Germany’s Next Top Model is simply cult. Regardless of whether you love the show or hate it, one thing cannot be denied: the controversial model contest has been one of the most successful formats on German TV since 2006. Despite the success, there is always harsh criticism from former participants. A former candidate reveals how bad her time with Heidi Klum really was.
Summer house icon Tessa Bergmeier: At GNTM she was considered a bitch
Tessa Bergmeier (35) is one of the most famous GNTM participants ever. The tall brunette was there in the fourth season (2009) and At just 19 years old, she was considered a cheeky bitch. She is remembered for one scene in particular: On the catwalk, Tessa gave the middle finger because a set photographer took photos of her crying. In the show, however, it was presented as if the gesture had been made by the jury. Tessa was immediately kicked off the show; Defending yourself against attacks doesn’t seem to be allowed on reality TV.
The model then continued her success on TV. No matter if The Summer House of the Stars (2024), I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here! (2023) or Battle of the Reality Stars (2022): Tessa Bergmeier has been there everywhere. But one show was particularly bad: Germany’s Next Top Model by Heidi Klum.
“She’s ice cold”: GNTM Tessa makes serious allegations against Heidi Klum
Tessa was only on the show for four episodes, but the time is said to have left scars. When she took part in the jungle camp in 2023, she opened up about her time at GNTM. The production is said to have done everything to portray Tessa as an arrogant bitch: “They fooled me. […] They turned me into a monster.” At the time, she couldn’t have imagined that she would be cast as the villain of the season, as she revealed to CTRL_F: “I was just a naive young girl who parroted every sentence.”
Tessa doesn’t have anything good to say about model mom Heidi Klum in particular. She criticized that Heidi’s cheerful nature was totally fake. “She’s ice cold. She has no empathy”said Bergmeier. She criticizes Heidi for not being able to cope with being outshone by others: “You can’t shine more than them.”
“The more ratings, the more money”: At GNTM, the focus is on drama
The show concept is designed to showcase young women, and Heidi Klum should make a big contribution to this. “She laughs at little girls.”Tessa’s accusation. For her, this is a very clear case “abuse of power”. Be Heidi “a person who can torment others without any sense of guilt.”
The reality star doesn’t seem alone with this impression. In recent years, numerous allegations have been made by former participants. Scandal noodle Natalie Volk (27) revealed in an Instagram story that Heidi seemed much nicer on TV than in real life: “Heidi is a very fake person.” Ex-juror Peyman Amin (53) admitted to STRG_F that there was a system behind the staged drama:
As long as you rely on this catfight and this exposure of the models, that ensures ratings. The more quota, the more coal.
Despite all the criticism, Heidi’s success seems unbroken: ProSieben recently announced that it had extended the contract with the model mom for many years.
Germany’s Next Top Model 2025: When does the 20th season start?
The fact that a new season of GNTM is coming is as certain as Amen in church. So far, the station has remained tight-lipped about a specific start date. But according to various rumors, it could in February 2025 be ready. Filming for the 20th season began in October 2024.