Topmodel (BE)

“Topmodel” is a Flemish reality TV series which pits contestants against each other in a variety of competitions to determine who will win a professional modeling contract with Dominique Models. Belgian supermodel Ingrid Seynhaeve hosts this series, which is based on the original U.S. TV series “America's Next Top Model” created by actress and supermodel Tyra Banks.

Season or Cycle #1 debuted on 1 October 2007 on KanaalTwee TV. There were a total of 10 female contestants selected from a wide variety of races, heights and body sizes, from an original pool of thousands to compete against one another in various contests designed to simulate the extreme demands placed on professional models. Each week one contestant was eliminated by a panel of judges: host Ingrid Seynhaeve, fashion expert Ghislaine Nuytten, supermodel Elise Crombez and photographer Monique Vanendert. The coaches were Lieve Gerrits who was their stylist, Aza Declercq was their acting coach and Vasko Todorof was their make up artist. The age rage for applicants is from 16 to 26 and there was 1 girl who was a 16 year old contestant in the final 10.

For season 2 the producers’ of this version of the show decided to try something very different than all the other versions around the world. Auditions were held late in 2007 for season/cycle #2 and the age range was kept the same from 16 to 26 as cycle one however they also opened the competition up to boys as well as girls to become contestants.