In the ninth season premiere, 33 semifinalists are sent out on a Caribbean cruise, where a life-jacket runway challenge, a beach-set photo shoot, and an appearance by Cycle 8 winner Jaslene Gonzalez help thin the pack down the final 13.
Jay Manuel introduces the girls to a "green" form of transportation. Then, the contestants move into their mansion, where J. Alexander gives them all a style lesson. Finally, the models participate in a photo shoot portraying the negative aspects of smoking.
First, the girls don straightjackets for a runway session with Miss J. Then, while the girls help one contestant with her image, an argument breaks out. Finally, the winner of the couture runway challenge is sent to Paris, and the rest of the ladies face-off in a rock-climbing wall photo shoot.
It's the makeover episode! One contestant is shocked when she is told that all of her hair will be cut off. Later, the models face off in a runway challenge and a jungle-themed 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. 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.
Tyra surprises the girls and gives them an in-depth lesson about how to model in front of a moving camera. One model continues to get jealous and be very critical of her competition.
The models go to FIDM [Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising] and are paired with a student designer to be their creative muse to design a dress.
When the models arrive in China they are introduced to their new penthouse suite, and one model who is left without a place to sleep becomes very upset.
The remaining five models are sent on designer go-sees in Shanghai. Some girls get the designers' praise while others do not impress and one model loses her way.
The girls learn some Chinese history from J. Alexander and Twiggy and move into their new Beijing home. During a shopping challenge the models must change a traditional Chinese dress into their own style by purchasing accessories at a local mall.
The final three use all things they've learned up to this point in the competition for the penultimate shoot; a commercial and national print ad for Cover Girl.
Being a contestant on America’s Next Top Model was one of those experiences that’s too big to be summarized by any one adjective. It was more than crazy, fun, stressful, or bizarre. It was ALL of those things —and a lot more adjectives I probably shouldn't print here.
I mean, who among us hasn’t been changed by Tyra Banks' empire of smizes? Chances are, ANTM will always be the biggest part of my Wikipedia page. I'd like to change that someday by pursing a career as a comedian and writer — but I’m also glad to have a Wikipedia page* in the first place. I mean, as my mom used to tell me before she made me take my selfie, there are starving children in Africa who don’t even have Instagram.
So, what was it like?
Well, I was basically in shock during filming. I'm usually outgoing but, in the Top Model house, I reverted back to the shy, awkward kid I was before my enormous boobs arrived and forced me to become a people person.
When the judges examined my photo during the first elimination, Twiggy said that I didn’t look very plus-size as Tyra Banks said, “No, but she looks real size. She looks, like, me-size. Look at that thigh! That looks like my thigh.”
And I didn’t say anything. What could I possibly say to that? Tyra Freaking Banks just said my thigh looked like her thigh. Tyra Banks, the supermodel, whose thighs have been on magazine covers and music videos and runways.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
....My thighs don't look like that
I remember the judges looking at me, expecting me to react as I just stood there, my brain quietly exploding inside my head.
Before ANTM, I’d never considered being a model — nor had I ever been west of Ohio. Being on a major television show with the most beautiful women I’d ever seen and meeting the aforementioned Tyra Freaking Banks is a hard experience to compress into a sound bite.
But the truth is, I love talking about Top Model. It’s not like my memories of it have gotten any less surreal over time. What's more, the conversations about it usually start with people saying how much they love me, and who doesn’t love hearing that?
So without further ado, here are the questions people always ask you when you've been a contestant on Top Model. And here are my answers.
WAIT, WHAT CYCLE WERE YOU ON?
I was on Cycle 9.
WAIT, WHICH ONE WAS THAT? WHO WON?
Saleisha won.
Um... Heather was on with me. You know, the girl with Aspberger's?
WHAT IS TYRA LIKE?
I only saw her once a week, and there were a lot of us and only one of her, but she was always very nice and insanely knowledgeable about basically everything. Tyra Banks should be the mayor.
WAS IT SCRIPTED?
No. Not at all. They didn’t need a script because they knew what we were going to do before we did. And that was drama enough.
WAS IT FUN?
Oof. Yes. No. Sort of? Yes.
WERE THE OTHER GIRLS BITCHES?
And so was I. Everybody's a bitch sometimes. Now imagine the second you feel less than awesome there's a camera two inches from your face.
DID ALL THE GIRLS HAVE EATING DISORDERS?
No. In fact, they ate all my damn food. Don't eat the plus-size girl's food, dude.
DO YOU HAVE TYRA'S PHONE NUMBER?
I absolutely do not! Have you seen some of the girls on that show?
Would you give them your phone number?
IS MISS J REALLY LIKE THAT? IS MR J REALLY LIKE THAT?
Yup. And it's awesome. Obviously, they play it up for the cameras, but pretty much.
IS NIGEL HOT IN PERSON?
I guess? He doesn't do it for me, even a little bit. [By the way, this one doesn't always get asked, but when it does, it's always by people who are "totally joking" but actually seriously really need to know like RIGHT NOW.]
What happened to ambreal ANTM cycle 9?
Ambreal was eliminated as the judges felt Lisa had more potential.nullAmerica's Next Top Model season 9 - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org › wiki › America's_Next_Top_Model_season_9null
Who won cycle 9 of ANTM?
Born in Pasadena, California, Saleisha “Sal” Stowers was the cycle 9 winner of ANTM in 2007. She continued modeling after the show but quickly shifted her focus to acting. In 2013, Stowers appeared as Cassandra Foster on All My Children; in 2015, she joined the cast of Days of Our Lives as Lani Price.null'America's Next Top Model' Winners: Where Are They Now? - Peoplepeople.com › america-next-top-model-winners-where-are-they-now-75624...null
What happened to Heather ANTM in cycle 9?
She has signed to the women's division of Elite Model Management in Chicago and Hong Kong. A challenge win during the show allowed her to participate in a special photoshoot art-directed by Mary J. Blige for Carol's Daughter.nullHeather Kuzmich | America's Next Top Model | Fandomantm.fandom.com › wiki › Heather_Kuzmichnull
What happened to Ebony from ANTM cycle 9?
Post-Show. Ebony did not pursue any modeling after the show. She was nominated for Most Dramatic Exit at the Fiercee Awards, but lost to Kimberly Rydzewski.nullEbony Morgan | America's Next Top Model | Fandomantm.fandom.com › wiki › Ebony_Morgannull