With more shrieking, sulking and super-high stilettos than ever before, the ninth series of one of LIVING’s best loved
reality shows, America’s Next Top Model, starts exclusively this week. 13 gorgeous girls are striving for the Next Top
Model crown and the prizes of a modelling contract, a $100,000 deal with Covergirl cosmetics and a spread in a magazine
that come with it. Hosting proceedings is Tyra Banks, with 60s star Twiggy, fashion photographer Nigel Barker and
runway coach J Alexander helping her judge which of the girls are high fashion rather than high street.

The show premieres with a double bill, where the spectacular opening episode sees the 33 semi-finalists meet at a port in
San Juan, Puerto Rico where they discover they will be spending the next week aboard a luxury cruise-liner. The girls’ first
task is to walk the runway wearing a lifejacket, and while some of them impress with their natural ability, others fail
miserably. J Alexander even declares that Heather “looks like [she] should be digging up clams” when he sees her odd,
clumpy, hunchbacked walk. Cattiness is the order of the day at dinnertime when, after a misjudged joke, Ebony refuses to
apologise and instead states: “Bitches bite back. I know I’m fabulous. What, do I intimidate you?”

Next up, it’s time for the hopefuls’ individual interviews, where some go to extreme lengths to ensure they stand out.
Yale-educated Victoria admits she thinks some of the other contestants are “dumb”, Janet simulates a bikini-wax on Tyra,
and Bianca reveals her weave cost a mere $25! After a photoshoot in Antigua – where the girls meet series eight winner
Jaslene – 13 are sent home. Next, as the judges discuss who the finalists should be, it becomes clear one of them has
been remembered for all the wrong reasons, when the judges decree she is in need of “a good ol’ high-fashion ass whoopin’”.

Catch the launch of America’s Next Top Model on Living MONDAY 4TH, 9PM