Fear of heights and obstacle course on high heels: Heidi Klum pushes girls to their limits, some beyond – and one gives up.
Action parcours on high heels, panic attacks due to fear of heights, cracked ankles, mind games: the ninth episode of “Germany’s Next Top Model” (April 1st, 8:15 pm on ProSieben) was dangerous to the public. At least the first challenge is “only” a psychological one: the girls should mutually evaluate the development of their “personality” and “performance”. Everyone quickly agrees that Soulin (20) is at the forefront when it comes to performance. Liliana (21) lands in last place. The question of who has developed their personality the most quickly becomes the question of who is most popular. The uncouth sunshine Mareike (25) gets first place. Soulin, on the other hand, came last: “It was a slap in the face.”
Away from psychostress to fear psychosis: Heidi Klum (47) literally forces her models “high up” for the shoot of the episode: the girls have to pose on ropes over Alexanderplatz, 122 meters above the ground. “I can’t do that at all. I have to think about what I’m doing now because that was my limit,” says Romy (19), expressing the fears of several girls. Whether extreme athlete Jochen Schweizer (63) can help you, who gives you some tips against fear shortly before the big adrenaline rush?
His motivational speeches don’t seem to make much difference. There are apparently only two types of models this season: Those who think it’s “mega!” find to pose hovering over Berlin, and those who die a thousand deaths in the process. “It feels great!”, Soulin screeches, balances, turns somersaults and doesn’t even want to stop. Heidi is enthusiastic: “She is so awesome, the Soulin. And she comes back in such a good mood, it’s just fun with her.”
Linda (20), on the other hand, bursts into tears when she is lifted off the floor. Heidi’s comments don’t necessarily help: “But you can’t make the face right away!” or “It doesn’t matter whether it’s 122 or 123 meters now.” Linda cries and whimpers and wants to go back down immediately. And has enough: “That is absolutely not possible for me. […] That’s just too much. “Heidi understands:” It would be exactly the same for me, one hundred percent. ”
“I would definitely never do something like that again
Romina (21) overcomes her initial fear and delivers in front of the camera – but shortly afterwards nothing works. While she is still hanging in the fuse, she can no longer feel her legs, hyperventilates and has a panic attack. The crew practically carries Romina to the paramedics. The ambitious model has gone beyond his limits, exactly what Heidi wanted, but: “I would definitely never do something like that again. I’m sorry, nobody can get me up.”
Cut to Linda. Will that encourage her to expose herself to her fear? She tries, but as soon as she is on the ropes, the panic takes over again: “I can’t do it, I don’t want to, I want to get down here immediately, I can’t, I don’t want to.” But that also means: Linda is out. “If she doesn’t take a photo, then I can’t give her one either,” Heidi’s clear rule.
For Romy, Linda’s repeated despair is not exactly encouraging: “I would never have thought that she would not be able to do it.” When it is her turn she manages to cover up her fear. Romy’s conclusion after the test of courage: “In the end, I found it a little worse than I imagined.”
A dangerous catwalk
And it gets even nastier in this episode: This time the catwalk is an airport-style action course. With a wheeled suitcase it goes over stairs, paving stones, a seesaw, a slide and a rotating tube. Everything on high heels, of course. In between, the girls should pose again and again and look as if it were the most normal model job in the world. Fair enough: Heidi does the course herself, also in high heels and actually elegant and witty. So it is possible.
But not for the young models. It looks either funny, ridiculous or dangerous with the girls. Mareike kinks over during the test run and has to be treated, but shows exactly the ambition Heidi wants to see: “No matter what comes, I would leave this show on crutches. I pull everything through, that’s just how I am.” Klum and guest juror Rebecca Mir (29), whose pregnancy she saved herself from the course, still diligently distribute compliments – after all, they have fun watching.
Mareike has to be supported until she reaches the course and then tries her best with pain. Honor your will to fight, but it hurts to see it. “That backfired,” judges Heidi afterwards. If she could at least walk better without a cracked ankle … But that’s rarely the case, as we know from the last few episodes. And so Heidi has to admit, even if it is difficult with such a sympathetic figure like Mareike: “I’m slowly running out of arguments why you should get further and another one not …” So no photo for Mareike, but at least: she has “Germany’s next top model” survived.