The Heartbreaking Story Behind Janice Dickinson's Downfall From Fame

The following article mentions sexual assault allegations and addiction.

As the world's first supermodel (or at least the first person to claim the title), Janice Dickinson dominated the fashion industry in the 1980s. European markets, American markets, runway, high fashion, commercial modeling — at the height of her career, people couldn't flip through a magazine without seeing Dickinson's face. 

That's not to say she didn't experience a lot of rejection early on in her career. "Getting the door slammed in my face at every appointment: 'Sorry. Your face isn't the right shape to sell magazines.' 'Sorry. You're way too ethnic,'" she recalled to the Daily Herald in 2002. "'You'll never make it in this town. You'll never make it, period.'" At the time, the most successful models in the world were blond with blue eyes, and Dickinson, who is of Polish and Irish descent, didn't fit in that mold. However, she went from struggling aspiring model to bona fide supermodel after crossing paths with photographer Jacques Silberstein, who recognized her star power.

Alas, to quote fellow model Heidi Klum's "Project Runway" catchphrase, "In fashion, one day you're in, and the next you're out." No matter how strong and successful a model is, there will always come a time when they're forced to retire and make way for the next generation. As the '90s rolled into the 2000s, Dickinson pivoted from supermodel to reality TV personality. Since then, the controversial star has faced a number of personal and professional challenges.

The photos from Janice Dickinson's modeling days, which spanned the late '70s through the early '90s, are simply stunning. Her face card was unmatched, as was her drive to succeed. In an interview available on YouTube, conducted in 1980 when she was just 24 years old, Dickinson revealed that she left home for New York City the day after she graduated high school with just $4 in her pocket. "I knew if I stayed in Florida, I would probably end up with all the rest of my friends...eating Quaaludes, smoking grass, and doing drugs, and I did not want to be a part of that scene," Dickinson explained at the time. 

As is the case with many models from troubled backgrounds who find themselves thrust into fame and fortune, however, it wasn't long until Dickinson started to become involved in the toxic cycle that she hoped to stay away from in the first place. In 2015, Dickinson said during an interview for Oprah Winfrey's "Where Are They Now?" series that she started using early on in her career after going through a bad breakup. "There was free cocaine, there was alcohol everywhere. Behind shoots, backstage at fashion shows, in limousines, at Studio 54," Dickinson said. "I really wanted to hurt myself." 

If there's one thing that's true about "America's Next Top Model," it's that it changed the modeling world when Cycle 1 premiered in May 2003. Created by Tyra Banks, the first judging panel consisted of Banks, Janice Dickinson, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Beau Quillian, a fashion stylist and editor. Dickinson was personally sought after and hired to help judge the incoming contestants by Banks, who read Dickinson's 2002 memoir, "No Lifeguards on Duty." Dickinson served as a judge between "ANTM" Cycle 1 and Cycle 4, and was never shy about letting anyone know exactly what she was thinking.

While Tyra Banks arguably went too far a number of times on "ANTM," she wasn't the only judge whose remarks wouldn't sit right with audiences today. On "ANTM" Cycle 1, for instance, Dickinson said about contestant Robin Manning, "America's Next Top Model is not a plus-sized model." Perhaps the most infamous example occurred when Dickinson returned as a guest for "ANTM" Cycle 6. During one episode, she bluntly told contestant Gina Cheo, "Zip it, b***h. You're dead in my book."

Years later, Dickinson responded to criticisms about her stint as a judge on "ANTM" and doubled down on the comments she made during the first few seasons. When asked by an Instagram follower if she had any regrets about what she said on the show in 2022, Dickinson stated, "I was acting, and that's that." Before that, Dickinson told Oprah that when she joined "ANTM," Banks hired her "to be like a female Simon Cowell, to be feeding in a negative fashion things about the girls."

Although Janice Dickinson was good at generating buzz during the early days of "America's Next Top Model," it wasn't long until she was demoted from judge to occasional guest. For "ANTM" Cycle 5, Dickinson was fired and replaced with Twiggy. Over the years, Dickinson has spoken out against the show, even going so far as to claim that the competition was supposedly fixed. Dickinson's dismissal started a largely one-sided feud between her and Tyra Banks that didn't take long to turn ugly. Although Banks has largely refrained from talking about Dickinson over the years, the same can't be said the other way around. In a 2012 chat with FOX411, Dickinson said, "[Banks is] soulless, she's heartless and she's cold." 

