The eighteenth cycle of America's Next Top Model (subtitled as America's Next Top Model: British Invasion) premiered on February 29, 2012 and was the twelfth season to air on The CW. It occupied the time slot of the final two scheduled episodes of Remodeled. It features fourteen models, placing seven British models who have competed in previous cycles of Britain's Next Top Model alongside seven all-new American model hopefuls in an overall competition.
The promotional catchphrase of the cycle was "The British Are Coming!" The promotional song for this cycle is Engerland (Fabio The Daddyo) by Blues Saraceno. The international destinations for this cycle were Toronto, Canada (for one episode) and the Special Administrative Regions of Macau and Hong Kong in China.
The winner was 21-year-old British model Sophie Sumner from Oxford, England.
Show and prize changes
This was the first American edition of Top Model to be filmed and broadcast in high definition (HD) and fashion industry public relations maven Kelly Cutrone has replaced Vogue editor André Leon Talley in the role of judge (there was speculation in the media that Talley was fired by Tyra Banks) – the rest of the judging panel remained the same. Following this season, Jay Manuel, J. Alexander, and Nigel Barker were all fired from the show by Banks, with Manuel and Barker making their final appearances to date in the show, while J. Alexander later returned for the twenty-first cycle.
The prizes for this cycle were: A modeling contract with LA Models & NY Model Management, a guest correspondent placement with the Extra news magazine, a fashion spread in Vogue Italia, and both the cover and a spread in Beauty In Vogue, the face of the America’s Next Top Model fragrance "Dream Come True", production of a music composition that will be performed by the winner that will then be released as a record single by CBS Records and a US$100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics. The Express fashion campaign was no longer a prize.
The eighteenth cycle of America's Next Top Model was subtitled "British Invasion", and featured seven contestants from previous cycles of Britain's Next Top Model for a second chance to win the title. Cycles 1 and 7 were unrepresented, cycles 2, 3, 4 and 6 were each represented by one contestant, and Cycle 5 was represented by three contestants. This was the second cross-over in the Top Model franchise, after Austria's Next Topmodel winner Larissa Marolt received a place on the fourth cycle of Germany's Next Topmodel as one of her prizes.
The returning contestants from Britain's Next Top Model and their prior placements are:
(ages stated are at start of contest)
No episode aired on April 4, 2012 due to the CW's broadcast of One Tree Hill series finale.
First aired February 29, 2012
Special guests: Kelly Osbourne, Oliver Tolentino, Michael Buffer
First aired March 7, 2012
Featured photographer: Douglas Friedman
Special guests: Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Sally Hershberger, Victoria Recaño, Neeko, Amy Nadine
First aired March 14, 2012
Featured photographer: Jerry Metellus
Special guest: Cat Deeley
J. Alexander
First aired March 21, 2012
Featured photographer: Nigel Barker
Special guest: Martin Lindstrom
First aired March 28, 2012
Featured photographer: Miguel Jacob
Special guests: Beverly Johnson, Kim Newport-Mimran, Jairo Betancur, Hans Koechling, Adam Taubenfligel, Travis Taddeo, Cassie Dee, Pao Lim, Danielle Martin, Jose Manuel St. Jacques, Simon Belanger, George Antonopoulos, Cynthia Florek, Erika Larva, Patrick Rahme, Anita Patrickson
First aired April 11, 2012
Featured director: Tony Croll
Special guests: Nadine Coyle, Jessica Sutta, Lisa D'Amato, Tom Polce
First aired April 18, 2012
Featured photographer: Ben Shaul
Special guest: Estelle
First aired April 25, 2012
Featured photographer: Ann He
Special guests: Georgina Chapman, Brownwyn Cosgrave, Phoebe Stephens, Annette Stephens, Sofia Sizzi, Julian Louie, Siki Im, Giovanna Bataglia, Derek Blasberg, Elizabeth Saltzman, Keren Craig, Francisco Costa
First aired May 2, 2012
Featured photographer: Paul Tsang
Special guests: Barney Cheng, Toby Leung, Isabel Augusto, Clement Chan, Anita Patrickson
First aired May 9, 2012
Featured photographer: Nigel Barker
Special guest: Nicholas Tse, Anita Patrickson
First aired May 16, 2012
Featured photographer: Jez Smith
Special guest: Ben Bennett, William Tang, Gregory Derham, Henry Lau, Marisa Zeman, Evelyn Ho, Marco Chan, Anita Patrickson
First aired May 23, 2012
Special guest: Anansa Sims
First aired May 30, 2012
Featured Photographer: Jez Smith
Special guest: Valentina Serra
The contestant was eliminated
The contestant quit the competition
The contestant was part of a non-elimination bottom four
The contestant won the competition
In episode 3, Louise would have been called 8th had she not quit the competition. After revealing this, Tyra asked Alisha, Ashley, Candace, and Eboni to step forward and announced that they were all safe.
