Ashley Graham Returns To ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 24 As Judge

Plus-size model Ashley Graham recently announced her return as judge to “America’s Next Top Model” cycle 24.

While speaking with People, the 29-year-old supermodel shared what she’s looking forward to the most in the upcoming season. “Having Tyra there. She was there in the beginning and the end of Cycle 23, but we didn’t get the Tyra-isms in the midst of it all. I’m so excited to have her there. Because she is a mentor and she’s definitely someone that I look up to,” she said.

Read: “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 24 age limit removed

In March, VH1 announced Banks’ return as judge on “America’s Next Top Model” cycle 24. The creator of the hit reality TV show left for a season and gave her hosting gig to British pop star Rita Ora in cycle 23. Following VH1’s announcement, Ora posted a selfie with Banks and thanked her and the fans for their support during her time gracing the show. Ora also wished Banks and the rest of the staff and crew of “America’s Next Top Model” the best of luck.

A few weeks later, Banks surprised aspiring contestants on the show with big news. The judge and creator said that the age limit of 27 years old has been removed for the upcoming cycle. On her Twitter account, Banks encouraged fans to audition by sending their name, age, stats, contact info and three photos to the official email address of “America’s Next Top Model.”

Meanwhile, Banks spoke with Entertainment Weekly in March to dish on some of the biggest changes in the show since it aired its pilot episode in 2003. Just recently, the focus for “America’s Next Top Model” shifted to social media and branding.

“We brought one of my mentors, Martin Lindstrom, on the show a couple of years ago… He talked to the girls about personal branding… so we saw this back then, happening already. Now, social media is at an all-time high. We’d be idiots to ignore it. That’s one of the reasons why ‘Top Model’ is still in existence 23 cycles in, because we’re constantly looking at where the world is and figuring out how we can either join it or create new things to stay relevant. It’s more of a responsible thing than a fashionable thing; it’s like responsible business,” she explained.

At the time of her interview, Banks hadn’t been sure yet that she would return as head judge for cycle 24. But she said that she sees a lot of fan comments asking her if she will be back. “Speaking to social media, I’m not blind, so I do see a lot of people are stating that. It’s so funny, there was this one fan who gave me this whole long diatribe, this long post about how I’d turned my back on them… there was a lot of negativity... It does sting, but it’s a change of heart, I guess,” she said.

As of late, the premiere date for “America’s Next Top Model” hasn’t been confirmed by the network. But production for cycle 24 will commence sometime in the summer.