America's Next Top Model season 12

America's Next Top Model season 12
Promotional photograph of the cast of Cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model
Created by	Tyra Banks
Developed by	Ken Mok Kenya Barris
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producers	Tyra Banks Ken Mok Daniel Soiseth
Running time	60 minutes
Original release
Network	The CW
Release	March 4, 2009 - May 13, 2009

America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12 is the twelfth cycle of America's Next Top Model and the sixth season to air on The CW network. It premiered on March 4, 2009. The cycle's catch phrase is "Get In The Fold." The cycle's promotional song is Lady Gaga's "The Fame".

The first half of the cycle took place in New York City, moving the show back from Los Angeles last season. The international destination for this cycle is São Paulo, Brazil.

The number of girls was once again reduced to 13, the first time since Cycle 9, after being maintained at 14 in the last two cycles.

Episode summaries

What Happens In Vegas

Aired: March 4, 2009

34 semi-finalists arrive at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they are dressed up as "goddesses" and take a profile shot before showing off their walks. Later that night, Tyra arrives dressed up as the "Goddess of Fierce", and tells the models that she is looking for a successor.

Notable interviews include London revealing that she is a street preacher, Tahlia showing her burn scars, Kathryn disappointing the panel for not knowing 5 working models, but then impressed them by citing 3 designers, and Monique confessing that she is a conspiracy theorist. In between interviews, Angelea reveals she had a daughter who died, and that she slept in the New York Port Authority bus terminal just so she could audition.

Later, a first cut is made, and 21 girls remain, each having to portray a certain goddess. During the shoot, Sandra and Angelea fight, greatly affecting the latter's performance. Tyra then selects the final 13.

• Featured photographer: Jessica Brooks

Fun and Games

Aired: March 4, 2009

After a trip to the roof of the Empire State Building where Celia Ammerman is handed the key to the house (and the right to choose her bed) by Nigel and Paulina, the 13 girls move into their New York City loft but quickly realize there are only 12 beds available. Celia takes Sandra's bed, and Sandra starts stirring up trouble by claiming it back until London gives up hers.

The ladies participate in their first fashion show for Abaeté and Sandra only walks half the runway. Tahlia's confidence is crushed when the designer dresses her up fully so as to cover her scars. They later head to Central Park for their first photo shoot where they bring well-known childhood games to life.

Contestant	Childhood Game
Allison	Double Dutch
Aminat	London Bridge
Celia	Hula hoop
Fo	Ring Around the Rosie
Isabella	Dodgeball
Jessica	Jacks
Kortnie	Monkey bars
London	Tug of War
Natalie	Leapfrog
Nijah	Musical chairs
Sandra	Hide and seek
Tahlia	Tag
Teyona	Hopscotch

Allison, Celia and London impressed the judges with their photos, whilst Sandra, Isabella, Tahlia and Jessica struggled to make it work. Allison's picture was unanimously rated the best and, just like in Cycle 11, her picture would be displayed as digital art in their house. The bottom two came down to Isabella and Sandra, where, despite Sandra's poor performances on the runway and in the photo shoot, Isabella was eliminated for failing to know even model basics.

• Bottom two: Isabella Falk & Sandra Nyanchoka
• Eliminated: Isabella Falk
• Featured photographer: Fadil Berisha
• Special guests: Laura Poretzky, Sutan

Do You Light The Way I Look?

Aired: March 11, 2009

It is makeover time. Most of them are pleased by their new looks, but Fo is saddened by the loss of her hair and her presumed femininity. In a Top Model first, Natalie is not given a makeover, as she is deemed to be sufficiently modelesque the way she is. That night the girls go to a bar and Sandra causes tension with Aminat by insinuating that she could get drunk.

The next day, the girls are introduced to their first reward challenge. In teams of 3, they have to search the streets of New York for a woman that embodies the spirit of CoverGirl and act as spokesmodels for the brand, as well as help her do her makeup. Team 1 consisting of Aminat, Celia and Sandra wins the reward of doing a photo shoot that will be displayed on Walmart.com.

