Beauty queen Tegan Martin starved herself after told she was “too fat” for Australia’s Next Top Model

BEAUTY queen Tegan Martin claims she was told she was “too fat” for Australia’s Next Top Model, prompting the 24-year-old to starve herself.

JONATHON MORANin South Africa

less than 2 min read

February 1, 2017 - 12:00AM

I'm A Celeb: Female contestants gossip about Kris Smith

Confidential

Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.

BEAUTY queen Tegan Martin has revealed she was told she was “too fat” to model on TV, later starving herself to fit the fashion model ideal.

The former Miss Universe Australia said she suffered from “borderline eating disorder” after auditioning for Australia’s Next Top Model, where she was told she was “too commercial”.

Former Miss Universe Australia Tegan Martin claims she was told she was “too fat” to model. Picture: Nigel Wright

“I was [told I was] too fat for Next Top Model,” the 24-year-old said. “They made out like I was far too commercial.

“There is your high fashion and your commercial. I’ve always had curves, boobs and a bum and that is why when I lived in Paris I had to starve myself to work. It is disgraceful but lucky I am out of that patch now.”

Martin followed in the footsteps of fellow Newcastle fashion star and Top Model host Jennifer Hawkins, representing Australia at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami in 2014, placing sixth.

She later moved to Paris where she starved herself in order to become a model. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

Martin represented Australia at Miss Universe in 2014. Picture: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

She shocked her campmates on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here when she made her Top Model revelation.

Three-time Olympian Lisa Curry said it was “irresponsible” to say such a thing to a young girl, while singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte said it was important to be “satisfied with yourself”.

It has taken time but Martin said: “I love my bum now.”