“Germany’s Next Topmodel”
Great variety and shaky performances
Martina, Lieselotte and Barbara (from left to right) scored points with Heidi Klum at the start of “GNTM”.
© ProSieben/Richard Hübner
Heidi Klum welcomed 31 model candidates in Athens for the opening episode of “GNTM”. Three candidates in particular stood out.
Heidi Klum (48) is again looking for “Germany’s next top model”. In the opening episode of the 17th season of the model show, the models went to Greece on Thursday evening (February 3) on ProSieben. At a big fashion show in Athens, they had to prove themselves to pop star Kylie Minogue (53).
Heidi Klum: “The young models have to dress warmly”
And this time, Klum is again focusing on diversity. The casting was expanded even more and the boss of the show decided on 31 out of almost 9,000 applicants. Models with a height of 1.54 to 1.95 meters, with clothing sizes from 30 to 54 and with an age range of 18 to 68 years are also part of the party. “Older models are becoming increasingly popular. Beauty knows no age,” explained Klum at the start. With Barbara (68) from Flensburg and Lieselotte (66) from Berlin, “a dream has come true for her. You can write history. Keep your vigour,” Klum appealed to the two women when they first met, who are already with her “Willpower” stand out from the field of candidates. “The young models have to dress warmly.”
But Klum was also strict: “I’ll hit you just as hard as the young candidates.” Now she hopes that this season’s customers will be just as open to the different facets of the models. But how to deal with the older candidates? They are still on first-name terms, but instead of girls, they will now simply call the participants models, explained Klum.
Barbara has some modeling and social media experience, but for a long time she gave up modeling because of love. Now the mother of four children and grandmother of five grandchildren wants to take her chance. Lieselotte, mother of a son and former musician in a punk rock band, was touched upon arrival that she “may be there”. So far she has only practiced in front of the mirror and has no knowledge of Instagram, which Klum wants to change quickly.
Without high heels on the catwalk
The other candidates are also enthusiastic about the two “beautiful” women. Who else stood out from the group right at the beginning? Dance fan and TikTokerin Sophie (18) was self-confident upon arrival: “There has never been a person like me on ‘GNTM’. I’ve always been swimming against the tide.” She wants to become internationally known and is pursuing “a big plan”. YouTuber Paulina (32) is the favorite of Klum’s daughter Leni (17), as the 48-year-old revealed herself. There is also an Austrian mother-daughter team consisting of Martina (50), who last modeled 30 years ago, and daughter Lou-Anne (18).
Basketball player Wiebke (22) towers over many of the models at 1.95 meters, while Kashmira (20) is the shortest candidate at 1.54 meters. Noella (25) struggled with her scarring on her leg for a long time, but has now accepted her appearance. The bright Viola (21) lives with her pink hair “in her own world” and spontaneously applied. Tattoo fan and animal lover Lenara (24) found herself after therapy and wants to win the show as a self-confident curvy model and “born star”. “You can’t just be diverse and convince with your look, but now you have to show what you can do,” emphasized Klum before the first task.
Berlin designer Jasmin Erbas provided the glamorous start and outfitted the models with their dream robes for a fashion show. Juliana (24) opened the show brilliantly and Lieselotte, Martina and Barbara also delighted the audience. However, the high humidity made the catwalk a slippery slope for many models. Kristina (20) and Julia (21) fell and Emilie (19) completely gave up her high heels, which, according to Klum, caused the group’s “worst walk”. The candidate therefore did not make it into the next round. Meline (20) and Pauline (19) also had to leave the show. The remaining models are now going to Mykonos.