New documentary
Ex-“GNTM” participants unpack
Tessa Bergmeier (left) and Lijana Kaggwa criticize the conditions at “GNTM” in a new documentary.
© imago images/VISTAPRESS / imago images/Eventpress
In a new documentary, former “GNTM” participants unpack about the psychological consequences they have suffered from the show.
The report format “STRG_F” (NDR/funk) has published a new documentary in which several former candidates of “Germany’s next top model” about the conditions behind the scenes of the ProSieben casting show. Some of them have since suffered from massive psychological problems, from depression and anxiety to suicidal thoughts.
Lijana, Tessa, Simone and Nadine speak in front of the camera
More than 50 former participants from different seasons were interviewed for the 74-minute documentary, it says in a statement. Only nine had the courage to speak in front of the camera themselves. Simone Kowalski (25), winner of the 14th season, reports, among other things, about living together in the model villa, which was “the biggest challenge in my whole life” for her: “You can’t describe what that does to you.” Accordingly, some of them were completely isolated there and were no longer allowed to leave the house, says Simone. Since there were cameras and microphones everywhere, there was little privacy or the opportunity to withdraw. “I couldn’t cope anymore. Mentally, physically, socially.”
Lijana Kaggwa (27), who has repeatedly publicly accused both Heidi Klum (50) and the production, also speaks in front of the camera. She has had to deal with a lot of hate online since it was broadcast in 2020 and at some point she began to believe what people write to her, such as: “I’m shit, worthless, a whore, a monkey and my family would actually be better off go when I no longer exist.”
Tessa Bergmeier (33), who took part in the casting show in 2009, already raged about “GNTM” in the RTL jungle camp this year. In the current documentary, she reports in tears: “I didn’t want to be me anymore.”
The women in production also unanimously accuse them of deliberately taking scenes out of context when editing the episodes. Emotions were also deliberately provoked on the set in order to create quarrels.
That’s what ProSieben says about the allegations
The broadcaster ProSieben responded to the allegations when asked by “STRG_F”, but vehemently rejected them. Accordingly, there is coaching, psychologists and advice on the set to prepare the participants for public reporting about them. Scenes were therefore not taken out of context and there is a duty of care for the models. All participants should also “answer what they want to answer”. Heidi Klum did not want to comment on the allegations, the statement said.
The full documentary entitled “Pressure, hate, manipulation: How does Germany’s next top model break?” is now on YouTube and available in the ARD media library.
Help with depression and suicidal thoughts is available from the telephone counseling service on the free number: 0800/111 0 111