Germany's Next Topmodel season 18

The first 10 minutes of the episode, Heidi responds to the backlash the show has faced over the last few years.^[4]

29 models start their journey in Los Angeles. However, Heidi then informs the audience that this year, 35 contestants were invited to Los Angeles to participate in the show, however due to visa complications, 6 contestants will arrive later in the show.^[5]

They meet Heidi at a movie set and prepare for their first fashion show, where they walk for designer Peter Dundas. At panel, Heidi and guest judge Winnie Harlow watch the show and make decisions.

Alina, Ana, Elisabeth, and Indira are the first models to be eliminated.

• Eliminated: Alina Enns, Ana Feddersen, Elisabeth Schmidt & Indira Mölle
• Special guests: Peter Dundas & Winnie Harlow

The Top 25 models move into their villa and face discussions about room-sharing.

In duels, the models compete against each other, with winners of a pool shoot advancing automatically to the next round, shot by none other than Heidi Klum herself.

• Immune: Anna-Maria Fuhrmann, Anya Elsner, Coco Clever, Emilia Steitz, Ida Kulis, Jülide Beganovic, Juliette Schulz, Katherine Markov, Leona Kastrati, Sarah Benkhoff, Tracy Baumgarten & Zoey Saflekou

During the live walk, they must showcase the legendary jungle dress from Jennifer Lopez. Guest judge Elsa Hosk mentors them in a catwalk session before the walk. However, a thunderstorm postpones the beach walk until episode 9, resulting in no eliminations. Nonetheless, the 13 models who lost immunity during the photoshoot will participate in next week's shoot-out.

• Eliminated: None
• Featured photographer: Heidi Klum
• Special guests: Elsa Hosk

The girls shoot a one-take introduction video directed by Rankin. After the shoot, Melissa and Slata are eliminated.

• Shoot-out: Cassy Cassau, Eliz Steingraf, Elsa Latifaj, Lara Rollhaus, Melina Rath, Melissa Stoebke Carbonel, Mirella Janev, Nina Kablitz, Olivia Hounkpati, Selma Schröder, Slata Schneider, Somajia Ali & Vivien Blotzki
• Eliminated outside of judging panel: Melissa Stoebke Carbonel & Slata Schneider

This week's live walk theme features the four seasons on different difficult grounds, with the girls portraying different emotions in unusual outfits.

Heidi participates in panel remotely due to testing positive for COVID-19, with Rankin being the only judge present. Juliette and Melina are sent home at panel.

• Eliminated: Melina Rath & Juliette Schulz
• Featured director/Special guest: Rankin

This week, the focus is on posing and transformation.

Heidi and guest photographer Brian Bowen Smith challenge the girls to perform in an "Alice in Wonderland" themed photo shoot, with styling inspired by the mad hatter.

The following day, Heidi and designer Yannik Zamboni provide catwalk training, emphasizing a masculine, fast, and confident walk. At elimination, the girls showcase Yannik's pieces at Los Angeles Union Station.

Emilia, Eliz, and Zoey are ultimately eliminated for weak performances in both the photo shoot and the live walk.

• Eliminated: Eliz Steingraf, Emilia Steitz & Zoey Saflekou
• Featured photographer: Brian Bowen Smith
• Special guest: Yannik Zamboni

It's makeover week, and Heidi has some drastic changes in store for some of the models.

Sarah decides to quit the competition after refusing her makeover.

• Quit: Sarah Benkhoff

Following the makeovers, the models must present their new looks at a live walk where the runway transforms into a hair salon.

Amidst the confusion, Anya, Coco, Elsa, Jülide, Katherine, Selma, and Tracy find themselves in the bottom seven.

However, just before elimination, Tracy decides to quit the competition as well.

With two girls quitting this week, Heidi decides to let all the remaining models advance but plans a shoot-out for the now bottom six girls in the next week.

