The first season of Next Top Model by Cătălin Botezatu premiered on Thursday February 3, 2011 at 20:20 on Antena 1. The competition was hosted by Romanian fashion designer Cătălin Botezatu, with a judging panel that included photographer Gabriel Hennessey, makeup artist Mirela Vescan, hairstylist Laurent Tourette, and model agent Liviu Ionescu.
To qualify, contestants had to be between 16 and 25 years old at the time of applying, stand at least 170 cm tall, and hold a valid Romanian or Moldovan passport. Filming for the season began in late 2010.
Twelve contestants were selected by the judges from a shortlist of 50 semifinalists, narrowed down from a pool of approximately 5,000 applicants. They lived together at the Monte Carlo Palace in Bucharest before traveling to various locations, including Egypt, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, and France, in the latter half of the competition.
The season crowned 16-year-old Emma Dumitrescu from Bucharest as the winner. Among her prizes was a modeling contract with MRA Models valued at €50,000. The series was renewed for a second season, which began airing in September 2011.
Cast Contestants (Ages stated are at start of contest) ContestantAgeHeightHometownFinishPlaceAnca Vasile18PloieștiEpisode 212Diana Donoiu18CraiovaEpisode 311Sara Măgurean 16ReșițaEpisode 410Adela Neagu21BucharestEpisode 59Lucia Popa23GiurgiuEpisode 68 (DQ)Inga Ojog197Otilia Pană21TimișoaraEpisode 7618BucharestEpisode 95Laura Dumitru19Vălenii de MunteEpisode 104Roxana Cristian25BacăuEpisode 113Mădălina Barbu 25BucharestEpisode 122Emma Dumitrescu16Bucharest1
Judges Cătălin Botezatu - Host Gabriel Hennessey - Photographer Laurent Tourette - Hair stylist Liviu Ionescu - MRA Models Mirela Vescan - Makeup artist
Episodes
Results OrderEpisode123456789101112 1RoxanaRoxana Otilia AlexandraLaura AlexandraRoxanaMădălina Mădălina EmmaMădălina Emma 2OtiliaMădălina LauraLauraAlexandra Mădălina LauraEmma Laura Mădălina EmmaMădălina 3IngaLaura AlexandraRoxanaMădălinaRoxana AlexandraRoxanaEmmaRoxanaRoxana 4Mădălina AlexandraMădălina EmmaOtilia Otilia MădălinaAlexandra Laura Roxana Laura 5Lucia Sara Inga OtiliaInga LauraEmma Alexandra 6Laura Emma AdelaMădălina Roxana EmmaOtilia 7EmmaInga Sara Lucia Lucia Inga 8AlexandraAdela EmmaAdela Emma 9 AncaLucia Roxana IngaAdela 10SaraDiana Lucia Sara 11Otilia Diana 12Anca
The contestant were scouted at a separate audition and later added to the cast. The contestant was eliminated. The contestant was disqualified from the competition. The contestant was part of a non-elimination bottom two. The contestant won the competition.
Post–Top Model careers
Anca Vasile signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and appeared on magazine editorials for Look! December 2011. She has walked in fashion shows for Laura Olteanu, Kinga Varga, Association 100% RO, Eveniment,... She retired from modeling in 2013. Sara Măgurean signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and appeared on magazine editorials of CSID July 2011. She retired from modeling in 2012. Adela Neagu signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and walked in fashion show of Eveniment. She retired from modeling in 2012. Inga Ojog has taken a couple of test shots and featured on Moldova în Progres, Revista Nunta February 2013, Aquarelle Moldova June 2015, Formula Krasoti Moldova June 2020,... She has walked in fashion shows for Liudmila Storojuc, Wanda's Dream, DiVero Atelier, Flavia Vieriu, Clara Rotescu, Amarena Secret, Cătălin Botezatu, Corina Hamureac, Istituto Cordella, Cristiana-Maria Purdescu, Ioana Cãlin,... Beside modeling, she currently runs the IO Models School, appeared in the movie Vay Başıma Gelenler and has competed on several beauty-pageant competitions like Miss Tourism Queen International 2011, Miss World League Of Beauty and Fashion 2012, Miss European Tourism 2012, Miss Summer International 2012, Miss European Tourism 2014, Miss Litoral 2014, Miss Model of the World 2015, Miss Kemer International 2016,... Otilia Pană has taken a couple of test shots and walked the runway of Mireasa Anului 2011. Beside modeling, she competed on the Miss Heaven October 2011 and won the competition. She retired from modeling in 2016. Alexandra Băbăscu signed with MRA Models, Avenue Models, Ican Model Management, Major Model Management in Milan, Time Model Agency in Zürich, Noubelles Model Placement in Kressbronn, Relatum Models in Zagreb, Model One