The twenty-second cycle of America's Next Top Model (subtitled as America's Next Top Model: Guys & Girls) premiered on August 5, 2015 and is the sixteenth and final cycle to air on The CW. The network announced in mid-October that they were cancelling the show and the finale episode aired on December 4, 2015.[2]
Like the two previous cycles, cycle 22 featured both male and female contestants. However, for the first time since cycle 13, the height restriction was removed and the competition was opened to contestants at any height. Tyra Banks, Kelly Cutrone and J. Alexander returned to the judging panel, with photographer Yu Tsai remaining as creative director. Unlike the last three cycles, social media was no longer included on the show. The scoring system remained in place, but only the combined challenge and judges' scores were added into the final tally to determine who would be eliminated.
While there was no international destination for this cycle, the models traveled to Las Vegas for two episodes. This is the second cycle in the series to be shot completely in the United States, after cycle 13.
The winner of the competition was 25-year-old Nyle DiMarco from Washington, D.C. with Mamé Adjei placing as the runner up. DiMarco was the first deaf contestant to win the competition.
Cycle summary
Prizes
Returning prizes included a modeling contract with NEXT Model Management and a spread in Nylon magazine. Zappos became a new prize for the series, and the winner was chosen for a US$100,000 contract to become the face of the Zappos Couture's 2016 re-launch.[1]
The cast includes Nyle DiMarco, is noted for being the first deaf contestant in the history of America's Next Top Model and Mamé Adjei, the then-reigning Miss Maryland USA.
The contestant was a part of a non-elimination bottom two
The contestant won the competition
^In episode 1, the pool of 31 semi-finalists was reduced to the top 22 who moved on to the next round of casting. Episode 2 ended in a cliffhanger, and the elimination was postponed until the following episode. At the beginning of episode 3, the remaining pool of 21 semi-finalists (minus one dropout from the week before) was reduced to the final fourteen contestants. The first official elimination happened at the end of the episode.
^In episode 9, all fourteen contestants were present at panel. The seven eliminated models up to that point received a complete set of scores for participating in the challenge and shoot, with the highest score winning the opportunity to return to the competition. They were revealed from lowest to highest as being Ashley, Delanie, Bello, Courtney, Ava and Stefano until Dustin was revealed as the contestant to return. The safe contestants were called out separately, with Devin and Justin landing in the bottom two. The episode ended in a cliffhanger, with the elimination resuming at the beginning of the next episode. At the beginning of episode 10, Justin was eliminated from the competition.
^In episode 14, Lacey and Mikey had a tied score while in the bottom two. As a result, neither of them was eliminated from the competition. Tyra announced that since no one had been sent home, one guy and one girl would be eliminated the following week.
^In episode 15, no one was eliminated as the episode ended in a cliffhanger, and the elimination was postponed until the following episode, in which only one contestant of each gender was put through to the finale. First, Nyle was chosen as the last remaining male, eliminating Mikey. Next, Mamé was chosen as the last remaining female and second finalist, eliminating Lacey.
Bottom two
Episode
Contestants
Eliminated
3
Delanie & Stefano
Delanie
4
Hadassah & Stefano
Stefano
5
Dustin & Hadassah
Dustin
6
Ava & Courtney
Ava
7
Ashley & Devin
Ashley
8
Bello, Courtney & Devin
Bello
Courtney
9
Devin & Justin
Justin
10
Dustin & Hadassah
Dustin
12
Hadassah & Lacey
Hadassah
13
Devin & Nyle
Devin
14
Lacey & Mikey
None
16
Mikey & Nyle
Mikey
Lacey & Mamé
Lacey
Mamé & Nyle
Mamé
The contestant was eliminated after their first time in the bottom two
The contestant was eliminated after their second time in the bottom two
The contestant was eliminated after their fourth time in the bottom two
The contestant was eliminated in the final judging and placed third
The contestant was eliminated in the final judging and placed as the runner-up
Average call-out order
Casting call-out order, comeback first call-out and final episode are not included.
Lacey – Chic bowl cut with bangs and dyed dark brown
Mamé – Curly voluminous weave
Nyle – Trimmed and cleaned up
Notes
^In episode 9, all fourteen contestants were present at panel. The seven eliminated models up to that point received a complete set of scores for participating in the challenge and shoot, with the highest score winning the opportunity to return to the competition. They were revealed from lowest to highest as being Ashley, Delanie, Bello, Courtney, Ava and Stefano until Dustin was revealed as the contestant to return.
^In episode 14, Lacey and Mikey had a tied score of 35.2 while in the bottom two. As a result, neither of them was eliminated from the competition.
^The contestants received scores for every single elimination round in the finals until the final four and the announcement of the winner. The eliminations in episode 16 happened without scoring. Lacey and Mikey were both were tied for third place.
