“Germany’s Next Topmodel”
Model Stella struggles with marital trauma during the shoot
Asked the “GNTM” models for a pool shoot: Heidi Klum.
© ProSieben / Sven Doornkaat
Shark tank model business: During the pool shoot of “GNTM” there was actually supposed to be a crackle underwater between the models. Not everyone was able to implement it that way, and there were arguments and tears beforehand.
Sometimes the shadows of the past even lurk underwater. In episode eleven (Thursdays, 8:15 p.m., ProSieben or on Joyn) from “Germany’s Next Top Model”, Heidi Klum, 50, had a very special challenge in store for her protégés: the universally dreaded underwater shoot was coming up. The models were supposed to make it crackle in the cool water, dressed as bridal couples. Two candidates in particular struggled: The pool shoot brought highly emotional memories to the surface for them. And for two highly traded models, the dream of “GNTM” victory was shattered in the end.
Mare is afraid of the water
Candidate Mare, 22, is one of the birds of paradise of the season. The tattoo model from Upper Bavaria has not been at a loss for an answer so far and has confidently gone her own way. However, when Heidi announced the challenge of this episode, Mare was speechless: a couple’s shoot under water was coming up – and this given her panic about the deep water. The roots of her fear of water lie in her childhood. Mare was pushed into a pool as a non-swimmer. Since then, water has not been her element at all. The fact that the search for a shooting partner had been so complicated beforehand also didn’t help Mare’s safety. She had chosen a completely different shooting partner, but was pushed by the group to the side of the still partnerless Lucas, 24, according to the motto “tattoo models together”. Indignation at being pigeonholed was written all over her face. And Lucas, who was initially spurned, was ultimately dissatisfied with his water-shy partner: “I think I’ve got the bad card,” was the verdict of the young man, who likes to feel disadvantaged anyway.
“I want it to look like love”
Heidi wanted the colorful model couples to also crackle underwater: “I want it to look like love,” was her requirement. The feigned intimacy during the shoot posed a challenge for several models: What if their boyfriend at home doesn’t understand this? In particular, Xenia, 24, from Hof, who had little experience in relationships, had to struggle: “I think my boyfriend won’t be very happy, but I want to go through with it now.” Jermaine, 20, and Maximilian, 21, were the only male couple to find each other. Dominic, 20, and Fabienne, 20, formed one of the most unusual couples. The competition perceived them as “inappropriate” in terms of their aesthetics. During the shoot they were supposed to prove everyone wrong.
“I couldn’t imagine being able to breathe without him.”
Heidi had a wedding chapel with a pool built on the set. For the shoot, the models dressed in tuxedos and wedding dresses – which led to an emotional flashback, especially for Stella, 34. The mother of four married for the first time when she was young and seven months pregnant. Shortly after the wedding, her then husband died of a heart attack. Seeing herself dressed in a wedding dress brought back memories of this most dramatic time of her life. “I had my whole life in front of me at the time. And when he died, I couldn’t even imagine that I could breathe without him.” The fact that she is living her modeling dream today was like coming to terms with her own story. During the shoot with Linus, 25, both shone and made it one round further.
“The marriage can be annulled.”
As the best of the shoot, Heidi sent Luka, 24, and Lea, 24, as well as Frieder, 24, and Sara, 28: “You were perfect!” Other couples were unable to convey the necessary emotionality and the “hearts” Heidi wanted into the lens of star photographer Russell James, 62. This is how the decision was made among the shaky candidates. And Maximilian from Vienna, whose modern look had always been praised in previous episodes, was caught completely unexpectedly. His world was clearly collapsing. At the same time, he praised his time at “GNTM”: “Every day was like a dream.” The end also came as a surprise to Mare, if not quite as much. And Lucas? Before the decision, he had speculated about his own end and classified the wedding shoot with Mare as a flop: “The marriage can be annulled.” He still made it to the next round.
Source used: ProSieben