Asia's Next Top Model Season 2: Finale

From 16 to only one. All Sixteen Candidates with Host and Judge Nadya Hutagalung 

Time does fly so fast - and here we are again - it's the Season Finale for Season 2 of Asia's Next Top Model! 

I did a blog post on the Season Finale of Season 1 of Asia's Next Top Model last February 17, 2013 you can check out the link here. 

I'm obviously a fan of the franchise especially because of it's Asian flare. Long gone are the days when fashion and glamour are confined and defined by race. 

Anyone who has the guts to dream, to pursue that dream and to fight for it deserves...well to be on top so to speak. Just like Season 1 winner Thailand model Jessica Amornkuldilok, who despite her not so young age (in Modeling industry)-27- during the time of the competition, still won the coveted title of Asia's Next Top Model.  

Season 1 was based in Singapore were model hopefuls went around the Lion City chasing their modeling dreams. Season 2 was based in Malaysia and this was a good change, since it offered new location shoots for the photo shoot challenges. 

Even after Season 1 - I've followed the careers of last years' finalists thanks to Instagram :3  

Season One Winner Jessica Amornkuldilok on the cover of a Thai Magazine.

Winner Jessica has been to London (as part of the winners' spoils) and has been to many fashion shows, runways and guestings. Second runner up - Kate Ma of Taiwan had a baby (and might I say he is just a too cute bouncing baby boy) after the competition. And of course, I don't need to look too far since First Runner Up - Stephanie Retuya of the Philippines is a constant on billboards and magazine covers here! :) 

I love this Gundam/Anime/Japanese themed Magazine Cover of  First Season Runner Up Stephanie Retuya

    

While I'm still admiring and gawking over the accomplishment of last season's finalists; Season 2 was well on it's way and I must say that I loved how the producers really made it a point to bring new things to the show. 

I loved how when each of the contestant spoke to the camera on their thoughts, their country's flag was right behind them as a strong reminder of the country that they were also representing in the competition.  

The producers also came up with having the best photo for each photo shoot printed on panels of boards which slid 'open' every elimination - that was just so cool!

The first episode of Season 2 started out with sixteen girls and it seems like they were too many and you can't really remember any of them but pretty soon I started to have my favorites and some girls started to stand out after a while. 

An early favorite of ours is Nicole Lee of Singapore who albeit her introvert personality (she's a neat freak who likes to clean the house and is not interested in make up)  delivered really strong photos. Unfortunately she ran out of her magic and was soon eliminated. 

Singapore's Nicole Lee 

Compared to the first season, the girls from the second season had more girl drama in the model house (Courtesy of Janice Hermijanto of Indonesia) which of course always makes for an interesting show. 

Right before she was eliminated Marie Nakagawa from Japan revealed that one of the reasons she joined the competition was to prove that she can make it in the Modeling Industry despite of her being of African-American descent (as well as Japanese), through tears she revealed how it was hard to pursue modeling in Japan just because of her color and features. I really admired her for having that drive in her during the competition. 

Marie Nakagawa of Japan

You would think that in this 'seemingly' modern world, there are still instances where in we let, race, color and features define whether or not you can be successful in an industry. I want to believe that we have gone beyond race, culture and definition and that we strive for the best no matter what shape or form. Which is why I believe that Asia's Next Top Models is breaking barriers and redefining and challenging what has long been accepted or tolerated. 

Aspiring models in the show have said that 'modeling' is a profession frowned upon in their culture and that joining the show was their way of 'proving' themselves to their families'. 

Asian models with mixed lineages experienced being bullied as children just because they looked different.I admire how they were able to step up and step out of being bullied and were strong and determined enough to prove their tormentors otherwise.                 

The Fantastic Four - Resident Judges and Mentors: From Left to Right: Mike Rosenthal,Joey Mead-King,  Nadya Hutagalung and Adam Williams

Aside from a new base of operations, two new mentors made up the Fantastic Four of Judges of the series. Former model now celebrity and fashion photographer to the stars Mike Rosenthal and Movement Coach Adam Williams joined Head Judge Nadya Hutagalung and Model Mentor Joey Mead-King. 

