Randa's Next Top Model (cycle 1)

The first season of ***Randa's Next Top Model*** features 16 contestants from all around the world competing to kickstart her modeling career. The requirements to apply were to be between 15-27 years old and at least 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in). The winner was **Meilani Teokotai** from  Cook Islands.

Judging panel for this season includes Egyptian supermodel and namesake of this show, Randa Tawfeek, accompanied by world famous pageant judge Cordelia Dohman and fashion photographer Sandi Brankovič. Additionally, fashion blogger and model Eileen Okamura serves as a mentor for the girls and helps guide them through challenges and photoshoots.

## Locations

This cycle was based in England, however opportunities to travel to different countries were possible.

* St. George's, Episodes 1-2
* Southampton, Episode 2
* London, Episodes 3-12
* Kingston, Episode 5
* Yogyakarta, Episode 6

## Contestants

1. ↑ Abena Ofosu went by Esther on the show.
2. ↑ Georgia chose to quit the competition in Episode 4.
3. ↑ Jereni originally placed 16th/15th before rejoining in Episode 3.
4. ↑ Yue Wing Yan went by Alyson on the show.

## Summaries

### **Call-out order**

1. ↑ Ranesha and Nadien had no place in the call out order as they won the two challenges and were immune. Additionally, there was a double elimination.
2. ↑ Episode 2 featured another double elimination. Beatrix was eliminated first, placing 14th. Then, Paulyntje was also eliminated, placing 13th.
3. ↑ Georgia quit the competition.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The contestants participated in two separate batches in Episodes 5 and 6.
5. ↑ Dong Mei was eliminated after the runway for having the weakest body of work.
6. ↑ Episode 9 featured a suprise double elimination.

## Plot summaries

### **The Girl Who Feared Heights**

Tensions spark as the 16 girls arrive in Bermuda. Alyson's snootiness and Paulyntje's talkativeness alienated them from the rest of the house. Ranesha and Nadien impressed the most in the interview and runway challenges respectively, winning themselves immunity. In a photoshoot where the girls were suspended in the air, Esther struggled grasping the concept and Jereni struggled with her fear of heights. In the end, both of them were sent home.

* **Challenge winners/Immune:** Nadien Emanuels & Ranesha Catwell
* **First call out:** Meilani Teokotai
* **Bottom three:** Esther Ofosu, Georgia Zamor & Jereni Staroverova
* **Eliminated:** Esther Ofosu & Jereni Staroverova

### **The Girl Who Came Out**

Beatrix feels left out due to her broken English, and Georgia and Meilani gladly befriend her. The three then hosted a game of truth or dare, leading Olivia to come out as bisexual. Eileen talks to the girls about their first week, leading Georgia to doubt herself. For their challenge, the girls had to take a photo for Instagram. During panel, Beatrix's language barrier and Paulyntje's unwillingness to improve sent them home.

* **Challenge winner:** Xiong Dong Mei
* **First call out:** Meilani Teokotai
* **Bottom three:** Beatrix Hurgoi, Paulyntje Ten Boom & Sylviane Rossi
* **Eliminated:** Beatrix Hurgoi & Paulyntje Ten Boom

### **The Girl Who Wore it Better**

As the top 12 arrive in London, Oanna feels homesick and lashed out at Alyson for her insensitivity. Later on, Randa and Eileen hosted a "Who Wore It Better?" challenge. A fight breaks out at the house as Nadien confronts Alyson and Hela for talking behind her back. Meanwhile, Georgia continued to doubt herself even more. In the end, the pressure proved too much for her, and she asked to leave the competition.

* **Challenge winner:** Hela Sviontak
* **First call out:** Hela Sviontak
* **Bottom two:** Nadien Emanuels & Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Quit:** Georgia Zamor

### **The Girl Who Didn't Take It Seriously**

It was revealed that Jereni would come back to the competition as replacement for Georgia. Olivia opens up about her slight crush on Sahaqiat, to which Hela overhears and plans on using the information as blackmail. The girls had to make mock TV advertisements for made up places as their challenge. Later on, they had a photoshoot inside Big Ben wearing haute couture dresses. During panel, the judges questioned Ranesha's seriousness. In the end, however, Sylviane was sent home as the judges felt she didn't have enough passion for the industry.

