Every year this issue comes up on Australia’s Next Top Model when one of the models is told they are too fat.

However this year it appears a girl who is size 8 has been deemed as being to large for the industry.

News.com.au reports Alex Perry tells 18 year old Alissandra Moone likens her to “overstuffed baggage”.

The article states:

Alissandra Moone, 18, who at 57kg is considered underweight on the Australian body mass index, was “stunned” when her size became an issue on Foxtel’s top-rating show.

Judge Alex Perry has openly criticised Moone’s body, likening it to “overstuffed luggage”, and the clash is set to reach a head on tonight’s episode.

“It’s a very bad message to be sending to young girls who watch the show,” Moone said yesterday.

“It’s harsh. It’s stupid. And it’s out of touch. I understand it’s a reality of the (modelling) industry but this is a TV show and they should have a responsibility to censor that kind of thing.

“I know this has happened to other girls in the past but I was shocked when he (Perry) said I was too fat.

“I’m only a size eight. There’s going to be a lot of young girls watching this who are bigger than me, and how’s this going to make them feel?”

Perry was unavailable for comment.

This story has probably been put out there to attract viewers to tonights episode on the show.

So if you want to watch it Australia’s Next Top Model (ANTM) is on Fox 8 tonight at 7.30pm.

 UPDATE: Alex Perry has come out on twitter (no not in THAT way) and said he was misquoted. His quote was to do with her pose in photo shoot apparently.

In the most unsurprising news of 2011, controversial Australia’s Next Top Model contestant, Cassi Van Den Dungen is pregnant with her fiance Brad Saul’s child.

Fabulous fashion blog Frockwriter writes Cassi sold the story to OK Mag photos and all.

Frockwriter writes:

One face that we won’t be seeing at next week’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is 18 year-old Cassi van den Dungen. That’s because van den Dungen is four months pregnant and is taking a year off from modelling. Although suspicions first arose that something was up several days ago, yesterday’s publication of an interview with van den Dungen and her fiancé Brad Saul in the Australian edition ofOK magazine, announcing the pregnancy, appears to have completely flown under the radar – no doubt due to the Royal wedding media frenzy. Van den Dungen managed to keep her pregnancy a secret at last month’s Melbourne Fashion Festival, where these photos (photos on Frockwriter) were taken. No mean feat, considering how body-hugging some of the garments were.

Season 7 of Australia’s Next Top Model is about to begin.

So if you fit the requirements, that is over 172 cms tall, and are over 16 years of age go to the www.fox8.tv  and download the application and then turn up at one of the audition locations.

These are:

BRISBANE

Saturday, January 22 from 11.00am – 3.00pm

Queen St Mall 15 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD

DARWIN

Sunday, January 23 from 11.00am – 2.00pm

Casuarina Square 247 Trower Road, Casuarina NT

MELBOURNE

Thursday, January 27 from 11.00am to 3.00pm

Chadstone: The Fashion Capital (outside esprit) 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone VIC

ADELAIDE

Friday, January 28 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm

Rundle Mall Adelaide SA

PERTH

Sunday, January 30 from 11.00am – 3.00pm

Forrest Place Perth WA

SYDNEY

Thursday, February 3 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm

Pitt St Mall Sydney NSW

AND

Saturday, February 5 from 11.00am – 3.00pm

Westfield Parramatta, Centre Court 159-175 Church Street, Parramatta NSW

Australia’s Next Top Model will be produced for the first time by Shine Australia this year.

After Granada was dumped by Foxtel to produce  Australia’s Next Top Model because of what is now known as the finale fuck up, Shine Australia has now been given the gig.

This will keep the show in the family as Sarah Murdoch is Executive Producer of the show and Shine is owned by her sister-in-law.

Having said that I am not going to call nepotism on this one, as Shine Australia has shown to be producing some quality TV shows since they started in Australia.

Auditions for the new season are expected to start next month, there has been no news on if there will be any cast changes. (Source: Sunday Telegraph)

Foxtel 2011 season is looking strong in 2011.

