# Australia's Next Top Model season 6

The sixth season of Australia's Next Top Model premiered on 20 July 2010 on Fox8. Sarah Murdoch returned as the host and leading judge for this season. Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson also returned as judges.
The prizes for this season included a one-year modelling contract with Priscilla's Model Management, a A$25,000 contract to be the face Levi’s, a trip to New York to meet with Elite Model Management, a brand new Ford Fiesta Zetec, an eight-page editorial spread and the cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia, and A$20,000 courtesy of U by Kotex.
The winner of the competition was 17-year-old Amanda Ware from Mermaid Beach, Queensland.

## Series summary

A few major changes were made this season. Jez Smith returned as part of the judging panel for the first time since the third season, and Jonathan Pease was replaced by fashion icon Josh Flinn, due to the former's work conflicts. Filming took place from May through June 2010. The number of contestants this season was increased from 13 to 16. The model house was located on 21 Hunter St, in Sydney's eastern suburb of Dover Heights. In contrast to the previous three seasons, the viewer vote entirely determined the winner and placements of each contestant during the live finale. Beginning this season, there was also a shift in the series' tone, with less focus being placed on quarrels among the contestants.

### Requirements

All contestants had to be aged 16 or over in order to apply for the show. Those auditioning had to be at least 172 centimetres (68 in) tall. To qualify, all applicants had to be an Australian citizen currently living in Australia. Additional requirements stated that a contestant could not have had previous experience as a model in a national campaign within the last five years, and if a contestant was represented by an agent or a manager, she had to terminate that representation before the competition.

### Auditions

Auditions were held on 16–17 January in Sydney, on 19–20 January in Brisbane, on 21 January in Bendigo, on 23 January in Adelaide and on 24 January in Perth.

## Contestants

(Ages stated are at start of contest)
| Contestant | Age | Height | Hometown | Finish | Place |
| Valeria Nilova | 17 | 172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | Rostrevor | Episode 1 | 16–12 |
| Sally Geach | 19 | 172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | Bull Creek | Episode 1 | 16–12 |
| Claire Smith | 18 | 177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Sorrento | Episode 1 | 16–12 |
| Ashlea Monigatti | 16 | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | Echuca | Episode 1 | 16–12 |
| Alison Boxer | 16 | 176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Yarraville | Episode 1 | 16–12 |
| Megan Jacob | 17 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | Park Orchards | Episode 2 | 11 |
| Ashton Flutey | 18 | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | Collaroy | Episode 3 | 10 |
| Chantal Croccolo | 20 | 177 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Bankstown | Episode 4 | 9 |
| Kimberly Thrupp | 20 | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | Burleigh Waters | Episode 5 | 8 |
| Brittney Dudley | 16 | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | Clare | Episode 6 | 7 |
| Joanna Broomfield | 18 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | North Adelaide | Episode 7 | 6 |
| Kathryn Lyons | 20 | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | Jamboree Heights | Episode 8 | 5 |
| Jessica Moloney | 19 | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | Harvey | Episode 9 | 4 |
| Sophie Van Den Akker | 19 | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | Croydon | Episode 11 | 3 |
| Kelsey Martinovich | 19 | 172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | Lennox Head | Episode 11 | 2 |
| Amanda Ware | 17 | 176 cm (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Mermaid Beach | Episode 11 | 1 |

