'It felt like a part of me was rejected': Why Elle broke down when Charlotte was eliminated from Britain's Next Top Model

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By Tamara Abraham

Supportive: An emotional Elle Macpherson hugs Charlotte as she is eliminated from Britain's Next Top Model


The supermodel became emotional as announced that the girl she had championed for 12 weeks would be leaving the show... But in an exclusive interview, Charlotte Holmes admits that she knew her time was up.

With her bubbly personality, girl-next-door looks and the unwavering support of Elle Macpherson, Charlotte Holmes was the odds-on favourite to win Britain's Next Top Model.

But even more surprising than her shock elimination was the emotional response of the usually composed Elle Macpherson, who has championed the 21-year-old since day one.

She explained in an interview later that it was because she had identified with Charlotte so much.

'Unexpectedly - even for me - I became very emotional when I announced that Charlotte would be leaving,' she told Living TV.

'I realised afterwards that it was because a lot of comments made about Charlotte - too commercial, too smiley, not fashion enough, too curvy - were the types of comments I heard early on in my career.

'When she didn’t make it through to the final three, it felt like a part of me was rejected.

'The upside is - look where I am today! I am sure Charlotte will succeed in any medium she chooses.'

Charlotte, who was nicknamed 'mini-Elle' early in the series, says the appreciation was mutual: 'She said throughout the competition that she could see a lot of herself in me.

'For her to be supporting me, that is really encouraging.'

Despite this, she admits she knew her time on the show was up, even though she had done well on that week's challenges.

'I had felt like I'd had a good week,' she told us. 'I felt like I really worked on the shoot, I was actually feeling quite confident - but when they called Joy's name second, I kind of knew...'


Praise: Charlotte (left) felt that she'd done well in that week's shoot, set in a Malaysian jungle - but she admitted that rival Tiffany (right) really deserved to be in the final because she worked so hard


She is not the slightest bit resentful of the three finalists though: 'I didn't have any expectations - everyone was so different. I could only do my best.'

Charlotte accurately pinpointed the strengths and weaknesses of each of the remaining girls, saving her highest praise for Maltese blonde, Tiffany.

'They're all fantastic and all deserve to be there. Tiffany has been working so hard - she's embraced her new look, which was really difficult for her. She's the best all-rounder.

'Joy doesn't enjoy catwalk - if you don't enjoy something you're not going to try at it. Alisha's great at the edgy thing, but she's not so good commercially.'

Charlotte admitted that living with her rivals was not easy though: 'I tried to get along with everyone - we didn't get along all the time. Alisha was a little confrontational.

'It's a weird situation, because you're living with these people too - the competition gets so fierce.'

Nor was it a straightforward relationship with the judges, especially Julien Macdonald, who, several episodes back, told her that she was too curvy to be a catwalk model.


Hot competition: Alisha (left) and Joy (right) will battle it out next week for a place in the life final


'It didn't come across well, but it didn't hurt at the time,' she said. 'I don't want to be an average catwalk model. I am what I am. But you're spending days and weeks without being with your family, so it's a hard situation to be in.'

She added that the fashion designer was hard to please: 'I found him difficult - he wasn't impressed ever.'

She had plenty of good things to say about straight-talking stylist Grace Woodward, and male model Charley Speed though.

'I love Grace. She's a fantastic stylist and added a really good dimension to the judging panel. And Charley's so laid back, he was like a big brother. It was good to have him there. He was a fan of mine - Julien definitely wasn't .'

Charlotte remains modest about the future, and unlike many of the girls who were eliminated before her, she does not appear to be pinning her hopes on modelling.

'I'm going to see what comes,' she said. 'I've got to pay the bills.'

But with many of the show's guest mentors spotting her star quality, and Elle anticipating her great success, we reckon Britain's Next Top Model is just the beginning...

Britain's Next Top Model is on Living TV every Monday at 9pm



source :dailymail

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Battle of the bikinis: Behind the scenes at Britain’s Next Top Model photo shoot in Spain

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By Colette Fahy

Amelia Thomas poses for the all-important photograph that could take her through to the next stage of the competition


The current season of hit TV show Britain’s Next Top Model is in full swing – and this week it’s bikini time! Colette Fahy joined the remaining contestants on location in Spain for an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at this episode’s photo-shoot challenge…

It’s 7am in Alicante, Spain, and at the serene and stunning Sha Wellness Clinic and Spa, the nine remaining contestants still in the running to be Britain’s Next Top Model have already been in hair and make-up for two hours. This may be a TV show, but it’s serious stuff!

