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 models are introduced to their new "green" form of transportation by Jay Manuel. Later on, they move into their mansion and J. Alexander gives them a lesson on style. Soon after, a feud breaks out between two contestants, and another starts to feel out of place. Finally, the ladies participate in a photo shoot portraying the negative aspects of smoking.

The fabulous Miss J surprises the ladies with a surprising lesson that requires straightjackets to improve their runway walks. Meanwhile, the models decide to help one girl improve her image, and soon after a fierce argument between two competitors breaks out. Finally, the winner of the couture runway challenge is sent to Paris, and the rest of the ladies are left to attend a photo shoot on a rock-climbing wall.

It's makeover time, and the models are in for drastic change. However, one model breaks down when she is told that she will get all her hair cut off. Meanwhile, the week's challenges include participating in a runway competition and a "pose-off" in a jungle photo shoot.

Benny Ninja takes the models for a lesson on high fashion posing on high grounds as the models are required to pose in the air while jumping off a trampoline and later while being lifted by an ice skater for their challenge. When the winner of the task is announced, however, some of the other competitors become jealous. Finally, the top models must work the camera in a fierce photo shoot that requires them to pose as gargoyles on the top of a building.

The girls get a lesson on how to be a spokesperson and later must improvise a sales pitch and divide into groups to create public service announcements for charity. The winner of the challenge gets to participate in a makeup photo shoot directed by Mary J. Blige. Meanwhile, the week's theme for the photo shoot is "green," which finds the ladies posing as recyclable materials.

As the finale quickly approaches, viewers get a chance to see new exclusive footage of the remaining models' journey thus far. Some of the feature clips include Bianca's confrontations with Ebony and Chantal, a lesson on body image by Tyra, and Bianca running into a glass door and hurting her lip.

The ladies meet with student designers and must be their muses in creating a dress. The next day they must work the runway and give a speech about their creations. Meanwhile, the house drama heats up when one girl decides she's had enough bullying from the other models. Finally, the ladies go to the desert, where they participate in the week's photo shoot.

The models are greeted with a penthouse suite in Shanghai. After that, they learn a lesson on body movement and have to pose midair on high wires. The remaining ladies then shoot a cosmetics commercial.

The final five must battle it off in go-sees in Shanghai. While in the challenge, some girls get praises from designers while others just fall flat. Later, the ladies participate in a photo shoot with Nigel where they must stand out from a crowd of Chinese costume dragons and lions.

The fantastic four participate in a challenge where they must turn a traditional Chinese garment into their own. During the task, one model purposefully gives another bad advice. Later on, the ladies take part in a warrior-themed photo shoot and are photographed by Tyra herself.

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.