"Tyra has always been the heart and soul of the franchise and her absence was deeply felt by our fiercely loyal fans who missed their Queen of the Smize. We'd like to thank Rita Ora for being a great partner and total pro. She infused this new iteration of ANTM with passion and creativity and we wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors," Mok said in a statement.

"You know, I thought that I would be gone and be gone forever," Tyra admitted about her return to the franchise "However, I have very large ears…and I really was listening to social media…"

The new season will feature the return of Nigel Barker and season three winner Eva Marcille, as well as a crossover with RuPaul's Drag Race fan-favorites Valentina, Katya and Manila. Ashley Graham, Drew Elliot and Law Roach return as judges.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7prvNpaCnnV6YvK57zZ6urGdpZX15fpRoq7KqkWKvorrKrGSopl2dsrN50Z6rrqqeYsGwecCmnKuhk5Z6tHnNnq%2BtZaSkvW65zp2cpWWknbJuusSwZKylma%2Bybq3NnWSboZdisKmtzaCcrA%3D%3D