EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW An ELLE of a role model The superstar is back to mentor young hopefuls on Australia’s Next Top Model, writes Shannon Molloy ou don’t get a three-decade modelling career like Elle Macpherson’s by starving yourself and surviving on a diet of cocaine and celery sticks. Those stereotypes of twig-thin beauties fasting for days before a shoot are less and less reflective of reality, the Australian Ysupermodel believes. But there’s no doubt the industry still places enormous pressure on girls — many of whom begin working in their early teens. “I remember myself at that age — I was like a sponge,” Macpherson reflects. It’s why her special guest appearance next week on Australia’s Next Top Model sees her swing into a familiar protective mentor mode. For years, she was the host and executive producer of the British equivalent of the reality television show. Macpherson admits she’s in a reflective mood “I’m quite considered and thoughtful lately. Perhaps it’s that her 18-year-old son Flynn about what I say. I think it’s important to is now older than she was when she set off on a connect with the girls by putting yourself in three-month trip to America after school, and Elle Macpherson their position.” stumbled into modelling. shows off the And as a role model, Macpherson says she Or maybe it’s that her initial steps into her beach-girl style feels a responsibility to deliver positive messages. fifties, the next phase of her life — a new era of that made her “Being healthy, getting an education, being growth and evolution — have felt a lot like name; and (above well-mannered, listening … That’s what we “going through puberty again”. right) contestant should be telling these girls — all girls really,” The Body, as she came to be known in the Kassidy Ure was she says. “It’s important to look after your body. industry, suddenly breaks into a rendition of overwhelmed to Nutrition is number one. You can’t starve Peter Allen’s famed anthem to his homeland. meet her idol on yourself; you shouldn’t try to be too thin. Strong “No matter how far or how wide I roam …” Australia’s Next is the new sexy. Those are the messages I try to Macpherson, 52, sings, beaming her famous Top Model. give them.” smile, “I still call Australia home.” Spending time with the current crop of She’s roamed far in her life, with stints living hopefuls reminded Macpherson of the high in London, New York and now Miami, plus calibre of established local models who continue travel to just about every major city on Earth. to do well on the world stage. Models like Shanina “Australia will always be home to me,” she Shaik, Jessica Gomes, Bambi Northwood-Blyth says. “I love being here and seeing my friends and Montana Cox are some of the latest “it” girls, and family. I miss so much. I usually race straight who, alongside superstars such as Miranda Kerr, to a corner shop to buy a Paddle Pop the Abbey Lee Kershaw and Jessica Hart are among moment I’m back. I like the banana ones but the most in-demand faces in the business. they don’t seem to make them any more. 06 September 24, 2016 TELE01Z01WE - V1 COVER An ELLE of a role model STORY SUCCESS STORIES Now in its tenth season, Australia’s Next Top Model has unearthed a long list of stunners. And they’ve gone on to big things, walking the world’s biggest runways, representing major brands and gracing the hottest fashion magazines. Here are six big-name stars of the industry to be discovered by the Foxtel reality series. 1. Gemma Sanderson, 2005 She won the first season and these days lives in London, where she’s modelling full-time. Sanderson has fronted campaigns for David Jones, Myer, ASOS and Macy’s and has appeared in magazines from Elle to Maxim. 2. Alice Burdeu, 2007 The red-headed stunner is arguably the most successful ANTM graduate, having worked for Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Alexander McQueen. She’s appeared in the world’s top fashion magazines including Elle UK, 5. Montana Cox, 2011 Vogue Australia and Marie Claire Italy. She returned in the ANTM debut episode this week to do a photo shoot challenge with the current hopefuls, taking a break from her busy international career. 3. Cassi Van Den Dungen, 2009 Cox has hit the runway for Christian Dior, Chanel, After a bumpy start to her career, which she put on Kenzo and Givenchy. She’s a glossy magazine regular hold to be with her boyfriend, Van Den Dungen has and has featured in Vogue Australia, Vogue Italia and become a major force in modelling. At home, she has Harper’s Bazaar. been the face of Portmans and a regular for Alex Perry. Abroad, she has walked for Miu Miu, Antonio Beradi and Calvin Klein. 6. Brittany Beattie, 2015 The truck driver has swapped bobcats for the catwalk after winning last season’s competition. As well as 4. Tahnee Atkinson, 2009 gracing the cover of Elle magazine, she has appeared This curvy stunner has continued to wow the in fashion spreads in Harper’s Bazaar and walked for modelling world. She has repped Maybelline New York Witchery and Alex Perry. Beattie has also fronted and is an ambassador for Bras N Things. Atkinson has campaigns for Ford and One Teaspoon. appeared in countless editorial spreads for Harper’s Bazaar. “And they seem smaller. They used to be sort of got up and went off to explore. I was showing up and seeing so many other girls. much bigger, I’m sure.” supposed to be gone for a few months but it They weren’t using me and I was standing in a All that said, Macpherson believes home is ended up being 35 years, so things didn’t go line all day, not doing anything. So I just left. where the heart is, and she’s equally at home in exactly to plan.” “My agent was furious and was like, ‘How more than one place. The plan was to come home to go to law could you do that?’ When we meet, her heart is firmly here in school but instead Macpherson landed a “I didn’t think they needed me; Sydney on a stunningly warm late winter’s modelling job while in New York in 1981. I walked off the job, and it was a big afternoon, after she’s spent the day shopping in job. I didn’t know what I was Paddington and filming in Randwick. doing.” Macpherson admits she’s in a reflective mood A few days on, when she arrives back in ver the next few years, she rocketed Naive she might have lately. Perhaps it’s that her 18-year-old son Flynn Miami and is reunited with husband Jeffrey to the top of the business and been but her striking beauty is now older than she was when she set off on a Soffer, son Flynn and her youngest Aurelius, 13, became one of the “Magnificent and fresh look three-month trip to America after school, and that will feel more homely than anywhere else. Seven”, the original crop of overshadowed those stumbled into modelling. But the devoted mum is bracing herself for a megastar models, alongside Linda early missteps. TV Or maybe it’s that her initial steps into her big change. OEvangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy commercials and high- fifties, the next phase of her life — a new era of “Flynn is moving from Miami to Boston (for Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen profile photo shoots saw her growth and evolution — have felt a lot like university) and it’s like, wow. I’m dreading it,” and Claudia Schiffer. rise to fame as the ultimate “going through puberty again”. Macpherson admits. Getting there proved to be quite a bumpy girl next door. The Body, as she came to be known in the “I can’t imagine what my mother felt when I journey, Macpherson recalls. Not everyone was industry, suddenly breaks into a rendition of left at 17. It was just normal though — kids just “Someone recently sent me footage of me convinced the 183cm Aussie Peter Allen’s famed anthem to his homeland. when I had just started out and it’s quite funny. could carve a serious career, “No matter how far or how wide I roam …” “I’ve got really dark hair and bangs, a thick however. Macpherson, 52, sings, beaming her famous accent … I was asked how I felt about finding “Someone quite well smile, “I still call Australia home.” success in America. I replied: ‘Oh, I don’t think known once told me that She’s roamed far in her life, with stints living Don’t try to I’m going to be a model. It’s just an experience.’ brown-eyed girls never got on in London, New York and now Miami, plus I was so dismissive of it all.” the cover of a magazine,” she travel to just about every major city on Earth. Macpherson’s casual approach to work says. “It really affected me at “Australia will always be home to me,” she be too thin. initially earned her a bit of a reputation for being the time. I didn’t even try says. “I love being here and seeing my friends unprofessional. In reality, she was more blase because of that.