Italia's Next Top Model
| Italia's Next Top Model | |
|---|---|
| File:Italias next top model.jpg | |
| Genre | Reality |
| Created by | Tyra Banks |
| Country of origin |  Italy |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Milan, Italy |
| Running time | 60 minutes (including commercials) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sky TV |
| Release | December 2007 – present |
Italia's Next Top Model (often abbreviated as INTM) is an Italian reality television show hosted by Natasha Stefanenko and based on the American program of the same name. It is broadcast on SkyVivo, a channel of the Italian subscription television Sky TV. The first cycle premiered in December 2007 and soon became popular among viewers.
Show format
The show is mainly taped in Milan, one of the most important capitals of fashion where the girls stay during the competition.
Each season of Italia's Next Top Model features 14 aspiring models and airs in 13 episodes. Each episode one contestant is eliminated except for the final episode when two eliminations take place. Makeovers are administered to the girls early in the season, usually after the first elimination. A trip to an international destination is scheduled near the end, before the finale. Each episode covers the events of roughly a week of real time and features a reward challenge, an elimination challenge (photo shoot, runway, a commercial), then the judging of the girls' performances, which leads to the elimination of one contestant.
An episode usually begins with the contestants receiving training in an area concurrent with the job of a model. For example, contestants may get coached in runway walking, applying make-up to suit various occasions, improving knowledge of fashion or fashion business, developing a personal style. A related challenge soon follows to show what the girls have learned, for example a mock runway show, and a judge chooses a winner. She receives some prize, such as clothing or the chance to phone home since the contestants of Italia's Next Top Model cannot keep in touch with their families or friends while the show is being taped.
Daily summaries are also aired to show teachings given to the contestants: usually lessons on runway walk, meetings with psychologists, to help the girls in developing their personalities, lessons with nutritionists who give them a proper diet, and a physical training to develop a healthy body and lose fat without starting dangerous habits. Some arguments between contestants are also shown and subsequent scoldings from the judges.
The judging panel includes two permanent judges: the host Natasha Stefanenko, Russian top model and actress who is very popular in Italy and equals the role of Tyra Banks as the head of the search in the original series, and the other judge, who appeared in ANTM Cycle 2 go-sees, Micheal Giannini, art director and talent scout of model agency d’Management which will become the winner's agency. Other judges often showing up at panel can be named recurring judges, these are: photographer Ciro Zizzo, noted Italian fashion journalist Giusy Ferrè and former top model Nadege Dubospertu who is the harshest and most demanding judge thus becoming permanent in Cycle 2.
Several well known faces from the Italian fashion industry made an appearance on the show, including important fashion designers such as Francesco Martini Coveri, Eva Cavalli, Carlo Pignatelli, Rossella Jardini, and the renowned photographer Settimio Benedusi.
At the end of the first cycle Gilda Sansone emerged victorious. Getting signed with D'Management in Milan and New York-based agency Muse, Sansone enjoyed success in the model business working with well-known artists such as photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The second Cycle started in September 2008 with the selection of the final 14 among the 30 semifinalists chosen in the previous castings throughout Italy. The winner of the second cycle will get a one-year-contract with D'Management and will become the face of Max Factor 2009 Italian campaign for 150,000 €.
Differences with ANTM
Both American and Italian Top Model shows share a similar structure with challenges, judging and elimination. Italia's Next Top Model however developed features on its own: first of all, not every episode includes a photo shoot since the elimination challenge could consist of a runway challenge, where the girls are asked to make the most of different ranges of outfits. INTM is, in fact, aimed at scouting a top model who is strong both on photos and runway, hence the major focus on requiring the contestants versatile walks. Another difference is the lack of reward challenges in the very first episodes of INTM, due to the introduction of the girls and makeovers.
The general profile of Italia's Next Top Model is of a more high-fashion, tough and harsh competition, where bubbly personality is not so determining for the winner's choice as in the original American series. Actually, the Italian judges require higher and higher standards and improvements to the girls and avoid the cheesy overacting which characterize the American judging panel. Despite being a lower-budget and less spectacular version than ANTM, INTM produces more credible photoshoots that might be truly found in fashion magazines.
The more commercial tone that characterizes the American original show is absent in the Italian one, where girls deemed too commercial are early cut if their look is not versatile, also because of the purpose: while ANTM is about finding a spokesmodel for Covergirl, INTM wants to make Italy, a fashion leader nation, a country also known for producing top models. This explains the major improvements in the cast selection during Cycle 2 of Italia's Next Top Model, after viewers' criticism was shown for the lower appeal and blandness of certain girls in Cycle 1.
Cycle summary
| Cycle | Began airing | Winner | Runner up | Other contestants (In Order Of Elimination) | Number of contestants | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 | December 4 2007 | Gilda Sansone | Elga | Annalisa, Agnese, Sara, Francesca L, Elena, Alessandra, Manuela, Fiorella, Francesca B, Laura, Tiziana, Lorena | 14 | Milan, Italy Ibiza, Spain 
|
| Cycle 2 | September 23 2008 | TBA | TBA | Eliminated: Claudia Boi, Mary, Noemi, Claudia Cuomo, Diletta
Still in the Running: Amy, Beatrice, Claudia Manzella, Elena, Giada, Giorgia, Giulia Galizia, Martina, Michela |
14 | TBA |
Show statistics
Total number of contestants: 28
- Oldest contestants: Elga & Francesca L. (Cycle 1) and Diletta (Cycle 2), all 24 years old
- Youngest contestants: Gilda & Manuela (Cycle 1) and Claudia M. (Cycle 2), all 18 years old
- Tallest contestants: Beatrice (Cycle 2), 1.82m (6'0")
- Shortest contestants: Claudia M. & Giorgia (Cycle 2), both 1.74m (5'8.5")
- Most challenge wins: Francesca B. (Cycle 1) & Giorgia (Cycle 2), both 2 times
- Most collective first call-outs: Gilda & Tiziana (Cycle 1) both 3 times
- Most consecutive first call-outs: Gilda (Cycle 1), 2 times
- Contestant(s) with no appearance in bottom two: none
- Most collective appearances in bottom two: Elena & Lorena (Cycle 1), both 3 times
- Most consecutive appearances in bottom two: Elena & Lorena (Cycle 1), both 2 times