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What really happened behind the scenes of America’s Next Top Model?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes sit down with fashion creative director, TV personality, and former America’s Next Top Model judge Jay Manuel for a raw and revealing conversation about the reality behind one of the most iconic reality shows of the 2000s.

Jay opens up about the renewed public scrutiny surrounding ANTM after the Netflix documentary and social media rewatch culture reignited conversations about the show’s controversial moments. From the infamous photoshoots and makeovers to the power dynamics behind the scenes, Jay shares what it was really like working at the center of one of television’s biggest reality franchises.

He discusses his complicated relationship with Tyra Banks, the pressure of working within a massive television production machine, and the decisions he wishes he had handled differently. Jay also reflects on how reality television shaped today’s social media culture, where identity, narrative, and public perception are constantly curated and manipulated.

Beyond the controversy, the conversation dives into Jay’s career in fashion, his experiences navigating fame, and the deeper cultural impact of Top Model during a time when diversity in fashion and television looked very different from what it does today.

This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on reality TV, fame, and the blurred line between entertainment and truth.

KEY POINTS

• Jay responds to the renewed criticism of America’s Next Top Model
• What really happened behind the scenes of the controversial ANTM moments
• The complicated power dynamics between production, networks, and talent
• Jay’s relationship with Tyra Banks and how it evolved over the years
• Why reality TV editing can drastically change public perception
• The pressures and toxicity that can exist inside major television productions
• How early reality TV helped shape today’s social media culture
• Jay’s reflections on what he would handle differently today
• The lasting cultural impact of ANTM on fashion, television, and representation

QUOTES 

“Reality TV is not real. And yet reality television has morphed into reality.” – Jay Manuel

“Fame is not a real thing.” – Jay Manuel

“We were assigning identities to people.” – Jay Manuel

“Reality television was just the rehearsal for how everyone lives online now.” – Jay Manuel

RESOURCES: 

Jay Manuel 

Instagram: @mrjaymanuel

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Can confidence actually be learned?

In this Awf The Record segment, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi unpack a surprising lesson from a posing class that completely changed how they think about confidence, presence, and what it means to feel sexy.

What started as a simple lesson on red carpet posing quickly turned into a deeper conversation about how women are taught to shrink themselves, move quickly, and seek validation. The hosts reflect on how slowing down, owning your space, and embracing vulnerability can transform the way you show up in photos, conversations, and life.

They also share personal stories about growing up in religious environments where being perceived as sexy felt shameful, and how those messages can follow women into adulthood.

If you have ever struggled with confidence, body language, or feeling comfortable in your own presence, this conversation might change the way you see yourself.

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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What does it actually mean to be sexy?

In the Season 4 premiere of Awf The Record, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes reunite in New York and quickly find themselves unpacking a bigger question than they expected: why does being sexy feel so uncomfortable for so many women?

What starts as a simple posing class meant to help them feel more confident in photos turns into a deeper conversation about religion, misogyny, body policing, and the shame many women are taught to feel about their own bodies.

From growing up in conservative households to navigating public careers in media, Mona and Jeannette reflect on the messages they internalized about modesty, confidence, and credibility. They also explore how women are often judged differently for the same behavior - and why reclaiming your confidence can feel rebellious.

Plus: 
 • Jeannette reveals why she almost moved to Chicago instead of New York
 • Mona opens up about nostalgia and the “highlight reel” trap
 • The two admit their shared struggle with chronic lateness
 • And the posing class that accidentally turned into a philosophy lesson

This episode is about confidence, identity, and redefining what “sexy” really means.

Because maybe the problem isn’t being sexy…
Maybe it’s the story we’ve been told about it.

KEY POINTS

• Breaking news: Mona and Jeannette are finally living in the same city
• Why Jeannette almost moved to Chicago before choosing New York
• Their honest confession about chronic lateness and “time blindness”
• The surprising downside of romanticizing the past
• The posing class that unexpectedly turned into a confidence breakthrough
• Why slowing down is the secret to confidence and presence
• How religion and culture shaped their views on sexuality growing up
• The moment Jeannette was labeled as “the girl who would corrupt the pastor’s son”
• Why sexiness is far more complex (and powerful) than society makes it seem

QUOTES 

“Owning my sexy is uncomfortable.” – Jeannette Reyes

“Sexiness is more multifaceted than we give it credit for.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“It's uncomfortable for me to be sexy. And if I happen to be sexy, that is not on purpose.” – Jeannette Reyes

“A sexy woman is sure of herself. She has this confidence that you can't control.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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The girls are back… and this time they’re not going anywhere.

