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] She 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]

At their first elimination challenge, the models are tasked to walk in a Peter Dundas fashion show.

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

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

The models compete in duels against each other and whoever performs better at a pool shoot is automatically in the next round. Their first photographer is no other than Heidi Klum herself.

At the live walk they then have to present the legendary jungle dress from Jennifer Lopez. Guest judge Elsa Hosk mentors them at a catwalk teaching before that. But due to a thunderstorm, the beach walk was postponed until episode 9, resulting in no one being eliminated. However, the 13 models who lost the immunity during the photoshoot are put into next week's shoot-out.

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

In their first video shoot the models film their own individual introduction videos where it's all about coming out of their shells and showing their personality. After the shoot, Melissa and Slata were 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

At the live walk they then have to confidently walk through all four seasons within a few steps. Heidi is absent for the elimination walk due to having been tested positive for COVID-19 , but watches and judges from home. While Rankin assists this week as both video director and guest judge. In the end, Melina and Juliette were eliminated.

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

This week is all about posing and transformation. At the photo shoot, Heidi and guest photographer Brian Bowen Smith expect the girls to perform in an "Alice in Wonderland" themed set, with their styling being all about the mad hatter from "Alice". The next day, Heidi and designer Yannik Zamboni visit the girls in the villa and have a catwalk training. Yannik requires a very masculine, fast and confident walk. At elimination day, the girls wear Yannik's pieces and present them at Los Angeles Union Station. In the end, Emilia, Eliz and Zoey are eliminated for performing weakly at both the photoshoot and the walk.

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

It's makeovers day and Heidi has prepared drastic changes for some of the models. Sarah decided to quit the competition after refusing her makeover.

• Quit: Sarah Benkhoff

Afterwards they have to present their new looks at the live walk when the runway transforms into a hair salon. Off with the hair dryers and on with the spotlights, it's showtime. A lot of confusion leads to Anya, Coco, Elsa, Jülide, Katherine, Selma and Tracy landing in the bottom seven. However, just before elimination, Tracy decides to quit the competition. Due to two girls having quit this week, Heidi lets all the remaining models advance, but puts the now bottom six girls in the shoot-out 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 having received makeovers the models have to embody confidence with their new looks in the sedcard shoot with photographer Vicky Lawton. After the shoot, Jülide was eliminated. Out of all the girls, Vivien performs best.

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

Afterwards, the first casting of the season makes them fight for a campaign job for the lingerie brand Intimissimi. Ida is booked for the job. At panel, season 6 contestant Rebecca Mir returns as a guest judge. The girls receive outfits which each demonstrate a letter and have to answer fashion-related questions while presenting a confident walk and interesting poses. Elsa is eliminated for her lack of professionalism and boring facial expression.

• Booked for job: Ida Kulis
• 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 songs like Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend 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

Heidi has prepared a very special challenge for her models. Six models, including five best-agers, enter the competition. Before entering the competition in Los Angeles, the six newcomers received a special training in Munich with Thomas Hayo and Nikeata Thompson. However, Heidi puts the six newcomers through a bootcamp, which includes shooting the sedcard and walking in both lingerie and in Yannik Zamboni's designs in front of the original Top 15. After the three challenges, Heidi decides to eliminate Charlene and Zuzel because of them not showing enough 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 practices unusual walking styles with the new Top 19. They each present their crazy walks in duels; Ida, Leona, Mirella, Nicole, Nina and Vivien land in the bottom six. Heidi then requests Leona and Mirella to have a final walk-off. Leona is eliminated.

• 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 models get tested in two tough challenges this week: First, they have to pose in a giant toy machine for a photo shoot. Then, guest judge Nikeata Thompson teaches them in a catwalk training three signature poses which they have to present at elimination at Huntington Beach. Anya, Ina and Mirella landed in the bottom three; in the end, Ina is eliminated for her struggles at both shooting and walk.

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

The models get interviewed by Claudia von Brauchitsch who wants to test their professional skills like reacting to difficult questions and topics. She deems Cassy, Nicole and Somajia as those who performed best.