Here are some of the reality shows Foxtel thinks are going to be the highlights:

Eat Yourself Sexy – LifeStyle YOU

Exclusive to LifeStyle YOU, Eat Yourself Sexy encourages women to take control of their lives and get back on the road to loving themselves. This inspiring and uplifting series follows the stories of eight women, one per episode, as they transform their bodies and find the power to reignite their relationships with the help of a team of experts. From the salad dodging housewife whose libido has gone missing to the frantic mum-of-three who never has time for herself, this series will help Australian women lose weight, regain health and reclaim their long-lost mojo once and for all. Hosting the series and guiding these women along their life changing journey is LifeStyle YOU presenter Sarah Wilson. Sarah knows it’s possible to eat yourself sexy and she is going to prove it. Along with expert nutritionist Emma Sutherland and trainer Blake Worrall-Thompson, they are on a quest to transform these women from saggy and stressed-out, to sexy and stunning in just eight short weeks.

Dannii Minogue: Style Queen – FOX8

Danni Minogue: Style Queen is a documentary series following Minogue as she prepares to embark on one of the biggest challenges in her career and a brand new chapter of her life – launching her brand-new fashion range Project D. Minogue allowed cameras access in the run up to her dream business at the same time juggling all the other important elements in her life; TV, music, red-carpet events, modelling, writing her autobiography, her boyfriend Kris, travelling between London and Australia forAustralia’s Got Talent – and her most important job – her impending motherhood.

Trinny & Susannah’s Australian Makeover Mission – LifeStyle YOU

Trinny & Susannah’s Australian Makeover Mission is an exciting and exclusive local production for LifeStyle YOU, filmed during the fashion duo’s recent visit to Australia. Fun and fast paced, it’s back-to-basics for straight-talking style gurus Trinny & Susannah, who are here to do what they do best – turn the style challenged into the stylish, resulting in dramatic transformations. In each episode of the six-part one hour series, Trinny & Susannah embark on a whirlwind tour, spending just 12 hours in each of the six Australian cities. Targeting Aussie women who are in serious need of their help and advice, they set out to show them how to dress for their body type.

Park Street – ARENA

Park Street is a new observational documentary series going behind the scenes of Australia’s leading women’s magazines – chronicling first-hand the cover-to-cover journey of editors, stylists, photographers, fashionistas, production staff, creative and sales teams across five key women’s titles: Cosmopolitan, Cleo, Madison, Shop ‘Till You Drop and Dolly. For the first time on Australian television, the famous magazine powerhouse at Sydney’s Park Street opens its doors to reveal the inner workings and the people shaping the command centre of the Australian women’s publishing industry.

Cricket Superstar – FOX8

Cricket Superstar is an elimination reality competition format based on the successful Football Superstar franchise. Cameras will follow the journey of Australia’s most talented young cricketers as the boys are culled through an intense elimination process before the last man standing is crowned Cricket Superstar. Lee Furlong will co-host the series which will be produced by North One.

Live to Dance – FOX8

Join host Andrew Gunsberg in the new series Live to Dance, based on the hit UK format Got To Dance. The premiere episode of Live to Dance will follow dancers from across the US auditioning for Paula Abdul and a panel of experts led by Travis Payneand Kimberly Wyatt, both of whom bring an extensive dance and choreography resume to the series. In specially constructed Dance Domes that were built in both New York and Los Angeles to host the auditions, a group of dancers from all styles, backgrounds and ages will be selected for the Live to Dance cast, where they will battle for the right to be crowned Live to Dancechampion and awarded a US$500,000 prize.

Got to Dance Australia – FOX8

Got To Dance Australia is a nationwide wide search for the country’s hottest dancers! Auditions will be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where dance acts of all ages, styles and sizes will have the chance to compete for a spot in the finals. Tune in each week to watch all your favourites perform, and share in the joy and heartache as they battle it out for the ‘Got to Dance’ crown.

Britain’s Next Top Model – FOX8

With a new host at the helm in the shape of Australia’s international modelling icon and businesswoman Elle Macpherson, the sixth season of the UK version of the hit franchise promises more glamour, more drama, and more rivalry than ever before. Joining Elle as she casts a critical eye over the contestants’ progress, and making and breaking dreams along the way, are a fresh panel of judges – acclaimed designer Julien Macdonald, celebrated stylist Grace Woodward and leading male model Charley Speed.In a first for the British version, the judges will put the deciding vote into the hands of the viewers who will select the model they think deserves to win the top fashion prize – a contract with Models 1, a cover spread with Company and a campaign with Revlon.

