The eighth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on ProSieben February to May 2013 under the catch phrase Closer than ever.

The international destinations for this cycle were set in Dubai, Los Angeles, New York City and Honolulu.

[1] Fashion photographer Enrique Badulescu joined the panel along with Thomas Hayo, who became the first judge - aside from Klum - since Peyman Amin returned for a third time to the show.

[2] (ages stated are at start of contest) The episode began with Heidi visiting the 26 finalists in their hometowns to tell them they have made it onto Germany's Next Topmodel.

The remaining 24 finalists were flown to Dubai, where they walk in a fashion show for Amato Haute Couture.

At elimination, Merle was chosen to move on to the next round, but asked to leave the competition, much to the disappointment of Heidi, Thomas and new judge, photographer Enrique Badulescu.

Sophie comes out to the other girls as lesbian, and Anna Maria talks about her difficult childhood in the Philippines, where she lived in a slum.

For the first shoot, they take photos for a sedcard, and for the second, they are taken to a hospital and pose with male model Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest.

The episode begins with Carolin being told that she has been booked by a designer for Hong Kong Fashion Week.

At panel, Veronika and Jacqueline are in the bottom two in the wake of their weak performance during the week's photoshoot.

When Heidi goes shopping with Jacqueline because of her bad outfits, the other girls feel treated unfairly.

Alessandra Ambrosio teaches the girls how to do a sexy walk as part of this week's theme and also serves as a guest judge.

Luise, Lovelyn, Marie, Maike, Anna Maria and Sabrina get great feedback for their photos, while Carolin, Christine and Leonie are criticized.

Luise is deemed best and wins the price to go shopping with Lena Gercke, winner of cycle one while Carolin is the weakest.

At this week's casting Anna Maria is booked for an editorial and cover shoot for a surfer's magazine.

At panel, Thomas Hayo criticizes Luise for going blank at the casting and Marie for not taking care of her physique.

While Luise shoots the campaign, the other girls go to a casting for a music video of the song "Without you" for English boy band, Blue.

During a live performance by Robin Thicke, the girls walk the runway and pose in Burlesque style.

Maike embodies fire, Sabrina is water and Luise is earth which leaves air to Lovelyn.

Anna Maria is chosen to open the Top-20-walk after online voting between the girls who didn't reach the final.

The remaining girls competed for an Opel commercial but before the winner of that was revealed, the spot has already been shown on television.

[9][10][11] As a result, the cycle has come under heavy criticism from many viewers due to the mishaps in editing, fan favorites being eliminated, and the season's ardent focus on quarrels amongst its contestants.

[16] In February 2023, the Berliner Zeitung published an article about the show with the headline: "Why isn't Germany’s Next Topmodel actually canceled?"

[17] In April 2023, Heidi Klum said about everything that happens at Germany's Next Topmodel: "At the end of the day I'm the boss and I make the rules!"

[18] In June 2023, the German TV broadcaster ZDF released a 70-minute investigative documentary about the machinations of the makers of Germany's Next Topmodel called "Pressure, hatred, manipulation: how sick does Germany's Next Topmodel make you?".

The makers of the documentary admitted that they are familiar with difficult investigations, but they have never experienced it before that so many people were afraid to talk about what happened as these former participants and employees of Germany's Next Topmodel.

A crew member of the show who wished to remain anonymous is quoted as saying: "If you film a young woman from morning to night, you'll get every sectional image you want.

The statements by Heidi Klum, the broadcasting TV station Pro7 and the production company are presented as hypocrisy.

[19][20][21][22][23][24] Contestant Carolin Sünderhauf proved to be the most successful model from the season, booking fashion spreads for Oyster, Elle South Africa, Superpaper, Marie Claire Australia, Elle Sweden, Cosmopolitan Germany, Grazia Germany, L'Officiel Paris, Glamour UK & Teen Vogue.

And Runway shows for Sonia Rykiel, Malene Birger, Brock Collection, Self Portrait and Junya Watanabe.