The seventh season begins with 13 finalists moving into a Los Angeles mansion and facing their first competitions. Later, one would-be model is eliminated from the contest.

The final thirteen participate in their first challenge, and one model is eliminated.

Tyra makes a surprise visit to the house to announce that the girls will be getting makeovers by beauty guru Frederic Fekkai. One girl has a meltdown over her new haircut but they all must use their new looks to compete in a fast-paced makeup challenge that is judged by Queen Latifah. One model returns to the house a sore loser and causes a fight that amps up the competition for a hair wars photo shoot. One model is eliminated.

Runway expert J. Alexander prepares the models for their rockiest challenge yet. The winner of the challenge and two friends jet off to work a star-studded fashion show with some past seasons' Top Models. Later, the girls have to rock a catwalk suspended over water, but one girl's sickness lands her in the hospital. One model is eliminated. Special guests include Dennis Quaid, Bre Scullark from cycle 5, runway trainer J. Alexander, designers Altuna Moreno and guest judge Charlie Altuna.

The models learn to strike an extreme pose from a contortionist and are put to the test in a high fashion challenge with an extravagant prize. At the photo shoot, the girls turn into circus freaks, but its household gossip that leaves one girl in tears. Special guests include Top Model judge Twiggy, designer Bao Tranchi, Stacey McKenzie, judge from Canada's Next Top Model, photographer Mike Rosenthal and Atoosa Rubenstein, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine as guest judge.

A red carpet challenge with Janice Dickinson leaves some of the girls speechless. The stars come out at a photo shoot where the models are transformed into celebrity couples. Back at the house, one of the twins reveals something very personal.

Tyra picks up her camera for a scary impromptu photo shoot. But a few models struggle when burlesque icon Dita VonTeese asks them to get in touch with their sexy side. Romance novel cover boy Fabio shows up for an unforgettable photo shoot.

With the finale only five weeks away, never-before-seen footage includes Monique's kitchen meltdown and Jaeda's best Tyra Banks impersonation. This episode recaps the process that the seven remaining girls have survived in hopes of becoming America's Next Top Model.

Pro Athlete-Model Gabrielle Reece teaches the girls the art of action modeling while they bump, set and spike. The models get even more physical with Nascar driver Stanton Barrett for a competition where the winner has to act fast to claim her prize. Then the girls fly during a daring photo shoot at a skydiving training facility.

The models take part in an acting challenge in which they must reveal something traumatic from their past. The one who expresses herself the best lands a role on a CW series. Also, Tyra announces the ladies are heading on an overseas trip. The photo shoot is a foreign-language commercial with a male model.

The models hit the foreign streets with their portfolios to meet local designers, but one model has a breakdown when she gets lost in the city. Later, at the photo shoot with Nigel Barker, the girls face off against an angry bull while striking dramatic poses, and one model makes a comment to Nigel that she later regrets.

In Barcelona, the models' nerves are wearing thin. After a Flamenco photo shoot challenge, one girl breaks down in tears when her dancing is criticized. In unlikely pairs, the models float in a pool of icy water as Tyra directs their photo shoot, but one girl must bow out of the shoot early as hypothermia begins to set in.

Melrose, CariDee, and Eugeena shoot a Cover Girl commercial, and ad. Later, once one of the girls is eliminated, the final two compete in a ghostly runway in order to see who becomes America's Next Top Model.