Come Dine With Me Australia (Series 3) – The LifeStyle Channel

Come Dine With Me Australia is back with the highly anticipated third serving. Loosen your belt, fix yourself a cocktail and settle down for the brand new series which sees everyday Australians battling it out for the title of the ultimate dinner party host. Television and radio presenter James Valentine narrates the series, overseeing each episode with witty observations and unique commentary. The unscripted show follows amateur chefs competing against each other in hosting a dinner party for the other contestants. Each week over five nights, five total strangers take it in turns to cook up their idea of the perfect evening for the other four. As well as cooking, there’s also a large helping of reality on the menu as the rival hosts snoop around each others’ houses and go to great lengths to win the competition.

Australia’s Next Top Model (Series 7) – FOX8

FOXTEL’s number one series returns for its seventh season in 2011.  Hosted by supermodel Sarah Murdoch, Australia’s Next Top Model is the hit reality series that follows a group of young women as they try to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modelling. Sarah leads the panel of judges including fashion designer Alex Perry, fashion identity Charlotte Dawson and renowned fashion photographer Jez Smith, who is returning to the show as a regular. Each week, the judges assess task performance and potential to narrow the field until only one remains.

Project Runway Australia (Series 3) – ARENA

Project Runway is a hit fashion reality series. The budding designer contestants compete with each other to create winning designs in weekly challenges where they are restricted in time, materials and theme. Their designs are then judged, and one or more designers are eliminated each week. The Australian edition will enter its third cycle with an all new look.

Jersey Shore (Series 3) – MTV

The Italian housemates of Jersey Shore are back for another season of GTL, fist-pumping and battling grenades.  This season there will be a new addition to the Juiced up crew – Deena Nicole Cortese. Cortese, who describes herself as “class in a glass and party in a body,” is a long time friend of Snooki and will join the crew on the sweatin’ shores of Seaside Heights.

Also Masterchef Australia mentor Donna Hay will have her own cooking show on The  Lifestyle Channel called Fast, Fresh and Simple.

I note they haven’t mentioned American Idol which will be fast tracked from the US early in the New Year. They must be thinking the new judging panel of J-Lo, Steve Tyler and Randy Jackson are not going to be able fill the void that Simon Cowell’s absence will have.

Sarah Murdoch has taken some lessons with that other billionaire Donald Trump and said “You’re fired” to Granada productions.

Clearly Sarah Murdoch and Foxtel are still smarting from the debacle of the Australia’s Next Top Model final where the wrong name of the winner was called out as now the production company Granada has been dumped.

The SMH reports Granada who has produced the show for the last seven seasons will be replaced by Shine productions a company owned by Elisabeth Murdoch.

After the final many press releases were sent out saying it was not Sarah’s fault. In fact I never thought it was. And the positive side of things was it gave the local production, international publicity which could only assist with increasing the two finalists profile.

The article states:

Yesterday The Diary heard that Foxtel, which is partially owned by the Murdoch family, had, at her insistence, dumped Granada Media Australia, the production company behind the past six series of Australia’s Next Top Model - which Murdoch presents and executive-produces – to elope with a new production company for the show’s seventh series. Which new production company will get the gig wasn’t known, but the favourite, we were told, was Shine, which is owned by sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch. We called Granada, where a spokesperson couldn’t confirm that it had lost the show. We put in two calls to Foxtel, explaining what we were calling about, but no one called back. Then we got hold of Murdoch, who confirmed the change in production company and gave us this statement: ”Granada produced Australia’s Top Model for six years. I worked with them for two years. They are a very talented and hard working crew. But after what happened this year I thought very hard about it and decided it was probably time for a change.”

At least Sarah Murdoch will be still hosting the show, and she was a huge improvement on the previous incumbent, Jodhi Meares.

Above are the cover’s the Harper’s Bazaar magazine of both the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model and the runner up, Amanda Ware and Kelsey Martinovich. Which one do you like best?

This year’s Australia’s Next Top Model winner Amanda Ware caught up with Jennifer Hawkins at a Myer launch and she gave her some tips about New York. Amanda and Kelsey will go there as part of their prize from the show to talk to modelling agencies. (Source: Daily Telegraph)

Cassi Van Den Dungen’s modelling career is continuing to bloom according to leading fashion blogger Frockwriter. She has some great photos of Cassi’s latest photoshoot for Ellery.

