Maureen Wroblewitz wins Asia's Next Top Model

THE fifth season of reality competition Asia's Next Top Model (AsNTM), an original production by Fox Networks Group Asia for popular general entertainment channel StarWorld, has culminated with a gripping Grand Finale episode.
In a series first, the record-breaking cycle saw Asia's Next Top Model history being made, with the crowning of the first ever winner from the Philippines.
Over the course of the season, the original 14 contestants from seven countries across Asia were whittled down to just three finalists: Shikin Gomez of Malaysia, Minh Tu Nguyen of Vietnam, and Maureen Wroblewitz of the Philippines. All three models put their abilities to the test with a final photo shoot and Grand Finale couture runway show.
The girls' final weekly challenge involved an exciting final shoot to make their friends, family and countries proud. Dressed in looks inspired by their country's traditional costume, the girls were asked to break with convention to produce avant-garde style final photos. 


Later, the National Gallery of Singapore was transformed for the evening as family, friends and supporters arrived to see the girls walk in couture gowns, at a majestic 'Renaissance Muse' catwalk. Empowered by the company of the past contestants, the top three strode towards the climax of AsNTM5: the final judging panel.


Host Cindy Bishop, creative director Yu Tsai, special guest Judge Pia Wurtzbach, guest judge Adele Chan (Editor-in-Chief of Nylon Singapore) and guest judge Ruby Adler (Storm Model Management, London) chaired the final nerve-wrecking panel session.
Bishop commented: "It's a proud moment when you can round off an outstanding series by awarding the youngest contestant in the competition with the title of Asia's Next Top Model Season 5. Always expect the unexpected - with her quiet determination, Maureen put all that she had learned to good use to make her country, family, friends and the judges exceptionally proud. She deserved to be crowned the winner of Asia's Next Top Model Season 5."
Elated winner Wroblewitz said: "Winning Asia's Next Top Model is a dream that I never want to wake up from. It's hard to describe how happy I am to have won this for my country. I'm grateful for the support and judges' encouragement every step of the way and couldn't have asked for a better start to my career as a model."
Maureen will be driving home a brand new Subaru Impreza. She will also feature in a fashion spread and on the cover of Nylon Singapore, and will soon be heading to Europe where she will be given the opportunity to be represented by internationally renowned Storm Model Management.
Malaysian representative Shikin Gomez walked away as the face of Zalora, and became the newest Subaru ambassador for the region. The 25-year-old model from Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor was a strong contender, having won two weekly shoots and numerous challenges throughout the season.
"I am very happy for Maureen! She has shown tremendous growth in the competition and is so deserving of the win. The entire experience has been such a wonderful journey and I look forward to more opportunities as I continue my career in modelling," she said.
This season's Top 14 contestant lineup also featured another Malaysian model, 22-year-old Alicia Amin, who has recently started modelling in Berlin, Germany.
Catch Asia's Next Top Model Season 5 finale repeat on Sunday, July 2 at 10pm on StarWorld (Astro Channel 711 and HD 722).
For exclusive behind-the-scenes news, log on to www.asntm.com, or follow AsNTM on www.fb.com/AsNTMOfficial, Twitter and Instagram @asntm, or #AsNTM #AsNTM5.