
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Emma Powell22 July 2016
The Weekender

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Fans of America’s Next Top Model have been left outraged after Rita Ora was confirmed to replace Tyra Banks.

Ora, 25, whose previous TV credentials include The Voice UK and The X Factor, will head to the US to take over as head judge when the series kicks off on VH1 this autumn.

Announcing the news on USA Today, she said: "The approach I wanted to have as a host and judge to the girls is what my career stands for at this moment in time, which is being a businesswoman and being able to do multiple things at the same time, whether it's music or shooting [magazine covers] and being in movies and designing clothes."

But fans of the show are not too happy with the decision and tweeted their confusion with some questioning Ora’s ability to help aspiring models. Users asked if the news was a joke while others suggested possible replacements.

The Poison singer will be joined by Ashley Graham, Law Roach, and Paper magazine's Drew Elliott for the rebooted 14 part series.

Banks will remain an executive producer and reportedly has plans to make "a couple of appearances" on the new show.

VH1 and Logo president Chris McCarthy said show bosses were never looking for a "Tyra replacement" but instead wanted to "infuse that panel with style fashion and pop culture experts".

He continued: "Together they collectively have the power of what is driving fashion and pop culture today."

America's Next Top Model ran for 22 seasons after starting in 2003 and has welcomed some of the biggest names in fashion onto the panel. Twiggy, Janice Dickinson and X have all featured on the show.

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The reality show saw a group of aspiring models compete in a series of fashion tasks in a bid to save themselves from weekly eliminations. They would be judged by Banks and her fellow judges on their performance and best shot from that week's photo shoot. Each series would see the girls undergo makeovers and travel to a different country for a short period.

Several contestants went on to enjoy successful fashion and TV careers.

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