As fans of this hit reality programme know, this year it is bigger and better than before – not least because legendary supermodel Elle Macpherson is now at the helm, leading a new line-up of judges and attracting an impressive list of guests – including swimwear designer to the stars Melissa Odabash, whose designs the wannabe Elles are modelling in Spain.

This is a one-day photo-shoot and each girl has one chance to nail a shot that could see her swimming through to the next round of the competition. While waiting for their turn in hair and make-up, the contestants are tucking into the breakfast buffet: muesli, fruit and porridge (wisely, many come back for seconds – it’s going to be a long one).

I quiz make-up artist Lee Pycroft (a favourite of Diane Kruger, Sienna Miller and Naomi Watts) on the look of
the day: ‘We are going very natural,’ she reveals. ‘All the weekly shoots until now have been quite stylised, but
Elle specified that this one should be more relaxed. She wants to let the girls’ personalities shine through.’


Finishing touches: The girls get prepared for the shoot


For Joy McLaren, a 20-year-old from Leeds, the only thing ‘shining through’ is her nerves. The first to strike a pose today, Joy looks stunning in a Melissa Odabash white cutout swimsuit with gold trim, but photographer Javier Galue deems her poses awkward and stilted.

Luckily, Melissa herself is on hand to offer support all day, and she is sympathetic to Joy’s nerves: ‘I’ve been there – I modelled for over ten years – and these girls will be fine, they just need a bit of encouragement.’

Nerves don’t seem to be a problem for the Lily Cole-like Amelia Thomas, 21, who is self-assured from the start in a red one-piece. But confidence, it turns out, isn’t everything in this game – Melissa is unsure that the theme of today’s shoot is right for Amelia. ‘She is a beautiful English rose and has a very certain look, but it’s more high fashion – I’m not sure it’s right for swimwear.’

Melissa and Javier had announced at the crack of dawn that they were looking for ‘limitless energy’ – and 18-year-old Tiffany Pisani from Malta has exactly that.

At midday she bounds on to the set, jumping about in a bright yellow bikini and straw hat. At last, someone who is clearly delighted to be here!


Meet the finalists: Charlotte (left); Kirsty


Alisha (left); Joy

‘They want this to be a happy image, and that’s easy, because I’ve been smiling ever since I made it on to the show,’ she says. ‘I’m just so happy to be here. I mean, yesterday in the airport we were given £500 to spend on an outfit and I bought a Victoria Beckham dress. And I get to keep it! Who wouldn’t be happy about that?’

Next-up, Amba Hudson-Skye is another very happy model – most mortals would baulk at the barely there black one-piece chosen for her by Melissa, but 20-year-old Amba is thrilled.

‘It’s perfect for me. My tummy is not my best feature and I have quite small hips, so it hides my flaws while giving me curves – amazing!’
The girls all seem to have hang-ups about their bodies – Amba with her hips, 21-year-old Kirsty Parsons with her Angelina Jolie-esque lips (‘Elle has been telling me to watch my pout, but even though I try, I can’t seem to help it!’) and Olivia Oldham Stevens, 19, worries about a lack of curves, especially on her derrière. But, on a swimwear photo-shoot beneath an unforgiving Spanish sun, no one is blaming them.


Amelia (left); Tiffany


Olivia (left); Nicola


Amba


Art and design student Nicola Wright, 19, probably has the toughest time of all the girls. She is struggling to pose in a freezing swimming pool while water pours over her from a nearby waterfall – it’s all in the name of fashion, but it’s tough work and Melissa is unforgiving: ‘In this business, no matter how cold and tired you are, you just have to put on a brave face and get over it.’

Of course, the girls don’t get to choose how they will be photographed – Nicola drew the short straw – and neither do they get to choose their own outfits. All eyes are on Alisha White, 18, who is ‘channelling Cheryl Cole’ in the swimsuit that the pop singer was famously photographed in last year. ‘All the others wanted this costume, so I hope it gives me the edge,’ she says.