In a 2014 interview with Us Weekly, Dickinson apologized for her past comments about Banks. "The one regret I've had is badmouthing Miss Tyra Banks when I was not speaking with a sober mindset," Dickinson said. "It was just because I was hurt from being fired from the show." In her aforementioned interview with Oprah, she said working with Banks was an "amazing experience." "She does great TV and I respect her as a woman," Dickinson stated. "She is a great lady."

However, some years later, Dickinson seemed to contradict those sentiments. On a 2024 episode of the "Off the Vine" podcast, Dickinson told host Kaitlyn Bristowe that Banks was "not a friendly lady." She also alleged that Banks was often mean to contestants and apparently was inconsiderate of the filming schedule. "She was always late, keeping us waiting for hours and hours," Dickinson claimed.

After Janice Dickinson was fired from "America's Next Top Model," she took matters into her own hands and attempted to open her own modeling agency. The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency was launched in late 2005 and immediately received its own reality series, which debuted on Oxygen in June 2006. Based in Los Angeles, "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" ran for four seasons and documented virtually every inch of Dickinson's business endeavor, her search for models, and her relations with the rest of the agency's operations team. At the end of Season 4, Dickinson prepared to move the office to New York. However, the show was not picked up for another season, and it appears the New York location never took off.

While the show was rather entertaining and provided insight into the intricacies of modeling, "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" was certainly problematic. Like on "ANTM,"  Dickinson had no problem telling her roster of up-and-coming models exactly what she thought. "People think I'm brutally honest, and I am," Dickinson summarized in a 2007 promotional clip from CBS. From commenting on weight to telling contestants they had no potential, Dickinson's method of constructive criticism wasn't easy for many of the models to take lightly, nor the show's audience. Considering the general instability of the modeling agency, coupled with Dickinson's decision to make the models live with her in a house with secret cameras, one of the least surprising aspects of the series was its cancellation.

Janice Dickinson doesn't do much modeling anymore, but she has established herself as a fierce competitor in the reality TV world. In 2015, Dickinson was cast as a houseguest on "Celebrity Big Brother UK" Season 16.Almost immediately, her brash personality and unfiltered opinions were on full display, and she wasted no time locking horns with her cast mates. One particular conflict between Dickinson, Farrah Abraham ("Teen Mom"), and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace ("Big Brother UK" Season 7) escalated so much that the police were called for assault. 

Dickinson also made headlines when a bee sting almost took her out of the game. She was in the show's Diary Room when the small insect got her on the hand. Dickinson immediately began to panic and told producers that she was allergic to bees before passing out and seizing in one of the most dramatic moments in "Big Brother" history. 

Dickinson was rushed to the hospital after medical personnel intervened, but returned to the competition after treatment and finished in 7th place. "The scare of it all thrusted her into a bit of a panic attack, however, she is now in good order," her rep told Page Six at the time. "She is back playing the game in true Janice style."

Janice Dickinson's life behind the camera has been nothing short of tragic. Over the years, Dickinson has stated dozens of times that she was abused by her father growing up, experiences which continue to negatively affect her to this day. While this was covered in her 2002 memoir "No Lifeguard on Duty," another horrifying aspect of Dickinson's personal life didn't make the cut. In 2014, she accused Bill Cosby of assault and rape, claiming that the actor drugged her in 1982 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Dickinson wrote about the event in "No Lifeguard on Duty" 12 years earlier, but it was removed from the final version of the book. Cosby's reps denied her account, and she was discouraged from including the allegations in her memoir by his legal team.

In 2015, Dickinson sued Cosby for defamation after his then-lawyer, Marty Singer, publicly accused her of lying about her allegations. The lawsuit played out for four years until Dickinson reached an undisclosed settlement agreement with Cobsy's insurance in 2019. "Sisters, my advice to you is never, ever give up, ever. Tell your story and stand up for your rights," Dickinson said during a press conference (via ABC News). Dickinson also took the stand during Cosby's sexual assault trial against Andrea Constand in 2018 and provided her testimony.  

