Where is Shandi Sullivan now? Update on Netflix’s shocking America’s Next Top Model doc

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The new Netflix documentary, ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,’ revisits the popular but often controversial modeling competition, including a look at a problematic situation involving contestant Shandi Sullivan.

Similar to how many popular shows from the 2000s are now viewed critically, America’s Next Top Model is also facing scrutiny. A new documentary quickly addresses some of the show’s most awkward and problematic scenes.

As a huge fan, I still remember the very first scene of this – it’s Tyra Banks having her iconic meltdown from Cycle 4, yelling at Tiffany Richardson about how everyone was rooting for her! But honestly, that’s just the beginning. This really dives deep into everything problematic about the show, from harsh comments about bodies and weight to some really questionable photoshoot concepts, like those ‘race swap’ ideas. It’s a tough watch, but it really holds the show accountable.

Shandi Sullivan, a contestant from America’s Next Top Model’s second cycle, also shares her experiences in the documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. Please be aware that some of the content she discusses may be upsetting.

Where is Shandi Sullivan now?

After appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Shandi Sullivan has successfully turned her life around. She now co-hosts the horror movie podcast, Urn Fulla Popcorn, with Timmy Williams, known for his work with The Whitest Kids U’Know.

Shandi, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, first became known as a Walgreens employee when she competed on a reality show in 2003. Today, she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as a cat sitter.

In 2023, Shandi launched a small business called Dream Meow Corner, operating from her Brooklyn home. She creates a variety of handmade items, including pet portraits, jewelry, and decorative pieces – whatever inspires her at the moment, she says.

I’m all about building things and figuring out how they work, it’s a blast! If you’re shopping for a gift – for someone else or even just treating yourself – you should definitely check this out!

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You can find the Urn Fulla Popcorn podcast on all major streaming platforms, and the creators also offer exclusive content and merchandise through their Patreon and online store.

This week’s episode is all about the 1990 film Misery. The hosts, Shandi and Timmy, are discussing it as a tribute to director Rob Reiner, and things get surprisingly candid and a little bit spicy!

Last month, Shandi posted a trailer for a new Netflix documentary on Instagram. The documentary includes interviews with people who worked on the show, such as Miss J Alexander, Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, and Tyra Banks.

Shandi said she’s looking forward to watching this, but admitted she couldn’t understand anything in the trailer’s interviews, just like everyone else.

The start of this trailer really bothers me, honestly – so much so that I almost didn’t want to share it. I’m hoping it’s just misleading editing, and that they’ll finally acknowledge their role in what happened.

If you’re really blaming the viewers for the ongoing harassment, exploitation, and demands they’re making of the show’s participants – especially considering it’s a show associated with your name – I doubt they’ll ever respect you, and that’s unfortunate.

Shandi revisits the Milan incident in Netflix documentary

On the reality show, Shandi’s story became complicated when it appeared she had been unfaithful to her boyfriend, Eric Linn, during a trip to Italy. However, in a recent Netflix documentary, she revealed that what happened was actually a sexual assault.

Shandi shares that before appearing on America’s Next Top Model, she struggled with self-esteem and came from a challenging upbringing. She didn’t feel confident in her appearance at the time.

When Shandi was 21, her journey and personal growth resonated with many people who shared similar experiences, and she became more self-assured. However, when documentary filmmakers later asked if she still wanted to compete to win, she explained, “I was interested until the events in Milan, after which I lost all motivation.”

For the second part of the competition, the contestants traveled to Milan for model castings, known as “go-sees.” They were driven around on Vespas by a group of young Italian men, and after a long day of work, the group invited everyone back to their place for a party.

Shandi didn’t think much of it at the time, explaining she was just happy to be out and enjoying the evening with conversation and drinks. However, she hadn’t eaten all day and was also running on very little sleep.

She continued, recalling getting into the hot tub with April and Mercedes. She remembers a man looking at her, and she looked back. At that point, she was quite intoxicated.

Honestly, after a certain point, the night is just a mess in my memory. I mostly just remember him being on top of me, and then… nothing, I was completely out of it. I’d had way too much to drink – I went through almost two bottles of wine all by myself, and I hadn’t eaten anything all day, so I was totally hammered.

“I just remember little bits and pieces… I didn’t even remember sex happening. I just knew it was happening. And then I passed out,” she says. 

Viewers who watched the show when it originally aired will likely recall this moment being a major part of Cycle 2’s storyline. Shandi recalls that the producers didn’t intervene to assist, and instead, continued to film the entire event.

“No one did anything to stop it. And it all got filmed, all of it. Every moment of it,” she says.

In the second episode of the docu-series, Shandi remembers feeling immediately guilty towards her boyfriend, Eric, when she woke up. The show captured this moment, including footage of her crying in bed the next day and telling the other participants she wished she wasn’t alive.

