Cycle one of Suomen huippumalli haussa premiered on Sunday, April 6, 2008, on the Finnish channel Nelonen. The last episode aired on June 8, 2008. The winner for cycle one, Ani Alitalo, was awarded a €25,000 contract with Paparazzi Model Management, the front cover of Finnish Cosmopolitan and became a spokesperson for Max Factor.
Episode summaries
The First Steps Of Models In Training (Mallikokelaiden Ensiaskeleet) Original airdate: April 6, 2008
The girls move into their new house and meet the judges. Saimi Hoyer gives a catwalk lesson and the girls' first challenge is a Vero Moda spring 2008 show. Tatjana, however, did not participate due to her mother's funeral. In the end, Mariem is sent home due to the judges feeling she was too intimidated by the competition.
Bottom two: Daniela & Mariem Eliminated: Mariem
Dolls Get Up To Speed (Nukkeneidit Vauhdissa) Original airdate: April 13, 2008
The girls had their makeovers. After the makeovers, the girls had a makeup challenge to create a casting look in ten minutes. Anu won the challenge and chose Darina and Maria to go shopping with her while the other girls cleaned the house. The girls then had a photoshoot at the Helsinki Opera House, where they portrayed different dolls amongst the opera house mannequins. Each girl was given only twenty minutes to pose, adding the emphasis on being quick to take on a role.
Challenge winner: Anu Jussila
Model Doll Ana Happy Ani Dead Anu Evil Armi Feminine & noble Daniela Noble Darina Manly, raunchy & sexy Manon Dramatic Mari Wooden Maria Fragile & refined Marje Masculine Tatjana Dramatic
At panel, Manon was praised for her courage in front of the camera despite struggling somewhat, and both Daniela and Mari were applauded for their creativity on set.
Bottom two: Armi & Darina Eliminated: Armi
Speed And Dangerous Situations (Vauhtia Ja Vaarallisia Tilanteita) Original airdate: April 20, 2008
The girls are cheered up by two handsome young personal trainers visiting the house. Each girl gets some time with the trainers to talk about nutrition and fitness, and many of the girls are revealed to have rather unhealthy and irregular lifestyles. Finnish model Leena Sarvi visits the girls, giving them advice on handling demanding companies and situations. The challenge for this episode was a photo shoot on a trampoline. Each girl was asked to jump on the trampoline for ten minutes while simultaneously posing for the camera. Winners Marje and Ana were treated to a beauty spa treatment.
Challenge winners: Marje & Ana
The photoshoot for the episode was sporty. The girls were asked to pose for a catalog while seated on a mountain bike suspended in the air by wires. At judging, Darina and Daniela gained the most positive feedback for their pictures. The bottom two were Mari and Manon. Manon was sent home after stating she didn't want to be a top model.
Bottom two: Mari & Manon Eliminated: Manon
Art And Creativity (Taidetta Ja Luovuutta) Original airdate: April 27, 2008
The girls get creative and make dresses out of garbage bags, aluminum foil and duct tape while getting advice from judge Saimi Hoyer on editorial poses. British photographer John Lander shoots for a Cosmopolitan fashion shoot with the theme of modern art and the artist's muse. With the fashion editor, Darina, Ani, and Maria are chosen as the best and get to continue with more photographs.
Bottom two: Daniela & Tatjana Eliminated: Daniela
Episode 5 Original airdate: May 4, 2008
The girls get a surprise visit and a runway walk lesson from special guest judge Miss J. Alexander. Jaana Saarinen teaches the girls about improvisational acting. Anne Kukkohovi directs a beauty shoot, shot by fellow judge Sakari Majantie, giving the models a specific characteristic to express. Ofer Amir photographs the girls for a Bonaqua ad campaign.
Model Characteristic Ana Arrogant Ani Sorrowful Anu Feminine & sensual Mari Aggressive Maria Domineering Marje Sensitive & poetic Darina Wild & crazy Tatjana Flirty
Bottom two: Marje & Tatjana Eliminated: Tatjana
Episode 6 Original airdate: May 11, 2008
The girls do a commercial for Magnum ice cream, directed by Miikka Lommi. After getting their picture portfolios at Paparazzi Modeling Agency, the girls go to Stockholm, Sweden for casting tests.
