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It was an afternoon that left me feeling decidedly average - in both height and hotness – yet strangely entertained. Nevertheless, the first round of New Zealand’s Next Top Model, Cycle Three, Dunedin chapter, was disappointingly devoid of drama. The most exciting thing to happen was when the Edge’s speaker blew over in the blustery Dunedin conditions, smashing several windows and showering me with shards of glass. The things I endure in the pursuit of weighty journalism.
The sitting around and waiting was almost as long as the auditionees’ legs, but luckily the Edge Roadrunners were on hand to placate the crowds with mildly-entertaining games and treats that the models probably felt they shouldn’t be eating anyway. Pascoes promo personnel were also handing out goodie vouchers to the delight of the multiple male auditionees.

One such competitor was James, a University of Otago student and first-time auditioner. He was flanked by four friends who assured me they were there for moral support and wouldn’t be auditioning themselves. James claimed his participation was merely to gain points in some sort of flat challenge, for which the prize was a free dinner. Not prize enough, if you ask me. I suggested, hopefully, that he must be at least a bit liquored. “Sober,” he said. “Never go to a model shoot drunk.”

Unfortunately this sage advice wasn’t followed by another group of hopefuls whose male flatmate had pulled his red card and sent them off to audition. The organisers soon realised that the girls, who were teetering perilously on their high heels, weren’t lacking practice, but simply sobriety and co-ordination. The girls, and their Hugh-Hefner-dressing-gown wearing flatmate, were escorted from the premises before they twisted an ankle.

Other competitors had been made to come by various friends and family. Ruby, 20, was encouraged by her boss, who said that she wouldn’t attend Ruby’s twenty-first party unless she auditioned.

Matthew, a Genetics student, said “originally I was just supporting my friend, and then I got swept away in the drama and decided to audition”. This all raised the question of what the chances might be of a male NZNTM finalist. Matthew’s friends and I speculated that a group of guys might not be catty enough to provide the requisite television drama, but Matthew said since he was “a raging homo” he would be “so funny in the house”. In my opinion, this is an angle TV3 should definitely explore.

Of course there were people there who genuinely wanted to be New Zealand’s Next Top Model. I was lucky enough to follow Ashleigh, 19, into her audition to see what went down. I have to say, the judges (Colin Mathura Jefree, Sara Tetro and series producer Emma White) were completely laid-back, down to earth and friendly. Maybe I’m just saying that because Colin said he liked my top. But they certainly made Ashleigh feel at home when she walked in the room.

Ashleigh had also been a victim of the exploding-glass incident and discussions about this got the audition off to a relaxed start. The judges asked Ashleigh some questions about herself, had a look over her application form which contained key numbers like height (she’d thought she was 178cm, but the NZNTM official measurement was 175cm), waist measurement and dress size. They questioned her choice of footwear: jandals (scarfie, as bro), which she chose because heels made her too tall. The judges weren’t having any of that. “Be yourself”, advised Colin. He queried “does it intimidate boys?” Sara, once a model herself, was reassuring, saying “you get over that”.

Then, the hard questions began: “Why do you want to be on Top Model?”. Ashleigh is honest: she’s toyed with the possibility for a few years now and she wants to know if she is the kind of girl they’re after. The judges are quick to answer: “Look, you’re tall and really pretty which is pretty normal around here…We need someone we can make a model and someone we can make television with”. While saying that Ashleigh was lovely and easy to talk to, they felt she didn’t stand out enough (read: you’re so nice and normal that even with our creative filming you’d still come across as nice and normal, and that just won’t do). And with a parting compliment - “you’ve got great legs!” – the audition was over.
 
It was surprisingly low on drama, nothing too soul-destroying. There were no TV cameras (only contestants who get a “yes” from the judges get filmed) and hence no public humiliation. Unlike, say, American Idol, the programme doesn’t capitalise on the hilarious misfortunes of first-round auditionees whose parents have convinced them they have what it takes. Quite refreshing really.
 
