The sixteenth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on ProSieben in February to May 2021. There is again no jury for this season, each episode has one or more guest judges.
The winner of this season was 23-year-old Alex-Mariah Peter from Cologne, who is notably the first trans woman to win Germany's Next Topmodel. Her prizes include a cover and spread in the German edition of Harper's Bazaar, a €100,000 cash prize, and an Opel Mokka.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the season was filmed under strict COVID-19 regulations like travel restrictions. As a result, the sixteenth season was the first and only season to be filmed entirely in Germany. Starting this season, pre-selections are permanently done and open castings will no longer be part of the show.
Contestants
Ages stated are as of the beginning of the contest
Episode summaries
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|Title = Das große #GNTM-Umstyling! |OriginalAirDate = |ShortSummary = The week started with the big makeover. Huge optical changes included Romina, Ana, Larissa and Mareike. At elimination, Heidi had prepared a "2 in 1" challenge: First, the girls had to walk in a fashion show in Christian Cowans gowns and at the end of the runway, they had five seconds to pose for photographer Mato Johannik. In the end, Amina was eliminated.Eliminated: Amina HotaitFeatured photographer: Mato JohannikSpecial guests: Christian Cowan }}
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Summaries
Results table
The contestant withdrew from the competition
The contestant was eliminated
The contestant was eliminated outside of the judging panel
The contestant was in danger of elimination
The contestant won the competition
Photo shoot guideEpisode 2 photo shoot and video shoot: Promo shoot in groups + opening credits with Heidi KlumEpisode 3 photo shoot: Ballet dancers in pairsEpisode 4 photo shoot: Luxurious women in front of a hotel with dogsEpisode 5 photo shoot: Posing at the end of the runway in Christian Cowan gownsEpisode 6 photo shoot: SedcardEpisode 7 video shoot: 80's themed TV spotsEpisode 8 photo shoot: Posing in a large vertical rotating square in groups of fourEpisode 9 photo shoot: Fairies at a height of 122 metersEpisode 10 video shoot: Emotions with Otto WaalkesEpisode 11 photo shoot: Artistic butterflies in an abandoned ruinEpisode 13 photo shoot: Posing nude Episode 15 photo shoot: Ice queens with the Magic Mike CrewEpisode 16 photo shoot: Harper's Bazaar cover-tryEpisode 17 music video:''' Behind Blue Eyes by Tokio Hotel & VIZE
Controversies and criticism
Throughout the season, six contestants quit the competition, breaking the record for most voluntary exits in the history of Germany's Next Topmodel''. Most of them stated that during filming, they were feeling mentally and physically exhausted.
Contestant Ashley Amegan stated that the production team had bullied her into changing her personality for the show. That's why she left the show even though she made it to the live finale.
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.
In February 2023, the Berliner Zeitung published an article about the show with the headline: "Why isn't Germany’s Next Topmodel actually canceled?"
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."