The week’s photo shoot requires the girls to direct their own lighting using glowsticks. Fo’s discomfort over her makeover causes her to cry on set, disrupting the shoot. The judges are impressed by Teyona, Celia, Allison, Natalie and London, but are disappointed with a large majority of the rest. Despite a good photo, Fo lands in the bottom two because the judges are concerned that she is unable to be a chameleon, but it is Jessica who is sent home for being unable to translate her beauty into photos.

• Bottom two: Fo Porter & Jessica Santiago
• Eliminated: Jessica Santiago
• Featured photographer: Nigel Barker
• Special guests: Nolé Marin, John Barrett, Elyssa Starkman

New York's Finest

Aired: March 18, 2009

The 11 remaining models attend Miss J's Charm School to practice their runway walks. Cycle 9 contestants Bianca and Chantal were there to give advice to the girls. Back at the house, tension arose when Natalie claimed that Tahlia's picture last week was the worst in the entire group. Teyona received a new weave after Tyra admitted in the last panel that it wasn't what she wanted.

The girls were challenged to walk for Jill Stuart, wearing her Spring Collection and carrying large shopping bags. Despite making a mistake on the runway, Natalie wins the challenge and received a selection of items from the Jill Stuart collection.

The photo shoot involved posing in groups as different characters in famous Manhattan locations:

Contestants	Role and location
Allison & London	Socialites on Fifth Avenue
Aminat & Fo	Stockbrokers on Wall Street
Celia & Sandra	Nannies on Upper East Side
Kortnie & Nijah	Artists in SoHo
Natalie, Tahlia and Teyona	Tourists in Times Square

Sandra impressed the judges with her editorial posing and received the first callout. Aminat, Fo and Tahlia also impressed the judges having their photos being their best so far. In the end, Allison, having disappointed the judges by over-analysing her shot, landed in the bottom two with Nijah. However, it was Nijah who was cut for her lackluster photos and relying too much on being beautiful to get by in the competition.

• Bottom two: Allison Harvard & Nijah Harris
• Eliminated: Nijah Harris
• Featured photographer: Mike Rosenthal
• Special guests: Jill Stuart, Ann Shoket, Bianca Golden, Chantal Jones
• Top Model in Action: Bianca Golden (Cycle 9)

Put Your Best Face Forward

Aired: March 25, 2009

Tocarra Jones of Cycle 3 comes for a slumber party and teaches the girls about personality. The next day, the ladies are taught by Benny Ninja how to strike different poses with different genres of music where most of the girls struggle but Natalie and Celia shine, before being challenged to a pose-off later at night. Celia and Natalie make it to the final round, but it was Celia won the challenge.

Tahlia's confidence is once again shattered by the audience's negative reaction during her performance and she considers quitting. This sparks a series of reactions from the girls, especially Celia, who are shocked that she might make it over someone who wants to be there more than she does.

This week's photo shoot where the girls had become one of the Ellis Island immigrants and Tahlia once again expresses her desire to quit in the make-up room. The pictures were taken via old-fashioned cameras. Tahlia's improvement impressed the judges and she received the first call-out. Sandra, despite her poor performances in the challenge and photo shoot, was yet again spared elimination when Kortnie was sent home for not having an intense photograph.

Afterwards, Celia told Tyra that Tahlia wanted to quit the competition, and found it unfair to eliminate other girls with more passion, but was rebutted by Tyra, who said that Tahlia should be the one to express her own feelings, not her. The judges' decision, therefore, cannot be altered anymore.

