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''Germany's Next Topmodel'' (often abbreviated as ''GNTM'') is a German
reality television series Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...
based on the concept introduced by
Tyra Banks Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973), also known as BanX, is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she began her career as a model at the age of 15 and was the first Black A ...
with ''
America's Next Top Model ''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...
''. The competition is hosted by
Heidi Klum Heidi Klum (; born 1 June 1973) is a German and American model, television personality, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Vict ...
, who also serves as the lead judge and
executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the production of media. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). In film ...
of the show. It is the longest-running ''
Top Model ''Top Model'', also called ''Next Top Model'', is a fashion-themed reality television show format produced in many countries throughout the world and seen in over 120 countries producing over 200 seasons (referred to as "cycles"). The show t ...
'' adaptation, with a span of 20 years, and the ''Top Model'' series with the second-most number of cycles. The show has faced heavy criticism in Germany due to the treatment of its contestants. The allegations include
gaslighting Gaslighting is the manipulation of someone into questioning their perception of reality. The term derives from the 1944 film ''Gaslight (1944 film), Gaslight'' and became popular in the mid-2010s. Some mental health experts have expressed c ...
, abuse of power, misrepresentation of contestants and manipulations by the crew as well as
body shaming Body shaming is the action or inaction of subjecting someone to humiliation and criticism for their bodily features. There are so many types of body shaming, including but not limited to fat-shaming, shaming for thinness, height-shaming, shami ...
. The show is also accused of being responsible for the
cyberbullying Cyberbullying (cyberharassment or online bullying) is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Since the 2000s, it has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers and adolescents, due to young people's increased u ...
and death threats against the contestants due to the show's misrepresentation of them. The show is also in the focus of the Commission for Youth Media Protection and the
Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth The Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (; abbreviated BMBFSFJ) is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is headquartered in Berlin with a secondary seat in Bonn. The ministr ...
. Former judges have distanced themselves from the show.


Show format

''Germany's Next Topmodel'' currently has 20 cycles. Each cycle has ten to 25 episodes and starts with 12–51 contestants. During each episode, one contestant is eliminated, although a double/triple elimination or no elimination may occur based on the consensus of the judging panel. Makeovers are administered to contestants early in the competition, usually after the first or second elimination in the finals.


Differences between ANTM and GNTM

While ''America's Next Top Model'' typically starts with 30 semi-finalists who are cut down to a batch of between ten and 16 contestants, ''Germany's Next Top Model'' cycle premieres begin with highlights from the auditions of 100 candidates (Cycles 1 and 2) and 120 candidates (Cycle 3), respectively. The panel challenge in front of the judges on ''America's Next Top Model'' is almost always replaced by a runway walk in front of the judges on the German show. In the elimination process on ''America's Next Top Model'', host Tyra Banks hands out a photograph to each of the contestants who are safe, in order of merit. The bottom two of each episode are called to stand before Banks and are judged individually. The call-out order plays a significant role in determining the best contestant of the week—a departure from Germany's Next Top Model, where the call-out order does not provide insights into the quality of the contestants' performance, except during the final. Moreover, they are called out one by one while the others are waiting in the backstage lobby. The US contestants are all present. GNTM also starts the finale with three or four contestants left, while in ANTM, the finale starts with two or three contestants left. On the American show, the final five or six contestants embark on a journey to an international destination. "In contrast, the German version does not consistently commit to the number of journeys abroad. Cycle 1 went abroad two times, Cycle 2 did so four times, and Cycle 3 went to six different countries. On ''America's Next Top Model'', the final two or three contestants compete on a runway, and the winner is chosen in the judging room. On ''Germany's Next Top Model'', between three to five contestants compete on a runway and a photo shoot in front of a live audience in
Cologne, Germany Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne Bonn urba ...
before the winner is revealed. The final show is live on TV. Cycle 4's final show was the first to air live from a concert hall instead of a TV studio. Due to the pregnancy of Heidi Klum, the start of the fifth cycle was postponed and kicked off in March. Instead, a spin-off called '' Die Model WG'' was shown featuring several former contestants from the show and hosted by judge Peyman Amin.


Host and judges

Only Heidi Klum herself has been part of the judging panel on every cycle. All the other permanent judges have always been male. Thomas Hayo remained a permanent judge for the longest (six consecutive cycles), followed by Peyman Amin (four consecutive cycles). After leaving the show, Amin eventually hosted the show's spin-off, Die Model WG, and signed Cycle 5's winner Alisar Ailabouni despite never meeting her on the show. Although Boris Entrup was only a regular judge on Cycle 2, he still was part of the show until 2017 as the makeup advisor. In 2017, Wolfgang Joop became the first former judge to return as he was a guest judge for one episode, a finale, and came back in 2018 as well. The judging panel since Cycle 14 has consisted of guest judges, with Klum being the only permanent judge.


