ANTM is the pay TV network’s biggest ratings cash cow/mole and has generated and enjoyed both sustained viewer interest and its fair share of controversy since its first season; not to mention its hit and miss rate with its winners (three hits to four misses). According to The Telegraph, Foxtel will announce audition dates and its new host in the coming weeks and its Head of Television, Brian Walsh, is rumoured to have interviewed potential candidates in New York last month where he “was reportedly blown over by the prospects.”
We know those prospects don’t include Jen Hawkins, who has turned the role down. There were also rumours Liz Hurley had the time and antipodean connections to do it, but she’s too busy being bowled over. It’s probably more of a hindrance than a help, but the New York location of Walsh’s interview candidates means we might be able to narrow it down to one of the following Australian fashion personalities living abroad.
Nicole Trunfio seems like the perfect choice. She was the winner of Search For A Supermodel, came runner up in the international version, was a mentor on America’s Make Me A Supermodel, has high fashion, design, acting and commercial chops and is comfortable with a mic in hand having worked with Vogue on presenting work. Plus, she’s New York based. I think, however, she might be a little too busy at the moment.
Trunfio for Kookaï.
Still, my money’s on her or Alyssa Sutherland, who’s also based in New York and has enough experience to make her perfect for the role of mentor. That, or Elyse Taylor. I always confuse the two.
Jess Hart is making quite a name for herself in the Big Apple and is about to walk in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, a kingmaker in the world of diamond encrusted bras. She’s too busy/ascendent to consider doing TV right now.
Hart for sass & bide.
Miranda Kerr doesn’t get out of New York for less than $100,000 and is too sexy. Plus, there isn’t enough room in the show’s budget for the requisite number of açai/goji berries Kerr requires on an hourly basis.
Ruby Jean and Julia Nobis are too busy killing it/being younger than most of the contestants. So is reality TV alum Shanina Shaik.
Ruby Jean for Marc Jacobs.
Shaik for Victoria’s Secret.
Catherine McNeil is also too busy resurrecting her career, and is too much of a free spirit. Same goes for Myf Shepherd.
McNeil for Vogue Australia.
Abbey Lee is tied down with Mad Max sex slave commitments and has a dicky knee.
It’d be cool (sorry, can’t believe I just said that) if someone who wasn’t a model took up the reigns; someone with industry experience and brains. But that’s not going to happen. I could see Features/Special Projects Director at Harper’s Bazaar US, Laura Brown, filling the role – she’s camera ready having done a stint as a judge on The Fashion Show with Isaac Mizrahi, has her own YouTube show, appears down to earth and is pretty funny – but she’s almost too perfect for it and has too much momentum going on her way up the masthead. I’d like to see her or anyone from the AINYFF take on the job and lend some smarts and career credentials to the show. But especially Laura Brown.
Kristy Hinze is old TV news and has landed herself a billionaire.
Erica Packer has too much money and dresses like Morticia Addams.
That leads us back to square one.
Photos supplied and by Timothy A. Clary, Caroline McCredie, Jamie McCarthy, Peter Michael Dills, Cameron Spencer, Lisa Marie Williams via Getty
