Germany's Next Topmodel season 8


The eighth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on German television network ProSieben from 28 February to 30 May 2013 under the catch phrase Closer than ever.
Due to a decrease in ratings for the show, several changes were done. For the first time the show was produced by RedSeven GmbH, who were also previously producing Austria's Next Topmodel. Fashion photographer Enrique Badulescu joined the panel along with Thomas Hayo, who became the first judge - aside from Klum - since Peyman Amin returned for a third time to the show.
As in the last preceding years, this season featured a preselection without open castings. The first episode started off with 26 semifinalists of whom however only 25 were introduced to the audience. The show however was off with a disappointing launch as it showed a ratings drop in comparison to the last cycle's premiere.
The winner was 16-year-old Lovelyn Enebechi from Hamburg. Her prizes include:
  • A modeling contract with Günther Klum's OneEins GmbH Management.
  • A cover and spread in the German edition of Cosmopolitan.
  • A limited-time apartment stay in a fashion capital of her choice.
  • A €250,000 cash prize.
  • An Opel Adam
The international destinations for this season were set in Dubai, Los Angeles, New York City and Honolulu.

Contestants


ContestantAgeHeightHometownFinishPlace
Clara Zaveta19HamburgEpisode 126
Katharina Oltzow16Bad ArolsenEpisode 125
Merle Lambert16GochEpisode 124
Nancy Limonta22DresdenEpisode 123-21
Lisa Quack17SchüttorfEpisode 123-21
Linda Niewerth17RekenEpisode 123-21
Lisa-Giulia Wende17HamburgEpisode 220
Michelle Maas16TholeyEpisode 219
Höpke Voss19AltenholzEpisode 318-17
Bingyang Liu18CologneEpisode 318-17
Leandra Martin18WürzburgEpisode 316
Laura 'Sophie' Jais23FarchantEpisode 415
Anna Seebrecht16Prien am ChiemseeEpisode 414
Jessika Weidner16Au am RheinEpisode 513
Janna Wiese19SchortensEpisode 612
Veronika Weddeling22BorkenEpisode 711
Jacqueline Thießen16HamburgEpisode 810
Leonie Marwitz16Prien am ChiemseeEpisode 99
Carolin Sünderhauf20MunichEpisode 108
Christine Gischler16EssenEpisode 117
Marie Czuczman16LüdenscheidEpisode 126
Anna Maria Damm16NeuenbürgEpisode 135
Sabrina Elsner20GägelowEpisode 144
Luise Will18RostockEpisode 143
Maike van Grieken19EmdenEpisode 142
Lovelyn Enebechi16HamburgEpisode 141

Summaries

Photo shoot guide

Episode 1 photo shoot: Haute couture in WiesbadenEpisode 2 photo shoots: Posing underwater; harnessed to a Crane in couture gowns; desert beauty shotsEpisode 3 photo shoots: Sedcard; taken by Zombie Boy to the underworldEpisode 4 photo shoot: 'Flower power' beauty shotsEpisode 5 photo shoot: Model mug shotsEpisode 6 photo shoot: Boxing in pairsEpisode 7 photo shoot: New York City sight-seeingEpisode 8 photo shoot: Rodeo Drive street walkersEpisode 9 photo shoot: Mystical fairies in the woodsEpisode 10 photo shoot: Rooftop spies Episode 11 photo shoot: Editorials in Hawaii Episode 12 photo shoot: Famous musiciansEpisode 13 photo shoot: Cosmopolitan covers

Controversy

Episode 8 ended with a cliffhanger, but the fate of the bottom two was "accidentally" revealed on the official website of ProSieben two days before the broadcasting of episode 9. Another faux pas happened during Episode 9. The remaining girls competed for an Opel commercial but before the winner of that was revealed, the spot has already been shown on television.
In Episode 13, the 'top 3' for the live finale were going to be selected, but before the episode aired, it was revealed online and in badly edited episode promos that four girls actually made it through, and Anna Maria was eliminated. As a result, the cycle has come under heavy criticism from many viewers due to the mishaps in editing, fan favorites being eliminated, and the season's ardent focus on quarrels amongst its contestants.
During the live finale, topless FEMEN activists led by Zana Ramadani stormed the stage calling the show "Heidi's Horror Picture Show".

Post ''Topmodel'' Career

Contestant Carolin Sünderhauf proved to be the most successful model from the season, booking fashion spreads for Oyster, Elle South Africa, Superpaper, Marie Claire Australia, Elle Sweden, Cosmopolitan Germany, Grazia Germany, L'Officiel Paris, Glamour UK & Teen Vogue. Lookbooks for Altuzarra, Zara & Espirit. And Runway shows for Sonia Rykiel, Malene Birger, Brock Collection, Self Portrait and Junya Watanabe. And did a spreads and was on the covers of Gloria, Coco Indie & Annabelle Magazine.