‘America’s Next Top Model’ Judges Left In Tears After One Model Reveals She Was Molested
February 21, 2018'America's Next Top Model' Judges Left In Tears After One Model Reveals She Was Molested
Khrystyana tearfully shares "this dark memory that I kept inside for over 20 years."
This week on "America's Next Top Model," the nine remaining models were challenged to combat bullying by creating a video campaign for the National Crime Prevention Council, directed by celebrity music-video mogul, Director X.
They were tasked with writing a short voice-over script that included a personal statement about bullying. "ANTM" creative director Drew Elliott told the girls their goal was to be "raw and real." Tyra Banks — who also directed and shot the girls in a makeup-free photo shoot — told them they'd have to dig deep to find their "vulnerable" place. For Khrystyana, her vulnerable place was also a very painful one.
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"When Tyra asked me to be vulnerable, it took me less than a second to tap into something from my childhood — this dark memory that I kept inside for over 20 years," Khrystyana revealed. "Having the experience of being molested when I was 11 years old shaped my personality over the years. I was so disgusted by myself for something that somebody else did to me."
"This photo shoot reminded me that it's OK to have darknesses and mysteries," she said of her shoot with Tyra.
Regarding the emotional video campaign, Khrystyana said, "Director X is asking me to go to that specific place. I erased most of the memories of being molested when I was 11 years old, so it's a very unknown territory. I was a voiceless child. Now I have a voice."
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During panel, Tyra asked Khrystyana what she felt she was holding in during her shoot and what she felt she was able to release. That's when Khrystyana went into detail regarding the incident, revealing she had never told anyone about it before.
"I was 11, and it was the last time my dad and I were hanging out before he left our family," she explained. "We went to a little 'business meeting' in a hotel, and he locked me in the room with this guy, and he left with another guy. He put his hands all over me. I mean, I was 11. I didn't know what was wrong. I was shaking. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't tell my mom. I didn't tell anyone. You guys are the first people I actually talk to about it. I'm so sorry," she said, crying.
"At that moment, I just remember seeing his bag and his sweater leaving the door. That guy smelled like alcohol. You had me release that," she added.
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There was not a dry eye in the room.
"Do you realize how many girls you're helping right now?" Tyra asked.
"This is what women have to do," Ashley Graham managed to say after composing herself. "We have to build each other up and express what has happened to us. You're making a change in the world just by talking about it today. And you're making a change in my life, too, so just thank you for being open and vulnerable because there's so many young girls out there that are going through a similar experience or are about to go through that experience, and now, hopefully, they'll know what to do. And they won't have to go through what we've had to go through."
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On Monday, Khrystyana shared the below snippet of the episode on Instagram, captioning the video, "Ok…. so the @antmvh1 episode I've been terrified of is coming out tomorrow. Terrified, nervous, shaken, awaken….. yet probably content with (although this will be the first time for me to watch it). This week on #antm changed my life forever. Many years of therapy in one week. Many many things I want to add here… but I can't, not until it airs tomorrow. It's been very emotional prepping myself to watch this. But I'm ready."
"America's Next Top Model" airs Tuesdays at 5 p.m. on VH1.
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