Mexico's Next Top Model was a Mexican reality television series that aired on Sony Entertainment Television from October 1, 2009, to December 15, 2014. The show, hosted by Mexican fashion model Elsa Benitez, and later Jaydy Michel, was based on Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model (2003–2018) and aimed to discover Mexico's next top fashion model.[1][2][3]
Over the course of five seasons, contestants competed for an array of prizes including modeling and advertisement contracts, while taking part in a number of photo shoots and other fashion related challenges. It was the second adaptation of Top Model in Latin America after Brazil's Next Top Model, which aired three seasons from 2007 to 2009, and was hosted by model Fernanda Motta.[4]
The series closely followed the format of America's Next Top Model, where each episode featured a challenge focused on an important aspect of modeling, designed to help the contestants improve for the weekly photo shoot. These challenges were typically judged by a variety of special guests, including actors and relevant figures from the fashion industry. Following the challenge segment, the contestants participated in a photo shoot, with their overall performance being evaluated by the show's judges, along with a guest judge unique to each episode.
After the individual evaluations, the judges would deliberate privately to decide which model(s) to eliminate. Once the decision was made, the models would return to the room, where the host would call out the names of the contestants, from best to worst, who had advanced to the next week of the competition, handing them a copy of their best photo from the shoot. The last two contestants, whose names had not been called, would receive feedback on why they were in the bottom two, with one or more being eliminated.
In season five, creative director and former judge Antonio Gonzalez de Cosio was granted the opportunity to save one contestant from elimination at any point in the competition. He ultimately chose to save 21 year-old Roxana Reyes during the season's tenth episode, though she wound up being eliminated again just one episode later.
The following have served as judges or mentors within the show, appearing as either a head judge, main judge or a recurring judge:
Jaydy Michel, Mexican model and actress. She has walked for designers such as Torretta, Javier Larrainzar, and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and appeared on the covers of Elle, Marie Claire, Vogue, and GQ. She has also worked on campaigns for Tous, Wella, Gillette, and Platino Lingerie.
Glenda Reyna, former model, public relations specialist, and artist manager, led Shock Modeling management, which represented Mariana Bayón and Tracy Reuss, winners of the first two seasons. In the 1970s, she modeled for designers such as Carlo y Keko de Mikchelis and Ricardo Santana. She worked with photographers like Cristian Benson and appeared in Vogue, Kena, and Vértigo. She collaborated with Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs in Mexico.
Antonio González de Cosio, fashion director, editor, stylist, and public relations specialist, has worked as a contributor for Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Esquire. He was a television commentator on Hacer y Deshacer and helped produce fashion shows for Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
Allan Fís, professional photographer, worked in Paris before becoming a photo editor for Elle magazine. His work has appeared in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Gatopardo.
Óscar Madrazo, director of Contempo Internacional Model Management, led one of the top modeling agencies in Latin America. He began modeling at age 9 and appeared in campaigns for El Palacio de Hierro, Nissan, and Coca-Cola. He has worked with Tyra Banks, Coco Rocha, Cindy Crawford, and Karolina Kurkova.
Elsa Benítez, Mexican top model, has made appearances in Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Harper's Bazaar. She has walked for Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Christian Dior, and Oscar de la Renta and starred in campaigns for CoverGirl, Nine West, and J.Crew. She was one of the few Latin American models to walk Haute Couture runways.[5][6][7]
Jo Lance, stylist and creative director, known for innovative concepts. His work has appeared in television, theater, and campaigns such as Avon.
