Tyra Banks flies 32 aspiring models to Los Angeles, and they are immediately thrown into model boot-camp led by glam squad captains Jay Manuel and J. Alexander. Tyra surprises the girls with a military-style pep talk, and the competition gets rough as strong personalities rise and the catfights begin. The final 13 move into their extravagant Hollywood Hills mansion and are whisked away to their first photo shoot with Nigel Barker. The shoot proves to be controversial and has one model very confused.