Australia's Next Top Model

Australia's Next Top Model
Created by Tyra Banks
Presented by
Judges
Opening theme "Gonna Be On Top" by Tiaan Williams
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 9
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) Granada Productions (2005–2010)
Shine Australia (2011–)
Release
Original network Fox8
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 11 January 2005 (2005-01-11) – present
External links
Website

Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series which premiered on 11 January 2005, and is based on a franchise created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on the Australian subscription television channel, FOX8. The series' objective is to find a promising but as-yet undiscovered Australian fashion Model and reward her with a platform to boost her chances of forging a successful career within the modelling industry.

Premise

The series features a group of young female contestants generally aged between 16 and 22, who attend preliminary auditions across Australia with finalists selected to star in the series proper, where they end up living together in a house for several weeks whilst taking part in lectures, challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modelling industry. Normally, one contestant is eliminated each week until the last contestant remaining is declared "Australia's Next Top Model" and receives a modelling contract and other associated prizes, usually a feature spread in an Australian fashion magazine, a cash prize, a new car and meetings with modelling agencies with the intention of securing future work.

Show format

Each episode of Top Model covers the events of roughly a week of real time (however, while overseas, an episode may cover a shorter period), and features a fashion challenge, a photo shoot and/or commercial, a critique of each contestant and her performance by the judging panel, and the elimination of one or more contestants.

Judges

In the eighth cycle Jennifer Hawkins became the host of the series.[1] Fashion designer Alex Perry is also currently a judge. Previous judges have included model Erika Heynatz, former Harper's Bazaar managing editor Marguerite Kramer, fashion stylist Ken Thompson, fashion producer Victoria Fisher, fashion photographer Georges Antoni, model-turned-designer Jodhi Meares, model-actress Sarah Murdoch, TV personality Charlotte Dawson and fashion photographer Jez Smith. Usually there is a guest judge seating in on the panel every week.

There is a position of model mentor who is not a permanent judge but appears in almost every episode of the cycle. In season 9 Didier Cohen and Cheyenne Tozzi served as mentors. In season 10, Megan Gale will join the judging panel.[2]

Judge/Mentor Seasons
1
(2005)		 2
(2006)		 3
(2007)		 4
(2008)		 5
(2009)		 6
(2010)		 7
(2011)		 8
(2013)		 9
(2015)		 10
(2016)
Erika Heynatz
Host/Head Judge
Alex Perry
Main
Marguerite Kramer
Main
Ken Thompson
Main
Georges Antoni
Main
Victoria Fisher
Main
Jodhi Meares
Host/Head Judge
Charlotte Dawson
Main
Jez Smith
Main
Main
Jonathan Pease
Mentor
Sarah Murdoch
Host/Head Judge
Josh Flinn
Mentor
Jennifer Hawkins
Host/Head Judge
Didier Cohen
Main
Mentor
Cheyenne Tozzi
Mentor
Megan Gale
Main
Jordan Stenmark
Mentor
Zac Stenmark
Mentor

Requirements

Starting from cycle 3, contestants must be aged between 16 and 23 at the time of filming. In the first two series, contestants had to be at least 18 years old. However, the show lowered the age limit after realizing that most international models start their career earlier. In cycle 5, the three finalists were aged 16 at the time of filming. In cycle 7, the three finalists were aged 17 at the time of filming. Those auditioning have to be at least 173 cm or 5'8" tall. In the past, some contestants have weighed less than 60 kilograms, but there is no restriction on weight.

Differences between ANTM and AusNTM

Australia's Next Top Model shares the format of its American counterpart, but there are a few differences. On America's Next Top Model the final two models compete in a runway fashion show and the winner is chosen in the judging room. Starting from cycle 3, the final two contestants competed in front of a live studio audience in Sydney before the winner was revealed live-to-air. The judges, sponsors, and fashion professionals voted for the winner, along with the TV viewing public, whose votes contributed 15 per cent to the overall tally. Beginning with cycle 6, the format was changed. The final three (not two) were interviewed, shown their best bits from the competition, and participated in a runway show. The viewer votes decided the winner of the competition. From cycle 9 and onward, the show has returned to pre-recorded finals.

Controversy

Following a breach of contract with Heynatz's appearance on the Channel Seven series It Takes Two,[3] she was replaced as host by Jodhi Meares, who was consistently scrutinized for her lack of involvement in the show. During the cycle 3 live finale, she made a number of embarrassing blunders that drew commentary from critics on her ability to host.[3] Things were worsened when she pulled out of her hosting duties hours before the cycle 4 live finale. The swarm of negative comments from the press and fans of the show led to Meares' withdrawal from the programme.

