The Breakfast Club - Did Tyra Banks Take It Too Far? ( Exclusive interview with Toccara Jones)

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

With Netflix’s America’s Next Top Model docuseries reigniting debate, Toccara Jones joins Loren LoRosa for a powerful, emotional, and deeply reflective conversation. From being labeled “too big” to never getting real answers about her shocking elimination, Takara revisits her ANTM experience with honesty — but not bitterness. While the new series highlights trauma, Takara shares a different perspective: one rooted in resilience, faith, and self-worth. She opens up about reality TV editing, beauty standards, and how she refused to let the industry define her. Now a wellness healer and mental health advocate, Takara explains how her journey from modeling to meditation helped her reclaim her power and step fully into her purpose.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything and everybody. You know if you're going to lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey y'all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa, and this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your deli dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations

that shake the room, baby. Now, we are going to go right on in, because y'all know I think. take y'all in. We're going right on into the middle of a conversation that has began online. America's Next Top Model. There is a docu series that is dropping on Netflix that will be diving into America's Next Top Model. For what it seems like, some of the bad, some of the good, some of the ugly, and it seems like, you know, Tyra Banks is going to be taking some accountability for some things.

So in all things, America's Next Top Model, I had to go get one of my phase. from the show ever, Mr. Carr Jones. Thank you, Jamie. I love you so much. How are you? How are you? At this point, it's like, when the people watch this Netflix series and like this new generation who's seen the memes and heard the things, discovered the show, girl, you were going to get the love that you're going to refill all over again. I'm excited for that for you.

If nothing else, I'm excited for that. Thank you so much. You know, I feel in love every day. I mean, every day, literally, there's some woman that's coming up to me telling me how, you know, I really hit, help shaped her body image, self image of herself. So, yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited, too, but I always feel of love. I guess that's why they didn't put me in a documentary. They was like, girl, you got a good story.

So wait, okay, because, yes, okay, look, so that was one of my questions. Now, the documentary is called, the docu-series is called Reality Check, Inside America's Next Top Model. when they posted Netflix, they posted the trailer and, you know, you only get to see but so much, but it's cut so well, right? Right, right, right. Everybody's like, oh, my God, they're going to get into all the BS because all the models hated and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, but, I mean, there had been some conversations about experiences that you had

on the show, but I know you had, from what it seems like after the show, you had a, it helped to do a lot of the things you wanted to do just career-wise. So is that why you weren't called? like they didn't contact you at all? Well, I don't know. I'm not going to say they didn't contact me. Maybe they just couldn't find me. Girl.

Now, look, the people know where to find. You're everywhere. You're on shows. You're on sets. You're all over Instagram. You ain't hard to find. It's okay. It's okay.

But like I said, I don't have, because from the trailer, though, I'm ready to watch the docu-series. From the trailer, it looks like it's all the drama, honey. And like I said, I don't really, I didn't really have drama. I mean, I did have my little. my thing with the stylist, you know, that pinched me and couldn't find any clothes for me. And I mean, I guess I did have my share of obstacles. But I come from a world, I come from that world.

Like, I was smiling when I was 14. So we're used to the drama. It wasn't all peaches and cream. You had to do things. Like I think Tyra was doing what she said she was doing showing the industry. how it was back then. Like when I was going to the agencies at 14, 15, 16, they were telling me to lose weight, cut my hair, do this, do that. Like, that was just part of the game. Now, that's been one of the conversations that I've been seeing online. It's the battle

between is Tyra Banks the villain or not. On one side, there are people who feel like she was doing what the industry was already doing. And she even makes a, you know, from what the edit seems like. She even takes a shot at that in the trailer where she's like, I was giving y'all more of what you wanted talking about the audience, right? And exactly. And it was a TV show. Like, we knew this too. Like, it wasn't just like the model industry.

It was also making TV. It's reality TV. So it was, I mean, they did do things that were grander, right? But that was the excitement. That was the appeal, right? We wanted to be a part of the grander photo shoots and all of those things. So. So, but all,

on the other side. There is the, like, so you have the whole like, this is what the industry is, this is whatever. But then on the other side, there are women and some of them in this, you know, doctors. Yeah, because they look traumatized. Very much so. So on the inside, right, because what I'm assuming we'll see is a lot of the inside take that we didn't get back then.

