Outbitch, outlast, outplay.

Is there any such thing as bad publicity?

Across the series of Australia’s Next Top Model there have been press articles strategically spun on a Tuesday, including stories about bullying. It’s an old tactic that shows like The Footy Show, Big Brother and Australian Idol have used before.

For the most part, this site hasn’t participated in such dubious same day plugs. Tonight, however, is the final of Foxtel’s reality series and one of its finalists was frequently depicted in media articles as “the bully.”

Yesterday we once again had another article in which 16yo Demelza Reveley was criticised. Note the phrase “16yo” here.

Peter Rowan, the father of “bullied victim” Alamela Rowan, says he’s disgusted producers have allowed 16yo Demelza Reveley to be in the final. He also said producers had tried to prevent him and his daughter from speaking out.

“We are particularly concerned about the influence on teenagers and young people,” Mr Rowan told AAP. “It’s already been done to some extent, but there is potential if she wins the show for her to be held up as an icon and that justifies bullying.”

Mr Rowan said his daughter had planned to do a story on bullying with A Current Affair, but that it “was canned by the producers against our wishes”.

Ms Reveley herself featured on A Current Affair last week, playing down the incident.

“The story was done in a way that made Demelza look something of an angel,” he said. “Some of the judges from the show were minimising the bullying incident, saying it didn’t really matter and Demelza’s a fine person.

“That’s not the position myself, my daughter and a significant number of professionals take.” He may well be right but who are we to say?

Being reality TV it’s debatable whether Demelza’s actions were fairly depicted. And what were producers doing while cameramen were filming the so-called bullying? Hopefully they weren’t writing up press releases about her actions. Other questions, including how much publicity the show has generated from “criticising” her, and duty of care involving teenagers, should also be asked.

So as the finale looms tonight, will the show be seen to be editorialising by giving the title to 20yo Alexandra Girdwood instead? Can it afford to let Demelza win? Indeed, in a show that involves audience SMS voting can it control the outcome anyway?

As with most reality shows selective editing can be an enormous influence on public voting. The cut and thrust of Australia’s Next Top Model has always been about backstage tantrums, catfights and bitching. It sounds like Demelza gave them exactly what they wanted. For that reason alone she probably deserves the title.

Additional source: news.com.au