In cycle 4, Demelza Reveley's win provoked negative feedback from critics and the public due to her bullying of another contestant. Leader of the self-named clique "the Bitchketeers", in one episode, Reveley brought fellow competitor Alamela Rowan, 17, to tears by water-bombing her and tipping water on her head. Rowan, who was left traumatized by the taunts and attacks during her time on the show, was noticeably unimpressed by the apology Reveley gave. The "Bitchketeers" had also caused problems for fellow contestants Alexandra Girdwood, Belinda Hodge and Caris Eves. Vogue Australia editor-in-chief, Kirstie Clements, and former model and fellow judge Charlotte Dawson preferred Girdwood, because of Reveley's behaviour. The judges' scores were tied, so the decision came down to the public, who voted for Reveley.

After cycle 5, runner-up Cassi Van Den Dungen made a series of highly controversial comments. She was offered modeling contracts by Priscilla's Model Management in Australia and Elite Model Management in New York City (the contract with Elite was worth a reported $2 million). Cassi turned down both offers and quit modeling in order to remain in Sunbury with her bricklayer boyfriend, Brad Saul, causing a backlash from the public, as well as from judges Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson, who had vouched for Cassi on the show and urged her to pursue modeling. Cassi later stated in the press that she rejected the Elite contract because she didn't want to be pressured to drop from a size six to a four.[4] Later, to the surprise of many, it was announced that Cassi would be signing a contract with IMG Paris and would be walking for designers at Paris Fashion Week in March 2010.[5] Cassi made the trip to Paris with Saul but withdrew after insulting the French agents and referring to them as "snail slurpers" and "frog eaters" on her Facebook page. Saul added comments, one of which included a racial slur, for which the couple received more fire.[6]

In the cycle 6 live final, the TV viewers voted to decide the winner. Initially, Sarah Murdoch announced Kelsey Martinovich as the winner of Australia's Next Top Model. Moments after Martinovich had made her victory speech, Murdoch stopped the celebrations and announced that Amanda Ware was the winner of Cycle 6. An embarrassed Murdoch apologised repeatedly to Martinovich and the audience, stating that the final result was fed to her wrong.[7] As compensation for the error, Foxtel awarded Martinovich a A$25,000 cash prize and an all-expenses paid trip to New York.[8] Harper's Bazaar decided to release both Amanda and Kelsey's covers for the November issue.[9] In the days following the bungled announcement, top industry commentators expressed skepticism about whether the episode was a publicity stunt, with the editor of Harper's Bazaar Edwina McCann accusing Foxtel of manipulating the result. "The network did want Amanda to win ... They kept the voting lines open for a long time I think in the hope that she would get over the line. I'm told that it came down to three votes," she told the Nine Network.[10]

In episode 6 of cycle 8, Taylah Roberts was disqualified from the competition for choking Ashley Pogmore after a painting challenge. Roberts was confronted by host Jennifer Hawkins at panel and she was ultimately disqualified from the competition. Some time before the footage was aired on television, the incident had been covered by several media outlets. It was also noted that while the disqualification might have been the proper course of action, it was still incorrect to showcase the occurrence as a selling point to draw in more viewers for the show.[11][12][13][14]

Reception

The program is the highest rating non-sporting related program or event on subscription television in Australia.[15]

