The prizes for this cycle included a one-year modelling contract with IMG Sydney and worldwide representation by IMG London, New York, Milan and Paris, as well as a A$20,000 cash prize thanks to TRESemmé, a brand new Nissan Dualis, an overseas trip to Paris to meet with IMG Paris, and an eight-page editorial spread and the cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia.[2]
The winner of the competition was 16-year-old Melissa Juratowitch from Melbourne, Victoria.[3]
Series summary
Fifty semi-finalists were selected to take part in this years' competition.[4] The first episode of the show was shown in a special screening for fans of the series. Fifteen official contestants were chosen to compete for the title.[5]
Requirements
The all contestants had to be aged 16 or over in order to apply for the show. Those auditioning had to be at least 172 centimetres (68 in) tall. To qualify, all applicants had to be an Australian citizen currently living in Australia. Additional requirements stated that a contestant could not have had previous experience as a model in a national campaign within the last five years, and if a contestant was represented by an agent or a manager, she had to terminate that representation prior to the competition.
Auditions
Auditions for cycle 8 began to take place on 13 January in Adelaide, continuing in Perth, Brisbane, Townsville, and Sydney throughout the rest of the month before wrapping up in Melbourne on 23 January.[6]
The judges met the top 50 semi-finalists for bootcamp at Cockatoo Island. As part of Australia's history as a penal colony, the contestants took part in several challenges and photo shoots relating to different convict themes. After taking part in group interviews with the judges, half of the contestants were eliminated. The elimination was followed by a runway show on a plank and a jailbird photo shoot session which Abbie, Shanali, Taylah, Melissa & Duckie received the highest praise. After deliberating one final time, the final 15 were selected, and it was revealed that they would be travelling to Thailand for the next stage of the competition.
Featured photographer: Michael Naumoff
77
2
"Episode 2"
16 July 2013 (2013-07-16)
The 15 finalists arrived in Bangkok and were taken to a Buddhist temple for a meditation lesson before taking part in a styling challenge at the local market, where they were split into teams of five. For the photo shoot, the models were photographed as rich Thai travelers lost in the countryside.
Featured photographer: Kane Skennar
78
3
"Episode 3"
23 July 2013 (2013-07-23)
The remaining models moved into the model mansion and had a lesson on healthy eating with James Duigan, while Ashley was taken to the hospital due to a case of appendicitis. In preparation for an upcoming challenge, the contestants received a message from Candice Swanepoel regarding the importance of body endurance, fitness, and strength in the field of modeling. At the challenge, they were faced with an arduous and grueling obstacle course in which the winner received $2,000 worth of fitness apparel and a years' supply of health supplements, before being styled as sports luxe athletes for the photo shoot.
Special guests: James Duigan, Candice Swanepoel
Featured photographer: Justin Ridler
79
4
"Episode 4"
30 July 2013 (2013-07-30)
The models were driven to Elizabeth Bay House for a lesson on proper etiquette. They later had a red carpet challenge in which they had to face the press, paparazzi, and fans of the show for a mock movie premiere at the Ritz Cinema to win the chance of appearing in a national Nissan Dualis commercial. At the photo shoot, the contestants had to embody a modern interpretation of the 1950s housewife.
The models were driven to the Australian Reptile Park in order to overcome their fears by touching the animals, and later had makeovers before walking in front of members of the industry and media, as well as their loved ones. They later arrived at Hyde Park for a vintage Calvin Klein inspired photo shoot.
Special guests: Julie Mendezona, Troy Thompson, Thelma McQuillan, Danielle Ragenard
Featured photographer: Harold David
81
6
"Episode 6"
13 August 2013 (2013-08-13)
The contestants arrived at Broken Hill for a lesson on line dancing to learn about teamwork, and later took part in a painting challenge. Conflict escalated after a paint fight between Ashley and Taylah turned physical, and the judges alluded that the issue would be addressed at panel. The models then had to work in pairs to embody fugitives escaping into the Outback in a photo shoot inspired by the film Thelma and Louise. During elimination it was revealed that Taylah was disqualified from the competition, and that as a result, no one would be eliminated that week.
Special guests: Tin Gauci, Kathy Ferry
Featured photographer: Jordan Graham
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7
"Episode 7"
20 August 2013 (2013-08-20)
The models were taken to Manning Cartell for a crash course on runway walking, and received pointers from Jennifer Hawkins and Gabby Manning. They then took part in a casting challenge for Colgate Optic White to front one of their new campaigns, and secretly had their behaviour monitored as they reacted to awkward situations planted by producers of the show. Later, the models arrived at the Hilton Hotel for a glamorous photo shoot that showcased their smiles.
