Australia's Next Top Model season 5

The fifth season of Australia's Next Top Model premiered on 28 April 2009 on Fox8. Auditions were held during October and November 2008 across Australia, and production of the prerecorded episodes began in January 2009 and concluded in March 2009. Model and television personality Sarah Murdoch took over as the host for this season, replacing Jodhi Meares, and joining incumbent judges Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson. Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Maybelline replaced the previous season's regular sponsors, Vogue and Napoleon Perdis.

Australia's Next Top Model
Season 5
Judges	Sarah Murdoch Alex Perry Charlotte Dawson Jez Smith
No. of contestants	13
Winner	Tahnee Atkinson
No. of episodes	11
Release
Original network	Fox8
Original release	28 April (2009-04-28) – 7 July 2009 (2009-07-07)
Season chronology
List of episodes

The prizes for this season included a one-year modelling contract with Priscilla's Model Management in Sydney, a A$25,000 trip for two to New York City paid by Maybelline, a position as the face of Maybelline’s new colour collection, an eight-page spread in Harper's Bazaar Australia and A$20,000 courtesy of U by Kotex.

The winner of the competition was 17-year-old Tahnee Atkinson from North Fremantle, Western Australia.

Cast

Contestants

(Ages stated are at start of contest.)

Contestant	Age	Height	Hometown	Finish	Place
Laura Tyrie	18	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)	Willetton	Episode 1	13
Leah Johnsen	18	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)	Oakleigh	Episode 2	12
Georgie Kidman	16	177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)	Castlemaine	Episode 3	11
Mikarla Hussey	18	172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)	Wollongong	Episode 4	10–9
Eloise Hoile	20	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)	Glenunga
Madison Wall	17	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)	Wurtulla	Episode 5	8
Laura Mitchell	20	176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)	Ocean Reef	Episode 6	7
Lauren 'Lola' Van Vorst	20	181 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)	Newport	Episode 7	6
Francesca 'Franky' Okpara	18	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)	Wanneroo	Episode 8	5
Adele Thiel	18	181 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)	Hornsby	Episode 9	4
Clare Venema	16	177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)	Bridgewater	Episode 10	3
Cassi Van Den Dungen	16	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)	Sunbury	Episode 11	2
Tahnee Atkinson	16	174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)	North Fremantle		1

