According to the Herald Sun, Cassi was offered representation by Priscilla Leighton Clark in Australia and by Elite New York in America, but turned both contracts down.

“Elite in New York are desperate to sign her,” Priscilla told the Herald Sun last week. “The phrase used was, ‘They are completely obsessed’. Contracts are with both parties.”

Unfortunately, an international career isn’t in Cassi’s future as she chose to return to Sunbury to be with her boyfriend, a 25-year-old bricklayer named Brad Saul.

Cassi refused to talk to the paper about her decision and hung up on them when they called for a comment.

Charlotte Dawson, who loved Cassi but refused to cast her vote for the Kate Moss look-a-like for this very reason, was much more frank about the whole thing.

“After seeing him in the audience at the finale, I thought, ‘That guy’s going to ruin her life,” Charlotte told the paper. “We gave her so much love and support, maybe even more than the other girls, but at the back of my mind I knew she would do this and that’s why I couldn’t vote for her.”

I’m not surprised either, but I am disappointed for Adele, Franky and Clare – all who would have had a great shot at winning if they’d made it to the final two. We can only hope those girls and the winner, Tahnee Atkinson, have great careers.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

The phenomenal (but drawn out) finale featured two live performances by Jessica Mauboy, a fashion show celebrating Australian designers, a reunion, a nose bleed, a guest appearance by the finalists’ moms and so much more. It broke television records as the most watch paid television show in Australia.

Seventeen-year-old Tahnee received the votes of style director Jonathan Pease, host Sarah Murdoch and judge Charlotte Dawson.

“You have proven you can do it all,” Sarah Murdoch praised. “I’m sure there are thousands of girls out there thinking I want to be just like Tahnee.”

“I’m sure there are thousands of girls out there thinking I want to be just like Tahnee.”

While all the guest judges (and those who offered up the prizes!) cast their vote for Cassi, the audience response put Tahnee over the edge to take home the prize.

Thane felt her relatability and likability is what put her over the edge.

“I think I’ve got a body that can relate to most teenage girls,” Tahnee said during the finale.

Congratulations to Tahnee. Throughout the show, she proved her professionalism and dedication to modeling and her ability to learn quickly and grow. While she’s destined for a very different career than Cycle 3 winner Alice Burdeu, I’m sure she’ll make Sarah Murdoch, the other judges and the audience that voted for her proud!

Post from: Top Model Gossip

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date: July 7th, 2009
Viewer’s Choice: Clare
Jonathan’s vote: Tahnee
Russell James’s vote: Cassi
Harper’s Bazaaar vote: Cassi
Sarah’s vote: Tahnee
Priscilla’s vote: Cassi
Charlotte’s vote: Tahnee
Alex’s vote: Cassi
Audience vote:Tahnee
WINNER: Tahnee

We are immediately greeted with the panel of judges and it includes Priscilla, photographer Russell James and the editor of Harper’s Bazaar, Claudia. I love that AusNTM incorporates these votes in the final. Imagine how different ANTM would be if Elite and CoverGirl got direct votes for the winner?!

Sarah Murdoch comes on stage and she’s introduced as a supermodel, which is a bit surprising. Is she considered a supermodel Down Under? I’d only vaguely heard of her until she agreed to host this show. But I’m in Canada, so it’s possible she just slipped past my radar. While she’s better than Jodhi, she’s kinda bland and awkward, don’t you think? Her personality needs to come across as more natural. Hopefully she loosens up as the show goes one?

The eliminated girls come out one by one in the outfits from the photo shoot that eliminated them. While the premise is cute, poor Laura is going to have to spend the rest of the episode in a bikini! I’s much rather see the girls personal style (mostly so I can judge them!). Oh well.

While they’re reviewing Tahnee and Cassi’s runway journey, they flash to Alice Burdeu and boy does she ever look bored. I wonder if Demelza is there as well.

We also get a montage of Charlotte and Alex going at it. I think they either hate each other or are best friends, it’s hard to tell. While this is fun, all I can think it wow, they’re really pushing to fill the two hours.

Two catwalks in and all I can think is wow, first Laura who was eliminated can really walk. She’s by far the best. Most of them are as stiff and awkward as ever.