• Bottom seven: Anya Elsner, Coco Clever, Elsa Latifaj, Jülide Beganovic, Katherine Markov, Selma Schröder & Tracy Baumgarten
• Quit: Tracy Baumgarten
• Eliminated: None
• Special guests: Alessandra Ambrosio

After receiving makeovers, the models must embody confidence with their new looks in the sedcard shoot with photographer Vicky Lawton. Jülide is eliminated after the shoot.

• Shoot-out: Anya Elsner, Coco Clever, Elsa Latifaj, Jülide Beganovic, Katherine Markov & Selma Schröder
• Eliminated outside of judging panel: Jülide Beganovic

Next, the first casting of the season pits the models against each other for a campaign job for the lingerie brand Intimissimi, with Ida landing the job.

• Booked for job: Ida Kulis

At panel, season 6 contestant Rebecca Mir returns as a guest judge. The girls receive outfits representing different letters and must answer fashion-related questions while presenting confident walks and interesting poses.

Elsa is eliminated for her lack of professionalism and boring facial expression.

• Eliminated: Elsa Latifaj
• Featured photographer: Vicky Lawton
• Special guests: Rebecca Mir

At the video shoot the models step into the iconic footsteps of Marilyn Monroe. They have to perform and dance to the songs Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend and Material Girl in front of the camera. As an additional challenge, after performing the choreography to the music, they have to improvise alongside the Elevator Boys. At the elimination walk, the girls present outfits by Christian Cowan and have to walk across LED squares. Coco and Lara land in the bottom two; in the end, Lara is eliminated.

• Bottom two: Coco Clever & Lara Rollhaus
• Eliminated: Lara Rollhaus
• Featured director: Lance Drake
• Special guests: Christian Cowan, Elevator Boys & Micky Kurz

This week, Heidi has arranged a special challenge for her wildcard models.

Before officially joining the competition in Los Angeles, the six newcomers underwent intensive training in Munich with Thomas Hayo and Nikeata Thompson during a boot camp. This included shooting the sedcard and walking in lingerie and Yannik Zamboni's designs in front of the original Top 15.

After the three challenges, Heidi decides to eliminate Charlene and Zuzel due to their lack of versatility.

• Wildcard: Charlene Christian, Ina Aufenberg, Maike Nitsch, Marielena Aponte, Nicole Reitbauer & Zuzel Palacio Calunga
• Eliminated outside of judging panel: Charlene Christian & Zuzel Palacio Calunga

Coco Rocha returns as a guest judge and coaches the new Top 17 in unusual walking styles. They showcase their unique walks in duels, with Ida, Leona, Mirella, Nicole, Nina, and Vivien ending up in the bottom six. Heidi then requests a final walk-off between Leona and Mirella, resulting in Leona's elimination.

• Bottom six: Ida Kulis, Leona Kastrati, Mirella Janev, Nicole Reitbauer, Nina Kablitz & Vivien Blotzki
• Walk-off: Leona Kastrati & Mirella Janev
• Eliminated: Leona Kastrati
• Featured photographers: Heidi Klum & Thomas Hayo
• Special guests: Coco Rocha & Nikeata Thompson

The remaining models face two challenging tasks: First, they must pose inside a giant toy machine for a photo shoot. Then, guest judge Nikeata Thompson trains them in three signature catwalk poses, which they must present at elimination at Huntington Beach. Mirella finds herself in the bottom for the second time, alongside Anya and Ina. Ultimately, Ina is eliminated due to her struggles both in the shoot and on the runway.

• Bottom three: Anya Elsner, Ina Aufenberg & Mirella Janev
• Eliminated: Ina Aufenberg
• Featured photographer: Sheryl Nields
• Special guest: Nikeata Thompson

The models undergo interviews with Claudia von Brauchitsch, testing their professional skills, including their ability to handle difficult questions and topics. Cassy, Nicole, and Somajia are praised for performing the best.