Judges

• Sarah Murdoch (host)
• Charlotte Dawson
• Alex Perry

Other cast members

• Jonathan Pease – style director, model mentor

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original release date
41	1	"A Fashion Baptism of Fire"	28 April 2009 (2009-04-28)
The final 13 arrived at a surprise A-list press conference and runway show, for which the best performer was granted immunity from elimination. After moving into their new home, the contestants had a couture swimwear photo shoot at Sydney Olympic Park. Special guests: Charlie Brown, Wayne Cooper, Collette Dinigan, Samantha Downie, Alexandra Girdwood, Lisa Hensley, Jordan Loukas, Demelza Reveley Featured photographer: Georges Antoni
42	2	"Let's Get Physical"	5 May 2009 (2009-05-05)
The contestants had a session with a nutritionist to learn about portion sizes and healthy eating before heading to a gym to learn about fitness. This was followed by a gymnastics challenge in which the winner was given the chance to attend the Sydney Ballet with host Sarah Murdoch along with a friend of her choosing. The models later had to pose on a trapeze in a photo shoot for Cosmopolitan, for which the eight best photos would be chosen to run in an editorial for the magazine. Special guests: Bronwyn McCahon, Dr. Joanna McMillan Price, Dasha Joura, Lucinda Dunn, Aisha Ashe Featured photographer: Ellen Dahl
43	3	"Makeover Meltdown"	12 May 2009 (2009-05-12)
The contestants received makeovers and met Maybelline makeup artists Nigel Stanislaus for a makeup lesson. They were then challenged to perform in a commercial for Maybelline with lines of their own, and drama ensued after Lola stole one of Cassi's lines. For the photo shoot, the models were photographed in simplistic beauty shots to showcase their natural beauty. Special guests: Joh Bailey, Nigel Stanislaus, Michael Joy Featured photographer: Bec Parsons
44	4	"Runway Hell"	19 May 2009 (2009-05-19)
The remaining contestants received a runway lesson from Mink Sadowsky. They were later sent to a fruit market, and had to walk on the back of a truck in front of market workers to win a shopping spree valued at $10,000. For the photo shoot the models had to pose in a campaign for U by Kotex, with the best photo being chosen as one of the brands new advertisements. Special guests: Mink Sadowsky, Monty Noble, Joh Bailey Featured photographer: Kane Skennar
45	5	"Diamonds and the Desert"	26 May 2009 (2009-05-26)
After a fake farm photo shoot that tested their professionalism, the models were challenged to pose with props made of ice while wearing Cerrone Jewellery. The winner of the challenge received an 18 carat $2,000 necklace, and as a result of mounting stress, Cassi contemplated leaving the competition. The models later travelled to South Australia, where they visited the remote town of Parachilna for a lingerie photo shoot in the Outback with photographer Russell James. Special guests: Justin Spittle, Phillip Boon, Reuben Dabrow Featured photographer: Russell James
46	6	"Cruising the Catwalk"	2 June 2009 (2009-06-02)
The final seven were taken to the offices of Harper's Bazaar to learn more about fashion trends and styling, and participated in a casting challenge for judge Alex Perry and one of his consultants to attend his upcoming show on board the Queen Mary 2. The models later received visits from their mothers, before having a photo shoot on a rickety pylon for Chanel. Special guests: Claudia Navone Featured photographer: Richard Freeman
47	7	"Media Virgins"	9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)
The contestants were briefed on dealing with the media spotlight, and had a challenge for V Australia in which they had to learn a variety of lines to promote the newest Virgin Airline. The photo shoot had the models jumping from a trampoline, with the photos from the shoot to be auctioned off on the Australia's Next Top Model website to help support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. They later attended Hugos Lounge for a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer charity event, and had to model the outfits they wore at the photo shoot to encourage fashion A-Listers to bid on their gowns. Special guests: Ruby Rose, Mink Sadowsky Featured photographers: Denis Montalbetti, Gay Campbell
48	8	"Tears and Emotion"	16 June 2009 (2009-06-16)
The contestants arrived at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts for an acting lesson and had an audition for a nationwide Telstra commercial. For the photo shoot the models were taken to Fox Studios, where they had to pose with Ford models from different decades as they portrayed various corresponding style icons. Special guests: Sharon Zhai, Mark Gaal, Ana Maria Belo, Adrian Hayward, Chantal Walker Featured photographer: Paul Westlake
49	9	"London's Calling"	23 June 2009 (2009-06-23)
The final four were flown to London and met former Britain's Next Top Model judge Gerry DeVeaux for a shopping tour of the city, before being introduced to supermodel Elle Macpherson. They later had go-sees with agents at Storm Model Management and Premier Model Management, before taking part in a sight-seeing photo shoot in the streets of London, and travelling back to Australia for elimination. Special guests: Gerry DeVeaux, Elle Macpherson, Sarah Doukas, Anthony Gordon, Carole White, Alice Burdeu Featured photographer: Robert Astley Sparke
50	10	"The Final Three"	30 June 2009 (2009-06-30)
The final three met Priscilla Leighton-Clarke and Sarah Murdoch at Priscilla’s Model Management, and were told that they would be attending castings for Australian Fashion Week. The best performer was rewarded with a trip to Broome. The contestants later arrived at Garie Beach, Royal National Park for a photo shoot session with Jez Smith in which they had to work both individually and as a team. At panel, the judges decided on the two contestants who would advance into the live finale. Special guests: Wayne Cooper, Nicola Finetti, Doll Wright, Kim Marks, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke Featured photographer: Jez Smith
51	11	"Live Finale"	7 July 2009 (2009-07-07)
The eliminated contestants returned and later reunited with the final two in a runway show. The finalists then had a look back at their individual journey throughout the season. The judges cast their votes for each of the finalists, and after adding the fan vote to the judge's vote, Tahnee was crowned as the fifth winner of Australia's Next Top Model. Special guests: Jessica Mauboy, Russell James, Claudia Navone, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, Ruby Rose, Brüno, Tiaan Williams, Alice Burdeu

