Seasons & episodes

The girls are in for some tough calls when they are broken up into teams and asked to design their own group displays at a department store - all while acting as their own mannequins. Drama unfolds after the challenge as one girl - who took advice from her teammates - later claims all the credit for her group's project. Later, the models participate in a photo shoot where they must pose as men, but one girl's transformation into her character shocks everyone else.

In what promises to be the most dramatic episode of America's Next Top Model to date, Twiggy gives the girls a history lesson on how she got her nickname and asks each model to give herself a nickname of her own, which each girl must then use at a celebrity filled party. While at the party, one girl gets a little too friendly with rapper 50 Cent and gets thrown in the pool. Another model jumps in to help her and both girls end up embarrassed when they are introduced to famous manager Benny Medina and his entourage. Later, Tyra gets involved when all the models unite against another model and crush her with harsh criticisms. Finally, the girls participate in a photo shoot where they must showcase four of their inner personalities.

The girls' acting skills are put to the test when actress Tia Mowry gives the group an acting lesson, after which they are put to the test with actor Efren Ramirez. The winning model and a friend get unexpected visits. Finally, models from past seasons join the current models in a photo shoot highlighting the series' most scandalous events.

The girls get interviewing lessons to prepare for their trip down under in Sydney, Australia. Once there, they must use what they have learned about hosting and use it to interview the locals. Finally, the girls are asked to star in a Cover Girl commercial where one model struggles to remember her lines and the other struggles with performance.

In this special recap episode, never-before-seen footage about the journey of the five remaining contestants is revealed, including a heated argument between two girls and a staged mock elimination by all the girls.

The remaining five contestants are sent on a mission to impress Australian designers in their go sees. While there, one model shocks designers by requesting to keep the clothes and another has a rage after arriving late. Later, Tyra gives the girls a shoot where they must model swimsuits for a women's magazine. One model impresses Tyra, while another simply falls flat.

The girls are taught about the art of self expression and storytelling and are later put to the test when they must tell stories of their own using their new skills. Later on, the girls go out but one model stays home sick, giving the other three the chance to gossip about her while she is absent. In their photo shoot, the girls are body painted and must use traditional clothing and Aboriginal dance to express themselves. While one model completely embraces the dancing, another bitterly complains about having to do so. Finally, the panel lights on fire when the girls are asked to give the name of the person who they think has the most potential at winning the competition and one girl gets verbally attacked by the rest.

The three finalists are ultimately put to the test in their final photo shoot and commercial for CoverGirl. Things do not go so well when one model struggles to look youthful in her pictures and another struggles to say her lines naturally for the commercial. After the CoverGirl shooting is done, one model is eliminated and the final two face off in the final runway challenge, after which the winner of cycle 8 is crowned.

In the ninth season premiere, the new 33 semifinalists are sent out on a cruise to the Caribbean, where they take part in a life-jacket runway challenge and participate in a beach-themed photo shoot. The ladies are graced by the presence of cycle 8 winner Jaslene Gonzalez, and the final 13 are ultimately chosen.

The models are introduced to their new "green" form of transportation by Jay Manuel. Later on, they move into their mansion and J. Alexander gives them a lesson on style. Soon after, a feud breaks out between two contestants, and another starts to feel out of place. Finally, the ladies participate in a photo shoot portraying the negative aspects of smoking.

The fabulous Miss J surprises the ladies with a surprising lesson that requires straightjackets to improve their runway walks. Meanwhile, the models decide to help one girl improve her image, and soon after a fierce argument between two competitors breaks out. Finally, the winner of the couture runway challenge is sent to Paris, and the rest of the ladies are left to attend a photo shoot on a rock-climbing wall.

It's makeover time, and the models are in for drastic change. However, one model breaks down when she is told that she will get all her hair cut off. Meanwhile, the week's challenges include participating in a runway competition and a "pose-off" in a jungle photo shoot.

Benny Ninja takes the models for a lesson on high fashion posing on high grounds as the models are required to pose in the air while jumping off a trampoline and later while being lifted by an ice skater for their challenge. When the winner of the task is announced, however, some of the other competitors become jealous. Finally, the top models must work the camera in a fierce photo shoot that requires them to pose as gargoyles on the top of a building.

