The fifteenth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on German television network ProSieben from 30 January to 21 May 2020, under the catch phrase Get ready for GRL Power.
The winner of this season was 21-year-old Jacqueline Wruck from Kiedrich. Her prizes include
The international destinations of this season were set in Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, New York City, London, Milan, Paris, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Germany, the live finale aired without a live studio audience. Furthermore, Heidi Klum joined from Los Angeles via video link due to international travel restrictions. Christian Anwander hosted the finals.
(ages stated are at start of contest)
In January 2021, former contestant Maribel Sancia Todt said that the production portrayed her as "pretty stupid" and "introverted". This behavior was "totally provoked" by the production crew. "They made me so sick and unsettled with their questions," explains Maribel. As a result, she refused to speak and became more and more silent. Her conclusion: "I was just smart enough to keep my mouth shut at the right moment."
Contestant Lijana Kaggwa received death threats after participating in the show. She told that she was spat on the street and people tried to poison her dog, which led to police protection. She decided to quit at the live final due to these incidents. Christian Vock from web.de criticized the show for not being completely aware of these death threats. He said that the editing room was mainly used to show unpleasant statements from Lijana on TV and thus exaggerate it. Mareike Fangmann from Stern wrote: "The broadcasting channel ProSieben has also a complicity because the broadcaster knows exactly how to cut scenes together in order to identify a clear bitch. Good for the ratings, good for the show. [...] But ProSieben should have protected Lijana beforehand. Could have omitted scenes to protect her and thus incited less hatred."
In May 2022, Lijana Kaggwa reveals the inhumane practices of Germany's Next Topmodel in a YouTube video. The video has 2.4 million views in nine days. Nathalie Volk (contestant from Season 9) said that Lijana Kaggwa is telling the truth and furthermore that this show is bullying and assault. There was an incident when Heidi Klum threw her into the pool and threw off color balloons. She was 16 years old at the time and also bled. She said: "I have scars on my body because of Heidi." The broadcaster ProSieben takes legal action against Lijana Kaggwa and Nathalie Volk. Volk said: "I find it unbelievable that the broadcaster would like to report us, Lijana and me. I've also spoken to many Americans here. They are also totally appalled that the broadcaster and the broadcasting group want to sue young women for telling the truth." She also stated that she is still traumatized by the show.
In the course of the allegations of former contestants against the show and Heidi Klum, the Germany-wide very famous YouTuber Rezo also strongly criticized Germany's Next Topmodel and was surprised that the show had not yet been canceled. His video is called: "Abu$e, lies and minors".
In July 2022, after Lijana Kaggwa was sued by the creators for her criticism of the show, the court agreed that Lijana Kaggwa was right on crucial points. She can now officially say and write: "The production of 'Germany's Next Topmodel' manipulated me on the set in such a way that I correspond to the role model of the bitch. Entire actions were given to me.â Lijana Kaggwa can therefore continue to be critical about the show and has just announced another unveiling video on Instagram, which is supposed to be about the court process and the verdict.
In March 2023, former judge Peyman Armin apologized to Lijana Kaggwa for what she had experienced in Germany's Next Topmodel. He also apologized for being part of Germany's Next Topmodel and promised to never take part in the show again. All of this was broadcast in the format "13 questions" on ZDF.