The competition gets fierce for the ninth cycle of The CW's hit series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, as the 13 finalists fight to turn their dreams of becoming a top model into reality. This season, an incredible transformation takes place as the finalists face new challenges and photo shoots ranging from the very glamorous to controversial, all while living under one roof in a posh Los Angeles mansion. See the drama unfold in the one-hour, ninth-cycle premiere of AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL on Wednesday, September 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) on The CW.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL participants are:

Name: Ambreal

Occupation: College Student

Age: 19

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Name: Bianca

Occupation: College Student

Age: 18

Hometown: Queens, New York

Name: Ebony

Occupation: Nursing Student

Age: 20

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Name: Chantal

Occupation: Student

Age: 19

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Name: Heather

Occupation: College Student

Age: 21

Hometown: Valparaiso, Indiana

Name: Janet

Occupation: Aesthetician

Age: 22

Hometown: Bainbridge, Georgia

Name: Jenah

Occupation: Student

Age: 18

Hometown: Farmington, Connecticut

Name: Kimberly

Occupation: College Student

Age: 20

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

Name: Lisa

Occupation: Dancer

Age: 20

Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey

Name: Mila

Occupation: Recent College Graduate

Age: 20

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

Name: Saleisha

Occupation: Receptionist

Age: 21

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Name: Sarah

Occupation: College Student

Age: 20

Hometown: Heath, Massachusetts

Name: Victoria

Occupation: College Student

Age: 20

Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut

During this cycle, the 13 participants live together and ferociously vie for the grand prize, competing in a highly accelerated modeling boot camp. The participants' abilities are tested each week as they strive to master the runway and fashion photo shoots, perfect publicity skills and learn the business aspects of becoming a supermodel, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL cameras. Throughout the series, supermodel Tyra Banks, art director of photo shoots Jay Manuel, and runway guru J. Alexander mentor the participants.

Banks leads the panel of AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL judges, comprised of leading fashion industry experts, including supermodel Twiggy, photographer Nigel Barker and runway expert J. Alexander, who closely evaluate the progress of the models to narrow the field each week. In addition, special guest judges appear to critique the participants within his or her area of expertise.

The winner of The CW's AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL will be managed by Elite Model Management. She also receives a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl. Finally, the winner will appear on the cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment, in association with Bankable Productions. Tyra Banks is the creator and executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Daniel Soiseth ("Hell's Kitchen").

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