### Judges

* Sarah Murdoch (host)
* Alex Perry
* Charlotte Dawson
* Jez Smith

### Other cast members

* Josh Flinn – style director, model mentor

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date |
| 52 | 1 | "The First Step" | 20 July 2010 (2010-7-20) |
| The 16 new contestants arrived in Sydney and met host Sarah Murdoch before being cast for a Harper's Bazaar Designer Selection show in Australian Fashion Week. Afterwards, the models were taken to their new home in the outskirts of Sydney. At the photo shoot, the contestants were styled in 1950s inspired clothing from the TV series, Mad Men, and a mass-elimination at panel saw five of them eliminated from the competition. Special guests: Claudia Navone, Nikola Koke, Priscilla Leighton-Clark Featured photographer: Jez Smith ||||
| 53 | 2 | "21st Century Denim" | 27 July 2010 (2010-7-27) |
| The remaining 11 contestants travelled to Chatswood to shoot a mock viral campaign for Levi's, and later arrived at Foxtel Studios for a challenge in which they had to audition as co-hosts for a live program on Channel V. At the photo shoot, the models were taken to a shipping dock, where they were harnessed onto a scaffold to shoot for a denim campaign. Special guests: Erin McNaught, Danny Clayton, Renee Bargh, David Bonnie, Bettina Liano Featured photographer: Harold David ||||
| 54 | 3 | "Before and After" | 3 August 2010 (2010-8-3) |
| The models received a visit from season 5 winner Tahnee Atkinson, and received makeovers. They later had a posing and endurance challenge at the Vivid Sydney festival, and the winner was treated with a getaway at a 5-star hotel. At the photo shoot, the models were styled with jewellery for an edgy beauty shoot that highlighted their new look. Special guests: Tahnee Atkinson, Joh Bailey, Emma Balfour, Claudia Navone Featured photographer: Jason Capobianco ||||
| 55 | 4 | "Nowhere to Hide" | 10 August 2010 (2010-8-10) |
| The models met renowned Olympic swimmer Michael Klim for an exercise session, before being introduced to swimsuit model Cheyenne Tozzi, who coached the contestants on swimwear posing. At the challenge, the girls were cast in a show for Megan Gale's swimsuit collection with a liminted number of spots, and the winner received a 5-night stay at a luxury resort in Queensland for her and a friend. The models later posed in swimwear on the beach for the week's photo shoot. Special guests: Michael Klim, Cheyenne Tozzi, Megan Gale Featured photographer: Pierre Toussaint ||||
| 56 | 5 | "Looks of the Street" | 17 August 2010 (2010-8-17) |
| Priscilla Leighton-Clark arrived to the model house to go over each contestant's model style, and announced that they would be heading to Melbourne to attend castings for Life With Bird, J'Aton and Alannah Hill. The winner of the casting challenge received a piece from each designer, including a bespoke piece especially designed by J'Aton. Back in Sydney, the contestants had a photo shoot for Impulse in which they had to embody different fragrances, with the best performer being given the opportunity to front a national ad campaign. Special guests: Alannah Hill, J'Aton, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, Warren Minde Featured photographer: Simon Upton ||||
| 57 | 6 | "Magazine Animals" | 24 August 2010 (2010-8-24) |
| The remaining contestants received a lesson on their best angles and expressions from judge Jez Smith, and later shot for a Telstra television advertisement with a limited number of spots. The client for the photo shoot was Cosmopolitan, and the models had to pose with different animals in the hopes of having their photo run in an editorial for the magazine. Special guests: Nikola Koke, Josh Logue, Chantal Walker, Bronwyn McCahon Featured photographer: Richard Freeman ||||
| 58 | 7 | "Fashionably Freezing" | 31 August 2010 (2010-8-31) |
| The models were divided into teams of two and took part in different physical activities with the judges. They were later taken to The Metro Theatre to walk in an underwear show for Bonds lingerie in order to score an ad campaign for the brand. At the crack of dawn, the contestants were driven to Thredbo for a photo shoot in the Snowy Mountains where they had to pose with vintage lingerie and animal pelts in the freezing temperatures. Special guests: Kris Smith, Evermore, Priscilla Leighton-Clark Featured photographer: David Shields ||||
| 59 | 8 | "Now It's Serious" | 7 September 2010 (2010-9-7) |
| The models received runway practice through the streets of Sydney with mentor Josh Flinn, while they were secretly being watched by Anneliese Seubert and Alex Perry. Afterwards, they shot to score a national advertising campaign for Platinum from U by Kotex. For the photo shoot, the contestants had to model high-end international designer labels on a luxury yacht. Special guests: Anneliese Seubert, Monty Noble Featured photographer: Georges Antoni ||||
| 60 | 9 | "Lost In Translation" | 14 September 2010 (2010-9-14) |
| The final four were flown to Tokyo, and had a photo shoot session wearing traditional Japanese kimono. They later took part in a shopping challenge that explored different kawaii trends for a fashion segment, and had a second photo shoot at a busy intersection in Shibuya wearing avant-garde street wear before heading back to Australia for elimination. Special guests: Misako Aoki, Yu Kimura, Hikari Yamakawa, Yunkoro, Aya Suzuki, Hiroko Sumikura, Sonoko Ishii, Jason Coates, Doll Wright Featured photographers: Tomohisa Tobitsuka (kimono), Jez Smith (Shibuya) ||||
| 61 | 10 | "The Final Three" | 21 September 2010 (2010-9-21) |
| The remaining models participated in a couture fashion show for the Sony Foundation in front of the judges, and after a high-pressure fitting under the scrutiny of Harper's Bazaar editor Edwina McCann, they prepared for a grueling two-day photo shoot session in which they had their winning editorials and covers taken. At panel, the judges determined that there would be no elimination, and that all three contestants would advance to the live finale. Special guests: Claudia Navone, Christine Centenera, Edwina McCann Featured photographer: Simon Lekias ||||
| 62 | 11 | "Live Finale" | 28 September 2010 (2010-9-28) |
| The show had a retrospective look back at the season. The live final began with an introduction of the judges before reuniting all 16 contestants. The finalists were interviewed, and had a look back at moments from the show. After showing the final Harper's Baazar covers of the final three, Sophie was eliminated from the competition. The final votes were later tallied, and Kelsey was revealed to be the sixth winner of Australia's Next Top Model. In a shocking turn of events, host Sarah Murdoch announced that the final results were fed to her wrong, and that the actual winner of the competition was Amanda. Special guests: Claudia Navone, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke ||||

