The fourteenth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on ProSieben from February to May 2019 under the catch phrase More Glam, More Stars, More Heidi.
The winner of this season was 22-year-old Simone Kowalski from Stade. Her prizes including a modeling contract worth €140,000 with ONEeins fab Management, a spread and cover in the German Harper's Bazaar, a €100,000 cash prize, a campaign for Michael Michalsky's parfum and for Palmolive.
Starting this season, there is no jury. This would remain unchanged for all the following seasons. Thomas Hayo and Michael Michalsky are not returning for their spots as judges, whilst the teams and battle concept are removed as well. Both Hayo and Michalsky's place at judging remained open for guest judges each week. However, Hayo remains as a recurring guest judge.
At the start of the new season, Heidi Klum met her Top 50 model contenders for a glittering dinner in Berlin. Then, she revealed that the girls have to walk in their first fashion show for designer Michael Michalsky. After the show, 30 girls got chosen.
Heidi Klum traveled with her 30 finalists to Sölden, Austria. Then, the girls had their first challenge. They had to compete in a shoot, in two teams and in sexy ski outfits against each other. Heidi choose Sayana and Tatjana to be the leader of their group. The prize was that the winning team would moving into a luxury hotel, whilst the losing team had to move in a rustic hut.
The winning team was Tatjana's team. At the first main photo shoot with Kristian Schuller, the girls turned into radiant snow queens. And fashion designer Wolfgang Joop surprised the models with a professional runway teaching for the perfect appearance on the catwalk. At elimination, Catharina was eliminated but got a wildcard from Wolfgang and was saved. In the end, Anastasiya, Ann-Kathrin, Debora and Marlene were eliminated.
Challenge winner: Team Tatjana (Cäcilia Zimmer, Caroline Krüger, Celine Hamann, Julia Helm, Joelle Pascai-Quednau, Justine Klippenstein, Lena Lischewski, Leonela Hires, Loriane Glocke, Melissa Hemberger, Olivia Rhode, Sarah Almoril, Simone Kowalski, Tatjana Wiedemann & Theresia Fischer)
The new week started with a photoshoot. The girls had to pose as farm girls with Jordan Barrett. After the photoshoot, the girls had a catwalk training with Heidi. Then, the girls had to walk against each other in a challenge. Each one girl of the teams.
The challenge has won by Team Sayana (Team Hütte). At elimination, Joelle was eliminated but got a wildcard from Ellen and was saved. In the end, Celine, Loriane, Maria and Naomi were eliminated.
Quit: Olivia Rhode
Challenge winner: Team Sayana (Alicija Köhler, Catharina Maranca, Enisa Bukvic, Jasmin Cadete Rosado, Kim Dammer, Luna Dukadjinac, Maria Willhauk, Naomi Ufelle, Melina Lucht, Sayana Ranjan & Vanessa Stanat)
Wildcard: Joelle Pascai Quednau
Eliminated: Celine Hamann, Loriane Glocke, Maria Willhauk & Naomi Ufelle
The girls arrived in Los Angeles. But Kim decided to quit the competition for personal reason and Jasmin couldn't fly because of problems back at home. They met with Winnie Harlow after they arrived. Winnie told the girls that they gonna be divided into 2 teams for this week's challenge. The leaders of the 2 groups were Lena and Simone. They had an Instagram challenge, where the girls had to make an Insta-story in Hollywood Boulevard.
The winning team was Team Lena. They received clothes from Levi's when they arrived into the model villa. Then, the girls had an interview training with Julia Bauer. In this week's photoshoot the girls where dressed as alien stewardesses in which they were suspended in the air. Also, all of the photo where posted on Instagram and the girl who would get the most likes for her photo would be immune from elimination. At elimination, Enisa was immune for having the most likes for her photo. In the end, Catharina, Joelle and Melina were eliminated.
Quit: Kim Dammer
Challenge winner: Team Lena (Alicija Köhler, Cäcilia Zimmer, Enisa Bukvic, Julia Helm, Justine Klippenstein, Lena Lischewski, Leonela Hires, Sarah Almoril, Sayana Ranjan & Vanessa Stanat)
Immune: Enisa Bukvic
Eliminated: Catharina Maranca, Joelle Juana Pascai-Quednau & Melina Lucht
Jasmin had arrived in Los Angeles. But the girls were not happy about that. This week was the big makeover. But with the help and advice, the girls were assisted by guest judge and Germany's Next Topmodel, season 9 winner Stefanie Giesinger. This week's photoshoot was the sedcard shoot. At the elimination, the girls walked in dresses from designer Michael Costello. But at the end of the catwalk, the girls had also to make a speech of their love for their own reflection. In the end, Leonela was eliminated.