Season 4 of Awf The Record is officially here, and we’re going weekly.

Every Thursday, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes bring their newsroom instincts and group chat curiosity to the conversations everyone’s whispering about. From relationships and pop culture to trending headlines and the questions nobody wants to say out loud.

The honest conversations.

The uncomfortable questions.

The moments that make the group chat explode.

Awf The Record. New episodes every Thursday.

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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Who are you when you’re no longer performing?

In this raw and reflective segment, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes unpack the emotional identity shift that comes with leaving journalism. From unlearning their “news voice” to confronting the fear of truly being seen, they share what it’s like to go from messenger to message — and why stepping into your voice is one of the bravest things you can do.

If you’ve ever had to shed an old identity, this one will hit home.

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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In this powerful segment, celebrity stylist Yene Damtew and Jeannette Reyes unpack the emotional weight so many Black women carry about their hair — from childhood salon trauma to being conditioned to see certain textures as “unmanageable.” Yene breaks down how she helps her clients deprogram shame, why the natural hair movement has been both a blessing and a battleground, and how true hair confidence starts with unlearning.

If you’ve ever questioned your texture, this one is a must-listen.

GUEST RESOURCES:

Yene Damtew
IG | @YeneDamtew

RESOURCES:

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Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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What happens when your character is seen, but your story isn’t?
In this powerful segment, Andrea Lewis opens up about her experience on Degrassi — playing Hazel, one of the few Black characters on the show, and what it felt like to be visible but voiceless. She reflects on the lack of cultural authenticity in Hazel’s storyline, the toll it took on her confidence, and how it fueled her to create The Black Beauty Effect, a groundbreaking series that centers Black women, beauty, and belonging.
This is a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt erased — and found power in creating their own table.

GUEST RESOURCES

Andrea Lewis 

IG | @andrealewis

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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How do you stay empowered and sensual in a world that wants to box you in?
In this powerful segment, Melyssa Ford gets real about the exit ramp from video vixen fame, reclaiming her narrative, and the intentional ways she moved through public spaces to protect her peace. She shares how she modeled herself after women like Claire Huxtable, Lena Horne, and Sade, and what it really means to master quiet confidence in a loud world.
For anyone navigating womanhood, media, and misunderstood power, this one's for you.

GUEST RESOURCES 

Melyssa Ford 

IG | @melyssaford

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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Today, this candid and reflective episode of Awf The Record is your go-to year-end reset. Jeannette and Mona ditch the highlight reel to unpack what 2025 really looked like: burnout, blurred boundaries, constant “work mode,” and the pressure to overachieve.

They break down the habits that kept them running on fumes, unpack the immigrant-kid conditioning that glorifies exhaustion, and reveal the small but powerful shifts they’re making to build a more intentional, joyful, sustainable 2026.

Whether you're overachieving yourself into exhaustion, struggling to balance personal joy with professional hustle, or just looking for a more sustainable way to grow – this episode is for you. 

KEY POINTS 

- Why we glamorize burnout and miss the signs

- How to stop “performing productivity” and start practicing boundaries
- Why your “work mode” is stealing your joy (and how to reclaim it)
- The value of hobbies that don’t pay you
- Why scheduling your personal life is the ultimate form of self-respect

- How to slow down without losing ambition

- The difference between big wins vs. consistent wins

- What Mona & Jeannette are leaving in 2025 (and what they’re carrying into 2026)

QUOTES 

“2025 dragged me by my edges.” - Mona Kosar Abdi

"There are some years that ask questions and some years that answer, and for me, I felt like this was a year of a lot of questions being asked, and I hope that 2026 is the year that answers." - Mona Kosar Abdi

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Before, my excuse was they can't do better. Do it better than I can. But now you want, first off, you find out some people can. You just got to give them some time to learn."- Jeannette Reyes

"I'm leaving anxiety in 2025 because it does not serve me at all... I am going to celebrate things and celebrate myself and allow my friends to celebrate me." - Mona Kosar Abdi

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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Is Ozempic really the weight loss solution we’ve been waiting for or is it more complicated than that?

In this must-listen segment, Dr. Darien Sutton breaks down the truth behind Ozempic and GLP-1 medications; what they actually do, who they’re for, and why obesity is much more than a matter of willpower. From Serena Williams headlines to the science of chronic weight gain, this convo dives into the real root causes of obesity, metabolic health, and the limits of “quick fix” thinking.

If you’re curious, confused, or just tired of the hot takes, this one clears it all up.

GUEST RESOURCES 

Dr. Darien Sutton 

IG | @doctor.darien/ 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
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