ANTM Alum Alexandra Underwood Breaks Silence on Terrifying, Unsafe Pendulum Challenge

It's been over a decade, thirteen long years to be exact, since America's Next Top Model Cycle 14 first graced our screens. And for Alexandra Underwood, one of its memorable contestants, those years have held a rather terrifying secret, a traumatic memory she's only just now felt ready to share with the world. Spurred on by fan comments reminiscing about a particular challenge, Alexandra took to TikTok to finally break her silence, pulling back the curtain on a truly dangerous situation that left her deeply shaken.

Remember the infamous 'Spider Web Challenge' from way back in 2010? It sounds kind of whimsical, doesn't it? But for Alexandra, who was just 21 at the time, it was anything but. The concept involved models being suspended and swung over water, a sort of human pendulum. She vividly described the setup: high off the ground, maybe ten or fifteen feet, with no safety net or, crucially, any harnesses. Just ropes, tying them to a swing that would then launch them into the air. Honestly, let that sink in for a moment.

As you can probably imagine, this wasn't just a bit nerve-wracking; it was genuinely terrifying. Alexandra, naturally, became increasingly distressed as she saw the precarious setup and watched other models attempt it. Her anxiety escalated, leading to a full-blown panic attack. She found herself hyperventilating, struggling to breathe, and voiced her profound fear and discomfort to the production crew, explaining just how unsafe she felt and how she truly couldn't do it.

And how did they respond? Well, according to Alexandra, it was a masterclass in gaslighting and dismissal. She recounted that the crew seemed to completely ignore her panic, pushing her to simply 'get over it.' Even Tyra Banks, the show's creator and host, allegedly chimed in with a rather cold sentiment, telling her that if she was a model, she had to push through it. It’s hard to hear someone’s genuine fear and distress met with such a lack of empathy, isn't it?

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity and a lot of emotional turmoil, production begrudgingly agreed to a slightly different setup for Alexandra. Instead of being suspended by the swing, she was placed on a static platform, still over the water, with the 'spiderweb' background added digitally. While it was a small victory for her immediate physical safety, the psychological impact of being forced to confront such a terrifying situation, and then being dismissed for her fear, lingered long after the cameras stopped rolling. She described the entire ordeal as deeply traumatizing.

Alexandra's brave decision to finally speak out isn't just about reliving a bad memory; it's a powerful reminder about the importance of safety protocols on set, especially in high-pressure reality TV environments. It's a conversation starter, really, about how models, particularly young ones, are treated and whether their well-being is truly prioritized over the pursuit of dramatic content. Her story certainly shines a harsh light on the less glamorous, and frankly, dangerous, side of the industry.