Australia’s Sunday Mail is reporting that Vogue Australia will no longer be providing the editorial spread for the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model. Harper’s and Cosmopolitan have stepped in to replace the leading fashion magazine.

The paper reports this relationship soured when Cycle 4 winner Demelza Reveley was refused a cover, unlike Cycle 3 winner Alice Burdeu Vogue editor Kirstie Clements was not pleased when Demelza was crowned the winner. She also was not overly receptive to Demelza’s spread.

“Look, Demelza scrubbed up all right, but she’s got a bit of a way to go - she’s very young and she’s no Alice Burdeu,” Kirstie said when the spread was released.

A cover was not part of the prize pack, Alice was awarded one for being a fresh face that’s perfect for high-fashion. Demelza was not the right fit for Vogue at all, but Kirstie honored the contract and gave her an eight-page spread in the magazine. Vogue is not the only partner who gets a say in who the winner should be, and thus, needs to treat each winner appropriately. Sometimes, the girl will be more high fashion, sometimes they won’t. However, the show and the producers also need to recognize that and not assume every glossy magazine and the fashion world will fawn over the winner, simply because Alice was such a hit.

That being said, losing Vogue is very disappointing. It gave AusNTM a fashion relationship and credibility no other Top Model franchise had. Harper’s isn’t bad, but Cosmopolitan puts Australia’s Top Model right in line with Germany’s (whose winner also gets a Cosmo spread) and the US (whose winner appears on teen magazine Seventeen).

What do you think of this development?

Image: Splash News Online

Sarah Murdoch, the new host of Australia’s Next Top Model attended the Australian premiere of the epic blockbuster film Australia, starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman on November 18. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the film takes place the bombing of Darwin in Australia during World War II.

Sarah has some big plans for AusNTM, including opening up the competition to plus-sized models. The fifth cycle is set to air in early summer 2009.

I think Sarah’s going to make a decent host. I liked Jodhi, she was great for training and one-on-one with the girls, but she was boring and didn’t have much presence at panel.

Popular Australia’s Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson was in for a shock. Her boyfriend, businessman Matthew Rhodin was arrested for allegedly committing bank fraud for over $7 million, Adelaide Now reports.

He spent last night in jail and was questioned for hours by the police before being denied bail. You can read the whole story about his arrest here. It’s pretty scary stuff and sounds a lot like what Anne Hathaway went through with her boyfriend over the summer.

You can’t help but wonder how much Charlotte knows about all this. I’m positive she had nothing to do with it, but $7 million dollars is a pretty big secret to keep from your girlfriend!

Demelza Reveley, the most recent winner of Australia’s Next Top Model looked fun and flirty as she walked the orange carpet for the Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11.

Since Demelza isn’t doing any international modeling yet, I wonder if this is what her career will come to. What do you think of Demelza’s look? Yay or nay?

Demelza Reveley, the winner of the last cycle of Australia’s Next Top Model has been deemed “not ready” to face the international modeling circuit by her management team, Priscilla’s Modeling Management.

“She’s just turned 17 and she’s too young and we are not sending her over there yet,” Priscilla Leighton-Clark, told the Herald Sun.
“She has all the enthusiasm in the world but as her agent I’m not letting the horse out of the stable just yet.”

I think this excuse is bull. Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman, and even fellow Aussie model Myf Shephard are all young. If Priscilla said her modeling skills or body was not up to par, or if Demelza and her family thought she was too young, I’d accept that. But in an industry where youth is revered and age is largely irrelevant to walk the catwalk, I find this a transparent attempt to maintain the AusNTM franchise abroad, with Alice Burdeu dominating runways as she had the past couple seasons.

What do you think? Is Priscilla doing the right thing by waiting for Demelza?

Sarah Murdoch, who was recently named the new host of Australia’s Next Top Model has made it clear she wants the show to take a stand against issues facing models and the fashion industry today. She wants to follow the footsteps of Tyra Banks and included plus-sized competitors on the Aussie version of the show.

“I am really pushing for a plus-size model this series because I am a big believer in healthy body types and encouraging girls to be the right body type,” Sarah told The Daily Telegraph. “It’s not about getting an overweight girl but someone who is healthy because one size doesn’t fit all.”

Having plus-sized contestants is one area where the American incarnation is leaps and bounds ahead of international versions. Tyra has included plus-sized contestants on almost every cycle of ANTM.

Former model Sarah Murdoch was named the newest host of Australia’s Next Top Model.

In addition to her hosting duties, Sarah will serve as executive producer of the show, and will produce documentaries for Fox8 under her production company, Room 329.

“This is a great fit for me and I’m excited about making the documentaries also,” Sarah told Adelaide Now. “Particularly with a show like Top Model because I know the business, I understand it and I feel like I can really contribute on every level as far as with the girls and how they’re portrayed and set them up for their careers hopefully.”

Sarah hopes to make an immediate impact on the show and is looking forward to addressing issues raised in past seasons like bullying and body image.

She sounds really excited by this new challenge, and it sounds like a great fit for her and for the show. There were rumors that Charlotte Dawson would be named the new host, but she quickly dispelled them. Don’t feel bad for Charlotte though–she has her own production deal with the network and you should see her face much more soon!

Fox8 has unveiled when and where the casting calls for the next cycle of Australia’s Next Top Model will be! To get full details of the tryouts near you, head to their website and click on the city where you live or plan to try out. Auditions start October 13 and run through the rest of the month!

Monday, October 13
Sydney
Westfield Parramatta

Tuesday, October 14
Sydney
Westfield Chatswood

Thursday, October 16
Gold Coast
Westfield Helensvale

Saturday, October 18
Townsville
Stockland
Monday, October 20
Melbourne
Westfield Southland

Tuesday, October 21
Melbourne
Westfield Fountatingate

Thursday, October 23
Adelaide
Hotel Richmond, Rundle Mall

Friday, October 24
Perth
Westfield Carousel

Sunday, October 26
Newcastle
Westfield Kotara

Rumors are flying that current Australia’s Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson is slated to replace the recently departed Jodhi Meares as host. While nothing has been confirmed yet, Charlotte did meet with Foxtel bosses today to discuss her future with the show.

“It would definitely be something that I would love to do,” Charlotte told Confidental. “but I don’t mind either way because I love what I am doing now as well.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if an official announcement is made soon. Charlotte is such a dynamic presence on the show and really stepped up in last season’s live finale. However, if Charlotte were to take the hosting reigns, who would step in to fill her vacant judging spot?

Demelza Reveley, the winner of Cycle 4 of Australia’s Next Top Model recently landed a major international campaign for chocolate company Ferrero Rocher, according to Perth Now.

Demelza will star in a French television commercial for the company, as well as shoot print ads.

Not only has she landed this campaign, she just returned from her big New York trip that was part of her AusNTM win, and her manager says the trip was a very successful one.

“Demelza is in a positive place right now and she’s getting on with the job brilliantly,” manager Priscilla Leighton Clarke said. “Being in New York was a fabulous experience for her and by winning this campaign she’s proved she’s got what it takes.”

Congrats Demelza! I’m excited to see how this campaign turns out!