Cycles

Cycle Premiere date Winner Runner-up Other contestants in order of elimination Number of contestants International Destination(s)
1 11 January 2005 Gemma Sanderson Chloe Wilson Naomi Thompson, Nicole Fraser, Atong Tulba Mulual, Allana Ridge (quit), Zoe McDonald, Simmone Duckmanton, Sam Morley, Shannon McGuire 10 None
2 4 January 2006 Eboni Stocks Jessica French Sasha Greenoff, Rebecca Pian & Natalie Giuffre, Sophie Miller, Sarah Lawrence, Hiranthi Warusevitane, Caroline Mouflard (quit), Lara Cameron, Louise Van Brussel, Madeleine Rose, Simone Viljoen 12 None
3 27 March 2007 Alice Burdeu Steph Hart Jaimi Smith (quit), Cobi Marsh, Cassandra Hughes, Kara Taylor, Steph Flockhart, Jane Williamson, Sophie Wittingslow, Danica Brown, Paloma Rodriguez, Anika Salerno, Jordan Loukas 13 United States
Los Angeles
4 22 April 2008 Demelza Reveley Alexandra Girdwood Kamila Markowska, Kristy Coulcher, Emma O'Sullivan, Belinda Hodge, Alamela Rowan, Leiden Kronemberger & Jamie Lee, Rebecca Jobson, Alyce Crawford, Caris Eves, Samantha Downie 13 Fiji
Nadi
United States
New York City
5 28 April 2009 Tahnee Atkinson Cassi Van Den Dungen Laura Tyrie, Leah Johnsen, Georgie Kidman, Mikarla Hussey & Eloise Hoile, Madison Waller, Laura Mitchell, Lola Van Vorst, Franky Okpara, Adele Thiel, Clare Venema 13 United Kingdom
London
6 20 July 2010 Amanda Ware Kelsey Martinovich Valeria Nilova & Sally Geach & Claire Smith & Ashlea Monigatti & Alison Boxer, Megan Jacob, Ashton Flutey, Chantal Croccolo, Kimberly Thrupp, Brittney Dudley, Joanna Broomfield, Kathryn Lyons, Jessica Moloney, Sophie Van Den Akker 16 Japan
Tokyo
7 8 August 2011 Montana Cox Liz Braithwaite Cassy Phillips-Sainsbury, Tayah Lee-Traub, Annaliese McCann & Alissandra Moone, Neo Yakuac & Caroline Austin, Yolanda Hodgson, Jess Bush & Amelia Coutts, Madeline Huett, Izzy Vesey & Hazel O'Connell, Rachel Riddell, Simone Holtznagel 16 France
Paris
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
8 9 July 2013 Melissa Juratowitch Shanali Martin Chanique Greyling, Taylor Henley, Rhiannon Bradshaw, Brooke Hogan & April Harvey, Taylah Roberts (disqualified), Madeline Cowe, Ashley Pogmore, Shannon Richardson, Jade Collins & Dajana Bogojevic, Abbie Weir, Duckie Thot 15 Thailand
Bangkok
Mauritius
Port Louis
9 30 April 2015[16] Brittany Beattie Lucy Markovic Kaitlyn Bennett, Cassie Hargrave, Ayieda Malou, Phoebe Deskovic, Zahra Thalari, Tanahya Cohen, Izi Simundic, Jordan Burridge, Lauren Ericson, Jess Thomas, Alex Sinadinovic 13 United States
New York City
10 2016 TBA TBA TBA 12 TBA

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jennifer Hawkins announced as Australia's Next Top Model host". Perth Now. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/02/megan-gale-joins-australias-next-top-model.html
  3. 1 2 "Jodhi Meares quits Australia's Next Top Model to Charlotte Dawson". The Telegraph. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Australia's Next Top Model's Cassi Van Den Dungen rejected New York deal over weight issues". news.com.au/News Corp. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Bogan model Cassi Van Den Dungen flying to Paris for modelling". The Telegraph. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Model Cassi Van Den Dungen dishes it out to French people on her recent trip to Paris". The Herald Sun. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  7. ↑ Meade, Amanda (29 September 2010). "Wrong model announced as contest winner". The Australian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  8. ↑ "Disaster at Australia's Next Top Model final as host names wrong winner". The Telegraph. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  9. ↑ http://www.thecelebritytruth.com/harpers-bazaar-release-amandas-kelseys-covers/0019856
  10. ↑ Australia's Next Top Muddle, accessed 12 Oct 2010. Australian Times. http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/entertainment/Australias-next-top-muddle--Foxtel-fail-a-publicity-stunt
  11. ↑ "Model mayhem as Jennifer Hawkins boots 'bully' contestant from Australia's Next Top Model". News.com.au.
  12. ↑ "Australia's Next Top Model Gets Ugly". Realityravings.
  13. ↑ "Jennifer Hawkins reveals why violent contestant marched from Australia's Next Top Model". Herald Sun.
  14. ↑ "Australia's Next Top Model goes Lord of the Flies". Mamamia.
  15. ↑ http://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/foxtel-insider/australia-s-next-top-model-2669.htm
  16. ↑ "'The girls had to google her': Alex Perry says Australia's Next Top Model hopefuls didn't know who Linda Evangelista was before she appeared as a guest judge". Mail Online. 18 November 2014.

External links

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