It's a different time where you can kind of talk about things more openly. You were on the inside of things. On the inside, when, if we were to have built the lake. back when you were, you know, during your season. Was it as bad as it feels like this trailer is going to make it seem? And as we've heard other women say, like, was it the, you know, the dun, dun, done that it feels like it was? I can't, I can't tell you how the experience is for those other girls who

experience those things. I mean, I think looking at your trailer too, it looks traumatic. to me too, you know, going in and they're saying, like, we're going to change your ethnicity. We're, you know, we're going to have a procedure. We want you to close your gap. You know, we want, you know, we're cutting your hair or you got to, you know, you're this small. You're not small enough. You know, like, those are real issues. Those are real traumatizing things. You know, one of the girls that looked like she was touched inappropriately. You know, like, it's some real stuff that's going on in this trailer here. I'm almost like, oh, was that part of that?

You know, like, yeah. But see, you're, okay, so I've seen Reddit forums and conversations about your experience with the stylist and, you know, the whole pinching you and trying to find clothes to the point where there are a lot of fans who still feel like you should have went way further in the show. The only reason you didn't was because they didn't want to have to face. these like problematic beauty standards of weight and size. I feel the same way too. I don't understand how I got cut,

why I got cut. It don't make any sense to me to this day. And I was the fan favorite at the time too. Like I was winning the, they were voting online or it wasn't online then, but like calling in. And it was weekly. And I was up there.

So I don't understand that either. And nothing was ever further explained to you in real life. like outside of because you sign up and there are these rules to the contest and then you pick the lucky number and they're like oh sorry you didn't win and it's like one plus one doesn't it's supposed equal two but it didn't for you no

and also after coming off their top model it was it was hard for girls because at first you thought that saying that you were a part of top model would get you into doors but after a while it was so many girls that were coming through top model that it was like nobody really wanted

work with you if you were on top model. Did you guys build your own community after the show because of that? Like, like you know, I wish I could say yes. I always felt like we should have like a top model alumni or like we should

have our own thing even to this day. Like it's so many of us, so many girls who made a big difference in this industry who's flourish and you know some girls who didn't but I really feel like we should have that type of community. I keep in touch with some of the girls.

I have a good rapport with, you know, a lot of the girls that were on my season, that weren't on my season, you know, just in the franchise all together. But I wish we did have, like, a group. Yeah. When you, after you decided to, well, not decided, but after you left the show, did you watch any of the seasons following you? Like, were you a religious watcher or did you? No, I was kind of like one of them girls, like, I'm done with this. Yeah. I'm not watching this.

And I think later on, I might have to catch a few episodes here and there of like the new seasons. They came out and checked out some of the new girls. But I don't think I ever watched a full season from the beginning to end after my season. I'm like my followers. They like, once you laugh, I laugh. They say in, you know, in the tagline of this trailer for this new docu-series that they're going to be some things that they get into.

And there's, you know, things that we were expecting them. to unpack. What do you think is the biggest thing or the biggest conversation that this docu series should have about America's Next Top Model? What do I think the biggest conversation they should have about America's Next Top Model?

Yes. Girl, I don't know. What is the biggest conversation? What do you think of it? Most people want to hear whether or not Tyro was too harsh. I know for, you know, people who have, because the Reddit pages go off about you.

but the whole beauty standard thing is an issue as well like when they did the face their ethnicity swap episode with the you and the stylist so they want to have the conversation about I think it sounds like that's what Tyra

is going to do. It sounds like she's going to have that conversation from the trailer because from the trailer doesn't she make a statement like I know I took it too far I know I went too far you know so like I'm on the edge of my seat too like baby tell me tell me

And I can understand that because, I mean, would you take it too far? Like, you had a show, you're getting these ratings and you get any shows. You got these show ideas. I mean, I think any human being getting all this attention and power and, you know, like, I, you know, I don't, I'm not saying she's right or wrong, but I can understand how it could, how it could get to you. What was it like for her? Because I think people never have the conversation of from what you could see

what was it like for her at the time, right? Because the show was doing so well and she's trying to push for the success. Were you able to visibly see like was she under, was CyberBanks under pressure? Where there are a lot of moments where she was like, you know, pushing to the grain and you felt pressure? Like what was it like interacting with her

and seeing her behind the scenes being? Because I heard she was very hands on with the show. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I was on season three. So it was in the beginning. So we got a lot of love and attention. You know, Tyra come check on us. You know, Tyra, she didn't seem under pressure.

It was still new. It was season three. So I don't know what type of pressure she felt. I mean, I guess trying to get it. Each season would be pressure from one to two to three to four to five to six, seven. But no. And then, you know, like we were young.

So I was excited to see Tyra. It was like, oh, my gosh. She's my. She wrote here is Tyra Banks in front of me. So, like, I was fan girl and gout. And, you know, we were always excited when Tyra walked in the room or to see Tyra. Like, it was always love. It was always excitement.

