Despite direct competition from the RTL jungle camp, Heidi Klum’s model casting show "Germany’s Next Topmodel" ("GNTM") at the start of the season, the best ratings for 13 years. In the most important target group of private broadcasters, among 14 to 49 year olds, 20.4 percent tuned in on Thursday evening. The last time the show achieved such a good value was in 2009. However, if you look at the total audience, slightly fewer people sat in front of the television this time: 2.06 million (7.2 percent) watched the start of the 17th season. A year ago it was 2.33 million.
Under the motto of diversity, this year there are not only candidates who weigh more than the average model or have scars on their bodies. Women of advanced age are now also taking part. For this season, Klum welcomed two gray-haired, 66 and 68-year-old candidates on the red carpet. Klum offensive:
"We’re all not girls anymore. Should I just say models?" However, the model mom failed after just a few minutes at her self-imposed goal: "This is difficult for me"she stated after breaking her resolution and off again "girl"
(phonetically "Meeeeedcheen") and did not speak models. (dpa)