- Schedule stress after the "GNTM" victory
Since winning "Germany's next Topmodel", a lot has changed for Lea Oude Engberink (25) and Jermaine Kothé (19). In an interview to launch a new Fila campaign, they reveal how "intense" and "crazy" they found the weeks following the finale of the 19th "GNTM" season.
The two were already booked together for a Fila shooting during the casting show, and they also stood in front of the camera together for the continuation of the "La Dolce Fila" campaign, which was shot in Italy, the home of the brand.
"Very, very surreal"
That they were crowned winners by Heidi Klum (51) is still hard to believe for both Jermaine and Lea, even two months later. "I'm feeling great, better than ever," says the 19-year-old. "It's all very, very surreal." He's just starting to process what happened and is grateful for all the experiences. Lea feels the same way: "Even though it's been a while, I still can't believe it. Being on 'GNTM' was a dream come true."
Busy schedule
However, the two models don't have much time to reflect - they've been very busy since their win. "I knew I'd be traveling a lot, but not this much," Jermaine says. "I feel like I'm in a different city or country every day." The experiences have been "very intense" and also quite exhausting.
"It's really tough on the nerves," admits the Kassel native, who is also a successful content creator. Walking the runway at the Berlin Fashion Week for Kilian Kerner with Lea was "a great experience, but also crazy because you feel so much pressure from the outside."
Lea is just as busy. "You can tell that there are a lot of jobs coming in, you're invited to all sorts of events, and people on the street recognize you even more," she says. She can't remember the last time she spent three days at home in a row. She tries to make time for her family by calling them every day.
Working together and separately
Lea and Jermaine are often perceived as a duo due to their joint win in the modeling show. "We have a few jobs together, but also some separate ones, which I think is cool because you still get recognized as an individual and not just as Jermaine and Lea," explains the 25-year-old. She also enjoys working with her colleague.
Being back for Fila is an indescribable feeling. "It just makes you proud," Lea says. "You had that feeling when the pictures were taken, but seeing yourself in the store with the products or in that huge window, it's incredible."
The two never expected to shoot two campaigns for the brand after their first booking, Jermaine emphasizes. "So, it's even more beautiful to see ourselves on the cover together and with the Fila campaign also at Deichmann. It's a very, very nice feeling."
For Luna Schweiger, they are the "perfect fit".
The harmony between the two is evident in their shared photos, and this impression also reaches the outside world. Actress Luna Schweiger (27), who hosted the Fila event, is thrilled about the duo. "I must say, they're the perfect fit. They're both wonderfully beautiful, inside and out. Very relaxed. Casual. They embody athletic elegance perfectly," she praises them in an interview.
In an additional interview with a fashion magazine, Lea and Jermaine discuss the excitement and challenges of working together and individually in the fashion industry since their win on "Germany's next Topmodel."
During this interview with a renowned journalist, they both express their gratitude for the "opportunities and experiences" that they've had since being crowned winners and share stories about their busy schedules and intense work life.