• Bottom two: Kortnie Coles & Sandra Nyanchoka
• Eliminated: Kortnie Coles
• Featured photographer: Brian Edwards
• Special guests: Benny Ninja, David Blond, Phillipe Blond, Sky Nellor, Toccara Jones
• Top Model in Action: April Wilkner (Cycle 2)

Here's Your Test

Aired: April 1, 2009

The fallout of the previous week's elimination continues to rock the house as the girls return home, and a divide is created between Aminat, Teyona and Tahlia and the rest of the house.

The girls' challenge is to pose using face cut-outs in famous photos of Tyra Banks. Celia is criticised for focusing too much on her body, while London and Natalie excel. Natalie is ultimately chosen as the winner, and she receives 50% more frames at the next photo shoot as her prize. Back at the house later, Tahlia and Celia discuss the previous elimination, with Tahlia expressing her humiliation and disappointment in Celia's behavior. Celia says she does not regret saying what she said, but says humiliating Tahlia was not her intention and apologizes, saying she feels sure she will be eliminated at panel.

This week's photo shoot sees the girls taking beauty shots using different colored powders.

Contestant	Color
Allison	Pink
Aminat	Green
Celia	Gray
Fo	Red
London	Blue
Natalie	Orange
Sandra	White
Tahlia	Violet
Teyona	Yellow

At panel, the judges are impressed by Fo and Teyona's photos. Tahlia and Aminat also receive positive feedback. Allison receives a reprimand from panel for relying on one look in all of her photos, while London, Natalie and Sandra are criticized. Celia is praised for embodying her color and for strong personal style, but admonished for her actions at the previous panel. Ultimately Sandra and Celia land in the bottom two; Sandra for being unable to take a strong face-on photo, and Celia for her 'ugly behavior'. Ultimately, Celia is spared because of her strong photos.

• Bottom two: Celia Ammerman & Sandra Nyanchoka
• Eliminated: Sandra Nyanchoka
• Featured photographer: Keith Major
• Special guests: Beth Stern
• Top Model in Action: Whitney Thompson (Cycle 10)

Acting Like a Model

Aired: April 8, 2009

The girls are taught acting skills by Paulina, which leads them to act out a scene with Clay Aiken. Celia and London excel, while Allison and Tahlia are criticized for holding back too much. London wins the challenge, and $5,000 worth of clothing. However, she gives most of them away as she felt she had gained weight and would not be able to fit in them.

Instead of a photo shoot, the girls have a CoverGirl commercial with the aid of a teleprompter. They are split into two groups: Allison, Aminat, Celia and Teyona are in Group 1 and Fo, London, Natalie and Tahlia form Group 2.

At panel, all of the girls receive criticism. Celia is praised again for her strong fashion sense although it is pointed out how much older she looks. Teyona is told she is not telegenic. Allison's commercial is criticized, both for her one-note expressions and delivery, and she is ordered to swap clothes with Teyona, as she was wearing an outfit that she had worn before. Aminat is criticized for clipping words and London is told her performance was lazy and the judges comment on her weight gain during deliberation. Natalie is told she looks good, but is forgettable; Fo stutters through her commercial and is told that she performs better in the background of other commercials. Tahlia struggled, with the judges commenting that she looks older than her years.

Ultimately, Celia receives the first call out for standing out in a batch of weak commercials. Allison and Tahlia land in the bottom two, with Allison being told she has only one look, and Tahlia that her low self-esteem holds her back. With that, Tahlia is sent home.

• Bottom two: Allison Harvard & Tahlia Brookins
• Eliminated: Tahlia Brookins
• Featured commercial director: Peter Chelkowski
• Special guests: Clay Aiken, McKey Sullivan, Elyssa Starkman
• Top Model in Action: Heather Kuzmich (Cycle 9)

Cycle 12 Rewind

Aired: April 10, 2009

This is the recap episode. It featured unaired clips such as two verbal altercations between Nijah and Sandra, Celia giving her breakdown of the girls at casting, Allison's drawings (including a nose-bleeding Tyra), a montage of Natalie sleeping, Fo's incessant crying, Sandra's repeatedly reiterating she was there to become America's next top model, Aminat and Teyona stripping on the runway, Sandra's breakdown during Toccara's visit and her reaction to Celia's judging disruption, McKey baking a cake for the girls, Kortnie, Allison and Celia making a bird house and more insight into Allison and Celia's friendship.