When Tahnee comes out in that black dress, she kills it. I’m finally getting the Tahnee love, but I still don’t see her working as a true “top model.” Definitely commercials and definitely niche markets, but not much else. The judges keep talking about lingerie and Victoria’s Secret but the girl is still to short and too curvy for even them. Stand her next to Miranda Kerr, you’ll see what I mean.

All this being said, I’ve decided I want Tahnee to win. She needs it for her career more than Cassi does and Cassi’s attitude throughout the entire show completely stunk.

We finally get to the fun part, where they make the girls relive some of the more awkward moments in the house. Charlotte is kind of awful in this segment, demanding Leah apologize to Clare (even though she said she already did) and forcing Tahnee to say thank you to Mikarla, who I am convinced is still evil.

Clare wins the viewer’s choice and I’m glad. I figured it was between her and Tahnee, so it’s nice she gets to walk away with something.

We get to see their photos and get some judges’s votes. Then their moms come out and it’s so sweet to see Cassi run to her mom like that.

The best part of the vote casting? Tahnee’s nosebleed! Sarah casts her vote for Tahnee, which isn’t surprising. While she’s been a champion of Cassi the entire series, Tahnee was her clear favorite from the beginning. Tahnee also gets Charlotte’s vote, for the simple fact she doesn’t trust Cassi. Alex votes for Cassi, which is really surprising. It’s not 4-3 for Cassi, so I’m wondering how the audience vote works. Is it worth 2 judges’ votes? It must be.

It is, because Tahnee comes from behind and takes it all! I’m happy, but still think Clare deserved to win.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date: June 30, 2009
Challenge: Australian Fashion Week casting. Bookings: Clare 4, Cassi 3, Tahnee 2
Challenge Winner: Clare
Photo Shoot: Raw beauty on the beach
Guest Judge: Jez Smith and Doll Wright
Called First: Tahnee
Eliminated: Clare

It’s Australian Fashion Week and I must say, I love how AusNTM does this. Priscilla, who will represent the winner (and often signs the girls who don’t win) booked a bunch of castings for the final three. They have to run around like real models trying to get into shows, just like every other model in Australia right now. Sure, it’s a big staged because they need designers to agree to be filmed and what-not, but it’s a step up from how other Top Models do it.

However, it does mean there’s no dramatic final catwalk show, it’s the live finale. And I’m not the biggest fan of the live finale. I do like how more than just the judges get a vote, so it’s a toss-up.

Clare books Ginger & Smart, but Cassi and Tahnee don’t. They tell Cassi it’s because of her walk, but don’t give Tahnee a reason at all. I wonder if it’s because of her size because her walk is pretty good.

The next casting is at Wayne Cooper and Clare is easily cast. Tahnee gets a pass because of her body type and Cassi gets the second spot, with some reluctance. Wayne warns her about her walk but is confident with some practice she’ll be a great model.

Nicola Fenetti was the next casting. He’s looking for sexy ’80s style girls and Tahnee fits the bill perfectly. Cassi doesn’t and Clare picks up her third booking of the day.

Okay, at this point, isn’t it obvious Clare should win? She’s 3/3 on her castings and Cassi’s only getting booking based on her potential. Tahnee has a niche market and she’ll do wonderfully in that, but as an overall top model, she’s toast. That being said, none of the judges seem lo like Clare, and that will be a big strike against her. Stupid biases.

The fourth casting of the day is at Anna & Boy. They really know what they want and give the girls a lot of direction. Their look is very specific and they only book Cassi. The competition is heating up and the confessional remarks are getting snarkier and snarkier!

At Diet Coke Little Black Dress casting, and all three girls are booked for the show. I’m getting the impression this was the plan all along (Jonathan was the casting director for the shoot, after all. And it’s a sponsored show!), but it’s still nice to see they’ll all get at least two shows to be in.

The shows all go well, but Clare is declared the winner. She should, she was cast in the most shows and rocked them all. Tahnee was a complete sex kitten on the runway and I love her, but she only booked two shows. Cassi was awkward on the runway and I love how Charlotte called her “slightly demented.” She does have a great look, but she really needs to work on her walk.

