The morning after proved to be a surreal experience for Maltese girl Tiffany Pisani as the reality of her being crowned Britain’s Next Top Model on Monday night still hadn’t sunk in.
“I am so overwhelmed,” she said of her victory in the popular reality programme on Living TV. “I really didn’t think I would win. I’m honestly shocked. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
She said she was left utterly speechless when she heard her name being called out as the winner and for a minute she thought it was just a rehearsal. “For the past week we had been rehearsing every possible outcome and for a second, I just thought, this can’t be the real thing.”
There was a “good vibe” among the other contestants and runner-up Alisha White and third placed Joy McLaren were absolutely thrilled for her, she said.
This was the sixth series of BNTM but the first time that the winner was chosen exclusively through public voting and during a live programme.
Right after the show she was whisked away for interviews and a photo-shoot with supermodel and BNTM host Elle Macpherson. Yesterday, her day started at 6 a.m. with an interview on BBC Breakfast and from then on it was a series of interviews and meetings straight through till late afternoon. “It’s hectic but, oh, I’m really happy. This is my dream come true.”
Her family, she added, were simply over the moon. When asked if she thought her boyfriend was the most envied man in Malta she gave a ringing laugh: “They’re all so supportive. I’m so lucky.”
Tiffany was elevated from a wannabe model to the real thing overnight. Her prize as the Top Model includes a one-year modelling contract with Models 1, Europe’s biggest modelling ag-ency, a six-page fashion editorial spread and the front cover of the December issue of Company fashion magazine as well as a cosmetics contract with Revlon.
Her future in modelling looks bright but is this a case of a year in the limelight and then she’ll gradually fade away? “The modelling contract with Models 1 is for one year but all the girls who won BNTM over these past six years are still working with the company – they’ve all had their contracts renewed. The winner of the first BNTM, who’s now 28, has just taken part in a big campaign for maternity wear for Marks and Spencer,” said Tiffany.
Carina Camilleri, Tiffany’s agent in Malta, who scouted Tiffany five years ago as she was walking out of the dentist’s, said she was inundated with requests: “I got hundreds of e-mails requesting Tiffany to head their campaign in Malta and even here in the UK.”
Ms Camilleri confirmed that Models.com.mt will still be the subsidiary agents for Tiffany in Malta, “Obviously Models 1 will be the mother agency.” She also had the opportunity to speak to Ms Macpherson at length after the BNTM final: “Elle was delighted with the result and said that Tiffany won the contest because she’s an all rounder and offered the whole package.”
Ms Camilleri also confirmed that another Maltese model, Sophia Mifsud, had been shortlisted with the final 200 to take part in next year’s BNTM.