She believes production should have intervened after the incident in the hot tub. She stated they should have said something like, ‘This has gone too far, and we need to get her out of this situation.’

In the documentary, creative director Jay Manuel explained, “Someone made the decision to keep this storyline going, and as producers, we were committed to seeing it through to the end.”

Shandi was accused of cheating, and Tyra addressed the other contestants about the situation, discussing the pain of being betrayed. Tyra confronted Shandi, urging everyone to resist temptation and emphasizing the importance of honesty.

According to journalist Zakiya Gibbons, Tyra Banks pretends to be a caring older sister or mentor, but actually intensifies drama.

Shandi asked for a phone to reach Eric, but the producers refused. Surprisingly, when she threatened to quit the show and go home, they immediately gave her one.

The show’s producers filmed Shandi’s heartbreaking phone call with Eric, and the footage was included in the episode. Shandi recalls being left completely distraught afterward, saying, “I was just curled up on the floor, crying, and they simply walked away.”

“They both came up to me and they said, ‘We’re really, really sorry that we had to film that.’”

Okay, so get this – they actually filmed a scene where Shandi had to ask this Italian guy if he used protection or had any STDs! It was super awkward to watch, but they kept it in the show. I honestly couldn’t believe they went there!

Following her appearance on America’s Next Top Model, Shandi returned to her job at Walgreens and struggled emotionally. Her relationship with Eric also didn’t last, partly because of the unwanted attention she received from being on the show. She admits the experience led to a lot of self-doubt and unhappiness.

Shandi was later asked to be on The Tyra Banks Show, but she requested they not show footage from her experience in Italy. She says revisiting it was too painful.

She showed me something on the screen, and it was awful. Unfortunately, that kind of treatment just keeps happening, and she doesn’t seem willing to change how she acts.

Tyra Banks faces backlash over response

Tyra Banks is receiving criticism for how she addressed the issues raised in the documentary ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,’ with many viewers believing she’s attempting to avoid taking accountability for her actions.

Okay, so in the first episode of Reality Check, they asked Banks about Shandi, and it was a little awkward. She said she does remember Shandi’s story, but she quickly added that talking about what happened behind the scenes – the production stuff – isn’t really her area of expertise. It felt like she didn’t want to get into the details!

So, Ken Mok, the executive producer, explained that we really approached Top Model like we were filming a documentary. He actually told the girls that’s how we were going to shoot it, which was pretty interesting to hear as a viewer!

From the very beginning, we explained the rules to the new participants: they would be filmed constantly, all day and all night, and everything they did – the positive moments, the challenges, and everything else – would be recorded.

Banks clarifies that while he wasn’t in charge of the overall story – that was Ken Mok’s role – he became a highly skilled editor. He emphasizes that not everything that was filmed actually made it onto television.

A Reddit user commented on the situation with Shandi, saying that the new Netflix docuseries details her experience of being sexually assaulted. The commenter claims the production team filmed everything but then edited it to falsely portray her as unfaithful to her partner.

I was really shocked to learn they wouldn’t let her leave and then filmed her admitting to cheating. I feel terrible for her. While you expect reality TV to be edited, this situation feels especially manipulative and wrong.

A contestant experienced a horrific sexual assault that occurred in front of the entire production team, who not only failed to intervene but actively filmed the incident. Afterward, the show falsely portrayed her as the one at fault, accusing her of cheating. It’s shocking to see Tyra Banks deflect responsibility by claiming it wasn’t her concern.

“Thinking about how many people this had to go through and it still passed to network.”

One person commented that Tyra Banks, the show’s creator and producer, seemed to deflect responsibility, saying, ‘That’s not my area.’ Another viewer felt she quickly blamed Ken Mok for the issue.

Another person pointed out that she had just been talking about how much she contributed to the editing process. While she may not have been the one who decided to continue filming during a sensitive situation, she readily used it as part of the show’s storyline.

Honestly, hearing Banks talk in the documentary felt like listening to her old statements through her publicist when Shandi first shared her story on TV. It was the same basic message, just rehashed.

According to a statement from her representative in 2023, Tyra Banks was unaware of the request to play those clips and would never knowingly broadcast footage someone had asked her not to share. This aligns with her personal values.

Where is Eric Linn now?

It’s great that Shandi has successfully pursued her passions and built a career she loves, and it seems her former partner, Eric Linn, has also found his own path.

I’ve been checking his social media, and it looks like Eric might have started a family with his partner! It’s so great to see him seemingly happy, though it’s a little strange he hasn’t addressed anything about the Netflix documentary or what’s been going on with him since his time on America’s Next Top Model. I’m hoping he’s doing well and will share more when he’s ready.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is streaming on Netflix now. For more documentary coverage, find out how to watch the new Piper Rockelle doc, if Lucy Letby could get a retrial, and where the Elizabeth Smart kidnapper is now.

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2026-02-16 19:53