The week started with a casting for About You. Sayana and Simone were booked for the job. At the photoshoot, the girls had to pose in the desert and in pairs. After the shoot, the girls had a Haute couture walk training with topmodel Toni Garrn. At the elimination, Enisa, Justine, Luna and Vanessa landed in the bottom four. Enisa got a wildcard from Toni and was saved. In the end, Luna was eliminated.
The week started with a visit from supermodel Gisele Bündchen. The girls were very pleased about that. On the next day, Enisa had a panic attack and decided to quit the competition. In their next photoshoot, the girls had to pose nude with puppies. The girls also wore jewelry worth $2.5 million. After the photoshoot, Alicija was booked for a job.
In the most shocking elimination yet, Jasmin was disqualified from the competition after getting involved in a physical altercation with Lena. After Jasmin left, Heidi announced that there will be no further elimination this week and no one else would be going home.
Quit: Enisa Bukvic
Booked for job: Alicija Köhler
Bottom two: Jasmin Cadete Rosado & Lena Lischewski
The top 13 headed to Miami this week. Then, the girls had to do a casting marathon for 5 different clients.
After the casting marathon, the girls flew back to Los Angeles. In L.A., the girls had their next photoshoot. The girls had to jump as elegantly as possible from a three-meter tower into a swimming pool with a big bag and in bikinis from Heidi's own collection. On the next day, the girls had to walk in a fashion show for designer Christian Cowan. After that was the elimination. Julia, Melissa and Sayana landed in the bottom three. In the end, Melissa was eliminated, thus sparing Julia and Sayana.
Booked for job: Sarah Almoril, Simone Kowalski, Tatjana Wiedemann, Theresia Fischer & Vanessa Stanat
Bottom three: Julia Helm, Melissa Hemberger & Sayana Ranjan
The week started with a visit from moderator and entertainer Thomas Gottschalk. Alicija, Julia, Sarah and Vanessa were invited to a casting for
the magazine ELLE. Alicija and Vanessa were booked for the job. In their next photoshoot, the girls had to pose in a circus with snakes. At elimination, the girls had to perform an act in front of an audience. In the end, Justine was eliminated.
The week started with a dance teaching with Creative Director Thomas Hayo. The girls were also divided into 4 groups.
After that, Cäcilia and Vanessa were invited to a casting for NYLON magazine in Amsterdam. Cäcilia was booked for the job. On the next day, the girls had a video shoot inspired by John Travolta's "Saturday Night Fever". At the elimination, the girls had a David Bowie inspired fashion show. Lena and Theresia landed in the bottom two. In the end, Theresia was eliminated.
The top 10 met with their co-partners for their next photoshoot and designer Michael Michalsky in the model villa. Michael Michalsky announced that the girls would each pose with a male model in their next photoshoot. On the next day, the girls had to pose with the male model in the rain. The girls also had a casting for John Frieda. Sarah and Simone were booked for the job. At elimination, Julia and Lena landed in the bottom two. In the end, Julia was eliminated.
Heidi surprised the girls with an invitation for the amfAR Gala. Cäcilia and Vanessa were chosen to fly to New York and to go to the amfAR Gala. After that, was the next big photoshoot for the girls with star photographer Yu Tsai. The girls had a foam party with It-girl Paris Hilton. On the next day, was the elimination. The girls had to walk in elegant dresses with headdresses made of balloons. Lena and Tatjana landed in the bottom two. Paris Hilton got a wildcard from Heidi and was allowed to save one of the two girls. She chose Tatjana, while Lena was eliminated.
The week started with dance teaching with 4 drag queens: Derrick Barry, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo & Nebraska Thunderfuck. After that, the girls had their next photoshoot. The girls were dressed as anime girls, while cycling a bike in the air. On the next day, the girls had a casting for Magdeburg-LosAngeles. Simone was booked for the job. At the elimination, the girls had to dance as drag queens in groups of two.
Cäcilia, Sayana & Tatjana landed in the bottom three. Cäcilia was saved, leaving Sayana and Tatjana in the bottom two. Guest judge Bill Kaulitz got a wildcard and saved Sayana. In the end, Tatjana was eliminated.
Booked for job: Simone Kowalski
Bottom three: Cäcilia Zimmer, Sayana Ranjan & Tatjana Wiedemann
The week started with a teaching with Heidi about their signature walks. On the next day, the girls had a casting for Sephora. Simone was booked for the job. After that, the girls had a body painting photoshoot on Rodeo Drive. After the shoot, Sarah was eliminated. At elimination, the girls had to show their signature walks in a fashion show in front of supermodel Naomi Campbell and photographer Matt McCabe. In the end, Caroline was eliminated.
Shoot-out: Caroline Krüger & Sarah Almoril
Eliminated outside of judging panel: Sarah Almoril
The week started with the Harper's Bazaar cover shoot. On the next day, the girls got visits from their family and friends. At the elimination, the girls had their last runway show. They wore Amato haute couture dresses. After that, Vanessa became the 1st finalist. Then, Simone became the 2nd finalist and Cäcilia became the 3rd finalist. Alicija and Sayana landed in the bottom two. In the end, Alicija was eliminated, making Sayana the 4th finalist.
