Tyra Banks will serve as a judge on season 22 of Project Runway starting July 9, 2026 [2].

Banks is returning to the television spotlight at a time of significant legal conflict. Her reappearance on a major competition series coincides with a high-stakes battle over her public image and the legacy of her previous reality television ventures.

The announcement and trailer for the new season were released on June 18, 2026 [3]. Banks joins a four-person judging panel [4] that includes Heidi Klum, Law Roach, and Nina Garcia. The series airs on Freeform in the U.S. [1].

"I’m excited to be back on Project Runway," Banks said [5].

While preparing for the show, Banks is pursuing a legal battle against Netflix. On June 13, 2026, she filed a defamation lawsuit against the streaming platform [1]. The suit concerns a documentary about America’s Next Top Model, which some sources identify as "Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model" [1].

Banks alleges that the documentary used selective editing and omissions to create a false narrative about her. She contends that the production misrepresented her story and personal history.

"The documentary misrepresents my story," Banks said [1].

In further statements regarding the content of the film, Banks described the narrative as a fabrication. "It’s a complete fabrication," Banks said [6].

This legal action comes as Banks attempts to re-establish her presence in the fashion and television industry. The outcome of the lawsuit may impact how streaming platforms approach the editing of retrospective documentaries and the depiction of public figures in non-fiction content.

“"It’s a complete fabrication."”

The simultaneous launch of a high-profile television return and a defamation lawsuit suggests a strategic effort by Banks to control her public narrative. By returning to a respected fashion authority like Project Runway while challenging Netflix in court, she is attempting to separate her current professional brand from the contested version of her history presented in the documentary.