AUSTRALIA'S biggest modelling competition just got a little bigger.
For the first time in five seasons, television model search Australia's Next Top Model is looking for a "plus-size" winner – and they may have found one in Adelaide.
Madeleine Hahn, 19, from the Barossa Valley, was one of 19 girls to make it through the first round of Adelaide auditions at the Richmond Hotel on Thursday.
At a size 16 to 18, she's four to five dress sizes above the "typical" model's eight to 10 size.
"I heard they were looking for plus-sized models this year, and I just thought I may as well have a go," she said.
"I was fairly confident, but I'm pretty happy in my own skin so if I didn't get through it wasn't going to kill me."
The show is clearly following in the footsteps of parent program America's Next Top Model, which crowned its first plus-size winner, Whitney Thompson, in May.
The bubbly, blonde, 21-year-old size 12 beat 13 other "traditional" models to win the crown.
But Australian judge Charlotte Dawson says while she is encouraging "normal-size" girls to enter, they will have to work harder than their American counterparts.
"Firstly, I hate the words `plus size' – they're `normal size', it's dumb," she said. "But the only problem I have is that the winner of Australia's Next Top Model needs to go out immediately and work, and there's not a lot of plus-sized work available in Australia.
"In America, there's a huge market so it's reasonable to have a plus-sized model win the competition. But you can hardly crown someone Australia's Next Top Model and send them off to do a Target catalogue."
Paige Whitehead, 22, travelled to Adelaide this week especially to audition for the show after missing the Victorian round. At 190cm and a size 10 to 12, she was shocked to hear she'd made the cut – as a plus size contender.
"I didn't think about it until they told me. I was like `Oh, I'm plus size'," she said.
The fashion industry has come under fire in recent years for glamorising super-thin models, drawing criticism that it promotes eating disorders and an unhealthy body image.
Federal Youth Minister Kate Ellis is leading the charge, ordering the development of a new code of conduct requiring magazines to feature normal-sized models and disclose the use of digitally enhanced photos.
Earlier this month, Channel 7's model search Make Me a Supermodel caused a furore when 18-year-old Adelaide girl Sheridan Seekamp was told to slim down from 70kg if she wanted to win the competition.
And Australia's Next Top Model has not been without similar controversy. Last year's winner, 17-year-old Demelza Reveley, was also told she needed to lose weight.
It would seem this year's season of Australia's Next Top Model is attempting to address the issue, something, Hahn says, is well overdue. "It's pretty ridiculous – the average size for an Australian woman is a size 14, and that's definitely not the size of models . . . at the auditions," she said.
"The fashion industry needs to catch up with the times. We're getting bigger and they're getting smaller."
When it comes to defining "plus size", however, it seems opinions are divided. A spokeswoman from Priscilla's Model Management, which provides a contract to the Australia's Next Top Model winner, defined plus size as "size 12 or larger".
But Adelaide model agent Tanya Powell says that's incorrect, defining the term as "size 14 or over".
Most Australian fashion designers use size eight models for their catwalk shows, including designer and Next Top Model judge Alex Perry, who may well be the only opponent of the new direction.
Source
Please tell me this isn't true.
Alex Perry, tell me there will be no plussie. Just make a new show called Australia's Next Top Plus-Size Models, please! But don't mix them up!
BTW, 190 cm? Models are supposed to be tall, but I think 190 cm is a bit too tall. For my own choice of models, the perfect model height is about 178-180 cm. If I am not mistaken, Valentijn had to quit being a model because she reached 190 cm and considered too tall. Even Alice who is 188 cm(correct me if I'm wrong), have to shorten herself in her show card. But then, Alice is a fluke. She's made to be a model and was a clear winner.
And now I have to endure watching the plus-size drama that will ensue on the show. ANTM all over again? I hope not. Alex Perry! Kirstie Clements! Priscillia! I'm counting on you guys!
1. If there's a look-book shooting for Alex Perry, I think he will have a heart attack of having to put plussie in his clothes.
2. I'm not sure KC will be thrilled with the idea of putting plus-size models on Vogue. How pedestrian will Vogue Aus be?
3. Priscillia knows for sure that a top model won't be a plussie. If she wants girl that can give money to her agency, she won't keep the plussie. Not to mention the plus-size modeling industry in Australia is different than in US, in Aus it's almost non-existant.
4. Um, what will happen to the finals of going to fashion week casting? No designers there will book the plussie.
5. How about their international destination of visiting the international agencies? YO! If the show doesn't send girls with potential, they will be considered mall rats ala ANTM. They need to send them to meet big agencies that can be interested in them, such as IMG/Women. (Interesting enough, in cycle 4 the show doesn't send them to IMG/Women... Only Elite, Marilyn, MCSquared)
6. Yes, yes. The average size of Australian women is 14. But this show is about modeling, not Australia's Next Top Australian Woman. Precisely why not everyone can become a
model (or top model for this matters). As I said before, no matter what the show do to change the industry, it won't matter, except that the show will be labeled as a joke.
7. When the show is labeled as a joke, I feel sorry for the girls that join the show with potential of becoming a model and is shafted. It can hurt their career chances.
8. D'uh haven't they learnt from ANTM? The show is already considered a big joke in the fashion industry, don't follow the footsteps! What has Whitney done since winning ANTM anyway? Baking cakes in her fake New York apartment in her MLAACG segments?
9. At least Charlotte is a bit realistic that a plussie will struggle hard in the industry. I'm hoping you won't be replaced by that Tozzi girl. I hope Jonathan will.
10. Plus-size models won't do high fashion. Catalogue/Commercial only.
11. If they are looking for role models instead of girls that can actually be a top model, change the show title to be Australia's Next Role Model.
12. Let's see if Sarah Murdoch will really be Tyra version 2.
I hope they will go back to the right path or I have to say adios to AusNTM.
I need to stop now or this thread will be full of my blahblahblahblahblah.
yes! the guy in the simpsons who is like 'ayessss'... i remember him in a restaurant too, like the maitre d. 
Kinda cheapens the brand IMHO.
Thanks for the pics fuune. sarah murdoch sure is gorgeous isn't she? 