She was always Tyra. She was always that girl. Like, for your experience to be so different than other people's, I feel like, like, I almost wish. And we don't know what's going to happen yet. So I'll probably be back here, ask, like, hey, girl, what you think? texting you're watching it right because there's a whole generation of people that didn't really get to watch like I remember watching you guys I remember auditioning because of seeing what I saw like looking at y'all on the TV screen right right there's a new generation that never got to feel

that and they're about to learn about it from this perspective in this lens of like all of the like firestorms it seems like and it's almost unfortunate a bit but I understand that like you know you got to hold people to whatever and accountable. But it's just like, man, like your experience is so different than even how I also think because of my personality too and the type of person that I am too. I think that plays a big role on it because I don't like when I'm sitting here talking you, I almost forgot you know, that I did have a hard time. And like I was just, you're right. One of my good friends, her daughter is 14, 15. We just was watching my season on, I think it's on Hulu.

I think they're playing the Tomato, but just going back and watching me at 20 years old, you know, I didn't get to watch the whole season with her, but I watched a few episodes, but I don't even know. I'm brambling. Oh, I'm sorry. We're talking about just a new generation discovering y'all and how different it is going to be for them, because some of them might discover you through, or discover the show through this docu-series. No, there were times, there were times like, and I mean, it was realities that.

because there were times where I felt like that didn't happen like with the edited, you know, they'll show stuff or show where maybe I was crying or I was looking sad or something. I'm like, that's not what happened or that's not why this, you know, or, you know, or that wasn't our best picture. It was just like a whole lot of things. But I think I also understood that it was show business too.

Like, it's also a TV show, you know. So I didn't get so mad at the edit this, even though they weren't always truthful. You know, they didn't always highlight what I would feel, you know, happen in that particular moment. Yeah, I got you. Well, we'll be watching. Yes, we will be.

Yes, we will be. What are you up to now? I feel like every time I tap in with you, it's like, you have so much going on and so much that you're doing. And I'm, I mean, I don't know. You're, again, you were one of my favorites on the show. And you're one of my favorite people to watch just in real life because of how you go through life so, like, just so positive.

Thank you. Thank you. Well, yeah, I'm down here in Atlanta now, and I'm actually into wellness. I do sound healing down here. But I also have an incident. Well, let me say about for all the people who are in Atlanta, please come and see me. I do sound healing down here every Thursday.

So check out my Instagram, so you make sure you tap into that because mental health is so important right now. And with all the stuff going on in the world, just being able to take a moment to like intentionally focus, breathe, meditate. It's so important. Self care is so important. We all know this. But I just encourage y'all to just dive deeper.

When did you get into like, like, because I think knowing of mental health and the need for is one thing. I actually taking the time and dedicated a time, especially weekly for your own self, probably daily. When did you start that? well I started back when I was living in L.A. I hooked out with Queen of Fuha. Are you familiar with Queen of Foote? She's come on the Breakfast Club a couple times. Yes, yes.

So Queen of Four is one of my mentors. And we actually did a personal meet her in Lauren Vanderpour. She's a raw vegan, what's a raw vegan chef, right? And so we actually had an ashram, an ashram, an ashram. It's called an ashram. So we had an ashram out in LA. It was really amazing. We just did a lot of healing, but just

studying under her, being with her like 40 days and 40 nights. Like, no matter what, it was just that awesome experience. And I just carried it on. You know, once you do something, they say what, for 17 days or 27 days, it becomes a habit. It becomes a new

a new lifestyle. But just we fall off. But you got to just, it's just good to have a community. So I'm blessed that I have a community, people of women that I can connect with and that I'm also able to share my gifts with other people too.

So I've been doing this. I've been doing this healing work for about, about eight years. About eight years. But it took me a little time to really step in my power and to really, I guess, promote it and come out because you're right. Like we've been here about mental health and about, you know, our wellness and our well-being,

but people really don't speak about it. And it's in actually coming from like a fashion world and then stepping into a to the wellness world and the transition. It is, it's different. It's different. Yeah. And it's very different. So thank you for the opportunity to be able to speak about it. Thank you.

No, of course. It almost, because, you know, even in you talking about, you know, your time. on top model and the one incident that I think everybody can point to with the stylist that you mentioned, right? Your positive outtake on that, it almost, I feel like you were kind of on a journey probably way before you even recognized you were because you have to be mentally strong to not allow something like that in front of the world to be something that like traumatizes and breaks you to a certain extent.

Like you still found like you're overcoming in that. And I don't know if a lot of people could do that. It's tough being in front of the world. It is tough being in front of the world. It is tough in front of the world And you're right I've always had that light inside of me We all have that light

But I was able to recognize it And to build on it and to hone it And to you know To cater and to love it I needed it I guess I needed it I guess I needed it Lauren Because I came up in the 80s too

And so I didn't have my parents I didn't I didn't You know it's a lot going on And we all have a story And that's another thing. I never like to really get into like, oh, my sad story because I feel like so many us people have that sad story, you know. And it's okay to share with people so they know that I too understand, but I don't dwell in it. And I also like to like move us forward.