The photo shoot is on the beach and the wind is nearly treacherous. It’s a group shot that’s all about raw beauty and the girls have to pretend that they’re best friends in this photo. Ha! I love it!

At panel, Sarah makes them talk about their strengths and weaknesses as a model. Tahnee gets her strengths and weaknesses bang on, but Sarah’s all “your body is beautiful, don’t change!” While this is true, it will limit her work. Tahnee just needs to decide if that’s worth it. It’s not Sarah’s job to project her ideals on Tahnee or on the industry. Cassi pisses me off when she calls out Clare and Tahnee who supposedly want to win this only for the prize money. WTF? Clare kills her answers for me when she starts with a quote. It’s not even cute, it’s very preachy and kind of weird. She breaks down over the prissy princess label and I think she misses the point of the question – and of the prissy princess label.

I’m so torn. Clare’s presentation turned me off. I love Tahnee, but question her ability to actually work. Cassi kills me, but I understand her edge and appeal. At least the deliberation surrounding Cassi reflected that.

Sarah demands that everyone declare their favorite. She chooses Tahnee and I’m not surprised. Alex chooses Clare and I’m not surprised. Doll, the guest judge chooses Cassi and I’m willing to be Jez and Charlotte do too, even if they don’t show it.

Tahnee gets first call out and Clare is sent home. It’s disappointing but understandable, especially considering how the judges’ deliberation went.

I think Tahnee’s going to win it all.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date:June 23, 2009
Challenge : paparazzi photos
Challenge winner: Adele
Photo: London sights
Guest judge: Alice Burdeu and Jonathan Pease
Called first: Clare
Eliminated: Adele

The girls are off to London, so we get lots of montages of them leaving, of them stopping over in Dubai and of them arriving in London. After seeing their swanky apartment and getting a good night’s sleep, Sarah’s pal Gerry takes them on a shopping tour of London – High Street and TopShop, then some higher end brands, then Selfridges, where – surprise, surprise! – Elle MacPherson is there to greet them! Elle feeds them stuff about how they are beautiful and need to be grounded and supported and what not. I had no idea she was this New Age-y! It’s not a bad thing, it’s just surprising.

Adele wins the paparazzi challenge and chooses to take Cassi because she hasn’t won a challenge yet. Cassi is really surprised and touched and her reaction is quite sweet. Cassi could warm to me yet!

The next day, the girls have go sees at Storm and Premiere. At Storm, the managing director had nice things to say about everyone. At Premiere, they’re a bit meaner about Tahnee’s measurements, Adele’s height and Cassi’s walk.

The photo shoot is high fashion meets London sights. Gerry was impressed by everyone. All the girls looked great, but it was clearly Adele who struggled the most. They return to Australia and Alice Burdeu is the guest judge! This makes me extremely happy, I’m so excited to see what she’s like on the other side of the judging panel!

The judges, with the exception of Sarah, all hate Clare’s photo, think Adele looks cheap, think Cassi looks bored, and think that while Tahnee’s photo is the best of the bunch, it isn’t that great. After a tough deliberation, Clare’s complete package puts her on top and Adele’s one look sends her home. I’m disappointed because I liked Adele, but I’m not surprised. It was Adele’s time to go.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date:June 16, 2009
Challenge : TV Commercial
Challenge winner: Tahnee (lead) Franky and Clare (supporting)
Photo: Ford Fiesta Style Icon shoot
Guest judge: Paul Westbank and Adrian Heywood
Called first: Clare
Eliminated: Franky

Today it’s all about drama, as the girls get acting lessons from profs at the best theatre school in Australia. They make them do some funny exercises, like say “pussypussypussypussy” in each other’s faces and pretend their friend died. After the challenge, the girls learn they get to audition for a real television commercial. It’s kind of fun flipping between the girls who are auditioning and those waiting in the green room making fun of them. Most everyone is awkward, but Tahnee is clearly the best.

I really don;t know who I want to win. Tahnee is clearly the judges favorite and my money is on her, but I don’t get her. She’s definitely not high fashion. Adele looks too much like Alice Burdeu, Cassi is too awkward, Franky is too commercial. I’m banking on a Clare/Tahnee final two, with Tahnee winning the commercial votes and the audience vote and Clare getting Alex Perry’s vote. What do you think?