• Top Model in Action: Claire Unabia (Cycle 10)

Take Me To The Photo Shoot

Aired: April 15, 2009

The week's reward challenge had the girls become the creative directors of their competitors' photo shoots as they take pictures for a South Pole Junior advert. Allison impresses Jay with her bubbly personality while Aminat's laid back attitude infuriates him as she is using too much time on wardrobe and only has 4 minutes to get Natalie on set. Celia gives good direction but selects a picture where Fo’s shoes are cropped out. Teyona's creativity amazes Jay and she is chosen as the winner and gets the opportunity to appear in the June issue of Seventeen magazine, which she shares with Aminat and Celia.

The next morning, Jay visits the girls at their own house and brings in the entire glam squad. R&B superstar Ciara arrives at this week's photo shoot, and the girls have to portray crazed fans of the star tangled up in wires. While Teyona, Fo and Natalie excel in the shoot, Aminat and Allison struggle to deliver a shot. London's weight gain is too obvious to be ignored, and Jay discusses it with her after her photo shoot.

A male model appears at the beginning of panel and presents Tyra with a bowl of Brazil nuts, leading her to tell the girls that the six models who survive elimination will be going to São Paulo, Brazil for the rest of the competition. Teyona receives the first call out while Aminat and London wind up in the bottom two, each for the first time; Aminat for her bland shot and dead facial expression, and London for not using her conventional beauty well in her photo. In the end, London is eliminated.

• Bottom two: Aminat Ayinde & London Levi-Nance
• Eliminated: London Levi-Nance
• Featured photographer: Mike Ruiz
• Special guests: Ann Shoket, Ciara
• Top Model in Action: Bre Scullark (Cycle 5)

The Amazing Model Race

Aired: April 22, 2009

Upon arrival in São Paulo, Brazil, the remaining six contestants are greeted by Brazil's Next Top Model host Fernanda Motta and must race in pairs to deliver flowers to Helô Pinheiro, "The Girl from Ipanema." Natalie and Fo are the first to arrive and they receive prizes as well as the keys to their new home.

The following day, the girls learn the martial art of Capoeira and Celia accidentally kicks Aminat in the face during practice. They are then challenged to perform while attempting to produce a good photograph. Most girls struggle, such as Celia who repeatedly blocks her face, Teyona who does capoeira more than she models, and Natalie who doesn't push through. Fo's photo is chosen as the best, granting her 50% more frames during the next photo shoot while another contestant of her choice will lose 50%. Fo, still bitter that Teyona did not choose her to share in her reward during the previous episode, chose Teyona to lose half of her frames.

For this week's photo shoot, the models must embody Brazilian icon Carmen Miranda. Allison surprises Jay with her creativity and Teyona excels despite having only 25 frames. On the other hand, Aminat and Fo struggle to deliver a shot with Jay criticizing Fo as interpreting the Brazilian icon too literally that she loses her model sense.

At panel, Allison's photo receives praise for her successful embodiment of the icon and Teyona's photo is deemed as the only "model" shot in the bunch. Despite the good photo, Teyona's wardrobe is criticized while Celia's photo is chastised for not looking fresh. In the end, it was Natalie and Aminat whom are lambasted for their boring pictures and they consequently land in the bottom two. The judges see more potential in Aminat and eliminate Natalie for having an uninspiring personality and portfolio throughout the competition.