Criticism and controversies

As of 2023, many celebrities, organizations, and former contestants have publicly spoken out against the show such as
Beth Ditto Mary Beth Patterson (born February 19, 1981), known by her stage name Beth Ditto, is an American singer and songwriter most notable for her work with the indie rock band Gossip. Her voice has been compared to Etta James, Janis Joplin and Tina ...
,
Eva Padberg Eva Padberg (born 27 January 1980) is a German fashion model, singer, and actress. Early life Padberg was born in Bad Frankenhausen on 27 January 1980 and grew up in Rottleben, which were both part of East Germany until German reunification ...
, Julia Stegner, Carolin Kebekus, Cordula Stratmann,
Désirée Nick Désirée Gerda Saskia Pamela Amneris Aida Nick (born 30 September 1956) is a German reality television personality, actress, dancer, and author. Biography Born in Berlin, Nick studied ballet at ''Berliner Tanzakademie''. She became a member ...
, Wolfgang Joop,
Roger Willemsen Roger Willemsen (15 August 1955 – 7 February 2016) was a German author, essayist and TV presenter. Biography Willemsen was born and passed his Abitur in Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, locat ...
, Sara Nuru, Simone Kowalski,
Femen Femen (stylized in all caps; Russian and Ukrainian: Фемен, Belarusian: Фэмэн) is a Ukrainian radical feminist activist group whose goal is to protect women's rights. The organization became internationally known for organizing con ...
and even the German
Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth The Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (; abbreviated BMBFSFJ) is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is headquartered in Berlin with a secondary seat in Bonn. The ministr ...
. Since Cycle 5, the show's ratings have decreased. To improve ratings, showrunners shifted their focus to inciting conflict between contestants. The show has faced criticism from within the modeling industry for its minimal relevance and focus on shock value. In 2009, German model Julia Stegner said that ''Germany's Next Topmodel'' has "little to do with the reality of
modeling A model is an informative representation of an object, person, or system. The term originally denoted the Plan_(drawing), plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French language, French and Italian language, Italian ult ...
." In 2012, former judge Rolf Scheider criticized the program, saying "the show has never produced a new Nadja Auermann or
Claudia Schiffer Claudia Maria Schiffer, Lady Vaughn (; born 25 August 1970) is a German model and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the world's most successful models, attaining supermodel status. Born in Rheinberg, Germany, she initially asp ...
" and that contestants who "lack modeling talent" are selected purely for ratings. In April 2022, the head of MGM Models, Marco Sinervo, expressed that the format has nothing to do with models or fashion, but with the abuse of contestants. Due to its ratings-driven nature, the program has faced backlash for abusing contestants. The models are treated poorly on set, often not given enough food, having their mobile phones confiscated, and having limited time to use the restroom. Former judge Wolfgang Joop criticized the show, stating he left because of the program's focus on scenes like "contestants collapsing, getting homesick, crying and falling on their heels." In Episode 9 of Cycle 12, the contestants had a photoshoot on a bed with male models wearing lingerie that took place in the streets of Los Angeles, causing a car accident that Klum made light of. In 2019, Cycle 4 contestant Tessa Bergmeier criticized the show and production team, stating they "often put words and phrases in the contestants' mouths that they would never have said." Former contestant Jana Heinisch said that disputes are deliberately provoked by the production. A physical fight in Cycle 14 between contestants Jasmin Cadete and Lena Lischewski led to Cadete's disqualification. Lischewski's lawyer sued ProSieben and the cameramen, calling it "unacceptable that a television station films a minor beaten by another participant and the present camera crew does not intervene." After Vanessa Stanat quit Cycle 14, ProSieben took over her official
Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
account and her personal account shortly after, possibly due to anger from her quitting weeks before the finale. In 2020, Cycle 14 winner Simone Kowalski said that "it is not right that it is perceived as entertainment, how young people put each other down." In March 2020, Cycle 13 contestant Abigail Odoom revealed that she had a car accident during a challenge that involved a high speed car. She claimed that not only was she not allowed to talk about the car accident, but also that she was not taken care of in a timely and appropriate manner. In May 2022, Chiara "Kiki" Hölzl from Cycle 10 also revealed that she broke her arm during a photo shoot that the production team buried. Contestant Lijana Kaggwa received death threats after participating in Cycle 15 of ''Germany's Next Topmodel'', leading her to seek police protection. Mareike Fangmann from
Stern The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship. O ...