Alisha may have got the swimsuit everyone wanted, but it’s Charlotte Holmes, 21, who wins the praise that all the girls were after – Melissa says she would happily hire her as the face of her brand, and Javier tells her he’d cast her in a swimwear calendar ‘tomorrow morning’. Alas, in the morning Charlotte will simply be back with the others
in the BNTM House in London, waiting to see whether her star turn by the poolside will impress Elle and the judges
and take her one step closer to the grand prize – a modelling contract with Models 1 agency and the chance to be Britain’s Next Top Model.












source: dailymail

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'It takes quite a bit to make me cry - what was I doing?': Delita on her emotional exit from Britain's Next Top Model

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By Tamara Abraham


Evicted: Delita Cole was the latest hopeful to be eliminated from Britain's Next Top Model


She'd been in the bottom two before, but for Delita Cole, her elimination from the Britain's Next Top Model house still came as something of a shock.

The 19-year-old, who was one of the youngest among the hopefuls, was evicted last night in an emotional finale.

She struggled to hold back the tears as she told host Elle Macpherson how grateful she was to have been a part of the show

'I don't usually cry - it takes quite a bit,' she told MailOnline in an interview yesterday.

'I was like: "What the hell am I doing? Crying!"

'But I was really thankful, and I just thought, I'm going to tell them.'

She said the elimination disappeared in a blur, but she knew she was going home as soon as she realised that she and Tiffany were the last pair standing

'I looked to the left of me and I was like: "Oh my God, I'm honestly going home."'
She added that producers didn't give her a chance to bid farewell to her fellow contestants - girsl she describes as friends for life.

'You literally just walk out,' she said. 'You have to go back to the house to pack on your own - none of the other girls are there.'

Like Harleen, last week's evictee, Delita was allowed to write a farewell letter to her former housemates.

But this time there were no bitchy asides.

'I wanted to do a letter to all the girls, and another one to Charlotte - she was like my best mate,' she said.

'But you can only do one, so I just sent one to Charlotte.'

She told how she had also bonded with Amba, Rachelle and Harleen, but Kirsty's over-confident attitude had not won her any friends in the house.

'She is good, but not one of the best,' Delita revealed. 'It's like she knows it - she's expecting to win.'


Molten lather: Amba has proved tough competition, but this week it was Alisha who stunned the judges


Sweet like chocolate: Britain's Next Top Model hopeful Charlotte (left) handled the task well, but Kirsty (right), who was hungover, struggled with the molten chocolate on the shoot for Palmer's Cocoa Butter


Instead she named Joy as one to watch.

'Joy deserves to win,' she said. She added that the 20-year-old also had a fan in judge Julien McDonald, whose harsh words made the Leeds-born model cry during the elimination process.

'It can change your life, and it can change your family's life,' he told her. 'So make it work for them and not just you. You can do it Joy.'


Choc tactics: Judge Grace Woodward told Olivia that she should have closed her mouth in the shoot, as her teeth weren't her best asset


'Julien loves Joy, cause she's so thin,' Delita explained. But she felt that the fashion designer's comments were too personal.

'He always says that,' she said. 'It's got nothing to do with modelling - there's no need to bring personal stuff into it.'

Delita also revealed that several of the other girls had modelling experience prior to the show, which gave them an unfair advantage

'Tiffany is very strong,' she said. 'But she's got a lot of experience.

'I'd never done a shoot in my life, but all the others had.

'The first shoot was reallly awkward - they were saying look at them, but don't look at them - I was so confused.

'I can just about smile for the camera!'

This week saw the girls attempt their most challenging tasks to date. The ten remaining contestants were made to pose nude, dripping with molten chocolate.

The shoot, for Palmer's Cocoa Butter, was perhaps their most challenging task to date, and while some of the girls were confident stripping off, several struggled with the idea.

'That was one of my favourite shoots,' Delita admitted - but Tiffany, 18, had some reservations, admitting: 'I would never usually do any sort of nudity at all, whatsoever, for any modelling.'

And Kirsty, who was battling a hangover after a night out the previous evening, struggled to stomach the scent of the chocolate as she prepared for her turn in front of the camera.

'I had to leave the make-up artist to use the bathroom - she knew I was going to be sick,' she said.

But Charlotte, who has proved a favourite with host Elle Macpherson, likened the chocolate to a layer of clothing - 'you kind of forget you're stood there butt naked,' she said.


Raising the (chocolate) bar: The judging panel were full of praise for Nicola's final photo (left), but Tiffany (right) who hates her new short haircut, struggled when the liquid was poured over her face


I should cocoa: Amelia (left) took some time to get her expression right, while Joy (right), after a disastrous first task, won the judges over with a beautiful shot on the chocolate shoot


Tonight's episode also sees an appearance from Beyoncé, albeit via video link. She instructs the aspiring models to film a short commercial for her latest fragrance.