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

Afterwards, Season 16 winner Alex-Mariah Peter brings in her own experience when she does a coaching about dealing with negative headlines and hateful comments alongside psychologist Pia Kabitzsch. For this week's live walk, the models are put into comic-themed outfits and have to convince Heidi and guest judge Ashley Graham with a strong walk and poses that have to match speech bubbles beside the runway. Anna-Maria, Anya and Mirella land in the bottom three. In the end, Anya is eliminated and the remaining models fly to Berlin to compete for more castings.

• 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

Casting-time! The models make a stop in Berlin and have the chance to book a runway job at fashion week if they impress designer Kilian Kerner. Nicole and Nina were later booked for his show. Olivia persuades at a casting for NÉONAILS and books this job. Back in L.A., Ida is booked by the handbag label ZOÉ LU for her second job. At elimination, guest judges Kilian Kerner and Anna Dello Russo judge the girls' walks in a sea of balls. Cassy and Marielena are eliminated after landing in the bottom three with Maike.

• Booked for job: Ida Kulis, Nicole Reitbauer, Nina Kablitz & Olivia Hounkpati
• Bottom three: Cassy Cassau, Maike Nitsch & Marielena Aponte
• Eliminated: Cassy Cassau & Marielena Aponte
• Special guest: Anna Dello Russo, Kilian Kerner & Martina Gleißeneibner Teskey

Turn up the music! The models portray legendary songs of past decades like "We are Family" or slip into the roles of the Beatles in order to get a good photo. Guest judge Thomas Hayo is present for the whole week. Selma is booked for her second job by Emmi Caffé Latte. At the live walk, the models present outfits by The Blonds to Rock'n'Roll music. Maike is eliminated.

• Booked for job: Selma Schröder
• Eliminated: Maike Nitsch
• Featured photographer: Derek Kettela
• Special guest: Thomas Hayo

The models get a surprise visit from their loved ones at home who then get to watch the contestants in action at the "rich girl" photo shoot in a luxurious penthouse with photographer Yu Tsai. The visitors from home can also witness the live walk where the girls have to walk with expansive wedding gowns through the crowd. Nina, Olivia and Somajia land in the bottom three; in the end, 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: Angelina Jordan & Sofia Vergara

Welcome to the desert! Kristian Schuller shoots the models in the middle of nowhere with giant balls and blowing fabric. Olivia and Mirella struggle. Selma is flown to Cologne for her third job. At the live walk, the girls model looks by designer Esther Perbrandt in the middle of the desert. Katherine, Mirella, Olivia and Selma land in the bottom four, Olivia and Mirella even in the bottom two. In the end, Mirella is eliminated for her overall weak performance this week.

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

Vegas Baby! The road trip of the models ends with a memorable party night in Las Vegas alongside Heidi. Drama surges due to Coco, Selma and Katherine being underaged to attend a club in the United States. 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 driving truck. Most of the walks do not work out which results into all models repeating their walks on the ground. Heidi receives help with her decision by her GNTM season 9 winner Stefanie Giesinger. In the end, they decide to eliminate Katherine.

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

The Cover is yours! The important Harper's Bazaar cover shoot is here and everything has to be on point to convince Heidi and guest judge Kerstin Schneider. The cover shoot takes place in the desert. Anna-Maria, Ida and Olivia struggle, while Kerstin chooses Somajia, Selma and Vivien to have performed best. At elimination, the girls are transformed into drag queens at Vegas' famous Drag Brunch. In pairs, they have to perform in front of a live audience and lip-sync, as well as deliver their best and most exaggerated walk. Olivia performs best, while Nicole, Somajia, Anna-Maria and Ida struggle. Heidi therefore chooses 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 preluded by a one-hour special that summarizes Heidi's life. And that's not enough: Throughout the day the three most memorable makeovers episodes in GNTM history will be repeated starting with Season 3, followed by Season 4 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 last few remaining models have a final photo shoot to prove themselves: They step into the challenging world of 'Cirque du Soleil' and have to pose at a dizzying height on a trapeze. Coco struggles and Vivien falls into the water way too early. New in this year: The girls already shoot the Mac Cosmetics campaign which is part of the prizes the winner gets. All girls perform well. Philipp Plein fits the girls for their final walk into the finale. Again, Coco struggles to perform on the runway and is eliminated, which makes Nicole, Olivia, Selma, Somajia and Vivien the five finalists.

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

• 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