Bottom two: Mari & Marje Eliminated: Marje
Episode 7 Original airdate: May 18, 2008
The girls fly north to Ylläs in Lapland where they face numerous challenges dealing with perseverance. The first challenge is a photo shoot in a sauna on a ski lift in pairs, showing that each girl can work well with others.
Challenge winners: Ani Alitalo & Darina Shved
Next is the photo shoot for judging, posing as a Lapland witch in a reindeer skin bikini with a husky. The last challenge is a runway show on the snow wearing Lapland designs. Both Ana’s and Mari’s photos were a disappointment and because of Ana’s complaints about her fears and Mari’s inability to cooperate, both girls are sent home.
Bottom two: Ana & Mari Eliminated: Ana & Mari
Episode 8 Original airdate: May 25, 2008
The girls get a lesson in pole dancing. Darina wins the challenge and chooses Mari to share her prize: mountain bikes from Hobby Hall.
Challenge winner: Darina Shved
The girls are then sent to be in ex-model Kim Herold's first music video Social Butterfly. Next, the girls are photographed as 50s Hollywood film stars, where the goal is to portray attractiveness.
Bottom two: Anu Jussila & Darina Shved Eliminated: Anu Jussila
Episode 9 Original airdate: June 1, 2008
The top three head to Turkey where they meet Tommy Kilponen, from Sillä silmällä, the Finnish version of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy. They must go to a local bazaar to find for the first photo shoot on the beach. In the second photo shoot, directed by Anne Kukkohovi, the girls portrayed Greek goddesses. The last one was a swimsuit photo shoot. All photography was shot by Sakari Majantie.
Model Goddess Ani Athena Darina Hera Maria Aphrodite
Bottom two: Ani Alitalo & Maria Rytkönen Eliminated: Maria Rytkönen
Episode 10 Original airdate: June 8, 2008
Still in Turkey, Sakari Majantie photographs the two finalists at the hotel pool. The challenge is to show that they can work in an environment with background distractions. Back in Finland, Paparazzi Modelling Agency conducts interviews with the finalists. The final photo shoot with Max Factor helps determine the winner of the competition.
Final two: Ani Alitalo & Darina Shved Finland's Next Top Model: Ani Alitalo
Contestants (ages are stated at start of contest) ContestantAgeHeightHometown FinishPlaceMariem Sene20HelsinkiEpisode 112Armi Häikiö20EspooEpisode 211Manon Mariaud18JoutsenoEpisode 310Daniela Sorvo22EspooEpisode 49Tatjana Piper21HelsinkiEpisode 58Marje Lanz18RaisioEpisode 67Mari Kohonen19LappeenrantaEpisode 76–5Ana Bekteshi18VaasaAnu Jussila18ÄhtäriEpisode 84Maria Rytkönen18LahtiEpisode 93Darina Shved20HelsinkiEpisode 102Ani Alitalo18Helsinki1
Summaries
Call-out order OrderEpisodes12345678910 1TatjanaMariDanielaDarinaAnuDarinaDarinaMariaDarinaAni 2DarinaAniAniAnaMariAnuAnuAniAniDarina 3 AnaMariaDarinaMariaAniMariaMariaDarinaMaria 4 MariaMarjeAnaAnuAnaAniAniAnu 5ManonAnuTatjanaAniDarinaAna AnaMari 6AniAnaMarjeMariMariaMari 7MariManonMariaMarjeMarjeMarje 8MarjeTatjanaAnuTatjanaTatjana 9AnuDanielaMariDaniela 10ArmiDarinaManon 11DanielaArmi 12Mariem
The contestant was eliminated The contestant won the competition
Photo shoot guide Episode 1 photo shoot: Promo photos Episode 2 photo shoot: Helsinki opera house dolls Episode 3 photo shoot: Hobby Hall catalogue and expressive photos Episode 4 photo shoot: Cosmopolitan editorial fashion Episode 5 photo shoots: Emotion beauty shots; Bonaqua campaign Episode 6 commercial: Magnum ice cream Episode 7 photo shoot: Lapland witches Episode 8 photo shoot: B&W film noir Episode 9 photo shoots: Beach & body control; Greek goddesses; swimsuit photos Episode 10 photo shoots: Poolside photos; Max Factor
References
External links Nelonen homepage (in Finnish) Nelonen homepage (in English) Suomen huippumalli haussa homepage