Even Elle seemed to be impressed by the singer's presence. After a video message was aired ahead of the elimination, Elle exclaimed: 'How cool was that!'


Guest appearance: Beyonce instructs the girls to film a short commercial for her latest fragrance


'I could have died there and then,' added Delita. 'Oh my God it was mad!'
It was the first time any of them had been asked to act on a shoot, and though the girls were keen to impress their superstar idol, they enjoyed varying degrees of success.

Last week there was a shock double eliminations as both Susan Loughanne and Harleen Nottay were asked to leave the competition.

While Harleen received a dignified eviction by a panel made up of host Elle Macpherson, Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts as a guest judge, and regulars Julien Macdonald, stylist Grace Woodward and male model Charley Speed, Susan was rather dramatically sent home in disgrace after two unsuccessful go-sees.

The Dublin-born 23-year-old told MailOnline she was humiliated by the way she was cast aside.

‘It was really cruel,’ she says. ‘I felt very victimised actually. To be honest I was ready to leave because they’d all been mean to me all day.

‘They just crushed me. I was literally fighting back the tears. I didn’t cry though, as I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down.’

The next episode airs tonight on Living TV at 9pm.

source: dailymail
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'I know it looked irrational, but I was so unhappy': Why Hannah stunned Elle Macpherson by quitting Britain's Next Top Model

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By Tamara Abraham

Not for her: Hannah, left, posing with Amelia in this week's lingerie shoot, quit Britain's Next Top Model last night in a dramatic finale


She was probably the most obvious beauty of the lot, but last night Hannah Goodeve was the first finalist to leave Britain's Next Top Model.

In a dramatic finale, the bubbly northerner stole the scene, announcing her decision to quit the show just as Elle Macpherson was about to announce the latest evictee.

The supermodel host, who had been revealing the name of each finalist by holding up their photograph, appeared confused as the 22-year-old interrupted her just as she was about to call the final name.

In a speech that shocked her fellow contestants, Hannah explained her reasons for abandoning her modelling dreams.

'I'm not sure what's on that card, but if it's me, I'd rather it be Delita,' she said.

'I've been thinking about this for a few days. I've not taken this lightly, but this isn't me.'

'I wish I could do it, because I'm sure out there they're all looking for a six-foot, leggy, big-boned model, but honest to God, I can't do it.'

Her decision to leave the show prompted fellow finalist Delita to burst into tears, but Hannah maintained her composure, leaving with a smile and a hug from Elle.

In an interview with MailOnline today, she explained how the things she had been asked to do just didn't make much sense to her.

'I know it looked irrational, but I was so unhappy.'

Behind-the-scenes footage (scroll down for an exclusive clip) also explained why the industry was such an odd fit for the girl who describes herself as a 'tomboy'.

'I'm not into my image,' she said. 'I've never really worn make up.


Picture perfect: Rachelle (left) and Charlotte (right) had a ball on the shoot, and both won praise from the judges


Split opinion: Nicola shed her mousy image for a playful shot - but Harleen, right, who is Sikh, felt degraded


'I didn't enjoy the photo shoot, I didn't enjoy the catwalk. I'm very aware that I should have been enjoying it, but I wasn't.

There's nothing wrong with the industry - but I wasn't willing to lose what I'm about. I was starting to doubt myself and I've never doubted myself before.

She added that she had decided to leave two days earlier, but producers had suggested she think it over - perhaps to make for a more dramatic end to the episode. But the fact that she had become close to Delita only cemented her decision.

'I just don't think it's fair to take somebody's place that wants it more than me,' she said.

It seems Elle wasn't in the loop though - after the cameras stopped rolling Hannah, 22, told how the host took her aside, asking why she hadn't voiced her worries.

'She took me aside afterwards saying: "Why didn't you say something earlier," because she had been through the same earlier in her career.'

'You don't expect her to be so nice because she looks so fabulous.'

She also revealed how, despite not wanting to know, or caring whose name was on the card, Elle had dropped it by accident, and all the girls gasped when they saw that she had been the 13th finalist.

But though her departure was dramatic, there has been clues throughout the show that she had been unhappy.

A lingerie shoot proved a challenge for the girls, not least Hannah, who, being slightly larger than the other girls, struggled with the flimsy designs from upmarket label Fred & Ginger.