I felt a bit sad, since Paul and I have developed a certain admiration and have been following Season 1 photographer and resident judge Todd Anthony Tyler. He even made a trip to the Philippines recently, unfortunately we were not able to meet him due to prior commitments. Hopefully next time we do! :) 

I had to literally stay away from Social Media (yes-it's possible) since I would only be able to catch the finale during it's encore, Thursday in the afternoon, since I had work Wednesday evening. 

During last year's finale I did mention in my blog post that I didn't have any particular favorite to win, that I would have been  happy if any one of the finalists (Jessica, Stephanie or Kate) won. But for this particular finale - pardon me if I do have a favorite because I did and I was rooting for anyone from Team Philippines to win. (Yup - I was just a tad bit being patriotic :P)

More than just a pretty face: Katarina was first critized for being 'just pretty' but she soon grew and blossomed in the competition. 

I wanted Katarina to win because she was a girl who dared to dream. She had no modeling experience whatsoever prior to joining the competition, aside from that she is also shorter and fuller than most models. A fact which I like since it dares to defy the traditional concept of a model - tall and skinny. I loved the fact that she was an underdog and that she defied the odds stacked up against her.     

The Levitating Princess- Jodilly in a gown by Alex Perry gives jump shot some style and glamour in this winning photo. 

Cycle 2 for Asia's Next Top Model! Auditions Announced

Time indeed does fly by so fast because now the search is on for the next batch of aspiring models to join Cycle 2 of Asia's Next Top Model. 

I loved the first season and remember watching it every Sunday night on Star World. I am a fan of it's US counter part, the original and Tyra Banks helmed America's Next Top Model but what made Asia's Next Top Model even more special for me was the fact that it was the beauty of my very own Asian lineage which that was featured in the glamorous photoshoots, the couture dresses and of course the runway. 

Just as a number of Asian countries are already melting pots of cultures the show was also a direct reflection of that with ravishing beauties from different countries and regions. 

While watching the first season I had girls that I loved and girls I loved to hate :P while I won't be naming names I did blog about the season finale. You can check that blog post here. 

Jessica Amornkuldilok the winner of the First Season of Asia's Next Top Model on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in Singapore.  

My fellow Pinay. Asia's Next Top Model Runner up Stephanie Retuya. 

I'm so excited to blog that Season 2 is well up on it's way as Social Media has been on fire with this news. Auditions are ongoing and like Jessica who did not let her age stop her and really worked hard for her dream to become a Top Model and Stephanie who took inspiration from her daughter reached further to make her dreams come true- you too stand the chance to be Asia's Next Top Model. 

Details on the auditions below! :) 

Auditions are now on! For Season 2 of Asia's Next Top Model! 

Requirements: 

1. Aged between 16-27 years old.
2. At least 170cm (5'7") tall. 
3. Speaks fluent English. 
4. Bursting with personality. 

Applicants should not be professional models. 

Click HERE to send your application! 

Don't forget to follow them on Twitter for more details: @AsiasNTM 

Series Spotlight: Finale: Asia's Next Top Model

The top 3. Battling it out for the title of Asia's Next Top Model. 

Congratulations to Jessica! 

I really think that she deserved it.

It's a great thing to know that there is such a thing as second chances. I was surprised when all this talk about age and numbers came out. Jessica was already 27 and apparently in the modeling world that's like being 40. 

So suddenly there was this big question of 'Is she too old to start now?' 

Just hearing the story of why she started out late already - just broke my heart. Being all alone and having to take care of herself, studying while modeling part time, I just wanted to run to the TV and give her a big hug. 

Thankfully there is some truth in the saying 'better late than never'.  

But of course not all is what it seemed.....

I was kind of bummed when I read online that Stephanie won, not because I didn't want her to win- because I did. I was bummed because I read about her 'supposed' winning even before the finale (as early as Friday). Posts on Instagram from fans already said that she won, there was even a source! (Why none other than Wikipedia-of course!) 

It wasn't like i peeked into my Christmas present under the Christmas tree- because I didn't know that this vital and essential piece of information (the ultimate-information) would be hidden amongst the seemingly and supposed innocent and 'spoil-free' comments-on Instagram none the less! 

So I kind of felt that the 'OMG She won!' moment was premutely-stolen from me. 

Lesson learned - don't trust anything you read on the internet without credible sources. 

It's never too late to dream. Congratulations to Jessica Amornkuldilok-the first ever Asia's Next Top Model.