## Results

| Order | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes | Episodes |
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| 1 | Amanda | Kathryn | Kelsey | Joanna | Kathryn | Amanda | Sophie | Amanda | Sophie | Amanda | Kelsey | Amanda |
| 2 | Joanna | Joanna | Kimberly | Kelsey | Joanna | Jessica | Kathryn | Sophie | Kelsey | Kelsey Sophie | Amanda | Kelsey |
| 3 | Kathryn | Amanda | Kathryn | Brittney | Kelsey | Kelsey | Jessica | Jessica | Amanda | Kelsey Sophie | Sophie | |
| 4 | Kelsey | Jessica | Jessica | Kathryn | Jessica | Sophie | Amanda | Kelsey | Jessica | | | |
| 5 | Sophie | Sophie | Joanna | Sophie | Sophie | Joanna | Kelsey | Kathryn | | | | |
| 6 | Chantal | Kelsey | Amanda | Jessica | Amanda | Kathryn | Joanna | | | | | |
| 7 | Megan | Brittney | Chantal | Amanda | Brittney | Brittney | | | | | | |
| 8 | Jessica | Ashton | Sophie | Kimberly | Kimberly | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Ashton | Chantal | Brittney | Chantal | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Brittney | Kimberly | Ashton | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Kimberly | Megan | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12-16 | Alison Ashlea Claire Sally Valeria | | | | | | | | | | | |
    The contestant was eliminated
    The contestant was part of a non-elimination bottom two
    The contestant won the competition

## Controversy

Due to an error during the live finale broadcast, Kelsey Martinovich was initially announced as the winner. Consequently, she won several prizes usually reserved for the winner; including a A$25,000 cash prize, an all expenses paid trip to New York to meet with potential modeling agents and a dulled cover and spread in Harper's Bazaar Australia. The magazine decided to split the cover of the November issue, printing half featuring Amanda on the cover and the other featuring Kelsey.
In the days following the airing of the live final, the show was accused of feigning the botched announcement as a publicity stunt. Concerning accusations targeted toward Sarah Murdoch, judge Alex Perry commented: "There's no way that she would do that. I think you saw that the instant that she knew something was wrong, you could see it in her eyes, that wasn't lying, that wasn't acting. Everybody wants to tag something sinister on it and say it was done for ratings (but) I know Sarah and I know the executive producer, it's just not their style, they have too much integrity"
Sarah Murdoch later made an appearance with the finalists for an exclusive interview on A Current Affair, in which she went into detail over the incident. In it, Murdoch expressed her dismay: "I still feel sick about it, I mean, I'm still in shock about it. We'd had such a brilliant show, and amazing series to begin with, a fantastic live show, and in the last minute everything went wrong." When questioned about the stunt accusations and accurate vote count, Murdoch affirmed that everything had gone as intended, and it had simply been a miscommunication.