The fourth season of Australia's Next Top Model premiered on 22 April 2008 on Fox8. Auditions were held during October and November 2007 across Australia. Host Jodhi Meares returned for the fourth series along with judges Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson, while Jez Smith left the show due to scheduling commitments. Two different guest judges were included at panel every week.[1] The contestants were housed in an $8 million waterfrontmansion, located in the southern Sydney suburb of Port Hacking, which the contestants moved into on 25 January 2008.[2]
The prizes for this season included a one-year modelling contract with Priscilla's Model Management in Sydney, an all expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with top international agencies, a Ford Fiesta Zetec, a one-year contract to be the face of Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics, and an eight-page fashion spread in Vogue Australia.[3]
The final thirteen faced off in groups before the judges to make a good first impression. After a swimsuit photo shoot in a studio, the models moved into the model mansion. For the challenge, the girls had to portray various characters for the show's promotional launch, and the best performer was granted immunity from elimination. The contestants were later introduced to Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements, and were shot in a group for Australian Vogue.
Special guests: Fabrizio Lipari, Travis Conneeley, Kirstie Clements, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, Jason Capobianco, Victoria Collison
Featured photographer: Jason Capobianco
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2
"Transformation - from Girls to Models"
29 April 2008 (2008-04-29)
The models received makeovers and prepared for a runway show onboard HMAS Melbourne in front of an audience of sailors to win a shopping spree valued at $11,000. They later had a beauty shoot for Napoleon Perdis cosmetics in which they were splashed with a mist of water.
Special guests: Hamish Glianos, Steven Hughes, Jordan Loukas, Stephanie Hart, Napoleon Perdis, Trelise Cooper
Featured photographer: Jackie Mieling
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3
"Fears & Fitness"
6 May 2008 (2008-05-06)
The contestants met Olympic champion and fashion designer Ian Thorpe for a fitness session, before facing their phobias in a standing parade for Rexona. The winners of the challenge were rewarded with a trip to the David Jones fashion show, and were given the chance to meet Megan Gale after her final catwalk appearance. At the shoot, the models had to scale a wall 30 feet in the air wearing Mary-Kyri shoes.
Special guests: Ian Thorpe, Emma Hutton, Sarah Ford, Collette Dinnigan, Kirrily Johnson, Melissa Hoyer, Megan Gale, Mary Kyri, Peter Morrissey
Featured photographer: Simon Upton
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4
"Reality Bites"
13 May 2008 (2008-05-13)
The models met Mink Sadowsky and industry stylist Trevor Stones for a runway lesson. Back at the house, several of the contestants began to antagonize Alamela. After a round of go sees overseen by Jodhi Meares and Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, some of the models were rewarded with a photo shoot for Body and Soul magazine. Conflict escalated between Alamela and the winners of the challenge, which later came to a head after a lookbook shoot for Alex Perry. At panel, the judges discussed the distasteful behaviour taking place in the model house.
Special guests: Mink Sadowsky, Trevor Stones, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, Bowie Wong, Marnie Skillings, Nicola Finetti, Laura Gorun
Featured photographer: Georges Antoni
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5
"Working the Brand"
20 May 2008 (2008-05-20)
Before the start of the episode, Jodhi Meares spoke to the viewers about the aspects of bullying and the behaviour from the previous episode. After an apology from Demelza to Alamela, the models met Jonathan Pease at Naked Communications for a role-playing exercise in which they had to understand the concepts and values of different fashion brands. They later had a photo shoot for Ford Fiesta in which they had to embody different personas in groups. After receiving packages from their loved ones, the winners of the challenge were flown to Brisbane for a Myer fashion parade and lunch. The last task of the week involved starring in a commercial for U by Kotex's controversial "love your beaver" campaign.
Special guests:Adam Ferrier, Vanessa Briese, Zoe Carr, Kate Meyer, Peter Morissey
Featured photographer: Marvin Joseph
Featured director: Monty Noble
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6
"Move Your Body"
27 May 2008 (2008-05-27)
The models took part in dancing lessons, and later paraded to The Potbelleez playing live for a Levi's promotion. The winners of the challenge were given the chance to star in a music video with Seany B. For the photo shoot the contestants had to pose with a male model for Peter Alexander's line of sleepwear.
Special guests: Juliette Verne, Kane Bonke, Leah Howard, Seany B, Matt Taylor, Mark Simpson, Targa Sahyoun, Peter Alexander
Featured photographer: Juli Balla
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7
"Tropical Top Model"
3 June 2008 (2008-06-03)
The final 6 travelled to the islands of Fiji to visit Nadi, and had a runway show on the aisle of the airplane. Upon arriving to Fiji, the contestants had a photo shoot challenge at the resort - the winner of which was rewarded with a day at the spa with a friend while the losers cleaned the villa. For the main photo shoot, the models were photographed by Russell James wearing Tigerlily swimwear.