Special guests: Gabby Manning, Julian Watt, Matt O'Brien
Featured photographer: Simon Upton
83
8
"Episode 8"
27 August 2013 (2013-08-27)
The remaining contestants arrived at the Sydney Opera House for a ballet lesson from a principal artist of The Australian Ballet, and later put their knowledge to the test in a mute fashion film for the new flavor range of Mount Franklin's Sparkling Water. The best performer was rewarded with a custom made Samantha Wills jewellery set worth over $1,000. For the photo shoot, the models posed in surfwear to create an image that was representative of Australian beach culture.
Special guests: Amber Scott, Alex Goddard, Camilla Franks, Jordan Stenmark, Zac Stenmark
Featured photographer: Zac Handley
84
9
"Episode 9"
3 September 2013 (2013-09-03)
The models arrived at House of Yoga Redfern for a session of anti gravity yoga to learn how to make more dynamic poses. They later went to garden square for a constricted styling challenge in a telephone booth to re-create looks from the Alex Perry Spring/Summer collection, and one of the models made and offhand comment that didn't sit well with Alex Perry. The winner of the challenge was treated to high tea with a friend at the Langham Hotel. After an emotional discussion with Didier Cohen regarding their lives before the show, the contestants had a photo shoot with mirrors for an editorial spread to be published in Cosmopolitan.
Special guests: Evangeline Yeun, Bronwyn McCahon, Nicole Adolphe
Featured photographer: Richard Freeman
85
10
"Episode 10"
10 September 2013 (2013-09-10)
The contestants met ex-rugby player Kris Smith for an exercise session to help them channel their inner male qualities. They were later introduced to drag king Rocco DÁmore, and were dressed in male attire for a challenge in which they had to pretend to be men and stay in character whilst talking to a stranger. The winner received a $700 Microsoft Surface tablet. The models were then taken to the beach for a timeless 90s B&W masculine styled photo shoot.
Special guests: Kris Smith, Rocco DÁmore
Featured photographer: Georges Antoni
86
11
"Episode 11"
17 September 2013 (2013-09-17)
The remaining four contestants were flown to the island of Mauritius to take part in two photo shoots that would help determine which three models would make it to the grand finale. Their challenge took the form of an underwater runway show for which the best performer was treated with a traditional Mauritian sugar scrub massage. The first photo shoot was a moody session on the beach with gothic styling, followed the next day by a colorful couture shoot among residents of the Mauritian fishing village. The contestants also received letters from their families back at home. Back in Australia, the judges decided which three girls would become finalists.
Featured photographer: Jez Smith
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12
"Episode 12"
24 September 2013 (2013-09-24)
The live show opened with a catwalk performance from the fifteen models to Rudimental's song "Feel the Love", and the judges were asked their opinions of the final three. The final shoot for the cover and spread in Harper's Bazaar was shown, and the judges interviewed their favorite girls on their thoughts about their careers and modelling. After a second runway performance, the show highlighted each girls' journey throughout the competition, before going over interviews with their friends and family. Immediately afterwards, the third-placing finalist was announced. The models then perform in a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" with Cirque du Soleil, and Melissa was revealed to be the eighth winner of Australia's Next Top Model.
Special guests: Rudimental, Ricki-Lee, Cirque du Soleil
Ashley - Jesy Nelson dark blonde, loose curls and medium layered bob
Shannon - Hair straighten, dyed light brown and long angled line hair
Jade - Tyra Banks inspired neck length cut with bangs and dyed dark brown
Dajana - Dyed light brown and cut neck length
Abbie - Cut chest length
Duckie - Dyed light pink
Shanali - Loose wavy weave
Melissa - Tight wavy weave
Notes
^In episode 1, the finalists were selected. The top 50 was reduced to a pool of 25 girls, which were in turn reduced to the final 15 contestants. The first official elimination took place in episode 2.
^In episode 6, Jade and Madeline were awarded best picture as a pair. Taylah was disqualified from the competition. As a result, no one was eliminated.
Prior to the airing of the cycle, it was reported that a contestant had been disqualified from the competition for bullying. Host Jennifer Hawkins said of the incident, "I don’t know why but I went into (the show) thinking ‘oh, there won’t be drama, everything will be fine’, but of course there is always drama. A lot of things have happened in the house and we were dealing with something that hasn't happened before. It was really intense."[22][23] Hawkins later specified that the cause for disqualification was not bullying, but violence among two of the contestants on the show. She also revealed that Foxtel and the show's production company Shine Australia requested for the girl to be ejected.[24] The disqualified contestant was revealed to be Taylah Roberts from Perth, who physically attacked Ashley Pogmore. The day before the airing of the episode in which Roberts was disqualified, footage of Roberts choking Pogmore was shown on A Current Affair.[25]
