IN A DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT, EBONY TAKES HERSELF OUT OF THE RUNNING TO BECOME "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"

October 25, 2007 (Burbank, California) - Ebony, a nursing student from Chicago, IL, made a dramatic decision to withdraw from "America's Next Top Model" and decline the offer to move forward during the ninth cycle of The CW's hit reality series.

As Tyra revealed Ebony's photo and explained that the judges were sending Ambreal home, Ebony stunned the judges by saying she no longer wished to stay in the competition. While Tyra did not agree with Ebony's rational, she allowed her to make the decision to leave, thus allowing Ambreal a free pass to prove to the judges that she deserves to stay in the competition for the race to become "America's Next Top Model." Eight girls remain in cycle nine.

In addition to a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl, this year's prize package for the winner of The CW's "America's Next Top Model" will include a contract with Elite Model Management and a cover and six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.

The ninth cycle of the hit reality series "America's Next Top Model" on The CW follows 13 young women as they attempt to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress world of modeling. Banks, who created the show, also serves as executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Daniel Soiseth ("Hell's Kitchen").

"America's Next Top Model" airs Wednesdays, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on The CW. For more information about "America's Next Top Model" log on to www.cwtv.com.