THAT won’t let her sit down.
This year the season start of “Germany’s Next Top Model” is particularly eagerly awaited. The serious allegations from former Candidates like Lijana Kaggwa (26) and Gerda Lewis (30) against Heidi Klum (49) and her team weighed heavily.
Among other things, the model icon was accused of not providing her protégés with enough food. Kaggwa had even claimed: “It is simply manipulated beforehand who should trip and who should not.”
Model falls during a walk on the catwalk were therefore planned. Violent allegations that ex-participant Tessa Bergmeier (33) crowned in this year’s jungle camp. She gave Heidi Klum the stinky finger and settled accounts with the supermodel at the campfire: “He doesn’t care. It’s freezing. business, business, business…”
Tessa Bergmeier settled accounts with Heidi Klum in the jungle camp
Klum responds to allegations
At the start of the 18 GNTM season on Thursday evening it was enough for Ms. Klum – she wanted to clear up all the allegations. In a ten-minute intro at the beginning of the show she commented on all the headlines of the past few months and first emphasized: “The topic of diversity is very important to me.”
You even got it to start your Model career had a hard time: “If something on the body wasn’t tight, you weren’t booked anymore. Anyone who didn’t fit into the 34 could go home. As I do very often in my life.” For a long time, Heidi did not think she was thin enough, which is why she is happy that curvy “Meeedchen” are now also getting a chance: “Where diversity stops for others, we do at ‘Germany’s Next Top Model ‘ quite a bit further.”
Heidi Klum in the first GNTN episode with the new candidates
Then Klum referred to the accusation that above all escalative situations between the participants were staged: “With ‘Germany’s Next Top Model’ everything is real. But I can understand that you might regret one or the other statement a bit afterwards.” Klum insisted, clip and clear: “We’re a reality show. We show exactly what is happening. There is no text, there is no storyline.”
After participating in GNTM, Lijana Kaggwa had to deal with a lot of hate on the Internet – but Klum and production do not see themselves as responsible here either: “We can only portray a person as she is. We do not create another human being with the help of the image editing.”
The success of the models after participating in the show is no longer in their hands, Klum explained: “I’m happy to give them a platform to start their careers. What they then make of it is up to them.”
Heidi Klum also vehemently contradicted the accusation that the feet of the candidates were sometimes intentionally oiled so that they fall on the catwalk: “It is not in my interest that a candidate of my show gets injured.” Oiling the feet has a completely different one Reason: “So that the legs come into their own, it is customary at fashion shows to apply cream to the legs. But not the soles of the feet.”
There was always plenty to eat, too: “My models don’t have to go hungry. The fridge in the villa is always full.” However, alcohol and cigarettes are still taboo: “I want to continue to do it that way.”
Will the statement calm the critics? In any case, Heidi already has her goal for this season crystal clear in mind: “I’m still looking for a model with that certain something.”
Tears at stumbling start
For this search, Heidi’s new “Meeedchen” were flown directly to Los Angeles to show what they’re capable of on the first walk. Under the eagle eyes of Heidi, designer Peter Dundas (54) and model Winnie Harlow (28) the model candidates tried their first steps on the catwalk – and some despaired of their high heels.
Heidi with designer Peter Dundas and model Winnie Harlow on the catwalk
Leona (21) was the first to lie down – Heidi was perplexed: “What about your feet?” After the model candidate had sailed a second time, the tears overcame her: “It really annoys me!”
Melissa (19) couldn’t stay on her heels for long either and tripped on the stairs on her way back. Heidi didn’t hold back with criticism: “Now she’s crawling up the stairs.”
Not all girls could walk the catwalk in heels
Elisabeth (21) was lucky – she only fell backstage. Cassy (23) complained about pain after her catwalk attempt: “I have a cramp!” The fear of being thrown out was great – after all, Heidi had made it clear from the start that not all candidates were allowed to move into the model villa in LA .
In the end, it happened to four girls: For Elisabeth, Alina (21), Indira (20) and Anna (22), the excursion into the world of models was over after the first day.
