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Australia’s Next Top Model

Big names in fashion and modelling help fill a gap left by the loss of Charlotte Dawson.

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Omigawd Australia’s Next Top Model is back. And Omigawd they say Omigawd a lot.

It’s been two years since Gen-Y’s ultimate reality show has appeared, due to the death of Charlotte Dawson.

In truth Dawson had quit the series, claiming she no longer felt young girls should pursue modelling, despite having aligned with the brand since 2007. But given she had a hot and cold relationship with fame, it’s probably safe to assume her exit was affected by her mood.

The 2015 season is therefore dedicated to her memory, as US host Tyra Banks tells us at the top of the first episode. The “irreplaceable” Dawson is only replaced this season by a roll-call of A-list stars including Alessandra Ambrosio, Kelly Osbourne, Jean Paul Gaultier and Linda Evangelista. Points for pulling power. They’ve even secured the services of Kim Kardashian -albeit via video- enough to send the  girls, and presumably the audience, into meltdown.

Returning too is host Jennifer Hawkins, judge Alex Perry, mentor Didier Cohen and new mentor Cheyenne Tozzi.

This year the top 12 have been pre-selected, abandoning elimination challenges, which helps cut to the chase. The girls are aged from 16 years old and according to Alex Perry are the strongest 12 they’ve had for many years (he also referred to one of them as a “Hobbit” -have we learned nothing about inappropriate comments?).

Amongst the 12 is a tomboy who drives excavators and an ex-pat Sudanese who tells us she would have been oppressed had she remained in South Sudan. You go girl. At this exciting stage of the contest there is strength in numbers and the girls show little sign of competitiveness. Yes, there are plenty of “Omigawd” exclamations.

The first challenge is thrown at them on Day 1: a public fashion catwalk -with none of the usual coaching. Suffice to say, it’s totes awks.

The aspirational model house in Sydney draws more gasps and “Omigawds” as they run amok between the pool and the bedrooms, only stopping for the product placement gift packs.

The first powerhouse guest is model Alessandra Ambrosio who, with her gleaming white teeth, helps judge the first portfolio challenge. Jennifer Hawkins tells us there’s a new scoring system in place this year, reliant on the challenge and photos. After a 2 year break I can’t really recall what else factored into the scoring, so there is a risk this is overplayed.

Perry, whilst judging, tells one girl that models who top and tail a catwalk are more memorable.

“The ones that are in the middle are kind of like in the middle of the show,” he says. Deep.

Hawkins as host is a lot more relaxed than her 2013 debut. I’d like to see her more present in the episodes, but I’ve had this minor beef with the format, regardless of host.

Episode two features Kelly Osbourne and a season twist.

It’s hard to avoid the harsh elimination (oh, the tears) of teenage girls being culled on their physical appearance, but on the upside ANTM has managed to propel several winners onto the international modelling circuit.

ANTM is Foxtel’s most enduring local brand and if it can avoid the bullying claims and associated publicity moves of former cycles, then 2015 should hit the target with its core demographic.

Australia’s Next Top Model returns 7:30pm Thursday April 30 on FOX8.

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