Special guest: Gail Elliott
Featured photographers: Chris Ferguson (challenge), Russell James (photoshoot)
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8
"Fashion Wars"
10 June 2008 (2008-06-10)
Jodhi Meares and Brazilian stylist Fernando Frisoni met the models for a styling lesson before sending them off to meet Vogue editor Kristie Clements to fine-tune their newfound knowledge. They later had a styling and fashion challenge which involved creating outfits for different occasions and matching garnments to their appropriate designer. The winners of the challenge were treated to a day out at Gold Coast with fashion designer Wayne Cooper before heading off to a Fashion Award ceremony. For the photo shoot, the models arrived at Tamarama Beach to shoot for Oyster magazine.
Special Guests: Fernando Frisoni, Kirstie Clements, Kate Waterhouse, Wayne Cooper, Rachael Squires, Grant Pearce
Featured photographer: Bec Parsons
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9
"Media Manners"
17 June 2008 (2008-06-17)
The models were taught about dealing with media and paparazzi during a mock red carpet challenge in which they were interviewed by Ian Thorpe and Charlotte Dawson. They later had an interview challenge with the journalists of real newspapers and magazines. The winner was invited to a Puma launch party with a friend while the losers served finger-food, before taking part in a radio interview for Nova. At the photo shoot, the models wore eclectic designs created by students at Sydney TAFE Ultimo College.
Special Guests: Merrick and Rosso, Kate Ritchie, Tim Ross, Alex Needs, Fiona Byrne, Ian Thorpe, Shelly Horton, Shane Sutton
Featured photographer: Paul Westlake
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10
"New York, New York"
24 June 2008 (2008-06-24)
The final three were flown to New York City, and attended castings for Marilyn, MC2 Model Management and Elite Model Management. They later participated in a fashion show for Malan Breton, where last years winner Alice Burdeu made an appearance to offer her advice to the models. For the final photo shoot, the contestants were made up by Napoleon Perdis and stylist Bryan Marryshow for a stylish editorial session with a taxi in the streets of New York. Back in Australia, the judges selected the final two.
Special guests: Kwok Chan, Greg Francis, Jean Luc Brunel, Roman Young, Neal Hamil, Malan Breton, Alice Burdeu, Napoleon Perdis, Bryan Marryshow, Grant Pearce
The live finale was broadcast from Luna Park Sydney, with Charlotte Dawson acting as the finale's host. The show reunited the eliminated contestants, and the final two were interviewed by the judges and fashion experts regarding their plans and moments on the show. Later, the final two girls were shown going to castings for Australian Fashion Week. After some feedback and a runway show with all of the contestants, the judges had one last look at the finalists' bodies of work. Brian McFadden performed his new single "Twisted", and the judges began to cast their votes. On a telecast from Paris, season 3 winner Alice Burdeu the revealed that the winner of the competition was Demelza.
Special guests: Brian McFadden, Kirstie Clements, Napoleon Perdis, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke
Demelza - Cassie Ventura inspired long layers with bangs layered
Controversy
This series created some controversy in regards to in-house bullying.[4] The fourth episode, "Reality Bites", showed contestant Alamela Rowan being taunted by Demelza Reveley, Rebecca Jobson and Alyce Crawford, with Reveley and Jobson in particular causing Rowan to become visibly upset.[5] During the episode, Reveley proceeded to pour and throw water balloons at Rowan in a bid to get her to "open up" because she "just didn't get her". Another contestant, Alexandra Girdwood said in the episode that ironically, Reveley had changed schools several times because she herself had been a victim of bullying.[6][7]
Reveley, Crawford, and Jobson were christened the "Dapto Dogs" by judge Charlotte Dawson during the judging following the incident. Belinda Hodge, who was the contestant eliminated that episode, had defended Rowan on several occasions and was later praised by numerous media outlets for not "jumping the bandwagon" and bullying Rowan.[8] After the episode aired there was an immediate media backlash in regard to the limited response toward the contestants involved in the bullying. It was stated by leading Australian Psychologist Michael Carr Gregg that the show did not properly handle the behavior of Reveley and the other contestants.[9] It was also alleged that Fox8 downplayed the events with reports that in addition to what was televised, Reveley put condoms filled with mayonnaise in Rowan's bed and chili in her breakfast cereal.[10][11][12]
At the beginning of the following episode, "Working the Brand", host Jodhi Meares appeared in a message to viewers before the start of the episode explaining that the events of the previous week were examples of natural teenage behavior and the team behind Australia's Next Top Model did not support nor condone the behavior.[13] Reveley apologized to Rowan on camera, but also stated in a confessional that the incident had been "blown out of proportion". Rowan was ultimately eliminated that same episode.[14]
Notes
^In episode 1, Alyce won immunity from elimination after winning the reward challenge.
^Episode 6 featured a double elimination with the bottom three contestants being in danger of elimination.