In episode 10, Alisha quit the competition after Eboni's elimination.
Episode 12 was the recap episode.
Episode 1 photo shoot: American vs. British public figures
Episode 2 photo shoot: Toddlers of Kris Jenner
Episode 3 photo shoot: Very.com trends campaign
Episode 4 photo shoot: Posing with British hats and American cars
Episode 5 photo shoot: Covered in maple leaves and syrup
Episode 6 music video: Booty Tooch group video
Episode 7 photo shoot: Art installments at a dinner party hosted by Estelle
Episode 8 photo shoot: Hello Kitty couture
Episode 9 photo shoot: Wearing silk gowns with Silkworms
Episode 10 photo shoot: Harnessed on the Macau Tower
Episode 11 photo shoot: Dream Come True fragrance in a life-sized bottle
Episode 13 photo shoot & commercial: CoverGirl Blast Flipstick commercial and print ad, and Beauty in Vogue spread
Alisha – "One side shaved"
Annaliese – "Crazy teased weave"
Ashley – "Strawberry blunt cut"
AzMarie – "Shaved design"
Candace – "Super straight weave"
Catherine – "Magenta pink"
Eboni – "Extra long weave"
Kyle – "Milk chocolate weave"
Laura – "Red, blonde & blue"
Louise – "Beige blunt cut"
Mariah – "Ombre"
Seymone – "Extra long weave"
Sophie – "Cotton candy pink"
During filming, an argument took place between judge Kelly Cutrone and contestant Louise Watts, resulting in Watts voluntarily leaving the show. Following transmission of the episode, Cutrone posted mocking videos to Watts online, and came under fire from fans of the show who accused her of cyberbullying.
Ashley Brown has been signed with The Model Team Scotland.
Seymone Cohen-Fobish has done some test shots and has been signed with L.A. Models.
Eboni Davis has been participated in several runway shows and is signed with Fusion Models Cape Town South Africa and SMG Model Management.
Kyle Gober became the face of Ghost Enchanted Bloom fragrance.
Annaliese Dayes has been signed with Reality Check Management and Zone Model Management in London and has also done some hosting and corresponding work.
Laura LaFrate has been signed with Woman Model Management in New York and Paragon Model Management in Mexico City and has modeled for TMD Studios. She will also appeared in a movie and a music video with Nicholas Tse in Hong Kong as a part of her challenge win in episode 10. She is also developing a clothing line, earned her skydiving license and has also done some TV commercials.
AzMarie Livingston has been on a cover in various magazines and is currently signed with Bookings Models in London. She also participated in fashion shows, including London Fashion Week and BET's Rip the Runway and appeared in the music video of Motivation by Kelly Rowland. She currently appears as "Chicken" in the Fox drama Empire.
Jasmia Robinson has been signed with Charles & Ko Models and is also the face of the UK hair brand Sensationnel.
Candace Smith has done a few test shots, did a cover for Essence Magazine and is now searching for an agency. She also appeared in the 2014 film, Heaven is for Real as a pay clerk.
Sophie Sumner has collected her prizes and has been signed with LA Models & NY Model Management. She also remains signed to Storm Model Management in London, who she was signed with prior to her appearance on ANTM. Her debut single, 'Aiming For You' is now on iTunes. Sumner has stated that she is moving to the States and is currently deciding whether to move to New York City or Los Angeles. She is also currently active in raising funds for Breast Cancer Research with the help of her pink dog, Darcy. She created a fund raising page on a website of Cancer Research UK which she named PinkDarcyDog. She also modeled for Bench in "Bench Universe" in the Philippines with Allison Harvard & Dominique Reighard and Bench for Philippine Fashion Week. She also made the cover of the December 2012 – January 2013 issue of Meg Magazine on the same country. She also did a photo shoot in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and France. She appeared in the season finale of Asia's Next Top Model, Cycle 1 as the opening of the final runway challenge. Sophie is set to appear in a new E4 reality show called Taking New York that follows a group of Brits living in New York and trying to pursue their dreams
Catherine Thomas has been signed with Model Division and appeared in various magazines including – Heat, Sunday, You, Closer, Look and Reveal. She also appeared in the music video In One Ear by Cage The Elephant.
Mariah Watchman has been signed with Wilhelmina Panama.
Louise Watts has been signed with Hughs Models in London.
Alisha White has been signed with International Fashion & Model Agency and has done several test shots. She has also walked for Harvey Nichols fashion show in London.