Smouldering: Tiffany, left, was described as a 'Maltese sexpot' by judge Julien Macdonald, but Delita, right, struggled to take direction from the photographer


Promising: Susan's acting skills came into play, while judges praised Amba (right), who surprised in every shot


'It's not me,' she said in tears to her mother at the time. 'I feel ridiculous, but I can't do it. I feel exposed, I feel disgusting.'

She told us later that though she's never had any issues with her size 12, 6ft tall shape, 'you need to be really thick-skinned not to feel insecure around a bunch of of size sixes and eights.'

But Hannah wasn't the only one to have had difficulty with the shoot, which saw them work in pairs with a male model.

Amelia likened the experience to 'one big orgy'. She said: 'I felt that some shots were quite inappropriate, but that I had to do it because that's what I was expected to do.'

Harleen, who is Sikh, also had reservations, worrying constantly about what her mother and boyfriend would think.

'When we got onto set I was asked to take my kimono off, and it just made me feel really degraded,' she said. 'We just don't do things like that because I'm Sikh.'

But the judges has little sympathy for her situation. Stylist Grace Woodward said to her: 'If you want to get on in this industry, no matter the way you've been brought up, you have to do your job to the nth degree.


Ones to watch: Joy (centre) and Kirsty (right) were the first to strip off for the risqué shoot


Model behaviour: Judges were unconvinced by Olivia, but she and Alisha made for a strong team when paired together on their 'lady of the manor'-themed shoot


Guest judge, casting director Sarah Murray, echoed her sentiments: 'I think you just have to be professional about this and get on with it,' she said.

Delita also had a hard time, struggling with direction from the photographer - though the shoot did offer an opportunity for some girls to shine.

Charlotte, who disappointed last week, thrived in a pairing with Rachelle, who has become a good friend. Judges praised her posture, but questioned whether she could carry off a more serious look.

There were even more dramas with the other tasks - first a simple posing exercise with male model Charley Speed, then a catwalking masterclass with outspoken fashion designer Julien Macdonald and casting director Sarah Murray.

And Julien, true to form, was unabashed in his criticism of the girls, telling Harleen that she looked 'like she was coming out of a nightclub', and Alisha that she 'looked like a Curly Wurly' - though the one-liner was lost on the 18-year-old, who admitted that she hadn't heard of the candy bar.


But the catwalk task, which for some reason required the girls to wear clingy gold bodysuits, wasn't all bad - in fact Susan called it 'easy'.

'I always viewed catwalk as this sort of posey kind of vain thing,' she said.

'It was more just about being confident - but being normal, just walking normal. I didn't realise it was so easy actually.'

But it was Kirsty and Amelia who impressed the judges most, winning the chance to walk the catwalk later that day at London Fashion Weekend.

Susan and Nicola were invited as their guests, who were equally excited to have the chance to actually watch a fashion show.

It was up to Charley - a favourite with Hannah 'because he is so laid back' - to decide which of the girls were allowed to check out the models' house first.

The girls were asked to take it in turns to pose with props that included a banana, an umbrella and a bowler hat - though the lack of a camera confused a couple of them.

Several others mentioned how they were 'being editorial'. It's only week two - so one can only wonder if they even understand the words that they are using.

Charley then divided the girls into two groups, allowing the girls that had performed best to enter the models' house first.

The property, which looked like last year's X Factor house - a modern property complete with pool - had rooms that looked like glamorous dorms, and big photos of Elle Macpherson on the walls, lest they forget who their host is.

Hannah said the house 'felt like a show home - you almost don't want to touch anything.'

But for those that were hoping for some bitching and backstabbing, Hannah had little criticism of the other contestants, aside from the fact that many of them, at 18, felt much younger than her 22 years.

She said there was no-one she didn't like, and tipped Joy, Charlotte and Amelia as ones to watch for the title.

Elle is likely to have been disappointed by her shock exit - she explained in an interview with Tatler magazine this month how important personality and education were for aspiring models - something Hannah has in spades.

'Get an education,' she advised. 'It's much more interesting for girls to be educated and beautiful because there are a lot of simply pretty girls out there.

'The ones who get ahead are the ones who have a curiosity, a flexibility and a natural instinct with some cultural understanding, plus a willingness to learn.'

Hannah now plans to teach English in Vietnam, and is two months away from completing a course that will qualify her to do that.

While it's a loss to Elle and Britain's Next Top Model, it looks like many more will gain.










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