20 years of models search
Heidi Klum wanted Alice Schwarzer at GNTM
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“Germany's Next Top Model” celebrates 20th anniversary this year. For Heidi Klum an occasion to look back and to deal with the criticism of GNTM. She finds “not surprising” that some of her model candidates experienced the casting show as traumatic.
The anniversary relay of the ProSieben casting show “Germany's Next Topmodel” (GNTM) starts on February 13th. Moderator and self-proclaimed model discoverer Heidi Klum has been going through the show for 20 years. In the current issue of the “Stern” magazine, the 51-year-old looks back on difficult years, immoral offers and her wrong laugh on time for the milestone birthday of her show.
In the “Stern” interview, Klum also commented on the regular recurring allegations that GNTM would support the lean madness that is still widespread in the fashion scene. “20 years ago there were certain body dimensions that were to be observed for me and for everyone who wanted to model,” explains Klum, why the weight of her model candidates actually played a role in the early years. But it was always important to her that the young women are slim but fit: “I invited consultants who helped the models to eat healthy within the format.” She never supported girls too thin. “All candidates also speak to a psychologist who gives us the green or red light. But yes, the standards specified by the business, including those for height, we have taken over for a long time,” she honestly admits.
Klum relies on diversity
In the past, she has said several times that she was considered too curvy in the early years of her career and therefore did not get some model jobs. At that time she was “offered pills” “to wrestle the appetite”. “I was great 'in Shape', slim and sporty, but it wasn't enough,” recalls Klum. At the beginning of her career, she was often unsettled because she had not received any engagements for months. “I wondered if I shouldn't give up and go back, I often had homesickness anyway,” she admits.
Today Klum relies on diversity at GNTM, promotes plus-size applicants, best-agers and transgender models. In the real fashion world, however, these candidates would still have a hard time: “Unfortunately, customers and companies do not yet participate as I would like. Some of them are not even invited to castings.
Klum finds “not surprising” that some of her now 941 candidates of the past 19 years have reported traumatic experiences on the show, but it is less likely to put it on the often frightening challenges, but rather to deal with the young models: “Our candidates are people and therefore different beings.” However, nobody would be left alone with their problems, she emphasizes. “Professional psychological support can be used at any time during filming, even daily.”
GNTM start as a breastfeeding mother was not easy
She also finds honest words for her beginnings at GNTM when she coached models for ProSieben for the first time at the age of 31 – and at the same time her eldest daughter Leni, who is 20 today, breastfeeding behind the scenes. Three other children followed at short intervals: “As a young mother with many babies, it was not always easy and a challenge. There was hardly any fashion at the time in which I could appear in front of the camera.”
With criticism, Klum is also different in the 20th year of GNTM than at the beginning. Above all, her concise voice and her supposedly wrong laugh was and is repeatedly mocked on social media. She had learned that it was okay and that she “doesn't have to refer to me”. And everything else can be practiced. “What I did. That's why I can laugh warmly and at any time, regardless of the mood I am actually in. Today I am more likely to be accused of laughing too much.”
Of course there are days in her life when she has a deep and nothing to laugh about: “But you can never see it.” She was repeatedly criticized for her positive way, but the native of the Rhineland had remained true to herself.
Alice Schwarzer had no desire for GNTM
Even if immoral offers tempted fame for fast fame, they remained steadfast. “I was already harassed, but the people who tried it quickly noticed that they were wrong with me. I wanted to go my own way and was sure of my value and skill. Something to start with anyone to get a job – that was never my thing.” Your agency sent her to strange dinner appointments with people, “but then wanted more than just a dinner.” However, she clearly rejected this and then complained to her fashion agent. Her colleagues from the Model-WG in New York were more open to this: “For example, a roommate of mine was picked up twice a month by the singer Prince. But as I said, I was rather boring.”
On the other hand, the open -hearted Klum was never afraid of confrontation, she emphasizes. Years of GNTM critics have even invited them to the format: “Alice Schwarzer, for example. I wanted her to come to our show so that I can exchange ideas about her criticism. She always refused. What I think is a shame because she is a woman who is clearly positioned. But she never wanted the direct confrontation.”
