The latest development in IMG Models’ planned takeover of the entire country is that the world’s number one international modelling agency has inked a deal with Australia’s Next Top Model.
According to WWD and a #OMG BREAKING NEWS announcement on Australia’s Next Top Model’s Facebook page, IMG Models will be on board for the eighth season of the hit Foxtel reality series. Previously ANTM winners, including Cycle 7’s Montana Cox (shown here), received contracts with Chic Management.
It’s interesting timing considering IMG poached perennially-babyfaced catwalk wunderkind Gemma Ward from Viviens only a couple of weeks ago. In recent months they’ve also taken Miranda Kerr and Nicole Trunfio from Chic and Bambi Northwood-Blyth from Priscilla’s. Frockwriter hinted back in July that Trunfio could be in the running to be Australia’s Next Top Model Cycle 8 Host, but beauty queen and television presenter Jennifer Hawkins has since taken out that title to become a slightly-less-hated version of Tyra Banks.
One of the pilfered models could, however, be up for a guest spot. It probably won’t be the mind-bogglingly successful Kerr unless ANTM can offer her hundreds of thousands of dollars plus her own koala and a lifetime supply of alkalised goji berries. But if Gemma or Nicole nabbed a guest judging spot on just one episode, it could considerably reduce the current pannel’s overall dislikability factor. The universally loathed Alex Perry and unfortunate trolling victim Charlotte Dawson will be the returning judges this cycle.
Australia’s Next Top Model is the most successful of the Top Model franchise, with Alice Burdeu and Montana Cox among the protégés. And now that the winner will be signed to the illustrious IMG, her bankability factor will presumably be even bigger.
Image: Chic Management