Having a lot of money can be nice, but when the consequences of excessive spending catch up to a person, the fun quickly dissipates as reality sets in. As someone in the entertainment industry for decades, Janice Dickinson is no stranger to making a large paycheck; in her prime modeling days, her net worth was reportedly worth well into the millions. 

In 2013, it seemed the well had dried up. In April of that year, sources reported that Dickinson had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy after accumulating more than $1 million in debt.  "I am upset and taking every step to pay everyone back, and I feel terrible about it," Dickinson told Radar Online at the time. Her debt was settled in April 2014; her net worth is approximately $500,000 as of January 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. 

Looking back on her money struggles, she told The Telegraph in 2024, "I lost track of what I was spending and it started to add up. I went overboard and I couldn't afford to cover my cheques — my American Express bills, mostly." She also maintained that, contrary to some reports, plastic surgery costs aren't what did her in financially. "I've never paid for any plastic surgery," she stated. "Doctors approach me to offer me surgery, for the privilege of working on me."

Janice Dickinson has long been open about her history of addiction, and eventually she sought help in front of reality TV cameras. In 2010, she joined the cast of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" Season 4. From 2008 to 2012, the reality show followed groups of celebrities as they attempted to overcome various addictions with Dr. Drew Pinsky. Dickinson was admitted as a patient to the Pasadena Recovery Center for an addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and sleeping pills. 

During intake and throughout the season, Dickinson admitted to many shocking and heartbreaking revelations about her home life, drug addiction, and mental health. Dickinson also clashed with several co-stars, such as the late actor Jason Davis. Nonetheless, she graduated from the program and has said she's been completely sober since 2015. In a 2024 episode of "The Skinny Confidential Him And Her Show" podcast, Dickinson said she'd "gotten a handle" on her struggles with alcohol before joining "Celebrity Rehab," but was still grappling with Ambien addiction. 

Looking back at her time on the reality series, Dickinson shared that she had some doubts about laying her personal issues out for all the world to see. "I was afraid that this might not have been the best choice for me, of doing TV shows, because it was very raw," she said. "I'm grateful that I was given the opportunity to survive one more day."

Cancer does not discriminate, which is something that Janice Dickinson can attest to. In March 2016, the reality TV celebrity was diagnosed with breast cancer. Dickinson's pea-sized lump was detected during a routine mammogram, although it was fortunately caught early. As she told People, "I've had side effects from the radiation. And I have a tiny bit of scarring. But I've been lucky. They've told me I can keep my implants." After a lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation, Dickinson was declared cancer-free in late 2016 and has been in remission since.

After receiving her diagnosis, Dickinson, whose mother died of cancer in 1995, has become an advocate for women's health and the importance of mammograms. In April 2016, Dickinson appeared on an episode of "The Doctors" to discuss her then-recent diagnosis, lumpectomy, and plastic surgeries. "This cancer does not define me," she stated, while also acknowledging that she was fearful of the road ahead. Dickinson urged women to thoroughly examine their bodies on a regular basis and attend all their health screenings. 

In 2023, Janice Dickinson returned to the "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" franchise when she joined the roster of "I'm a Celebrity...South Africa." Previously, Dickinson finished as the runner-up on the UK version of "I'm a Celebrity" Season 7 and was the third eliminated on the U.S. version of "I'm a Celebrity" Season 2. Unfortunately, Dickinson proved that three times is not always the charm. 

While filming "I'm a Celebrity...South Africa," Dickinson tripped in the middle of the night and fell on her face. Apparently the night light on the premises did not turn on and she could not see where she was going. She suffered severe facial injuries that required her to immediately withdraw, including a broken nose and deep chin laceration. Dickinson ultimately finished in 10th place. 

Although Dickinson still has a heavy online presence, she's stepped away from the reality TV world in the wake of her devastating fall. In September 2025, the BBC was one of the first to report that Dickinson was suing ITV, the company behind "I'm a Celebrity," for £700,000 (roughly $960,000 in 2026). Dickinson is seeking compensation for permanent scarring, disfigurement, and nerve damage. "It's a devastating blow to Janice whose career relies on her showing up and serving on camera," a source told The Sun in January 2026. ITV has denied responsibility for Dickinson's injuries. 

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, or has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. 

• Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).