At the end of the episode, it was announced that Vanessa decided to quit the competition because of personal problems - making Cäcilia, Sayana and Simone the Top 3.
The final started with a girl-power inspired fashion show. Then followed the first elimination, with Cäcilia became the first grand finalist to be eliminated. Then, Sayana and Simone had to prove again on the runway. The last task was a crowd surfing photoshoot with male models. After the final runway, Simone was declared the winner of Germany's Next Topmodel.
Final three: Cäcilia Zimmer, Sayana Ranjan & Simone Kowalski
The contestant was in the bottom or originally eliminated from the competition but was saved by the guest judge
The contestant was disqualified from the competition
The contestant was eliminated outside of judging panel
The contestant was eliminated
The contestant won the competition
^In episode 1, Marlene was originally eliminated but was saved by guest judge Lena Gercke.
^In episode 2, Catharina was originally eliminated but was saved by guest judge Wolfgang Joop.
^In episode 3, Olivia decided to quit the competition. Joelle was originally eliminated but was saved by guest judge Ellen von Unwerth.
^In episode 4, Kim decided to quit the competition. Jasmin was not present in the episode due to problems back at home. Enisa was immune for having the most likes for her photo.
^In episode 6, Enisa was in the bottom four but was saved by guest judge Toni Garrn.
^In episode 7, Enisa decided to quit the competition. Furthermore, Jasmin was disqualified from the competition after getting involved in a physical altercation with Lena, automatically saving Lena from elimination. After that, Heidi told all the remaining girls that there will be no further elimination in that week.
^In episode 12, Tatjana landed in the bottom two with Lena but was saved by guest judge Paris Hilton.
^In episode 13, Sayana landed in the bottom three but was saved by guest judge Bill Kaulitz.
^In episode 14, Sarah was eliminated outside of judging panel after losing the shoot-out. Simone was booked for the job and got immunity.
^In episode 15, Vanessa decided to quit the competition - making Cäcilia, Sayana and Simone the Top 3.
Photo shoot guide
Episode 2 photo shoot: Snow queens
Episode 3 photo shoot: Posing as farm girls with Jordan Barrett
In episode 7, there was a physical fight between contestants Jasmin Cadete and Lena Lischewski shown on Television, leading to the disqualification of Cadete. The lawyer of Lischewski sued ProSieben and the cameramen saying: "It is unacceptable that a television station films how a minor is beaten by another participant during the filming and the present camera crew does not intervene immediately, but continues to film the scene."[2]
After Vanessa Stanat quit, ProSieben took over her official Instagram account. Shortly after, Stanat did not have access to her personal account either. Many, including Stanat herself, believe that this happened due to ProSieben being angry about her announcing her quit just a few weeks before the finale. Rebecca Mir took to Instagram to discredit Stanat, however she and ProSieben received backlash, because ProSieben shared personal information about Stanat with Mir.[3]
In August 2022 in the wake of allegations by former participants against Germany's Next Topmodel, the winner of the 14th season, Simone Kowalski, also spoke up as she said: "Top Model is very dangerous for today's and the previous generations! Many young women have mental trauma! Heidi says she's just being the hostess, but she has a responsibility to at least face the pain and trauma that has been inflicted on many girls!". Kowalski also teamed up with America's Next Top Model contestant Lisa D'Amato to talk about her traumatic experiences with Germany's Next Topmodel.[4] She said during the interview, that Germany’s Next Topmodel made her sick: "They took everything from me, I almost lost my family, my friends, all my money. It was inhuman - they broke me mentally. I came on the show healthy and got sick." She also said that after the show she was forced against her will to work for Heidi Klum's father. To former contestants defending the show, she says: "Good for you, but not for everyone". In her opinion, Germany's Next Topmodel should be discontinued.[5][6]
In February 2023 Der Spiegel gives a glimpse into the notorious gag contracts that candidates have to sign in order to be able to take part in the Heidi Klum show. According to the Hamburg lawyer Jörg Nabert, these are "illegal gag contracts". The contract binds the women to an agency for two years. A regulation that, according to Nabert, is not customary in the industry. The participants also agree that the recordings "present them in a way that they don't like themselves". According to Der Spiegel, the contracts say: "The contributors are aware of any burdens that may result for them". If necessary, “substantive suggestions” would be made and enforced by the show management. Germany's Next Topmodel can thus stylize people like Tessa Bergmeier (Season 4) as "bitches" without them being able to defend themselves effectively afterwards. Heidi Klum's casting show goes further than similar formats with this practice.[7][8]
In February 2023, the Berliner Zeitung published an article about the show with the headline: "Why isn't Germany’s Next Topmodel actually canceled?"[9]