Results

Elimination table

Order	Episodes
	1	2[a]	3	4[b]	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1	Franky	Laura M.	Tahnee	Adele	Clare	Adele	Tahnee	Clare	Clare	Tahnee	Tahnee
2	Cassi	Cassi	Eloise	Franky	Adele	Clare	Clare	Tahnee	Cassi	Cassi	Cassi
3	Tahnee	Clare	Cassi	Tahnee	Tahnee	Tahnee	Cassi	Cassi	Tahnee	Clare
4	Eloise	Franky	Clare	Madison	Cassi	Lola	Adele	Adele	Adele
5	Clare	Mikarla	Franky	Lola	Franky	Cassi	Franky	Franky
6	Mikarla	Adele	Laura M.	Laura M.	Lola	Franky	Lola
7	Lola	Tahnee	Lola	Clare	Laura M.	Laura M.
8	Madison	Madison	Adele	Cassi	Madison
9	Laura M.	Lola	Madison	Eloise Mikarla
10	Georgie	Eloise	Mikarla
11	Leah	Georgie	Georgie
12	Adele	Leah
13	Laura T.

  The contestant was immune from elimination

  The contestant was eliminated

  The contestant won the competition

Final votes

Place	Contestant	Final votes								Total votes[c]
		Sarah (Main judge)	Alex (Main judge)	Charlotte (Main judge)	Jonathan (Creative director)	Priscilla (Winner’s agency)	Russell (Photographer)	Claudia (Harper's Bazaar)	Public
1	Tahnee									4 (51.4%)
2	Cassi									4 (48.6%)

Controversy

Before the season premiered, there was controversy over a number of issues.

Sixteen-year-old Cassi Van Den Dungen was criticised for being a "proud bogan and smoker" with her mother in support, having to take anger-management classes to control her temper whilst participating in the series, and for being engaged and living with a 25-year-old bricklayer. She also received backlash from Hume City Council mayor Jack Ogilvie over comments in which she described her hometown of Sunbury as "like a ghetto", with the mayor stating that Van Den Dungen was a "very immature, silly little girl" and that "she owes Sunbury an apology. I wonder if she knows what a ghetto is. Sunbury is far from being a ghetto, far from it."^[1]

Eighteen-year-old Mikarla Hussey's appearance initially shocked host Sarah Murdoch. In the second episode, a nutritionist assisted the contestants with healthy eating, weight management and lifestyle choices. Mikarla initially weighed 50 kg (110 lb) before production began. After her swimsuit photo shoot showed off her technically unhealthy body, she was forced to put on weight.^[2][3]

Lola Van Vorst was involved in a nude photo scandal, involving pictures taken by an ex-boyfriend.^[4]

On 6 June 2009, it was revealed that Clare Venema, Adele Thiel and Tahnee Atkinson had previous professional modelling experience that had not been disclosed during the show.^[5]

Notes

1. In episode 2, there were two separate rewards. Clare won the first individually, and won the second as a group with Adele, Cassi, Franky, Georgie, Laura, Madison, Mikarla, and Tahnee.
2. Episode 4 featured a double elimination with the bottom three contestants being in danger of elimination. There were two separate rewards this episode; Tahnee won the first and Franky won the second.
3. Tahnee and Cassi both received a total of four votes during the finale, but the viewers voted in favor of Tahnee. The public vote held a greater weight in terms of percentage, which got Tahnee over the line. The viewer vote totaled fifteen percent of the overall tally, with the remaining eighty-five percent being divided evenly among the seven judges. The final tally thus rounded out to 51.4% for Tahnee and 48.6% for Cassi.