in Hong Kong, Modelline Group in Beijing, Upfront Models & Looque Models in Singapore and Rep Models, Up Models & Art Room Model Management in Istanbul. She has taken a couple of test shots and appeared on magazine editorials for Femeia, Harper's Bazaar Jewelry China, Jute US, Playboy Fashion July–August 2012,... She has modeled for Impulse, Robinsons, Band of Creators, Simona Semen, Perk by Kate, Gnana Studio AW18, Yearcon China, Western Union,... and walked in fashion shows for Triumph, Alexandre de Paris, Cathias Edeline, Gujin-Carnival Lingerie,... Beside modeling, Băbăscu has appeared in the music videos "Breathe" by Alex Mica and currently a runway coach for Bold Models School. Laura Dumitru signed with MRA Models, Joy Model Management in Milan, Model One in Hong Kong and Fashion Model Management in Taipei. She has taken a couple of test shots and modeled for Gucci SS13, Elie Saab SS14, Fashion Sense, Queen Boutique, Isabel Queen, Dorin Negrau,... She appeared on magazine editorials for Revista Unica, Viva, Zip Hong Kong, 180 Mag Canada, Shopping Report May 2011, Joy October 2012, Marie Claire April 2013, Jessica Hong Kong March 2014,... and walked in fashion shows for Adrian Oianu, Dorin Negrau, Ermanno Scervino, Laura-Lo Spaccio SS12.13, Andra Cliţan, George Hojbota, Sonia Rykiel SS14, Amaya Arzuaga, Moiselle,... Beside modeling, Dumitru has appeared in the music videos "Dead man walking" by Smiley and "Las-o Jos" by Super Ed. She retired from modeling in 2018. Roxana Cristian signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and appeared on magazine editorials for Absolutely Fabulous, Tech In Style #5 May 2011,... She has walked the runway for Bianca Popp, Ramelle Atelier,... and modeled for Bianca Popp, Haine Ieftine Outlet & Second Hand, Amoreze Berlin, White Fashion, Ramelle Atelier Spring 2016, Coly Bacău, Timar Shoes, Bonsay Store Summer 2017, Codrina Dragomir,... She retired from modeling in 2020. Mădălina Barbu signed with MRA Models and Ice Model Management in Istanbul. She has taken a couple of test shots and walked in fashion shows for Laura Olteanu, Andrei Iordache, Association 100% RO, UNArte,... She appeared on magazine cover and editorials for Tabu June 2011, T3 Turkey November 2011, Joy December 2011, GQ December 2011, Femeia December 2011, Advantages August 2012,... Barbu retired from modeling in 2014. Emma Dumitrescu has collected her prizes and signed with MRA Models. She is also signed with Rue des Modèles, Ice Model Management in Istanbul, Union Models in London, Francina Models in Barcelona, One Management in New York City, MC2 Model Management in Miami, Major Model Management & Incoming Models in Milan. She appeared on magazine cover and editorials for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Beau Monde Bride, Bravo Girl!, Unica, Intimita Italia, Glamour June 2011, Tabu October 2011, Mireasa #1 January 2012, Harper's Bazaar Türkiye November 2012, Gett's Highlights July 2013, Steadfast October 2016, Fort Lauderdale USA April 2017,... and modeled for Balizza, L'Oréal, Eugenia Enciu, Rodi Mood SS12, Çift Geyik Karaca SS12, Andree Salon, Fan Courier, Miau by Clara Rotescu SS18, Rhea Costa, Vodafone, Pepsi, Nespresso,... Beside modeling, Dumitrescu appeared in the music videos "I'm Sorry" by Akcent ft. Sandra Năftănăilă. She retired from modeling in 2020 and has since become a real estate agent.
Controversy There was controversy surrounding the season's sixth episode due to a physical altercation between 23-year-old Lucia Popa and the show's eventual winner, 16-year-old Emma Dumitrescu. Dumitrescu, one of the season's two youngest contestants along with Sara Măgurean, often drew Popa’s ire over their perceived immaturity. Tensions escalated following that week's photo shoot and runway challenge, which Dumitrescu won. Back at the apartment, the two got into an argument that culminated in Popa throwing water in Dumitrescu’s face. The confrontation escalated into a physical struggle, with both contestants grappling and pulling each other's hair until the other contestants intervened to separate them. At the start of that week's judging, host Cătălin Botezatu reprimanded them for their behavior and disqualified Popa from the competition. Dumitrescu landed in the bottom two alongside fellow contestant Inga Ojog but was allowed to remain in the competition on the strength of her photos and potential.
Notes
References
External links Official website