You know, like I don't even know if I always like to do it. I just do it. I just am. Do you feel like at one point? So now you're moving forward is because you know who you are and you just exist. exist and that's a powerful place to be. But at one point, do you feel like you're moving forward and even being able to get over whatever it is at the time or whatever you're dealing with was because you were trying to

figure out kind of where your world was or where you existed in the world before you knew who you are now? Definitely trying to figure it out because everybody was telling you what you can't be, right? So I still come from the nays there. It's like I was trying to be a model, like I said like 14, but I wasn't a plus size model. I was then. And they was telling me no, I was going to New York. I was going to Ford, Willamina.

I went to L. All the agencies, right? And people were always telling me, no, you know, in school and sports and theater and everything, people were always telling me, no, I was always like the eyeball out. Like, I never really seemed to fit in. So I always had to have, like, I always had to have belief in myself. And that's what I wanted to say, too. you never really know you never figure it out I mean you don't really know you're trying to figure it out

but you we have we have things in us that other people can see or don't believe like even though you like girls used to pick on me girls just to pick on me but it's what I felt about myself you know what I'm saying people then think that I was going to do X Y Z but it was what I thought about myself And sometimes I might feel unsure, but you don't need people to understand your vision. You don't need people to understand you. You just got to keep moving. I don't know where I got it from. I wish I could really tell you.

But they tell you, though, when you have a vision, it don't matter what nobody else say. When you believe in yourself, it don't matter what anybody else think, you know? But now I'm talking to you more and kind of understand it a little bit. and give us too much, but a little bit of your backstory. I kind of can understand how, because I always felt like you were one of the few models that left America's Next Top Model. The world screamed about what they felt like you deserved.

They were upset for you when, you know, the weight stuff happened. And you've always had a smile on your face, a red lip, and a good comment to say about the show and about Tyra Banks. That's been you consistently for years. And I couldn't under, not that I think you should drag her, but I just couldn't understand where. the consistent positivity came from

because I've always felt like internally I wondered what your battle was because you were in front of the world but I guess I get it now. But yeah and I always said that too. Thank you for that. That was beautiful. Thank you. I'm going to write that down. You always had a red lip and a great comment to sell. When they call you for the second series, tell them make that your tagline. I'm going to make that my tagline.

But also going into Top Model, it was like I just needed the opportunity. you know when you're that girl coming out of you know poverty you just need that opportunity just put my foot in the door and that's all I ever wanted so no matter what I went through or whatever all I needed was the action like give me you know what I mean

like I just needed that and that's and I said I'm going to make it work I'm going to work this baby y'all let me in the door and I'm going to work this to the best of my ability and thank God I think I have I think I've been working it to the best to my ability and I'm forever grateful. Yeah. What would Takara sitting here with me right now tell Takara that was experiencing

all that stuff during that episode who dealt with whatever she dealt with or lacked her like what would you say to her now that you are like total hill itself. All I have to do is just be here and it is mine. That's what I'm saying. That little girl, Takara. I go back to her.

That little girl oh girl I got a little tear in my eye that that girl was strong that girl is a little strong she knew her you know they say when you're younger

I guess you're closer to God that little girl knew that little girl carried me today right now that little girl knew I don't know that little girl's special she knew

she's seen it plain as day she know she knew she one of God's favorites I still go back to her. I still go back to her. I love that. Thank you for joining me, sis. Yeah, thank you. I can't believe you got me emotional. Thank you.

No problem. And I really, listen, I'm telling you, I hope that if nothing else from this documentary series for you, that you get to feel, I mean, you feel to love every day, but I do. The people need to know, okay? You carry that time on your back, honey, and did it very well. We appreciate you. I'm honored to be able to do that for my people.

I love y'all. I love y'all deep. Thank you. We appreciate you. Well, you know, you can always reach out to me whenever you have anything going on. Make sure one more time plug your weekly wellness classes and say your actual Instagram too for the audio listeners who won't see what we put on screen. Okay, yeah, what is my actual? The fabulous Takara.

The Fabulous Takara Jones. Yeah, the fabulous Takara Jones, T-O-C-C-A-R-A. But I also have an intimate line, an intimate lingerie. I do bras. I do bras for naturally big breasted women. Yeah, yeah. We'll talk about that another time. Okay.

All right. I'll talk to you soon and thank you again. All right. I love you too. Congratulations on everything too, Mama. Thank you. I appreciate it. This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed human.