Cycle 9, Episode 2: "The Models Go Green"

Aug 04, 2025

After cruising around the Caribbean, our 13 finalists arrive in Los Angeles. Mr. Jay meets the contestants to explain that Tyra is focusing on being eco-friendly this cycle.

To kick it off, instead of their typical gas-hogging Hummer limo, they have a biodiesel-fueled bus that will drive them around.

Mila is a fan.

Well said.

The bus takes them to the Model House. It has a runway with lots of (fake) plants next to it.

Some of the models jump in the pool with their clothes on.

Why do we have to do this every cycle?

Mr. Jay meets up with the models “the next day” but he’s wearing the same shirt as the day before.

He explains the concept for this week’s photoshoot which is anti-smoking. They’ll each have two photo set-ups: one will be them looking glamorous while holding a cigarette; the second will be their reflection in the mirror of the unglamorous, unhealthy side of smoking.

Mike Rosenthal is the photographer.

He’s been on Top Model before. He shot Cycle 7’s circus photos and Cycle 8’s dead model photos.

The specific side effects each model gets are as follows:

Ambreal - lung cancer
Jenah - hair loss from chemotherapy
Mila - losing hair from chemotherapy (different from above?)
Janet - burn victim
Chantal - tracheotomy
Heather and Saleisha - secondhand smoke
Kimberly - sunken face
Sarah - premature aging
Victoria - stillborn child (geez)
Ebony - collapsed lung
Bianca - severe gingivitis
Lisa - face tumor

*My medical friend Dr. Elizabeth notified me that the most common chemotherapy used for lung cancer doesn’t cause hair loss. Where was the ANTM medical consultant?

Bianca starts beef with Lisa over nothing. Bianca says she doesn’t see a stripper being America’s Next Top Model. Lisa is an EXOTIC DANCER and she KEEPS HER BIKINI ON!!

Mr. Jay steps in to cool everything off at the photoshoot.

When Lisa tries to squash it in the Model House pool, Bianca says ok but not for good reason.

We spend a lot of time this episode focusing on Heather and her neurodivergence.

Boy, have we come a long way in terms of normalizing “the spectrum”, etc. Some models seem to be relatively ok with Heather. They do call her slow and awkward. Chantal thinks her social skills make her unprepared for the competition. But they seem open-minded and ask Heather to give more context to Asperger’s. However, the amount of commentary on Heather makes her look lonely and weak.

Kimberly goes on this rant that she won’t give Heather any attention because she’s worried it’ll make her clingy.

We don’t know it for sure, but it seems Heather overhears this unnecessary diatribe. She calls her mom in tears.

Her mom comes across very even-keeled.

Miss J comes to the house and explains how important it is for a model to dress simply. Don’t let your g-string hang out. If you’re going to wear jeans, make sure they’re fitted.

He then announces the models are going to Old Navy to shop for a panel outfit.

Lisa gets crazy excited to go to Old Navy.

Once they get to the store, Benny Ninja meets them just to time the shopping challenge.

They have 20 minutes to snag an outfit, so they run around the store in just their undies.

The winner of the challenge is announced at panel. And it’s Saleisha. She gets a $1,000 shopping spree and ad with Old Navy.

Tyra’s photo this week is of her smoking without any negative side effects. Hypocritical, no?

My favorite photos:

To go with the green theme for this cycle, Tyra announces that the models will not be allowed to smoke throughout the entire show. Is that allowed? Where’s HR?

Also, why is she telling them right before elimination?

Mila and Ebony land in the bottom. Mila’s feedback is confusing. She’s told that her negative side effect photo is too creepy looking?

And Ebony is just told she didn’t do enough in her photos.

Mila is sadly sent home. It’s always a bit random who goes first. I was surprised she made it onto the show, but maybe the producers had hoped for a better storyline and eliminated her when she didn’t give it.

After the show, Mila did go on to model. She was signed with several agencies, including Wilhelmina Models. She took some great photos.