Audition opportunity - Jermaine triumphs as male champion in GNTM, while Lea clinches the female title.
In the recent episode of "Germany's Next Topmodel," a groundbreaking event unfolded as the jury awarded the top prizes to both a woman and a man. Lea, a 24-year-old business developer from Duesseldorf, and Jermaine, a 20-year-old model from Kassel, won the show impeccably, beating five other contestants.
Jermaine's face displayed a mix of emotions as Heidi Klum, the show's CEO, handed him the trophy. Lea, overwhelmed by the win, expressed her gratitude to her fans, calling their support "lovely messages."
Up until the finals, Xenia (24) from Hof had been tough competition for Lea among the women. Fabienne (21) from Solingen was the third runner-up for the women, and Linus (25) from Berlin secured the second place among the men. The twin brothers Julian and Luka (24) from Frankfurt am Main came in third in the male categories.
The show's authorities reported an impressive viewership, with 1.62 million people tuning in at 8:15pm, resulting in a 8.0% market share. Rates for 14- to 49-year-olds stood at 18.8%, aligning closely with the previous year's figures.
During the finale, the audience witnessed some unique performances by musicians Robin S. (62) and Sabrina Carpenter (25) while the models walked the runway. From the selection of the finalists, one could detect that Lea and Jermaine were popular favorites.
A memorable feature was a photo shoot with former football pro Bastian Schweinsteiger (39). The models had to defend against his soccer shots while maintaining a good pose and displaying their best modeling skills.
Famous guests of the show included Elizabeth Hurley (59) and her son Damian (22), along with veteran designer Wolfgang Joop (79). Though Joop had not seen this year's season, he offered to grace the next anniversary season. Schweinsteiger, meanwhile, didn't seem too convinced about the show, declaring, "I don't know why I'm here."
This season paved the way for more inclusivity, as the contestants did not have to worry about being male or female. The prestigious prize consisted of 100,000 euros and a place on the cover of German "Harper's Bazaar." The handout happened during the launch of the magazine's July issue, where Lea and Jermaine got to grace the cover. For the first time in the history of the magazine, there was a male model featured on the front page. Additionally, Armin and Grace, two other contestants, revealed their relationship. "I had suspected it a little," Klum stated. "But I didn't know it."
