The seventeenth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on German television network ProSieben from 3 February to 26 May 2022.
This is the first season where the maximum age limit was removed, allowing contestants of all ages (lowest age limit still being 18) to enter the contest. Historically, this is the Top Model season to date to cast Barbara Radtke, 68, the oldest contestant, and Wiebke Schwartau, 1.95 m, the tallest female contestant, in the entire franchise.
The winner of this season was 18-year-old Lou-Anne Gleissenebner from Klosterneuburg, Austria. Her prizes include:
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the season was filmed under strict COVID-19 regulations, including travel restrictions. Nevertheless, this was the first season to film abroad since the fifteenth season, as the previous season was filmed entirely in Germany. However, a preselection was still held instead of open castings, and the first episode once again started with 31 finalists. The international destinations of this season were set in Athens, Mykonos, Los Angeles and Ibiza.
Ages stated are as of the beginning of the contest
Jasmin Jägers boycotted the live finale of season 17. Due to the bad experiences of former participants, she no longer wants to be associated with Germany's Next Topmodel.
During the live finale Heidi Klum said towards the criticism of the show: "Dear critics, unfortunately I have to disappoint you. We're going on as before." This was condemned in the strongest terms by both the German media and viewers and caused outrage in Germany. Der Spiegel headlined: "Final in Heidi's torture cellar". Stern (magazine) headlined "Stupid instead of diversity - how Heidi Klum doesn't want to change anything" and T-Online said: "The ego show of the GNTM deadbeat mom". The well-known German comedian Carolin Kebekus said "Germany's Next Topmodel made many great: eating disorders, self-loathing, cyberbullying" and "this year they went crazy for diversity because every woman has the right to be humiliated by Heidi Klum."