The director of the commercial agrees that Tahnee was the best and she wins the lead role. Franky and Clare win supporting roles. The commercial is cheesy and hilarious, I’m really excited to see the final commercial!

The photo shoot combines Ford with style icons from different decades. Before the shoot starts, Sarah reveals that the international destination this cycle will be London. Each girl is given a style icon. Franky is Grace Jones and she has no idea who she is. Tahnee got Elizabeth Taylor and she had no idea who she was. Clare got Twiggy, which is going to be tough for her. Cassi gets Victoria Beckham and she’s stoked. Adele is Greta Garbo and she doesn’t know who she is. What’s wrong with these girls? Seriously. You’re in fashion. Go learn something.

Adele and Cassi struggled, Clare was okay and Tahnee and Franky were the stars of the day. At panel, Clare, Franky and Tahnee impress while Adele and Cassi are the weak ones this week. Clare gets the first call-out for her versatility and Franky is sent home because even though she brought it this week, it just wasn’t enough.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date:June 9, 2009
Challenge : Fashion Targets Breast Cancer auction
Challenge winner: Franky
Photo: Fashion Targets Breast Cancer
Guest judge: Ruby Rose and Dennis Montelbetty
Called first: Tahnee
Eliminated: Lola

This week, it’s all about brands and media as the girls are thrown into an interview and selling the V Austalia airline. It’s a bit of a trick challenge because once their pitches about V Australia are over, the journalists in the room go for the hard questions – what’s it like for Lola to be plus-size, why is Clare prissy and when Cassi is going to give up smoking. I just don’t understand why they didn’t spin it back to the brand. “I may be plus-size, but do you know what’s really plus-size? V australia’s leg room!” or something cheesy like that. Don’t give them much to work with and keep it on message. Why didn’t they get that?

This week’s photo shoot is for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and involves designer gowns and a trampoline. It’s fun but this entire episode is slowly turning into an anti-smoking campaign. We get it. Cassi smokes and it’s bad for you. It’s not like she’s the only model to ever smoke. Yes, I think she should quit, but the show needs to move on.

Tahnee and Clare shone during the photo shoot, Adele and Franky did okay but Cassi and Lola tanked.

The charity theme isn’t over, as the girls now have to model and sell their dresses at a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer auction. The winner is Franky, but the loser is Cassi, who has to be the house slave for a day. It gets far more dramatic than it needs to be, but Franky’s rap song about eggs makes it all better.

At panel, the judges love everyone. It’s going to be a hard decision, but the judges continue to love Tahnee and send Lola home because she just isn’t keeping pace with the rest of the pack.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date:June 2, 2009
Challenge: Alex Perry fashion show
Challenge winner: Clare, Adele and Tahnee
Photo: Chanel on a pylon
Guest judge: Richard Leighton and Priscilla
Called first: Adele
Eliminated: Laura

We open with the girls talking about how much they miss Madison, but we all know the truth – they are just wondering who is going to win! hey are then taken to the Harper’s Bazaar office to learn about fashion, as the very top models have a strong sense of personal style and are very knowledgable about the fashion industry. The girls are taught about the three latest trends and are divided into teams to replicate the trends. All thee teams do pretty poorly and the editor from the magazine is not impressed.

This week’s challenge is walking for Alex Perry and his consultant, Trevor. The girls take turns walking for them and they are going to pick two girls to be in a ridiculously fancy fashion show. The entire time I’m watching this clip, I keep thinking “holy crap Alex Perry, how often do you work out?” because his biceps are freakin’ huge. Alex and Trevor choose Clare and Adele.

After the challenge, the girls get to home and see their moms! It’s so cute and emotional I nearly cried. Boo to AusNTM and Sarah Murdoch for making me cry! I couldn’t get over how short Lola’s mom was! Lola looked like a GIANT next to her! So did Laura, Adele and most of the other girls next to their moms. I can’t imagine being that much taller than my mom. My own mom is six feet tall.

