Australia’s Next Top Model Is …
Sixteen-year-old Demelza Reveley has won Australia's Next Top Model. She defeated 21-year-old Alex Girdwood in the live finale last night at Sydney's Luna Park.
Both contestants tied three votes apiece from the judges on the reality juggernaut, leaving the decision-making entirely in the hands of fans who had voted by SMS and Foxtel remote's 'red button'. But were viewers unconvinced by charges of supposed 'bullying' by Demelza toward ousted contestant Alamela, or did the extra publicity simply put her more in the minds of the show's young fan base?
Maybe they simply identified more with her schoolgirl dream than that of the 'older' Alexandra.
The fourth of FOX8's seasons will go down as 'the bullying series' after scenes in which quiet-natured Alamela was the victim of water bombs and taunting. There were claims several of the girls ganged up on her. They were later dubbed 'the Dapto dogs' and reprimanded by the show's judges, but media also criticised the show's producers for filming the incident and using it to seemingly generate publicity.
The father of Alamela also criticised producers for allowing Demelza to become one of the show's finalists. “There is potential if she wins the show for her to be held up as an icon and that justifies bullying,” he said.
Last night Demelza apologised to Alamela before the finale audience: "Alamela, I'm so sorry for how I behaved on the show and I want you to know that,'' she said. Guest judge Napoleon Perdis also acknowledged that the teenager “deserved a second chance.”
But the controversy was not just confined to the contestants. Remarkably, series host Jodhi Meares pulled out of the show's biggest night, leaving judge Charlotte Dawson to front the huge event. Meares, who replaced former host Erika Heynatz, was criticised for her nervous hosting in the 2007 live finale and was seemingly unable to face the crowd again. Instead she appeared in pre-recorded links.
“As I have made clear from the beginning, performing live entertainment of this scale is just not for me,” she said in a statement. “This continues to be my position and therefore, I have made the decision not to take part in the live finale of Australia's Next Top Model. I love the show and have had a fantastic experience this season.
“Tonight is all about Alex and Demelza,” she added tactfully. Demelza wins representation by modelling agency Priscilla's for 12 months, a Ford Fiesta Zetec, a contract as the face of Napoleon Perdis cosmetics, an all expenses paid trip to New York to meet top international agencies and an eight-page spread with Vogue Australia.
Applications are now open for the fifth series.
David Knox, Citysearch, July 2008