Before I could ask them any curly questions, the judges asked me about Critic, declaring “we love students” and wanting to know whether Dunedin flats are as manky as we have the general public believe. I assured them that they’re not all that bad, but Colin thought that might be because I’m a prissy Law student, and he’s possibly right.

My first question, “How did you become involved in New Zealand’s modelling industry?”, caught them by surprise: “Oh my gosh you didn’t ask what we’re looking for [in a Next Top Model]” said Sara. I assured her that was question number two.

Sara launched her modelling career while fresh of out of school, and modelled for five years before beginning her own agency and moving into the managerial aspect of the industry. She’s extremely successful at what she does, while looking absolutely gorgeous and nowhere near her 41(ish) years.

Colin was “spotted” as a modelling talent on his first day at Auckland University and gradually his modelling career became a full time pursuit. Emma, on the other hand, has a television background. This show is her first foray into the modelling industry: “The cool thing about this show is that I get to make [television] about fashion.”

When I ask whether there is a particular “look” that they’re after, the judges get bit touchy. “There’s a set criteria…which is very well-known: 170cm, 16-25.” Well, are they after someone with a New Zealand look? “What is that? It’s a multicultural country” scolds Colin. “Wherever [New Zealand’s Next Top Model] comes from, she will be a New Zealander.” It’s also a requirement that all the auditionees are New Zealand residents. “This needs to be their home…where they have an affinity with.”

“[NZNTM cycle two winner] Danielle obviously looked like she was from a Maori background, which she was, that was great, that was an added bonus. But that’s not something we will say if it comes down to this one or this one, we’ll pick the best man on the day.”

Speaking of men, what are the chances of James or Matthew or any other guys making the finals? “The right guy’s got to walk in,” says Sara, “if the right guy came in I’d argue his case happily.” When I suggest there might be some stigma around male modelling Colin is a bit cagey, but the judges admit there is a perception that NZNTM is only for girls, even though that’s never categorically been said. “Now more than any other time, gender has been completely and utterly inspecific [sic]…No one really cares.”

Sara’s got two daughters aged eight and nine, and I was curious to know whether she’d encourage them to aim for a career in modelling. “If they wanted to pursue it they would have a massive headstart, not because I own an agency but because I know the industry inside out. And probably above anything, of all kids they know just exactly what modelling is…they don’t think it’s about being pretty. It’s a job.”
 
Of course, what you all really want to know is whether anyone around here is hot enough to go through to the next round. Sheree Pedersen was one girl lucky enough to get a “yes” from the judges. Sheree has only been in the country for two months but is already a permanent resident. The poor girl moved from cosmopolitan and deliciously hot Perth to the bustling metropolis of Milton and Tokomairiro High School. She has always been a dedicated Next Top Model watcher, at one point watching the American, Australian and New Zealand competitions concurrently. She’s wanted to be a model since age twelve, so understandably the thought of missing a few weeks of Year 13 in pursuit of her dream career hasn’t got her too worried.
 
After her successful audition, she’s taken off to be photographed and filmed. The NZNTM crew will use the footage to cut down a 100-person from the initial auditions to a group of 33 who will begin the show.

Sheree answers questions about her move to New Zealand, her new school, her aspirations, all the while talking at ease without realising she’s being filmed. Of Milton she says “the students aren’t like me at all.. I’m the only one in my art class, one of two in my drama class.”

Sheree is a natural model: when she stands to be photographed she already looks practiced. “Who taught you to stand like that?” the photographer says, obviously impressed. She has impossibly long legs, long blond hair… and a deep-seated Aussie-battler accent, but we won’t hold that against her. You never know: maybe she will be New Zealand’s Next Top Model, and show all her friends in Milton how it’s done. At the very least, she might meet some other girls who are a bit more like her.

And so concluded my afternoon, a whirlwind of nervous smiles and nervous energy, but with a distinctly New Zealand twist. There was little to no drama, the judges were genuinely lovely, most of the people auditioning were only mildly attractive and a few left one step closer to becoming New Zealand’s Next Top Model.