• Challenge winners: Cassy Cassau, Nicole Reitbauer & Somajia Ali

Season 16 winner Alex-Mariah Peter shares her experience during a coaching session on dealing with negative headlines and hateful comments, alongside psychologist Pia Kabitzsch.

For the live walk, the models wear comic-themed outfits and must impress Heidi and guest judge Ashley Graham with a strong walk and poses that match speech bubbles beside the runway. Anna-Maria, Anya, and Mirella find themselves in the bottom three. Ultimately, Anya is eliminated, and the remaining models head to Berlin for a casting marathon.

• Booked for job: Selma Schröder
• Bottom three: Anna-Maria Fuhrmann, Anya Elsner & Mirella Janev
• Eliminated: Anya Elsner
• Special guest: Alex-Mariah Peter, Ashley Graham, Claudia von Brauchitsch & Pia Kabitzsch

The models visit Berlin and have the opportunity to book runway jobs at fashion week by impressing designer Kilian Kerner. Nicole and Nina are later booked for his show. Olivia succeeds at a casting for Néonails and secures the job. While back in Los Angeles, Ida lands her second job with the handbag label Zoé Lu.

• Booked for job: Ida Kulis, Nicole Reitbauer, Nina Kablitz & Olivia Hounkpati

At elimination, guest judges Kilian Kerner and Anna Dello Russo assess the girls' walks in a sea of balls. Cassy and Marielena are eliminated after landing in the bottom three with Maike.

• Bottom three: Cassy Cassau, Maike Nitsch & Marielena Aponte
• Eliminated: Cassy Cassau & Marielena Aponte
• Special guest: Anna Dello Russo, Kilian Kerner & Martina Gleißeneibner Teskey

The models channel legendary songs from past decades for a photo shoot, with guest judge and this week's photographer, Thomas Hayo, overseeing the process, while Selma secures her second job for Emmi Caffé Latte.

• Booked for job: Selma Schröder

During the live walk, the models showcase outfits by The Blonds to Rock'n'Roll music. In the end, Maike is eliminated.

• Eliminated: Maike Nitsch
• Featured photographer: Derek Kettela
• Special guest: Thomas Hayo

The models receive a surprise visit from their loved ones at home, who then watch the contestants in action at the "rich girl" photo shoot in a luxurious penthouse with photographer Yu Tsai. The visitors from home also witness the live walk, where the girls must walk with expensive wedding gowns through the crowd with guest judge Sofia Vergara. Nina, Olivia, and Somajia land in the bottom three; ultimately, Nina fails to make it into the top 10 and is eliminated.

• Bottom three: Nina Kablitz, Olivia Hounkpati & Somajia Ali
• Eliminated: Nina Kablitz
• Featured photographer: Yu Tsai
• Special guest:
  Sofia Vergara

Kristian Schuller photographs the models in the middle of nowhere with giant balls and blowing fabric, but Olivia and Mirella struggle. Selma is flown to Cologne for her third job.

• Booked for job: Selma Schröder

At the live walk, the girls model looks by designer Esther Perbandt in the middle of the desert. Katherine, Olivia, and Selma are at risk of elimination, with Mirella landing in the bottom for the fourth time. Olivia and Mirella end up in the bottom two, and ultimately, Mirella is eliminated for her overall weak performance this week.

• Bottom four: Katherine Markov, Mirella Janev, Olivia Hounkpati & Selma Schröder
• Eliminated: Mirella Janev
• Featured photographer: Kristian Schuller
• Special guest: Esther Perbandt &
  Karolina Kurkova

The models' road trip concludes with a memorable party night in Las Vegas alongside Heidi. This week's shoot is an underwater shoot, which proves especially challenging for Nicole, Katherine, and Selma.

At elimination, they have to deliver a live walk on the roof of a moving truck. However, most of the walks do not work out, resulting in all models repeating their walks on the ground. Heidi receives help with her decision from season 9 winner Stefanie Giesinger. Ultimately, they decide to eliminate Katherine.