Also Frockwriter has an interview with Alice Burdeau at New Zealand Fashion Week, where she talks about studying psychology at RMIT. Alice moved to Melbourne to be with her fashion photographer boyfriend, but now he has moved to Sydney for work.

This is hilarious, and I bet it is what Sarah Murdoch really wanted to say.

Clearly I was deluded in thinking the Australian Next Top Model Final story was dead and buried, as Foxtel have sent out yet  another release saying they have identified the culprit AND it is not Sarah Murdoch.  I never thought it was her fault. I think the amount of releases being circulated on this issue is starting to become the yarn. It was live TV, mistakes happen –  move on.

In fact it should turn out to be a positive for the girls involved.

Anyway here is what the release said:

FOXTEL and production company Granada have concluded a thorough internal investigation following the broadcast of the final episode this week of Australia’s Next Top Model. Both have accepted full responsibility for the fault which resulted in the wrong name of the winner being announced live to air. It has been confirmed that it was human error, and not a technical glitch, which caused the incident.

Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Television, said “It was important that FOXTEL, as broadcaster, and Granada, as the series producer, conducted our own review of Tuesday night’s events. In doing so, we have confirmed that the fault was a human communications error to the host Sarah Murdoch and that an assumption had been made by the producer which has now shown to be incorrect.

“Live television can be unpredictable and people can be forgiven for making a mistake. What isn’t acceptable, though, is any suggestion that the host, Sarah Murdoch, was at fault or that this was a publicity stunt. Nothing could be further from the truth and we apologise to Sarah for any embarrassment it, and the subsequent publicity, has caused her,” he said. “We have also expressed our apologies to the two contestants, Amanda Ware and Kelsey Martinovich.”

Leonie Lowe, Managing Director of Granada Productions, said “We have identified where and how the error occurred and spoken at length with those responsible. They have conceded the mistake and have personally expressed their apology to Sarah.

“Both Granada and FOXTEL would like to express their thanks to Sarah for a marvellous job this season. She has gone beyond the call of duty, having gone back to work on the show just three weeks after having given birth to her daughter, Aerin. The show’s finale was a flawless piece of television up until that last moment when one producer simply got it wrong. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and it’s disappointing that this communications error should overshadow what has been a wonderful series,” she said.

In other ANTM news Priscilla’s has signed on nine of the girls who were on this season.

The Daily Telegraph says:

Leading Australian model manager Priscilla Leighton-Clark, who is only officially obliged to represent the winner of the reality series, has scooped the pool of talent, stating the “calibre of girls this year was incredibly high”.

Martinovich along with Sophie Van Den Akker, Joanna Broomfield, Jessica Moloney, Kathryn Lyons, Chantal Croccolo, Brittney Dudley and Ashton Flutey are all on the books. It is believed the most Leighton-Clark had signed in the six-year history of the show was three in one year. Judge Charlotte Dawson agreed: “We’ve had an amazing cast.”

Ok we finally have the answer thanks to TV Tonight, who watched A Current Affair who interviewed Sarah Murdoch, and she said no name had been fed through to her earpiece.

TV Tonight writes:

Sarah Murdoch says she was given no name in her earpiece to announce the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model.

When it came to the Live TV moment for her to be told the winner from a Producer, no name was supplied. She consequently ran with the last advice she had been given.

“The last thing that was communicated to me in my earpiece was Kelsey 1, Amanda 2,” she told A Current Affair.

“We had this great idea that we wouldn’t use a card, that it would all be communicated to me through an earpiece, so that I too in that moment would find out who the winner was.

“I went into the read, ‘The Winner of Australia’s Next Top Model is…. ‘ nothing….,” she said, indicating her earpiece.

“All I knew was the last thing: Kelsey 1, Amanda 2.

“The point is it was going to be communicated through my ear, and it didn’t come at that moment. So I went with what I had been told.”

To read the rest of the article go to TV Tonight.

And that is the end of the Australia’s Next Top Model yarn, moving onto a new story tomorrow.

But she began to hear the name ‘Amanda’ through the crowd cheers and fireworks and realised that a mistake had been made.