Representation at the top should protect the people inside it… right?

In this episode of It Doesn't Work That Way, hosts Kalisha Zachery and Kachelle Zachery examine the complicated intersection of ambition, representation, and integrity through the lens of Netflix's America's Next Top Model documentary. What begins as a conversation about a nostalgic television phenomenon quickly becomes something much deeper: a discussion about the hidden costs of chasing opportunity in systems that were never fully designed for everyone's well-being. The documentary reveals uncomfortable contradictions—from a Black contestant being encouraged to close the gap in her teeth while a white contestant's gap was celebrated as editorial and high fashion—to broader questions about what happens when leaders from underrepresented communities inherit institutions built on unequal standards. When are you truly disrupting a system, and when are you slowly conforming to it just to survive? It Doesn’t Work That Way – This podcast is sponsored by the hit show “Frame of Reference.”⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ The series explores the vulnerable and often hectic lives of a close knit-group of friends and provides a truthful evaluation of how fear and past misfortunes can define our present point of view. Season one is currently on Prime Video! ⁠⁠WATCH NOW HERE!⁠⁠ Join us on Patreon! A unique creative hub curated by tastemakers in culture, entertainment, literature, art, conversations and beyond. Join the WATZS Dome for exclusive behind the scenes content. ⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠ Check out the WATZS Podcast Network ⁠HERE ⁠and drop us a line. Follow us on socials:  ⁠@thewatzspod⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices