Australia's Next Top Model

*Australia's Next Top Model*
Australia's Next Top Model
Created by	Tyra Banks
Presented by	Erika Heynatz (1-2); Jodhi Meares (3-4); Sarah Murdoch (5-)
Judges	Alex Perry (1-); Erika Heynatz (1-2); Marguerite Kramer (1); Ken Thompson (1); Georges Antoni (2); Victoria Fisher (2); Charlotte Dawson (3-); Jodhi Meares (3-4); Jez Smith (3); Sarah Murdoch (5-)
Country of origin	Australia
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	39 (as of April 28, 2009)
Production
Executive producer	Granada Productions
Running time	60 minutes
Original release
Network	FOX8
Release	January 11, 2005 –; present

Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series based on the American series of the same name, which was created and co-produced by Tyra Banks. The series, which first premiered on January 11, 2005, is produced by Granada Productions and broadcast on the Australian subscription television channel FOX8. The basic premise of the series features a group of young female contestants who live together in a house for several weeks whilst taking part in various challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modelling industry. Normally, one poor-performing contestant is eliminated each week until the last contestant remaining is declared "Australia's Next Top Model" and receives a modelling contract along with other associated prizes. Australia's Next Top Model has been an outstanding success with audiences and is the highest rating non-sporting related program or event on subscription television in Australia. Originally hosted by Erika Heynatz for the first two cycles, Jodhi Meares fronted cycles three and four, before Sarah Murdoch took over duties, starting for cycle five, which premiered on April 28, 2009.

Show format

Each season of Australia's Next Top Model has contained eight to eleven episodes and has started with ten or thirteen contestants. At the end of most episodes, one contestant is eliminated, though in rare cases a double elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel. Makeovers are administered to contestants early in the season (usually after the first or second elimination in the finals), and a trip to an international destination is scheduled nearer the end of the cycle when three (or six is in the case of Cycle 4) girls remain in the competition. The first two cycles had no international destination and they arrived different locations in Australia.

Each episode of Top Model covers the events of roughly a week of real time (however, while overseas, an episode may cover a shorter amount of time), and features a fashion challenge, photo shoot and/or commercial, a critique of each contestant and her performance by the judging panel lead by Sarah Murdoch (neé O'Hare), and the elimination of one or more contestants. As of Cycle 5, the panel includes model and TV personalty Charlotte Dawson and fashion designer Alex Perry. Previous judges included model Erika Heynatz, former Harper's Bazaar managing editor Marguerite Kramer, celebrity fashion stylist Ken Thompson, fashion producer Victoria Fisher, fashion photographers Georges Antoni and Jez Smith and model turned designer Jodhi Meares. Usually, an additional guest judge will sit in on the panel every week. Each episode is usually associated with a theme in the world of modelling, such as dealing with the press in interviews, selling a commercial product, appearing in a runway show or going on "go sees".

An episode usually begins with the contestants receiving training in an area concurrent with the week's theme. For example, contestants may get coached in runway walking, improvisational acting, or applying make-up to suit various occasions. A related challenge soon follows, such as a mock runway show or interview, and a winner is chosen by a judge. She receives some sort of prize, such as clothing, a night out, or an advantage at the next photo shoot, and she is usually allowed to share the benefits with a certain number of other contestants of her choice.

The next segment is a photo shoot, and each contestant's performance will reflect heavily on her judging for that week. Each season features photo shoots such as bikini or lingerie shots, beauty shots, posing nude or semi-nude, posing with another model, and posing with some sort of animal(s). Usually, one photo shoot in one season is replaced with a commercial shoot.

The final segment of each episode is judging. A panel of judges fronted by the host and a number of fashion "experts" assessed task performance and potential. Each contestant's photo is then shown and evaluated by the judging panel. After all photos have been evaluated, the contestants leave the room as the judges deliberate. The elimination process is ceremonious, as one by one the host reveals and hands out the photos of the contestants that have not been eliminated, in order of merit, occasionally saying something to, "Congratulations. You are still in the running to becoming Australia's Next Top Model". The last two (three as in case of later seasons) contestants who have not received their photos are brought up as "the bottom two", and the host critiques each one before revealing which of the two has been eliminated. However, there have been five exceptions, as Cycle 1 had a non-elimination due to a contestant leaving, Cycle 2 and 4 each had a double elimination, The premier episode of Cycle 2 had one contestant eliminated outside of the elimination panel, Cycle 2 and 3 had a contestant entered the competition because of a replacing contestant eliminated outside of the panel (Cycle 2) and replacing a contestant who quit (Cycle 3) and Cycle 2 had one contestant withdrew due to injury and returned in the following episode.

Starting from Cycle 3, the final two contestants compete in a runway show in front of a live studio audience in Sydney before the winner is revealed live-to-air.

Special Appearances

In season one, Blair McDonough, a housemate from first season of Big Brother and actor on Neighbours, made a guest appearance during an acting challenge. In season two, Beau Brady from Home and Away, posed in disguise as a photographer to test the girls' ability to handle the media. Ian Thorpe has also appeared multiple times.

Controversy

Following a breach of contract with Heynatz's appearance on the Channel Seven series It Takes Two, she was replaced as host by model turned designer Jodhi Meares.

Meares though was always scrutinised for her complete lack of involvement in the show. During the Cycle 3 live finale, Meares made a number of embarrassing blunders that wholly tarnished her image and ability to host. The situation was further worsened when she unprofessionally pulled out of her hosting responsibilies hours before the Cycle 4 live finale was to kick-off. The swarm of negative press and calls from fans for her axing has led to Meares's withdrawal from the programme.

Megan Gale was rumoured to been offered the top job, however Sarah Murdoch (neé O'Hare) has taken the role of hosting.

In cycle 4, Demelza Reveley, leader of the self-named group "Bitchketeers" won the competition sparking many negative comments about her winning. In one episode, Reveley brought Alamela Rowan, 17, to tears by water bombing her and tipping water on her head. Rowan, who was left traumatised by the taunts and attacks during her time on the show, was noticably unimpressed by the apology.

Highly powerful Vogue Australia editor, Kirstie Clements and former model and fellow judge, Charlotte Dawson both preferred Alexandra Girdwood, because of Reveley's behavioural issues. The decisions were tied between the judges, so the ultimate decision came down to the public. The public voted Reveley.

Cycles

Cycle	Premiere date	Winner	Runner-up	Other contestants (in order of elimination) Cycle 5 contestants in alphabetical order	Destinations
1	January 11, 2005	Gemma Sanderson	Chloe Wilson	Naomi Thompson, Nicole Fraser, Atong Tulba Mulual, Allana Ridge (quit), Zoe McDonald, Simmone Duckmanton, Samantha Morley, Shannon McGuire	Melbourne, Australia
2	January 4, 2006	Eboni Stocks	Jessica French	Sasha Greenoff, Natalie Guiffre, Rebecca Pian, Sophie Miller, Sarah Lawrence, Hiranthi Warusevitane, Caroline Mouflard (quit), Lara Cameron, Louise Van Brussel, Madeleine Rose, Simone Viljoen	–
3	March 27, 2007	Alice Burdeu	Stephanie Hart	Jaimi Smith (quit), Cobi Marsh, Cassandra Hughes, Kara-Lee Taylor, Stephanie Flockhart, Jane Williamson, Sophie Wittingslow, Danica Brown, Paloma Rodriguez, Anika Salerno, Jordan Loukas	Los Angeles, United States
4	April 22, 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	Taunovo Bay, Fiji New York City, United States
5	April 28, 2009	TBA	TBA	Eliminated: Laura Tyrie, Leah Johnson, Georgie Kidman, Mikarla Hussey, Eloise Hoile, Madison Wall, Laura Mitchell Still in the Running: Tahnee Atkinson, Franky Okpara, Adele Thiel, Cassi Van Den Dungen, Lola Van Vorst, Clare Venema	Parachilna, Australia London, United Kingdom^[1]

Number of contestants

Cycle 1: 10
Cycle 2: 13
Cycle 3: 13
Cycle 4: 13

References

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External links

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[1]

v t e Top Model
National franchises	United States (original) Albania Australia Austria Belgium (Topmodel, Belgium's Next Top Model) Brazil Cambodia Canada China Colombia Croatia Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece (Next Top Model, Greece's Next Top Model) Hungary India (India's Next Top Model, Top Model India) Indonesia Israel Italy Kazakhstan Malta Mexico Mongolia Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Philippines Poland Romania Russia (You are a supermodel, Top Model po-russki, You are a Top Model) Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam
Multinational franchises	Africa Asia Benelux Caribbean Scandinavia (Top Model, Top Model Curves) United Kingdom & Ireland
Italics indicate inactive or cancelled franchise