Updated 11.31:

Maltese model Tiffany Pisani was crowned Britain’s Next Top Model by the British public tonight, in a spectacular final show broadcast live on Living TV.

Tiffany Pisani, 18, looked stunned as show host Elle Macpherson announced the winner chosen exclusively through public voting. Londoners, Alisha White and Joy McLaren, placed second and third respectively.

With tears in her eyes, an incredulous Tiffany thanked the viewers for voting for her, as well as the producers of the show and the judges: “Without you I wouldn’t have made it,” she said.

At the end of the show, Tiffany was whisked off for a series of radio and television interviews with Elle Macpherson. “I can’t believe it,” she kept saying, “I’m going to wake up from this dream.”

Tiffany glided all the way to an amazing win after the 13 weeks of the modelling competition came to an end tonight. She was originally selected from thousands of applicants, to form part of 25 girls who made it to BNTM Fashion Academy. From there she was among the 14 chosen to move into the BNTM house.

This was the sixth series of BNTM but the first time that the winner was chosen exclusively through public voting. Host Elle Macpherson said that she wanted the public to make the choice: “I can’t choose. I have three incredibly beautiful girls, and all very different. It’s up to the public.”

One of the show’s judges, international fashion designer Julien Macdonald said: “Tiffany you can ring my bell any day, you’re absolutely gorgeous. The Maltese girl has arrived!” Later on in the show he even referred to her as Miss Malta.

Show host Elle Macpherson said it was a privilege to witness Tiffany’s journey to the top, her versatility and her change in hairstyles and how she adapted to that.

Stylist and creative director Grace Woodward another member of the judging panel said: “As a model your job is to sell a product, an outfit. You want the women who look to say ‘I want to be that woman’. Tiffany manages to do that”. She also praised her work ethic: “This girl works like a machine.”

Clips of the finalists at home were shown during the show, with Tiffany showing off Malta's sea and sun, as well as her home in Attard.

Tiffany, who was given a "pixie" haircut on the show, will now be gracing the cover of the December issue of Company magazine, and will front an advertising campaign for Revlon. She will also be signed up with Models One International.

This is a dream come true for the 18-year-old from Attard who never believed she could even make it to the final. “I’ve always wanted this from a very young age.”

Carina Camilleri, Tiffany’s agent speaking from London after the show told The Times: “She has achieved her dream – and all the credit is hers.”

Tiffany, who was eligible to take part because her mother is British. Nonetheless a Maltese surname did not put off the British audience from voting for her. Maltese viewers were not able to cast their vote during last night’s final, as the voting was only open to residents of the UK and Ireland.

The Nationalist Party congratulated Tiffany, saying she had made a name for herself and for Malta. This, the party said, showed how young people with determination and commitment made their country proud.

The PL in a statement this morning (Tuesday) also congratulated the young model, saying her determination should be an example to other young people.

Interview:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100921/local/malta-s-modelling-epiphany-in-britain-s-next-top-model-final

Picture gallery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ-1m62TXrw&feature=player_embedded#!

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