The second season of Next Top Model by Cătălin Botezatu premiered on 15 September 20, 2011, at 20:20 on Antena 1. Most of the judging panel from the previous season returned, with the exception of photographer Gabriel Hennessey. This season introduced a few notable changes: the prize package, a contract with MRA Models, increased in value from €50,000 to €70,000, and the minimum age requirement was lowered from 16 to 14, though all other participation criteria remained the same.
Applicants had to be at least 170 cm tall, between 14 and 25 years old at the time of applying, and possess a valid Romanian or Moldovan passport. Castings began on 5 May 2011 in Ploiești at the Winmarkt Grand Center and continued across more than 30 cities before concluding in Bucharest on 12 June. Out of over 8,000 applicants, only 100 advanced to the semifinal round.
Unlike the previous season, where 12 finalists were chosen, this season expanded the number to 16. Filming took place primarily in Romania throughout the summer and fall, with contestants traveling to various locations in Iceland, Turkey, and Tunisia.
The season crowned 14-year-old Laura Giurcanu from Bucharest as the winner, making her both the youngest contestant and the youngest winner in the show's history.
Cast Contestants (Ages stated are at start of contest)
ContestantAgeHeightHometownFinishPlaceMiruna Iovan16BucharestEpisode 216–15Iasmina Balamat18SeverinMădălina Goian16BacăuEpisode 314Cristina Chiriac17TecuciEpisode 413Denisa Hîncu19CraiovaEpisode 512Gina Tănasie20Sfântu GheorgheEpisode 611Simona Din19Râmnicu Vâlcea Episode 810–9Aida Becheanu18TârgovişteFlori Ciupu20BucharestEpisode 98Iulia Micloș21OneștiEpisode 107Diana Trofin16BacăuEpisode 116Irina Batrac17MangaliaEpisode 125Karin Arz19SibiuEpisode 144Sandra Ciubotariu17BacăuEpisode 153Iuliana Mînza21Chișinău, Moldova2Laura Giurcanu14Bucharest1
Judges Cătălin Botezatu - Host Laurent Tourette - Hair stylist Liviu Ionescu - MRA Models Mirela Vescan - Makeup artist
Episodes
Results OrderEpisode1234567891011121314151Aida Aida Gina Laura IrinaIrina KarinSandraKarin KarinKarin Karin Iuliana Laura Laura 2Flori Laura Diana Iulia Laura SimonaIrinaKarin IulianaLaura Laura Sandra Sandra Iuliana Iuliana3Karin Iuliana Karin Diana Aida KarinLauraLauraLaura Sandra Irina Laura KarinLauraSandra Sandra4Irina Denisa AidaIuliana Karin Laura AidaIrinaIrinaIrina Sandra Iuliana Karin 5Mădălina Irina Laura Denisa Sandra Aida SandraIulianaSandra Diana Iuliana Irina 6Miruna Simona Simona GinaDiana Diana IulianaDiana DianaIuliana Diana 7Iasmina Diana Sandra Karin Simona Flori DianaFloriIulia Iulia 8Iulia Cristina Irina Aida Iulia Sandra FloriIuliaSimonaIuliaFlori 9Simona Iulia Cristina Flori Flori IulianaAidaSimona10Denisa Karin Iulia Sandra Iuliana Iulia 11Diana Mădălina Denisa Simona Gina Gina 12Gina Gina IulianaIrina Denisa 13Cristina Sandra Flori Cristina 14Laura Flori Mădălina 15Iuliana IasminaMiruna 16
The contestant was a separate addition later added to the cast. The contestant was eliminated. The contestant was part of a non-elimination. The contestant won the competition.
