

“Tyra has always been the heart and soul of the franchise and her absence was deeply felt by our fiercely loyal fans who missed their Queen of the Smize,” executive producer Ken Mok said in a statement. “We’d like to thank Rita Ora for being a great partner and total pro. She infused this new iteration of ANTM with passion and creativity and we wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.”
Tyra Banks, 43, is replacing Rita, 26, after one season. Before America’s Next Top Model moved to VH1, Tyra had hosted all 22 seasons of the show. Tyra took a step back during cycle 23 and just served as an executive producer while Rita hosted. She will remain an executive producer on cycle 24.
“I’m overwhelmed and humbled by the intensity of the ANTM fan base whose deep affection for the show led me to have a change of heart,” the model said in a statement. “After giving it a lot of thought, I realized that remaining behind the camera wasn’t enough because ANTM is woven into my DNA.”
The announcement of Tyra’s exciting return as host comes just days after she was named the new host of America’s Got Talent. She’s taking over for Nick Cannon, 36, after he shockingly quit in Feb. 2017. Her schedule may be very busy in the coming months, but Tyra will handle it effortlessly because she’s TYRA BANKS! America’s Next Top Model cycle 24 does not have a premiere date. America’s Got Talent will air this summer on NBC.
HollywoodLifers, are you glad Tyra is returning as the host of ANTM? Let us know!