* **Challenge winners:** Alannah FitzMaurice, Jereni Staroverova & Sylviane Rossi
* **First call out:** Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Bottom two:** Ranesha Catwell & Sylviane Rossi
* **Eliminated:** Sylviane Rossi

### **The Girl Who Threw a Fit**

After panel, it was revealed that the girls would be competing in two separate batches this week as they prepare for London Fashion Week, one batch would be heading to Jamaica, and the other would be going to Indonesia. Immediately upon landing, the Jamaica girls were thrown into a go-see challenge. Ranesha ended up booking all three designers, thus winning the challenge. Back at the house, Dong Mei throws a tantrum due to her lack of screen time, and Oanna yells at her for being immature. During the photoshoot, Ranesha was once again asked if she was serious about the competition. However, it was Jereni who was eliminated for her lackluster photo.

* **Challenge winner:** Ranesha Catwell
* **First call out:** Xiong Dong Mei
* **Bottom two:** Jereni Staroverova & Ranesha Catwell
* **Eliminated:** Jereni Staroverova

### **The Girl Who Didn't Book a Job**

The Indonesia girls didn't get much time to settle in as they were immediately thrown into the photoshoot and go-sees. Alyson's self-righteousness gets the better of her, and she struggles to impress the clients. Meanwhile, Nadien's killer runway walk and Olivia's easygoing personality impress, and they both win the challenge. Later, during planel, Alannah and Alyson were both criticized for their inability to work together, resulting them to land in the bottom. In the end, it was Alannah's forgettable portfolio that caused her to get the boot.

* **Challenge winners:** Nadien Emanuels & Olivia Kim
* **First call out:** Hela Sviontak
* **Bottom two:** Alannah FitzMaurice & Alyson Yue
* **Eliminated:** Alannah FitzMaurice

### **The Girl Who Couldn't Take It**

Hela and Alyson successfully blackmail Olivia into doing their bidding. Sandi announces that the girls will be doing print jobs for their designers on top of walking in London FW. Hela and Alyson's blackmailing strikes Sahaqiat's suspicion. The big city proved a challenge for Oanna, who lashed out at Dong Mei for trying to help. It was revealed during panel that the girls would solely be judged on their performance during their print jobs. Oanna's homesickness got the better of her, and she was asked to leave the competition.

* **First call out:** Ranesha Catwell
* **Bottom two:** Oanna Bounyavong & Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Eliminated:** Oanna Bounyavong

### **The Girl Who Left**

The top 8 prepare for a hectic week as London Fashion Week quickly approaches. Alyson and Hela order Olivia to trash Dong Mei's belongings. Eileen and Cordelia announce that one girl whose portfolio was deemed the worst would be asked to leave right after the show, with Dong Mei's inconsistency sending her back home. The girls then did two photoshoots. Meilani and Olivia's excellent performances led them to sharing FCO. On the other hand, Nadien and Ranesha's lukewarm performances land them in the bottom, with Ranesha being sent home due to her lack of progress.

* **First call outs:** Meilani Teokotai & Olivia Kim
* **Bottom two:** Nadien Emanuels & Ranesha Catwell
* **Eliminated:** Ranesha Catwell

### **The Girls Who Fell Out**

Olivia decides she's had enough and stands up against Alyson and Hela, telling Sahaqiat about her feelings in front of them. The two then have a massive falling out, much to the rest of the girls' confusion. Their last challenge put their acting skills to the test. Olivia wins and gets a ticket into the finale. Later, they had two more photoshoots, and two girls were sent home.

* **Challenge winner:** Olivia Kim
* **First call out:** Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Bottom two:** Alyson Yue & Nadien Emanuels
* **Eliminated:** Alyson Yue & Nadien Emanuels

### **The Girl Who Won**

The girls spend their last week in London together before a model is crowned.

* **Top four:** Hela Sviontak, Meilani Teokotai, Olivia Kim & Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Eliminated:** Hela Sviontak & Olivia Kim
* **Top two:** Meilani Teokotai & Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Runner-up:** Sahaqiat Al-Sarayrah
* **Winner:** Meilani Teokotai

## Challenge and photoshoot guide

(*italics* indicate challenges, **bold** indicates photoshoots)

* Cast reveal: **All white on a field**, **Black and white yearbook photos**
* Episode 1: *Interview with Eileen*, *Impromptu runway*, **Suspended in the air w/ flowing dresses**
* Episode 2: *Social media post*, **Couples at the beach**
* Episode 3: *Who Wore It Better?*, **Cabaret dancers**
* Episode 4: *Mock travel ads*, **Couture inside Big Ben**
* Episode 5: *Go-sees*, **Standing out in a nightclub**
* Episode 6: *Go-sees*, **High fashion detectives**
* Episode 7: *None*, **Go-see print jobs**
* Episode 8: *London FW*, **Lingerie in the streets of London**, **TRESemmé mock campaign**
* Episode 9: *Acting*, **One with the reptiles**, **Wristwatches**
* Episode 10: **Vogue covers**, **Prada campaigns**