Post–Top Model careers
Iasmina Balamat has taken a couple of test shots and modeled for Alexandra Calafeteanu. She retired from modeling in 2017. Miruna Iovan signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and walked the runway for Romanitza Fashion House. She has modeled for Roxana Porumbacu, Adrian Oianu, Mihaela Drafta, Ruslan Tatyanin, Henna Journey,... and appeared on magazine editorials for All Hollow #4 Summer 2013, Glamour December 2013, După Afaceri Premium ZF April 2014,... Iovan retired from modeling in 2019. Cristina Chiriac signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots until retired from modeling in 2016. Gina Tănasie has taken a couple of test shots, modeled for Enjoy Prana by Diana, Etiquette Boutique,... and walked the runway for Iulia Manciulea, Sarah Jessy Jones,... She retired from modeling in 2017. Aida Becheanu signed with MRA Models, Mandaria Models, GFI Models in Shenzhen, Heroes Model Management in New York City, Special Management in Milan, Kult Models in Hamburg, Scoop Models in Copenhagen, Jill Models Management in Brussels, Sight Management Studio in Barcelona, Milk Management in London and Silent Models in Paris. She has walked the runway of Zeynep Tosun FW14, Matthew Miller SS15, Osman SS16, Diesel Black Gold SS16, Thomas Tait SS16, Edun SS16, Tory Burch SS16, Wanda Nylon SS16, Rodarte FW16, Ashley Williams FW16, Yigal Azrouel FW16, Simon Miller SS17, Christopher Kane SS20,... She has appeared on many magazine cover and editorials including Elle March 2012, Glamour December 2012, Marie Claire Thailand January 2013, Harper's Bazaar China July 2015, L'Officiel México May 2016, Marie Claire France April 2017, Vogue Italia March 2018, Vogue China April 2019, Marie Claire Netherlands July 2019, Vogue Ukraine September 2019, Revue FW19, Numéro Tokyo June 2020, Vogue Portugal July 2021,... and also modeled for Topshop, Hugo Boss, Christopher Kane, MAC Cosmetics, Charles & Keith, Stella McCartney, Christopher John Rogers, Urban Outfitters, Hillier Bartley, Charlie May, Les Girls Les Boys, DSM Jewellery, Justine Clenquet, Barbara Bui Pre-Fall 2017, Pringle of Scotland SS19, Vivienne Westwood AW20, Carmen March SS20, Fleet Ilya,... Simona Din signed with MRA Models, Ice Model Management in Istanbul, M&A Model Agency & Chicface Models in Shenzhen. She has taken a couple of test shots and walked the runway of Kinga Varga, Irina Schrotter, Stephan Pelger, Lena Criveanu, Cătălin Botezatu,... She has appeared on magazine editorials for Make-Up, Luxury November 2011, The One December 2011, Unica December 2011, Tabu March 2012, Marie Claire May 2012, Femeia March 2013, Glamour February 2014, iMute #5 February 2014, Cosmopolitan October 2014, Beau Monde January 2016, Elle September 2019,... and modeled for Bone Jewellery, Cezarina Boghinciuc Jewelry, India Bijoux, Fashion Days, Tex Romania Fall 2014, Lee Cooper SS16, Modagram Turkey, Ciuc Radler, Pepsi, Honda Livo,... Iulia Micloș signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and featured in magazine editorials for CSID January 2012, Luxury January 2012,... She has modeled for Tina R SS12, Azzara Fashion House, Ma Dame Stil,... and walked the runway of Mengotti, Dorin Negrau AW12,... Micloș retired from modeling in 2014. Diana Trofin signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and modeled for Simona Semen SS14. She retired from modeling in 2014. Irina Batrac signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and modeled for Zonia RO, Carmen Emanuela Popa SS14, Meli Melo Paris Pre-Spring 2014, Corina Tudor Makeup, Karine Reptile Bracelet,... She has appeared in magazine cover and editorials for British Vogue December 2013, Scorpio Jin US #9 January 2017, Estela US January 2017, Elléments US March 2017, Trend Privé US March 2017, Switch Italia April 2017, Stell Australia May 2017, One Coast Thailand May–June 2017,... Batrac retired