In the ninth season premiere, the new 33 semifinalists are sent out on a cruise to the Caribbean, where they take part in a life-jacket runway challenge and participate in a beach-themed photo shoot. The ladies are graced by the presence of cycle 8 winner Jaslene Gonzalez, and the final 13 are ultimately chosen.

The ninth season finishes with the last three contestants shooting a cosmetics commercial. Then, one is sent home and and the final two compete in a runway show is Beijing. The judges then choose the winner.

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.

The girls learn about interview skills from Paulina Porizkova. Lauren cuts the tip of her thumb while chopping onions and needs stitches.

This week's challenge required the girls to work a "green" carpet at a 7 Up party and handle themselves well at the party. Anya is praised for her ability to connect with others, and wins another nude photo shoot for 7 Up and $10,000 as payment.

Tyra Mail hints to the girls that they are going abroad, and the girls pack their belongings. They are taken to an airplane-themed photo shoot where Jay tells them that they will be portraying a group of jet-setters boarding the airplane, using their suitcases as props. Fatima runs into trouble regarding her travel document and misses the photo shoot because of an appointment she had made to fix the issue at the consulate.

After the shoot, the girls are surprised that judging will take place immediately - at the tarmac hangar-and revealing that after the judging, they will be jet-setting for their abroad location; but Tyra didn't tell them where they will go to save it for last. Most of the girls are praised especially Dominique for being perky in her photo despite her "manly" face (with Tyra remembering Cycle 6's Joanie in her Krumping Photo Shoot). Whitney was criticized for being too "pageantry" (but Jay Manuel gave her credit for working hard on set). Stacy Ann was lambasted for not knowing her angles.