wrote that " roSiebenalso has complicity because the broadcaster knows exactly how to cut scenes together in order to identify a clear bitch. Good for the ratings, good for the show." In December 2020, Kaggwa also stated, "The broadcast of GNTM 2020 completely ruined me mentally. I've become a different person." Cycle 9 contestant Nathalie Volk agreed with Kaggwa, saying "I have scars on my body because of Heidi." In February 2021, Cycle 16 contestants had to walk nude in front of Heidi Klum, which was criticized by the audience and Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Despite this criticism, In February 2022, the contestants once again had a nude public photoshoot for Cycle 17. They also did a photoshoot from 122 meters in the air, leading to contestant Linda Braunberger's panic attack and subsequent elimination. Six contestants quit this cycle, most of them citing the decline of their mental health. In September 2022, the winner of the Cycle 4, Sara Nuru, joined the criticism of the show, confessing she was "not aware of how blatantly young women were treated there." She added: "With the knowledge I have today, I would not take part in ''Germany's Next Topmodel'' again." In April 2022, Hendrik Busch from the online magazine Moviepilot described ''GNTM'' as manipulative psycho terror. The former contestant Tamara Hitz of Cycle 15 revealed that the contestants always had an inkling of who would soon be eliminated because leading up to the elimination, that contestant would be filmed more frequently, proving the fake scripted background of the show and the cruel treatment of the entire production with the contestants. In August 2022 Marie Nasemann (contestant from Cycle 4) revealed that she suffers from
scoliosis Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
. Back in 2009, during Cycle 4, her
scoliosis Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
was discussed at a casting for
Samsung Samsung Group (; stylised as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational manufacturing Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in the Samsung Town office complex in Seoul. The group consists of numerous a ...
. The editors of ''GNTM'' tried to make her cry because of her illness and she also reveals: "I found out years later that Samsung would have liked to book me, but from the production side it wasn't allowed". The show has also faced criticism for the danger it poses to its young impressionable female audience. In May 2015, psychiatrist Manfred Lütz said the program promotes
anorexia Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by Calorie restriction, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. Individuals wit ...
. ''GNTM'' is subject to regular checks by the German Commission for Youth Media Protection.
Süddeutsche Zeitung The ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'' (; ), published in Munich, Bavaria, is one of the largest and most influential daily newspapers in Germany. The tone of ''SZ'' is mainly described as centre-left, liberal, social-liberal, progressive-liberal, and ...
argued it does not matter who wins the show, because it is only about promotion, the showmanship of Heidi Klum, and promoting a deadly body image. German influencer Kayla Shyx saw three effects of the show: "Suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression." According to a study by the "International Central Institute for Youth and Educational Television" a third of all girls surveyed with eating disorders named ''GNTM'' as a trigger for it. German comedian Carolin Kebekus said "''Germany's Next Topmodel'' made many greats: eating disorders, self-loathing, cyberbullying" and "this year they went crazy for diversity because every woman has the right to be humiliated by Heidi Klum." In February 2023, German
InTouch InTouch was a Chinese quality control company based in Shenzhen that was acquired by ''Asia Quality Focus'' in 2019. The company provided quality control services in factories across China to several foreign firms. History InTouch was founde ...
wrote: "The willingness to use violence among girls is increasing. They form gangs, bully, hit. Heidi is also partly responsible for the fact that, at least on TV, such behavior should not lead to extra airtime". The article goes on to say: "With Germany’s Next Topmodel absolutely wrong values are conveyed. It gives the impression that bullying is a legitimate means of dealing with each other." In May 2013, during the live finale of Cycle 8, Klum was attacked by two topless
Femen Femen (stylized in all caps; Russian and Ukrainian: Фемен, Belarusian: Фэмэн) is a Ukrainian radical feminist activist group whose goal is to protect women's rights. The organization became internationally known for organizing con ...
activists, Zana Ramadani and Hellen Langhorst, who flashed her. The contestants' contracts are legally and morally dubious, as they often unevenly benefit Klum and her father Günther. In 2011, Cycle 5 winner Alisar Ailabouni withdrew from her contract with ONEeins Management (which is managed by Heidi Klum's father Günther), which she received as part of her prize. This was the first time a winner of the show sued her way out of a prize contract. Ailabouni was not invited to Cycle 6's live finale, while several
ProSieben ProSieben (, ''sieben'' is German for "seven"; often stylized as Pro7) is a German free-to-air television network owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It was launched on 1 January 1989. It is Germany's second-largest privately owned television company ...
-related magazines referred to Cycle 4 winner Sara Nuru as "last year's winner", given she was working as a backstage host. Since then, a number of other contestants have withdrawn from their contracts with ONEeins, including Viktoria Lantratova and Miriam Höller (both Cycle 5), Jana Beller (Cycle 6 winner), Luise Will (Cycle 8) and Aminata Sanogo (Cycle 9). In May 2017 the German radio and television broadcaster Philipp Walulis criticized the show and its practices within his
