Australia’s Next Top Model 2010 Names Wrong Winner on Live TV

Much like America’s Next Top Model, Australia’s Next Top Model searches far and wide to find the country’s aspiring models. Contestants compete for the title through weeks of competition, and after narrowing the field each week a winner is named.

Unlike the American version, the Australia finale is filmed live. Typically that wouldn’t post much of an issue (besides the typical live TV jitters). The TV show went off without a hitch until the winner was announced. The host of the show, Sarah Murdoch, announced the wrong name.

Kelsey Martinovich was initially announced the winner and celebrated by strutting down the runway to fireworks. Once the excitement subsided and thought-to-be runner up Amanda Ware smiled politely, delivering her thank-yous, the host realized the error.

In front of a crowd of 2,000 people at Sydney’s Luna Park, Murdoch explained, “Oh my God, I don’t know what to say right now…I’m feeling a bit sick about this. I’m so sorry about this, oh my God. I don’t know what to say. This is a complete accident, I’m so sorry. It’s Amanda… it was read to me wrong.”

The show is awarding the Kelsey $25,000 as an apology for the error. Amanda, the real winner, will receive $20,000, a spread in Harper’s Bazaar , a modeling contract, a $25,000 Levi’s campaign, a car, and a trip to New York.

Host Sarah Murdoch is daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch and wife to News Corp. drop-out Lachlan Murdoch. As a fashion model she appeared in campaigns for L’Oréal, Revlon, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent and Estée Lauder, as well as the 1999 and 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues. Her magazine covers includes Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, GQ and Harper’s Bazaarin countries like Australia, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.