• Bottom two: Katherine Markov & Selma Schröder
• Eliminated: Katherine Markov
• Featured photographer: Russell James
• Special guest:
  Tiesto

The highly anticipated Harper's Bazaar cover shoot is here, and everything must be perfect to impress Heidi and guest judge Kerstin Schneider. The shoot takes place in the desert, where Anna-Maria, Ida, and Olivia struggle, while Kerstin selects Somajia, Selma, and Vivien as the best performers.

At elimination, the girls are transformed into drag queens at Vegas' famous Drag Brunch. Paired up, they must perform in front of a live audience, lip-sync, and deliver their best and most exaggerated walk. Olivia shines, while Nicole, Somajia, Anna-Maria, and Ida face challenges. Heidi decides to eliminate Anna-Maria and Ida. Meanwhile, all the other girls advance to the semi-finals.

To celebrate Heidi's 50th birthday, the episode will be preceded by a one-hour special summarizing Heidi's life. Additionally, throughout the day, the three most memorable makeover episodes in the series' history will be replayed, starting from Season 3 and ending with Season 11.

• Bottom three: Anna-Maria Fuhrmann, Ida Kulis & Nicole Reitbauer
• Eliminated: Anna-Maria Fuhrmann & Ida Kulis
• Featured photographer: Regan Cameron
• Special guest: DeJa Skye, Kahanna Montrese, Kerstin Schneider, Shannel & Yara Sofia

The remaining models face two final photo shoots to prove themselves. First, they enter the challenging world of 'Cirque du Soleil' and pose at a dizzying height on a trapeze. Coco struggles, and Vivien falls into the water too early. In a new twist this year, the girls also shoot the Mac Cosmetics campaign, which is part of the winner's prizes. All the girls perform well.

Guest judge Philipp Plein fits the girls for their final walk into the finale, with Elle Macpherson joining this week's panel. Once again, Coco struggles on the runway and is eliminated, leaving Nicole, Olivia, Selma, Somajia, and Vivien as the five finalists.

• Bottom two: Coco Clever & Vivien Blotzki
• Eliminated: Coco Clever
• Featured photographer:
  Max Montgomery
• Special guest: Drew Elliott, Elle Macpherson & Philipp Plein

In the live finale of Germany's Next Topmodel cycle 18, the top 5 contestants performed an opening routine with Friedrichstadt Palast and Leni Klum in Jean Paul Gaultier outfits. Nicole was eliminated first. The Top 4 had a quick change walk, and Selma was eliminated. The Top 3 were determined by a walk at a train station, with Olivia finishing third. Tracy received a wildcard for Season 19. Vivien won the title after a final walk with assistance from the Scorpions and Friedrichstadt Palast, wearing Marina Hoermanseder outfits.

• Final five: Nicole Reitbauer, Olivia Hounkpati, Selma Schröder, Somajia Ali & Vivien Blotzki
• Eliminated: Nicole Reitbauer
• Final four: Olivia Hounkpati, Selma Schröder, Somajia Ali & Vivien Blotzki
• Bottom two: Selma Schröder & Vivien Blotzki
• Eliminated: Selma Schröder
• Season 19 wildcard: Tracy Baumgarten
• Final three: Olivia Hounkpati, Somajia Ali & Vivien Blotzki
• Bottom two: Olivia Hounkpati & Vivien Blotzki
• Eliminated: Olivia Hounkpati
• Final two: Somajia Ali & Vivien Blotzki
• Germany's Next Topmodel: Vivien Blotzki
• Special guests: Alex-Mariah Peter, Anita Schaller, Christian Cowan, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Petras, Leni Klum, Lieselotte Reznicek, Lou-Anne Gleißeneibner Teskey, Loreen, Luca Lorenz, Luca Vanak, Majnoon, Martina Gleißeneibner Teskey, Nikeata Thompson, Noëlla Mbomba, Scorpions, Thomas Hayo, Vanessa Kunz, Vivien Sterk & Yannik Zamboni