ANTM Cycle 9 - Episode 10

The unusual and autistic model Heather was eliminated from "America's Next Top Model," reducing the competition from five girls to four.

The final five arrived at PT Models Shanghai, where managing director Susan Yang provided them with their go-see challenge material. The girls had to locate up to five top Shanghai designers who would look through their portfolios, critique their runway walk and determine if they would book them for a modeling job. Heather got lost as she searched for the location of the designers, then was separated from her cab driver, which caused her to arrive late at PT Models, disqualifying her from the challenge.

At the photo shoot, the girls were pleasantly surprised when Nigel Barker appeared with Jay Manuel as their photographer. Each girl had to stand out from the elaborate Chinese setting with bold colors and elaborate dragons. Heather was nervous going into the photo shoot following her disqualification in the go-see challenge and was unable to regain her self-confidence in front of the camera. Manuel claimed that she did not trust herself during the photo shoot which led to an unfortunate series of dull photographs.

During the judging panel, Tyra Banks announced that the four remaining girls would travel to Beijing for the final two challenges. During deliberations, the judges agreed that Heather's unique look would peak peoples' interest, but her lack of communication skills would make it too difficult for her in the modeling industry. Ultimately, Heather was eliminated despite her appealing look for the fashion industry.

Images courtesy of © 2007 The CW Television Network

ANTM Cycle 9 - Episode 8

The girl who was given a second chance, Ambreal, was eliminated from "America's Next Top Model," leaving six girls to remain in the competition.

The girls met with posing instructor Benny Ninja and Director of Elite Model Management Neal Hamil at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Each girl was paired with a student designer to serve as their muse for a dress to be created with the intention of depicting each individual style and personality.

The girls later presented the dresses they inspired in a runway show. Ambreal’s overenthusiastic runway walk was not well received by Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Anne Shoket. Shocket explained that there is a fine line before a model’s enthusiasm can become cheesy and Ambreal’s performance was unfortunatly so.

The next day, the girls were abandoned in the middle of the desert for a photo shoot. Jay Manuel came out of a mirage and brought the models to their photo shoot. The set included a burning car where they had to portray desperation at being lost in the desert. During Ambreal's shoot, she could not convey the desperation Manuel tried to evoke from her. He became frustrated that she continued to rely on posing instead of conveying desperation.

During judging panel, the girls were surprised when a Chinese dragon interrupted Tyra Banks to reveal that they were about to travel overseas to China for the remainder of the competition. Unfortunately, one of the girls would be going home before the anticipated trip would commence. During deliberations, the judges agreed that Ambreal failed to model her clothing during both the runway challenge and the photo shoot. They felt she was a beautiful girl but did not have enough modeling potential to make it in the industry.

Images courtesy of © 2007 The CW Television Network

ANTM Cycle 9 - Episode 4

The intellectual Yale student Victoria was eliminated from the competition, leaving ten girls to remain in the hopes of becoming the cycle nine winner.

It was the makeover moment at the renowned Ken Paves Salon where Tyra Banks, Jay Manuel, and J. Alexander revealed the makeover transformations to the girls. The new looks were well received among the aspiring models with the exception of Brandy whose hair was so damaged she was forced to go bald. Along with the uncertainly of her new look, Saleisha was a shaken up with her new high-fashion haircut as it was quite the departure from her initial commercial appearance.

The next day, Nigel Barker along with his wife, professional make up artist Cristen Barker, and CoverGirl representative Brent Poer presented the girls with a make up challenge. As part of the challenge, they were given five minutes to apply make up and locate an outfit amongst racks of clothes before stepping onto the runway in front of the judges. Victoria felt uncomfortable about her lack of make up knowledge compared to the other girls and found it difficult to pull together a complete look.

At the photo shoot, Manuel and photographer Lionel Deluy assigned each model a different type of plant to portray. Victoria continued to feel out of place in the modeling world as she found it difficult to connect with her image as a cactus, becoming too analytical and over thinking every pose according to Manuel.

During the judging panel, the judges revisited the issue of Victoria's lack of charisma when addressing the panel, especially towards Twiggy. Barker said that while Victoria is a very smart girl, she is not wise when it comes to modeling. Her atypical look was stunning to the judges however her attitude in panel was not appealing to them which ultimately sent her home.

Images courtesy of © 2007 The CW Television Network

ANTM Cycle 9 - Episode 3

“America’s Next Top Model” contestant Kimberly was the second girl to be eliminated from the competition, leaving 11 girls to continue on in the hopes of becoming the cycle nine winner.

The girls were challenged by runway expert J. Alexander to walk a runway in restrictive straightjackets. Alexander wanted to teach them to be prepared for any type of clothing a designer would make them wear during a runway show. While all of the girls were uncomfortable in the confining jacket, Kimberly struggled a lot with this challenge by not being able to control the straightjacket, but let the jacket control her.

The next day, guest judge and fashion show producer Roy Campbell and fashion designer Colleen Quen put the girls' new runway skills to the test. Each girl was dressed in a high fashion, yet restrictive, gown and then instructed to gracefully walk the runway. Following the show, Quen was disappointed that Kimberly did not bring out the spirit of her outfit expressing that her soul was empty. Saleisha was named the winner, earning the opportunity to walk in Quen's fashion show in Paris.

The following day the girls met with Jay Manuel and photographer Matthew Jordan Smith where they learned that they would scale a rock climbing wall in gowns and heels for their photo shoot. While Manuel pushed all the girls to really let go of themselves and step outside the box, Kimberly let him down and played it safe the entire time.

During the judging panel, the judges agreed that Kimberly's photo lacked finesse. While many of the girls pushed themselves and demonstrated creativity during their photo shoot, Kimberly was unable to translate her unique beauty into a striking photo. Tyra Banks expressed her frustration with her favorite features in Kimberly, saying how she loves her ears and her eyes but can never see them.

Images courtesy of © 2007 The CW Television Network

ANTM Cycle 9 - About the Show

“America's Next Top Model,” the gripping reality series created by Tyra Banks, provides ordinary girls with the opportunity to prove their abilities of surviving the stressful world of supermodeling. The hit reality series follows a group of aspiring models of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes who all live together and compete for a slew of prestigious prizes.

The fashion competition exposes the transformation of everyday young women into potentially fierce supermodels, as they face weekly tests determining who can make the cut and be successful in a high fashion career. With mentoring by Banks and exposure to esteemed fashion-industry gurus, the finalists compete in an accelerated modeling boot camp as an intensive course to supermodel fame.

Participants are required to demonstrate both inner and outer beauty as they learn to master complicated catwalks, intense physical fitness, fashion photo shoots and perfect publicity skills, all under the nerve-racking pressure of 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the cameras chronicling every move.

As the head judge for the cycle nine judging panel, Banks is accompanied by living fashion icon Twiggy, runway expert extraordinaire J. Alexander and noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker along with a special guest judge appearing weekly with a critique in his or her area of expertise. The judges conduct frequent evaluations of the contestants in a weekly judging panel to narrow down the competition week to week until the winner of “America’s Next Top Model” remains.

In addition to a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics that is awarded every season, this year's prize package for the winner of “America's Next Top Model” will include a contract with Elite Model Management and a cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.

Images courtesy of © 2007 The CW Television Network