The Alex Perry fashion show on the Queen Mary 2 was gorgeous. Clare, Tahnee and Adele all looked stunning and I can’t get over how much Adele looks like Alice Burdeu. While it’s a huge compliment, I can see it being her downfall as we near the end. Would AusNTM really crown two winners who look so much like each other?

I think I want Clare to win. She has my favorite look and she looked so fierce on that runway. I like Lola a lot too, but her weight concerns me. She looks fantastic and has such a strong face, but can she fit into sample sizes at shows?

This week’s photo shoot was all Chanel. I’m wondering how they got the clothes for the shoot – a Top Model franchise is a weird partnership for the fashion house. The girls had to model on a rickety pylon and I’ll admit it, I wanted to see someone fall in! No one did, but a lot of girls fell flat on the photo shoot.

At panel, I love Adele’s and Tahnee’s photos so much. I’m glad the judges called Cassi on her excuses. Adele’s perfect photo puts her on top and Laura’s consistently weak photos get her sent home.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Challenge: Posing with ice scupltures
Challenge winner: Lola
Photo shoot: lingerie in the desert
Guest judge: Russell James
Called first: Clare
Eliminated: Madison

Mikarla’s elimination sends Cassi into a tailspin. We quickly move from Cassi being crazy – because that’s not new – to this week’s photo shoot. Think Italian Vogue goes to the farm. With assholes. I think we’re supposed to find it funny, but it’s just painful to watch. That being said, it is a great lesson for the girls to learn.

The girls then move to the challenge, which involves posing with an ice sculpture for A list clients. Lola wins because she gives her ear frostbite. It’s worth it though, because Lola then gets a $2000 necklace to show off!

When the girls get back at the house, they see their luggage has been packed up for them. This is because they are going to South Australia to shoot a lingerie shot in the red desert. The girls all work within the flies and heat and the photo shoot looks stunning and dramatic while they are shooting – it makes me really excited for the photos! They are smoking hot, but the front runners and the stragglers are immediately clear. Laura and Madison end up in the bottom, but Madison’s permanent furrowed brow sends her home.

Post from: Top Model Gossip

See the photo shoot here.

Full recap below the jump!

Original Air Date: May 19th, 2009
Challenge : Fruit market runway show
Challenge Winner : Tahnee
Photo Shoot: Kotex ad
Guest Judge: Kane Skinner and Joe Bailey
Called First: Adele
Eliminated: Mikarla and Eloise

I’m going to say it right now: Australia’s Next Top Model is currently my favorite Top Model incarnation. Drama, modelesque girls, real model training – it has it all.

Today is runway day and they get a simple lesson from Australia’s leading runway coach. There’s loads of interviews of the girls making fun of each other’s walks. The real standouts are Clare and Franky, both who have fantastic walks. The girls are then put in very difficult garments and put on a s how for Sarah and Mink.

The challenge for the week is a runway show in the Sydney fruit market! I love it! Some girls get really flustered by the new surroundings but others revel in it and shine. Tahnee, who is clearly Jonathan’s favorite, it declared the winner and she gets $10,000 to go shopping at the Corner Shop!

MiKarla has a breakdown because both Jonathan and Sarah called her on her attitude. If you want it so much MiKarla, stop being a snarky bitch and start taking the challenges and lessons seriously.

The photo shoot was a campaign ad for Kotex and the best photo is actually going to be featured in a campaign, which is pretty cool! But on to the real drama – Eloise and Tahnee have been collecting cigarette butts to give to Mikarla as a McDonald’s meal. What are they, eleven years old? Sure, Mikarla is a wanker but that’s just mean and dumb.

Surprisingly, a lot of girls struggled with the brief and turned out poor photos. The few exceptions were Madison, Adele and Franky. Miklarla’s photo was pretty good, but her attitude stinks so Sarah sent her home. She wasn’t the only one, as it was a surprise double elimination and Eloise gets the boot too, for consistently not bringing enough strength to her modeling.

Cassi was in the bottom three with Eloise and Mikarla and her plea to keep Mikarla in was just weird. I know they’re buddies, as they bonded together over the whole cigarette thing, but really, Cassi? Mikarla’s dead weight. Cut her loose! I’m sad to see Eloise go, but she was a tad boring and didn’t really produce strong photos. Oh well.

Post from: Top Model Gossip