The girls get a lesson on how to be a spokesperson and later must improvise a sales pitch and divide into groups to create public service announcements for charity. The winner of the challenge gets to participate in a makeup photo shoot directed by Mary J. Blige. Meanwhile, the week's theme for the photo shoot is "green," which finds the ladies posing as recyclable materials.

As the finale quickly approaches, viewers get a chance to see new exclusive footage of the remaining models' journey thus far. Some of the feature clips include Bianca's confrontations with Ebony and Chantal, a lesson on body image by Tyra, and Bianca running into a glass door and hurting her lip.

The ladies are paid a surprise visit by none other than Tyra Banks herself, who gives them a lesson on how to pose for a moving camera. Meanwhile, as jealousy continues to fly throughout the house, the girls find out that they will participate in an Enrique Iglesias music video. During the shoot, however, one model collapses from exhaustion.

The ladies meet with student designers and must be their muses in creating a dress. The next day they must work the runway and give a speech about their creations. Meanwhile, the house drama heats up when one girl decides she's had enough bullying from the other models. Finally, the ladies go to the desert, where they participate in the week's photo shoot.

The models are greeted with a penthouse suite in Shanghai. After that, they learn a lesson on body movement and have to pose midair on high wires. The remaining ladies then shoot a cosmetics commercial.

The final five must battle it off in go-sees in Shanghai. While in the challenge, some girls get praises from designers while others just fall flat. Later, the ladies participate in a photo shoot with Nigel where they must stand out from a crowd of Chinese costume dragons and lions.

The fantastic four participate in a challenge where they must turn a traditional Chinese garment into their own. During the task, one model purposefully gives another bad advice. Later on, the ladies take part in a warrior-themed photo shoot and are photographed by Tyra herself.

The ninth season finishes with the last three contestants shooting a cosmetics commercial. Then, one is sent home and and the final two compete in a runway show is Beijing. The judges then choose the winner.

35 girls arrive at "Top Model Prep" where they meet Mr. Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander. They shoot a class photo before commencing runway lessons with Miss J., where Lauren is seen as the weakest walker. Next, the girls attend a bonfire where the "Homecoming Queen" is going to be announced. The cheerleaders by the stage are revealed to be a few contestants from past cycles. Mr. Jay then announces that the finalists will be taken to New York City. Homecoming Queen turns out to be Tyra, who surprises the girls, coming from behind the curtains. Casting interviews then commence. In between interviews, a fight breaks out between Shaya and Fatima, but they later forgive each other when she reveals that she is a survivor of female circumcision. Memorable auditions include Stacy Ann's lap dance, Fatima telling the judges about her genital mutilation, and Claire's confession about drinking her own breast milk so her baby can breastfeed when she returns home. After the interviews, the girls are pared down to the final 20, where they participate in a senior class photo shoot and have to do their own hair and make up.

The girls are taken to their loft in New York City featuring a humanitarian theme. Amy decides to change her name to "Amis". To Amis, Fatima and Kimberly's frustration, there is a "no smoking" sign which leads them to smoke outside of the loft. Mr. and Miss J. arrive and round up the girls for a city tour. The final stop is a Badgley Mischka runway show. After the show, Fatima unintentionally hits Marvita in the face with her hand, brewing tension. The girls are then taken to Elite Model Management building and they meet Paulina Porizkova and Neal Hamil, and Paulina gives each girl brutal and harsh criticism. At the photo shoot, the girls have to portray homeless women being surrounded by high fashion models. Most of the girls receive positive feedback, but Amis' over-enthusiasm and Kimberly's dead expressions get criticized. Later, Kimberly admits to Fatima that high fashion is not her interest.

The girls receive Apple Bottoms apparel that come in white purses. Allison gets offended when Fatima tells her that she has a larger body than hers, and Allison reveals her past struggles with anorexia. The girls are taken to Wal-Mart for a CoverGirl make up challenge, which Claire wins. Back at the house, Allison uses dolls to represent the earlier incident between herself and Fatima. Using an African American doll to represent Fatima, Allison takes a jab at her by saying that Fatima "likes to take it from the back because she's black" Later, the girls receive their makeovers. To mimic a true agency, Tyra doesn't tell the girls their makeovers. Fatima's new weave comes with a lot of pain, but she ends up loving it. There is general satisfaction among the other girls as well, except for Stacy Ann, who wished for Naomi Campbell's long hair. The photo shoot takes place on a yacht with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. They meet Elle Macpherson and model her line of lingerie called "Intimates".