In the meantime, the 17th season of “Germany’s next top model” is already flickering on the TV screens and Heidi Klum (48) is once more looking for promising young models. In the 16 years of the casting show, there have been winners and participants who didn’t win, but who are still successful in the modeling business thanks to the show. Still others have not found their success in the fashion industry. For these former contestants, the show was a stepping stone into modeling careers.
Die Reality-Stars
“Germany’s next top model” fans love the show for the often weird and entertaining candidates. Although they usually don’t have a great modeling career following participating, one or the other cavorts in other TV formats and earns their money with it. This is what happened with Theresia Fischer (29), for example. She polarized in 2019 with her cuddly toy, marmot Herbert, and her live marriage to Thomas, 28 years her senior, in the finale of the show. Then she remained true to television: she took part in “Celebrity Big Brother” and in shows like “The Festival of Reality Stars” or “Pokerface – don’t laugh”.
In doing so, she is following in the footsteps of other “GNTM” cult participants – such as Sarah Knappik (35), who was able to further increase her awareness in 2011 with her participation in the RTL jungle camp. Later, her former best friend from “Germany’s next top model” days, Gina-Lisa Lohfink (35), did the same. She moved to the jungle camp in 2017. Former “GNTM” candidates who also took part in the jungle camp or other reality formats following the model show are Fiona Erdmann (33), Larissa Marolt (29), Micaela Schäfer (38), Sara Kulka (31), Gisele Oppermann ( 34) and most recently Zoe Saip (22).
This year, “GNT” crybaby Oppermann is even supposed to be seen once more on Reality TV. As “Bild” reports, she is supposed to take part in the show “The Big Celebrity Penalty”. In this year’s season of “Battle of the Reality Stars” two ex-“GNTM” candidates can also be admired. Tessa Bergmeier (32) from season four and Larissa Neumann (21), who only took part in the model casting show in 2020, will have to face tough challenges alongside other celebrities.
The actresses
Larissa Marolt used participation in “Germany’s next top model” as a springboard beyond reality formats: she is now a sought-following actress. She was already interested in theater in her youth and successfully completed her acting training in New York in 2013. In 2011 she appeared in 138 episodes of the telenovela “Anna and Love”. 2017 followed a leading role in the 14th season of the series “Storm of Love”, in which she embodied doctor Alicia Lindbergh. In addition to some theater engagements, she was in the ZDF series “Blutige Beginner” from 2020 to 2021. Since 2022 she has been able to look forward to a role in the soap “Unter uns”.
In addition to her career as a model and dancer, Taynara Wolf (25) also created a second mainstay with acting. After reaching fifth place in the eleventh season of Heidi Klum’s show in 2016, Wolf landed a leading role in the series “Everything or Nothing” in 2018. The fact that Sat.1 discontinued the series following only a few months did not harm her career. After a few supporting roles in “SOKO Munich” and a “Tatort” in 2019, Wolf had a permanent role in the RTL series “Der Lehrer” from 2020 to 2021.
Even a winner went among the actresses. Barbara Meier (35) was able to convince with both modeling and acting talent. Three years following her victory in 2007, she was regularly seen in small supporting roles on TV. Most recently she was in front of the camera for the US heist film “Army of Thieves” (2021) alongside actor Matthias Schweighöfer.
Instagrammer, Youtuber & Co.
For several years, a “GNTM” participation has not only promoted awareness, but also the number of followers on social media. Numerous former candidates used this push, so that today they can live on their income as influencers. Above all: Stefanie Giesinger (25). More than four million people follow her on Instagram. The 25-year-old won the competition in 2014. The model also has her own cosmetics brand to thank for her Instagram success. Under the name “Moy” she sells various skin care products. With her boyfriend, the YouTuber Marcus Butler (30), she also has her own fashion brand “nu-in”.
Gerda Lewis (29) is also an indispensable part of the German social media world. Around a million people follow the blonde on Instagram. In 2018 she made it into the top 20 of the model casting competition. She was previously active as an influencer on Instagram and was able to further increase her reach through her participation. At least since she was looking for her love as “Bachelorette” on RTL in 2019, the number of her followers has skyrocketed.
Anna Maria Damm (25) can look forward to more subscribers. She is followed by around 1.9 million people on Instagram and almost 640,000 on YouTube. After reaching fifth place in “Germany’s next top model” in 2013, the 25-year-old established herself as a blogger and vlogger. Both alone and with her sister Katharina Damm, she creates successful YouTube videos that have increased her popularity beyond “GNTM”. The sibling duo now sells their own fashion. Damm also launched her own skin care line in 2020.
Fata Hasanovic (25) and Anuthida Ploypetch (24) are among the most popular “GNTM” participants on social media. Both inspire more than 400,000 followers on Instagram with their content. But ex-candidate Darya Strelnikova (29) also has over 280,000 followers on Instagram. She made the top five in season ten.
The all-rounders
By winning the first season of “Germany’s next top model” in 2006, numerous doors opened for Lena Gercke (33) in the model world. However, the native of Marburg proved that she has completely different talents. In 2013 and 2014, Gercke sat alongside Bruce Darnell (64) and Dieter Bohlen (68) on the “Das Supertalent” jury. She has been expanding her jury experience since 2018 in “Das Ding des Jahres”. In addition, the 33-year-old has been a successful presenter for many years. After winning “GNTM”, she moderated the Austrian offshoot from 2009 to 2012 and numerous ProSieben formats such as “red!”, “The Voice of Germany” or the annual “About You Awards”. She has been selling her own fashion since 2019 and has her own furniture collection. In July 2020 she also gave birth to a daughter.
Rebecca Mir (30) proves that a career like this does not necessarily require a profit. In the sixth season of the model search, Mir took second place in the final in 2011. When she took part in “Let’s Dance” in 2012, it was only enough for second place once more. However, she found love there with professional dancer Massimo Sinato (41). Since 2021, the two are parents of a little son. In 2012, Mir also began to moderate the ProSieben magazine “taff” on a regular basis. In addition to numerous moderation jobs, she also tried her hand at acting in supporting roles, such as in 2013 in “In aller Hoffnung”. She was also given a special honor in 2020 and 2021: she was allowed to sit on the jury as a special guest alongside Heidi Klum in an episode of “Germany’s next top model”.