Germany's Next Topmodel season 8

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

The winner was 16-year-old Lovelyn Enebechi from Hamburg. Her prizes include a modeling contract with Günther Klum's OneEins Management, an Opel Adams automobile, a spread and a cover in German Cosmopolitan, and a €250,000 cash prize.

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

Overview
Due to a decrease in ratings for the show, several changes were done. For the first time the show was produced by RedSeven GmbH, who were also previously producing Austria's Next Topmodel. 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.

As in the last preceding years, a pre-selection was done, and open castings were not part of the show anymore. The first episode started off with 26 semifinalists of whom however only 25 were introduced to the audience. The show however was off with a disappointing launch as it showed a ratings drop in comparison to the last cycle's premiere.

Contestants
(ages stated are at start of contest)

Results table

 * The contestant won best photo
 * The contestant quit the competition
 * The contestant was immune from elimination
 * The contestant was in danger of elimination
 * The contestant was eliminated
 * The contestant won the competition

Photo shoot guide

 * Episode 1 photo shoot: Haute couture in Wiesbaden
 * Episode 2 photo shoots: Posing underwater; harnessed to a Crane in couture gowns; desert beauty shots
 * Episode 3 photo shoots: Professional comp cards; taken by Zombie Boy to the underworld
 * Episode 4 photo shoot: 'Flower power' beauty shots
 * Episode 5 photo shoot: Model mug shots
 * Episode 6 photo shoot: Boxing in pairs
 * Episode 7 photo shoot: New York City sight-seeing
 * Episode 8 photo shoot: Rodeo Drive street walkers
 * Episode 9 photo shoot: Mystical fairies in the woods
 * Episode 10 photo shoot: Rooftop spies
 * Episode 11 photo shoot: Editorials in Hawaii
 * Episode 12 photo shoot: Famous musicians
 * Episode 13 photo shoot: Cosmopolitan covers

Controversy
Episode 8 ended with a cliffhanger, but the fate of the bottom two was "accidentally" revealed on the official website of ProSieben two days before the broadcasting of episode 9. Another faux pas happened during Episode 9. The remaining girls competed for an Opel commercial but before the winner of that was revealed, the spot has already been shown on television.

In Episode 13, the 'top 3' for the live finale were going to be selected, but before the episode aired, it was revealed online and in badly edited episode promos that four girls actually made it through, and Anna Maria was eliminated. 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.

During the live finale, topless FEMEN activists led by Zana Ramadani stormed the stage calling the show "Heidi's Horror Picture Show".

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

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!"

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?". For this documentary, around 50 former contestants, judges and members of the show's crew were interviewed, some anonymously. 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. So you can cut and tell what you want. A lot of things are cut together wildly. The jobs depend on it. It's about ratings." In addition, former contestants report how the show's editors deliberately foment manipulation, lies and discord among the contestants behind the scenes. The contestants are shielded from the outside world so they lose their nerve and argue. So 20 candidates have to sleep together in one room without contact to the outside world. The statements by Heidi Klum, the broadcasting TV station Pro7 and the production company are presented as hypocrisy. Pro7 is said to have earned 87 million euros with the Season 18, and Heidi Klum 10 million euros. The contestants receive no money. Germany's Next Topmodel has driven some contestants into depression and suicidal thoughts.

Post Topmodel Career
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. Lookbooks for Altuzarra, Zara & Espirit. And Runway shows for Sonia Rykiel, Malene Birger, Brock Collection, Self Portrait and Junya Watanabe. And did a spreads and was on the covers of Gloria, Coco Indie & Annabelle Magazine.