• Bottom two: Aminat Ayinde & Natalie Pack
• Eliminated: Natalie Pack
• Featured photographer: Daniel Klajmick
• Special guests: Fernanda Motta, Helô Pinheiro
• Top Model in Action: Eva Pigford (Cycle 3)

Let's Go See The City

Aired: April 29, 2009

The girls meet Paulo Borges, the director of São Paulo Fashion Week before being sent on go-sees throughout the city. Despite a high fashion portfolio, Allison's runway walk becomes a major problem while Celia's age does not sit well with some of the designers. Aminat's personality and walk are praised. Fo attends all her go-sees but none of the designers book her. Celia and Fo are disqualified for being late while the rest of the girls fly by helicopter to meet Paulo at the fashion week headquarters. Teyona wins the challenge as she is booked by all three of her go-sees and wins clothes from each designer.

For this week's photo shoot, the girls have to pose in a swimsuit while standing out on a crowded beach. Allison is praised for her ability to work on set and get connected with her surroundings and Teyona is noted for her utmost understanding of her angles. Aminat, Celia and Fo struggle to perform.

At panel, Teyona receives universal praise both for her stellar photo as well as her modelesque appearance. Both Celia and Fo are called forward as the bottom two; Celia is criticized for looking old in her picture while Fo is unable to mask her lack of height. In the end, Celia's body of work wins the judges over and Fo is eliminated.

• Bottom two: Celia Ammerman & Fo Porter
• Eliminated: Fo Porter
• Featured photographer: Nigel Barker
• Special guests: Paulo Borges, Fabienne Muzy, Adriana Degreas, Caio Campos, Clo Orozco, Cris Barros, Oskar Metsavaht, Adriana Bozon, Vanessa Da Silveira
• Top Model in Action: Samantha Potter (Cycle 11)

Take Me To The Jungle

Airs: May 6, 2009

The girls arrive at Águia de Ouro and meet Paulina where they learn the steps in samba dance. The next day, they are put to the test and have to create an illusion of having a good time through the dance that they have learned. Celia manages to relax her face and deliver a convincing performance, winning her jewelry from Ara Vartanian worth over $7,000, which she shares with Allison.

For this week’s photo shoot, the girls travel to the Brazilian jungle where they are dressed as exotic birds sitting in their nests. Allison’s composure on set gets praise and Celia is lauded for looking fresh and being creative. On the other hand, Aminat’s inability to use her face to catch the light impedes her performance while Teyona struggles against various elements during her photo shoot.

At panel, Allison’s photo is deemed the best and she is called first, followed by Teyona, who breaks down due to the overwhelming concern for her overall performance. Aminat’s lack of understanding towards her angles worries the judges and she lands in the bottom two with Celia, who is castigated for looking too mature. However, Aminat is given another chance to prove herself and Celia is sent home.

• Bottom two: Aminat Ayinde & Celia Ammerman
• Eliminated: Celia Ammerman
• Featured photographer: Tyra Banks
• Special guests: Juliana Leite, Eduardo Ramos, Ara Vartanian, Ann Shoket
• Top Model in Action: Yaya Da Costa, (Cycle 3)

America's Next Top Model Is...

Airs: May 13, 2009

Three semi-finalists complete their CoverGirl commercial before one is eliminated. Then, the two finalists shoot their Seventeen magazine cover, and show the judges their fiercest moves when they, literally, crawl down the final runway.

• Bottom two:
• Eliminated:
• Final two:
• America's Next Top Model:
• Featured photographers:
• Featured commercial directors:
• Special guests:
• Top Model in Action:

Contestants

In Order Of Elimination

(ages stated are at time of contest)

• Kelly "Isabella" Falk, 19, Barboursville, Virginia
• Jessica Santiago, 18, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Nijah Harris, 18, Rancho Cucamonga, California
• Kortnie Coles, 24, Houston, Texas
• Sandra Nyanchoka, 19, Rockville, Maryland
• Tahlia Brookins, 18, Phoenix, Arizona
• Lauren "London" Levi-Nance, 18, Arlington, Texas
• Natalie Pack, 19, Palos Verdes, California
• Felicia "Fo" Porter, 19, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Celia Ammerman, 25, Cynthiana, Kentucky

