Canada’s Next Top Model: Meaghan Waller (go back »)

Meaghan Waller is Canada’s Next Top Model!

The 19-year-old from Winnipeg, Man., was named the winner on the final episode Tuesday night, after an exciting runway showdown featuring hot celebrity designers The Blonds.

“Oh my goodness, honestly it has not even sunk in yet. I am just riding the high. I’m so absolutely ecstatic. I’m speechless,” said an exuberant Meaghan, immediately following her win. “The rush, the adrenaline pumping through my veins right now, it’s like every emotion is (buzzing).”

Meaghan beat out 22-year-old Linsay Willier from Edmonton, Alta., and thousands of other girls who auditioned across the country to take home the top title.

“I was standing there watching Jay (Manuel), looking right into his eyes and flipping back between me and Linsay, each photo shoot, each challenge, everything … and then they called my named and I was like, ‘Meaghan? Meaghan won?!’ Are you guys kidding?”

As the winner, model Meaghan will receive a contract with Elmer Olsen Model Management, a $100,000 beauty contract with P&G and a spread in FASHION Magazine.

Meaghan, who was in university studying interior design and architecture and working retail in Winnipeg before coming to CNTM, had no previous modeling experience.

“I was that shy awkward girl coming in here, totally unsure of myself. I am now more sure of myself, more confident than I’ve ever been in my life so coming out of this, it has changed me, but for the better,” said Meaghan.

Looking back on Meaghan’s rise to Canada’s Next Top Model

The only finalist to wear braces, Meaghan was told by the judges early on she needed to find a way to overcome that and work on her mouth movement. The judges would also frequently confuse her and fellow finalist Heather.

But by Week 3 and a powerful photo as a jilted bride in The Bahamas, Meaghan started to find her confidence. She received picture of the week in a crowd shot in Week 5 outshining competitor Heather and the following week in New York City Meaghan made the biggest impression on the designers during her go-sees. And even though she struggled with a photo shoot late in the competition for CoverGirl, Meaghan pulled out all the stops for the FASHION Magazine cover-try and final runway challenge.

At the final deliberations, host Jay Manuel said he barely recognized her when she stepped out onto the runway model and judge Jeanne Beker said Meaghan’s level of confidence was exhilarating.

“Aside from the fact that Meaghan is a truly stunning beautiful looking individual, she’s beautiful on the inside as well and Meaghan truly overcame her fear of speaking in front of live audiences, she stomped it out on the runway and her body of work as a model in this competition was outstanding in the judges’ eyes,” said Jay Manuel, following her win.

“She looks like a model, she acts like a model, she talks like a model, she’s just a model. It’s kind of undeniable,” said creative director Nolé Marin.

Judges say Meaghan was destined to become a model

“Meaghan will probably be the biggest star out of all these competitions because she really embodies what a top model is … I’m sure we’ll see her in Milan and Paris, New York, and I just really think this girl is going to launch into a mega superstar,” said Nolé Marin.

Judge Mike Ruiz, who watched Meaghan progress throughout the competition, and who had the honour of being the first to photograph her as Canada’s Next Top Model, said he thinks Meaghan finally believes she can be a top model.

“At that photo shoot, standing face to face with her after she was announced the winner, something always clicks. It’s one thing to be scrutinized and judged, but something clicks in your head when you’re given the prize,” he said.

But Mike said even though she struggled with her presence and charisma early on, Meaghan read as a model from Day 1.

“Regardless of the fact she won this competition, she was destined to be a model.”

Looking back at Meaghan’s body of work, judge Jeanne Beker says she always loved her.

“She has a romantic, innocent look. A very commercial look, yet I think she can go edgy. I think she has enough of an actress in her to be able to play different roles. With incredible hair and makeup, I think she can transform. I think she has a chameleon quality to her.”

But seeing Meaghan rock the runway for The Blonds clinched it for Jeanne that Meaghan should be Canada’s Next Top Model.

“She had the confidence to really stand there and make a statement, be proud and give me a kind of energy and kind of a theatrical performance to some degree and all that came through. I was really proud of her for that and really impressed,” said Jeanne.

Even though Yasmin Warsame commented during the final eliminations Meaghan was a bit stiff on the runway, she says something like a walk can be worked on.

“You should’ve seen me trying to walk in heels the first time,” Yasmin said with a laugh. “So I can say from experience a walk is fixable and I think she’ll do fantastic.

“It’s always very exciting when a new career starts and to nurture this from this small timid girl with braces who you almost didn’t notice her presence in the room … to how she’s grown, she’s blossomed, and now she’s got this confidence that is very evident.”

Jay believes it’s just the beginning for Meaghan.

“The competition was one thing but everything starts right now. She is ready to just catapult into superstardom and she’s going to follow a long line of supermodels that come from Canada, where else?” he said.

Source : model.ctv.ca

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