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
show " Walulis". His main criticism is that the contestants get gagging contracts and that the show is only concerned about advertising campaigns instead of the contestants, with some former contestants providing testimony. In December 2020, Cycle 14 winner Simone Kowalski met Günther in court, reaching a verdict that her contract with Günther Klum will be terminated and Kowalski will receive her full salary. In February 2023
Der Spiegel (, , stylized in all caps) is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. With a weekly circulation of about 724,000 copies in 2022, it is one of the largest such publications in Europe. It was founded in 1947 by John Seymour Chaloner ...
covered the notorious gag contracts that contestants sign to compete. According to Jörg Nabert, these are "illegal gag contracts" that bind models to the agency for two years, which is not customary in the modeling industry. Heidi Klum herself is criticized for her treatment of the contestants and her self-centeredness. Puls24 considered her behavior
gaslighting Gaslighting is the manipulation of someone into questioning their perception of reality. The term derives from the 1944 film ''Gaslight (1944 film), Gaslight'' and became popular in the mid-2010s. Some mental health experts have expressed c ...
. German comedian Cordula Stratmann referred to Klum as "the face and soul of a cold-hearted, disgusting production" and "the trainer in malice and condescension." Charlotte Koep via
T-Online t-online.de is a German news portal, owned and published by digital multi-channel media company Ströer. It reaches over 179 million visits per month coming from 29 million unique visitors. The editorial team is located in Berlin. History In ...
referred to the program and Klum as "the ego show of the GNTM deadbeat mom". In August 2022, media personality
Désirée Nick Désirée Gerda Saskia Pamela Amneris Aida Nick (born 30 September 1956) is a German reality television personality, actress, dancer, and author. Biography Born in Berlin, Nick studied ballet at ''Berliner Tanzakademie''. She became a member ...
interviewed Nathalie Volk on her podcast. Volk stated "What could be easier than to play your power over little girls who trust you? That is morally very questionable, like everything Heidi Klum has ever done". Cycle 4 contestant Tessa Bergmeier described Klum as a "super-mega psycho". Papis Loveday, who also worked on GNTM, added about Klum: "She only thinks of herself. Nobody can shine more than she does." In February 2023, the former judge Peyman Armin criticized the show and Klum, saying "It has become a pure self-portrayal by Heidi. Heidi comes first. Then Heidi and Heidi again. When Heidi Klum is in the foreground and takes care of the slapstick, for sensational shootings and catfights." In April 2023, Heidi Klum said about everything that happens at ''GNTM'': "At the end of the day I'm the boss and I make the rules!" In June 2023, the German TV broadcaster
ZDF ZDF (), short for (; ), is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Launched on 1 April 1963, it is run as an independent nonprofit institution, and was founded by all federal states of Germany ( ...
released a 70-minute investigative documentary about the machinations of the makers of ''GNTM'' called "Pressure, hatred, manipulation: how sick does ''Germany's Next Topmodel'' make you?" For this documentary, around 50 former contestants, judges and members of the show's crew were interviewed, some anonymously. The makers of the documentary admitted that they are familiar with difficult investigations, but they have never experienced it before that so many people were afraid to talk about what happened as these former participants and employees of ''GNTM''. A crew member of the show who wished to remain anonymous is quoted as saying: "If you film a young woman from morning to night, you'll get every sectional image you want. So you can cut and tell what you want. A lot of things are cut together wildly. The jobs depend on it. It's about ratings." In addition, former contestants report how the show's editors deliberately foment manipulation, lies and discord among the contestants behind the scenes. The contestants are shielded from the outside world so they lose their nerve and argue. So 20 candidates have to sleep together in one room without contact to the outside world. The statements by
Heidi Klum Heidi Klum (; born 1 June 1973) is a German and American model, television personality, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Vict ...
, the broadcasting TV station
ProSieben ProSieben (, ''sieben'' is German for "seven"; often stylized as Pro7) is a German free-to-air television network owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It was launched on 1 January 1989. It is Germany's second-largest privately owned television company ...
and the production company are presented as hypocrisy. ProSieben is said to have earned 87 million euros with the Cycle 18, and Heidi Klum 10 million euros. The contestants receive no money. ''GNTM'' has driven some contestants into depression and suicidal thoughts.


Cycles


External links


Official website
* /www.youtube.com/user/GNTMoffiziell Official YouTube Channel*
GNTM-blog.de / German fanbase


References

{{Top Model 2006 German television series debuts 2010s German television series 2020s German television series German-language television shows ProSieben original programming German television series based on American television series