20 underrated reality show gems you should be watching

America’s Next Top Model 

The premise: A couple dozen aspiring models compete against each other through a series of fashion-adjacent challenges and photo shoots in the “hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” We’re currently in cycle 24 (meaning seasons) and the show has been a strong contender in the genre since Tyra Banks brought to viewers in 2003. Since then, it’s adopted a more inclusive idea of what a model looks like, allowing men to compete in a cycle, as well as shorter women and women of a fuller figure. In fact, Super Model Ashley Graham co-hosts with Banks.

Why you’ll love it: It’s an elevated version of “girls behaving badly,” but these girls have an actual purpose. They are forced to live in a house together with the absence of any screens, but plenty of wine, and this causes an atmosphere thick with female politics. ANTM embodies every single female archetype you can imagine, and I’m here for every single one of them.

Aside from all the tears and storming off, the show produces some really beautiful art. The resulting photographs from the models’ competitive shoots are provocative and insightful, and show all sorts of women in varying shapes, shades, and sizes. It’s my very favorite part of the show.

I can fold laundry while watching most of it, but I am riveted to the screen when they do the final photo judgments, especially in the final weeks. At first, the models struggle to figure out their light and angle, but as the season moves on, their photos are more sophisticated and considered, and reflect the models’ professional evolution. It makes all the tantrums worth it.

How to watch: You can watch all 22 seasons (yes, I said 22) on Hulu. New episodes are airing on VH1 now.