Episode

Welcome to Top Model Prep (2008)

35 girls arrive at "Top Model Prep" where they meet Mr. Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander. They shoot a class photo before commencing runway lessons with Miss J., where Lauren is seen as the weakest walker. Next, the girls attend a bonfire where the "Homecoming Queen" is going to be announced. The cheerleaders by the stage are revealed to be a few contestants from past cycles. Mr. Jay then announces that the finalists will be taken to New York City. Homecoming Queen turns out to be Tyra, who surprises the girls, coming from behind the curtains. Casting interviews then commence. In between interviews, a fight breaks out between Shaya and Fatima, but they later forgive each other when she reveals that she is a survivor of female circumcision. Memorable auditions include Stacy Ann's lap dance, Fatima telling the judges about her genital mutilation, and Claire's confession about drinking her own breast milk so her baby can breastfeed when she returns home. After the interviews, the girls are pared down to the final 20, where they participate in a senior class photo shoot and have to do their own hair and make up.

New York City, Here We Come (2008)

The girls are taken to their loft in New York City featuring a humanitarian theme. Amy decides to change her name to "Amis". To Amis, Fatima and Kimberly's frustration, there is a "no smoking" sign which leads them to smoke outside of the loft. Mr. and Miss J. arrive and round up the girls for a city tour. The final stop is a Badgley Mischka runway show. After the show, Fatima unintentionally hits Marvita in the face with her hand, brewing tension. The girls are then taken to Elite Model Management building and they meet Paulina Porizkova and Neal Hamil, and Paulina gives each girl brutal and harsh criticism. At the photo shoot, the girls have to portray homeless women being surrounded by high fashion models. Most of the girls receive positive feedback, but Amis' over-enthusiasm and Kimberly's dead expressions get criticized. Later, Kimberly admits to Fatima that high fashion is not her interest.

Top Model Makeovers (2008)

The girls receive Apple Bottoms apparel that come in white purses. Allison gets offended when Fatima tells her that she has a larger body than hers, and Allison reveals her past struggles with anorexia. The girls are taken to Wal-Mart for a CoverGirl make up challenge, which Claire wins. Back at the house, Allison uses dolls to represent the earlier incident between herself and Fatima. Using an African American doll to represent Fatima, Allison takes a jab at her by saying that Fatima "likes to take it from the back because she's black" Later, the girls receive their makeovers. To mimic a true agency, Tyra doesn't tell the girls their makeovers. Fatima's new weave comes with a lot of pain, but she ends up loving it. There is general satisfaction among the other girls as well, except for Stacy Ann, who wished for Naomi Campbell's long hair. The photo shoot takes place on a yacht with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. They meet Elle Macpherson and model her line of lingerie called "Intimates".

Where's the Beef? (2008)

The girls are taken to the New York City Fire Department where they meet Miss J. for a runway teach. They have 90 seconds to change into proper outfits, but Fatima fails to change shoes. The mock runway is performed in front of the firefighters. Tension brews in the house when Aimee calls a shower all to herself, being uncomfortable nude in front of others. When Whitney defends Aimee's conservative views, Fatima and Marvita instead vent their frustrations on Whitney. The girls are then taken to a runway show where they have to walk for fashion label "Tuleh", and they meet Cycle 8 winner Jaslene Gonzalez, who critiques them after the show. Fatima and Whitney's wardrobe malfunctions don't go unnoticed, and Lauren's speedy walk is heavily criticized. Katarzyna wins the challenge, and picks Amis and Marvita to join in her prize - a Lot 29 photo shoot in Seventeen magazine with Jaslene. For the week's photo shoot, the girls are taken to the Meat Packing District, posing with and wearing meat. Aimee, Amis and Fatima all struggle in the strange environment. Twenty minutes before panel, Amis is still sleeping, and she only has time to don a headband and sweater. Unsurprisingly, she is criticized for not dressing like a model. While Anya and Whitney shine, Tyra tells Lauren that she would have been called first if not for her bad walk.

Top Model Takes It to the Streets (2008)

The girls meet posing instructor Benny Ninja, who teams up with supermodel Vendela Kirsebom to teach the girls the different poses for catalogue, commercial and couture shoots in an abandoned warehouse. Back at the house, Whitney creates a phone list which is a schedule that assigns each girl a limited amount of time to call home. When Dominique misses her phone time, she causes a row with Whitney, escalating to the point where Dominique accuses Whitney of being a racist, of which the latter denies. For their challenge, Benny and Vendela test their knowledge of the three types of poses by pitting them against each other in a posing challenge. Team B, consisting of Claire, Katarzyna, Marvita, Stacy Ann and Whitney, ultimately wins a trip to a swag tent. Claire is deemed the best overall and wins an additional prize - a trip to Bora Bora. The week's photo shoot required the girls to do an extreme beauty shot with paint as their main makeup. Most girls deliver once again but Fatima, Marvita and Whitney all struggle with their shoots. At panel, most of the girls are praised for strong shots, especially Stacy Ann's, but Marvita and Whitney's pictures are deemed unsatisfactory. The judges think Fatima's picture is beautiful but she is heavily criticized for not shaving her armpits, which shows in her picture.