In February 2023, the German InTouch wrote: "The willingness to use violence among girls is increasing. They form gangs, bully, hit. Heidi is also partly responsible for the fact that, at least on TV, such behavior should not lead to extra airtime..." The article goes on to say: "With Germany’s Next Topmodel absolutely wrong values are conveyed. It gives the impression that bullying is a legitimate means of dealing with each other."[10]
In February 2023, the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung wrote that Germany’s Next Topmodel is one of the worst trash TV programs on German television. And: "anyone who watches Heidi Klum is just as bad as she is."[11]
In February 2023, the former judge Peyman Armin criticized the show and Heidi Klum as well. He said: "It has become a pure self-portrayal by Heidi. Heidi comes first. Then Heidi and Heidi again. When Heidi Klum is in the foreground and takes care of the slapstick, for sensational shootings and catfights." Part of the episodes are therefore always scenes in which Heidi Klum would blaspheme with jurors about the contestants.[12]
Also in February 2023, former judge Wolfgang Joop criticized the show and Heidi Klum again when he said he had no say in the decisions. "Heidi does that. Nobody can help there." Not even the producers were allowed to have a say, apart from the timing of the direction. Joop: "Then they say something like: 'Don't let her go yet, the boyfriend will come, that'll bring a lot of tears of joy, we'll take that with us.'" He added: "I wouldn't have been surprised if the show had been discontinued."[13]
In February 2023 at the beginning of the 18th season, Heidi Klum gave a 10-minute speech in which she denied all allegations against her and the show and blamed the candidates themselves. This was once again heavily criticized by both the viewers and the media in Germany. The Berliner Morgenpost wrote: "Everything is wrong, says Klum. She emphasized that 'everything is real' on her show. There is no text or storyline for the models. That's why it's not her fault if a young model feels misrepresented after the broadcast. 'We can only portray a person as they are,' philosophizes Klum. Whether this is true remains questionable. On the one hand, because a story can be cobbled together afterwards that doesn't have to have anything to do with reality. On the other hand, because in the show very young girls in absolutely exceptional and stressful situations meet experienced editors who know exactly what the viewers later want to see on television."[14]Die Welt called Heidi Klum's statement "bizarre".[15]Frankfurter Allgemeine called it a "Catwalk of Shame".[16]Web.de headlined: "Why Heidi Klum's statement is dishonest".[17]Annabelle (magazine) (Switzerland) headlined: "Heidi Klum, this justification went wrong".[18] In an article, Puls24 (Austria) asked whether Heidi Klum practiced perpetrator-victim reversal and Gaslighting.[19]Frankfurter Allgemeine headlined: "This woman only has dollar signs in her eyes" and also assumed that Heidi Klum was doing a perpetrator-victim reversal.[20]BILD asked: "How evil is Heidi Klum really?".[21]
In March 2023 former judge Peyman Armin apologized to Lijana Kaggwa for what she had to experience on Germany's Next Topmodel. He also apologized for being part of Germany's Next Topmodel and promised to never take part in the show again. All of this was broadcast in the format "13 questions" on ZDF.[22][23]
In March 2023 BILD published the following message: "If the contestants get along too well, they will receive instructions from the crew to argue and produce beef." The participating contestants are also too young and inexperienced and cannot assess the extent of the show.[24]
In April 2023, Heidi Klum said about everything that happens at Germany's Next Topmodel: "At the end of the day I'm the boss and I make the rules!"[25]
In June 2023, the German TV broadcaster ZDF released a 70-minute investigative documentary about the machinations of the makers of Germany's Next Topmodel called "Pressure, hatred, manipulation: how sick does Germany's Next Topmodel make you?". For this documentary, around 50 former contestants, judges and members of the show's crew were interviewed, some anonymously. The makers of the documentary admitted that they are familiar with difficult investigations, but they have never experienced it before that so many people were afraid to talk about what happened as these former participants and employees of Germany's Next Topmodel. A crew member of the show who wished to remain anonymous is quoted as saying: "If you film a young woman from morning to night, you'll get every sectional image you want. So you can cut and tell what you want. A lot of things are cut together wildly. The jobs depend on it. It's about ratings." In addition, former contestants report how the show's editors deliberately foment manipulation, lies and discord among the contestants behind the scenes. The contestants are shielded from the outside world so they lose their nerve and argue. So 20 candidates have to sleep together in one room without contact to the outside world. The statements by Heidi Klum, the broadcasting TV station Pro7 and the production company are presented as hypocrisy. Pro7 is said to have earned 87 million euros with the Season 18, and Heidi Klum 10 million euros. The contestants receive no money. Germany's Next Topmodel has driven some contestants into depression and suicidal thoughts.[26][27][28][29][30][31]
