Winning America’s Next Top Model may sound like a dream come true — but for India Gants, the $100,000 grand prize came with a harsh financial wake-up call.
The Cycle 23 winner recently opened up on TikTok about what really happened after cameras stopped rolling. Gants revealed that although she received a check for the full $100,000, taxes were not withheld upfront. Within a year, she says the money was gone — and she was left scrambling to deal with a massive tax bill.
According to Gants, a huge chunk of the cash went toward prepaying more than $60,000 in rent for a luxury New York City apartment. She also covered broker fees and other living expenses while expecting her modeling career to skyrocket. At the time, she admitted she brushed off her parents’ advice to set aside about 30% for taxes, convinced that post-show bookings would quickly replace the prize money.
“I really believed the $100,000 checks would just keep coming,” she said, reflecting on her mindset at 19 and 20 years old. Feeling pressure to maintain the image of a reality TV winner, Gants said she spent on upscale housing, fashion, dining, and a cross-country move from New York to Los Angeles.
When tax season arrived, reality hit hard. She estimates owing roughly $35,000 to $40,000 in taxes — money she no longer had. The result was what she described as a “very, very long” payment plan with the IRS.
Now 29, Gants says she views the experience as a tough but valuable lesson in financial literacy. If she were handed $100,000 today, she says she would invest it and focus on growing the money instead of spending it. While she admits she likely has some regrets, she believes the experience ultimately taught her critical lessons about money management that she wouldn’t trade.