Still in the Running

• Teyona Anderson, 20, Woodstown, New Jersey
• Aminat Ayinde, 21, Union, New Jersey
• Allison Harvard, 20, New Orleans, Louisiana

Summaries

Call-out order

Tyra's call-out order

Order	Episodes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	9	10	11	12	13
1	Aminat	Allison	Teyona	Sandra	Tahlia	Fo	Celia	Teyona	Allison	Teyona	Allison
2	Natalie	Fo	Celia	Aminat	Teyona	Teyona	Natalie	Fo	Teyona	Allison	Teyona
3	Fo	Teyona	Allison	Tahlia	Allison	Tahlia	Teyona	Natalie	Fo	Aminat	Aminat
4	Allison	London	Natalie	Fo	Natalie	Aminat	Fo	Celia	Celia	Celia	Celia
5	Tahlia	Celia	London	Celia	London	Allison	London	Allison	Aminat	Fo
6	Celia	Nijah	Nijah	Kortnie	Aminat	Natalie	Aminat	Aminat	Natalie
7	Nijah	Kortnie	Tahlia	London	Celia	London	Allison	London
8	London	Natalie	Sandra	Teyona	Fo	Celia	Tahlia
9	Teyona	Aminat	Kortnie	Natalie	Sandra	Sandra
10	Kortnie	Tahlia	Aminat	Allison	Kortnie
11	Isabella	Jessica	Fo	Nijah
12	Jessica	Sandra	Jessica
13	Sandra	Isabella

  The contestant won the reward challenge

  The contestant won two reward challenges

  The contestant won the reward challenge, but was eliminated

  The contestant was eliminated

  The contestant won the competition

• In episode 1, the pool of 21 girls was reduced to 13 who moved on to the main competition. However, this first call-out does not reflect their performance that first week.
• Episode 8 was the recap episode, in which it revealed that Celia won an unaired reward challenge in episode 2, her prize being the key to the house and the first choice of beds.
• In episode 10, Fo and Natalie won a team challenge, and Fo later won a second individual challenge.
• In episode 11, Celia and Fo were disqualified from the challenge for being late.

Makeovers

• Allison: Long blonde weave
• Aminat: Long, Naomi Campbell weave
• Celia: Cut short
• Fo: Cut short
• Jessica: Cut, volumized, and red highlights added
• Kortnie: Dyed red
• London: Cut short and dyed blonde
• Natalie: No change
• Nijah: Long weave
• Sandra: Buzzed off and dyed blonde
• Tahlia: Blonde weave
• Teyona: Long curly weave; later, Beverly Peele inspired weave

Photo Shoot Guide

• Episode 1 Photo Shoot: Goddess Profile, Types of Goddesses (casting)
• Episode 2 Photo Shoot: Childhood Games
• Episode 3 Photo Shoot: Group Shots using Lightbars
• Episode 4 Photo Shoot: NYC Sightseeing
• Episode 5 Photo Shoot: Ellis Island Immigrants
• Episode 6 Photo Shoot: Extreme Beauty Shots Evoking Different Colors
• Episode 7 Commercial: CoverGirl TRUblend Micro Minerals Foundation
• Episode 9 Photo Shoot: Crazed Ciara Fans
• Episode 10 Photoshoot: Embodying Carmen Miranda in a favela
• Episode 11 Photoshoot: Swimsuits
• Episode 12 Photoshoot: Exotic Birds
• Episode 13 Photoshoot & Commercial: CoverGirl Commercial and Print Ad / Seventeen Magazine Cover

Judges

• Tyra Banks
• J. Alexander
• Nigel Barker
• Paulina Porizkova

Other Cast Members

• Jay Manuel - Photo Director
• Sutan - Make-up Artist
• Christian Marc - Hair Stylist
• Anda & Masha - Wardrobe

External links

• Official website
• America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12 at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com