from modeling in 2020. Karin Arz signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and modeled for L'Oreal, Avon, Atelier Eugenia Enciu, Raluca Mihalceanu, Elena Perseil, Ersa Atelier, Meli Melo Paris, Maritimo Shopping Center, Beauty District Salon, Fashion Days, Matrix Essentials, Simona Semen,... She has appeared on magazine cover and editorials for Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Cockaigne, Beau Monde Mirese, Hair Style, Sun Time #4 Winter 2011, Tabu February 2012, Look! March 2012, The One March 2012, Harper's Bazaar December 2012, Unica Beauty March 2013, Joy September 2013, Make-Up #4 June 2013, Marie Claire November 2013, Unica December 2014, Jute US #21 May 2015,... Arz retired from modeling in 2016. Sandra Ciubotariu signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and appeared on magazine editorials for CSID, Tabu,... She has walked the runway of Cătălin Botezatu Fall 2012, Sushma Patel, Elie Esper,... and modeled for Sun Plaza Mall, Lidl, Resident Evil: Revelations, Iiana, Manurí Store, BeAware Mask,... Ciubotariu retired from modeling in 2021. Iuliana Mînza signed with MRA Models. She has taken a couple of test shots and walked the runway of Escada, Mihai Albu, Kinga Varga,... She retired from modeling in 2014. Laura Giurcanu has collected her prizes and signed with MRA Models. She is also signed with Awesome Models in Shenzhen, MP Management in Paris and Major Model Management in New York City, Milan & Paris. She has walked the runway of Mirela Diaconu, Lashez, Daniela Gregis FW12,... and modeled for About You, Silvia Serban, Rhea Costa, Sincolors by Andreea, PNK Casual, Diva Charms, Carmen Emanuela Popa SS13, Mirela Stelea SS13, Venera Arapu FW14.15, Cristallini, Ümit Ünal Design, Malvensky Paris, Ena Stan Fashion, Lana Dumitru, Retro Future Babe, Penti Turkey, Coca-Cola,... Giurcanu has appeared on magazine cover and editorials for Elle, Unica, Bravo Girl! #26 December 2011, Marie Claire April 2012, Noblesse Korea May 2012, Glamour June 2012, 1V1Y Turkey July 2012, Vogue Türkiye September 2012, Grazia Italia October 2012, Beau Monde November 2012, iMute #2 February 2013, Cosmopolitan April 2013, British Vogue April 2013, Tatler UK May 2013, Joy June 2013, The One August 2013, Miasto Kobiet Poland #1 January 2014, Șapte Seri February 2018, Șapte Seri Trends Summer 2019,... Beside modeling, she is also a contestant on Survivor România 2022 and appeared in several music videos such as "Twenty Eight" by The Weeknd, "Fanele" by Liviu Teodorescu & Dorian Popa,...
Controversy Controversy arose surrounding 17-year-old contestant Irina Batrac early in the competition. The conflict began in the fourth episode when several contestants expressed concerns about Batrac’s perceived inconsiderate attitude. This led to a heated exchange involving 21-year-old Iuliana Mînza after a runway challenge, which required host Cătălin Botezatu to intervene. The situation escalated in episode 6 when Batrac became visibly distressed after Mînza and fellow contestant Flori Ciupu played pranks on her, including pouring chocolate sauce into her hair while she was asleep, tampering with her toothbrush by covering it in superglue, and replacing her makeup remover with shampoo. When Botezatu addressed the contestants regarding the incident, Mînza and Ciupu were seen suppressing laughter. Despite this, neither Botezatu nor the production staff took further action to assist Batrac. Tensions eventually subsided, but Batrac was eliminated several weeks later after landing in the bottom two alongside Mînza, who had at that point been in the bottom two for three consecutive weeks. Mînza ultimately advanced to the finale, finishing as the runner-up.
Notes
References
External links Official website Laura Giurcanu at The Fashion Model Directory Aida Becheanu at The Fashion Model Directory Laura Giurcanu at Models.com Aida Becheanu at Models.com