Australia's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 - List of Episodes - Live Finale

Live Finale

Original airdate: 7 July 2009

Live from Luna Park, Sarah Murdoch hosted the finale of Australia's Next Top Model Cycle 5. The finale began with an introduction of the judging panel that consisted of Charlotte Dawson, Alex Perry, Jonathan Pease, Priscilla Leighton-Clare, Claudia Navone, Russell James and of course, Sarah Murdoch. Soon after, the 11 eliminated contestants were re-introduced and modelled on the catwalk while Jessica Mauboy performed her hit, Burn.

Sarah then introduced the girls, including the final 2, as they all performed on the runway wearing designer clothes from The Corner Shop. After the girls spilled the beans on many memorable moments from the series, Sarah announced that Clare had won Australia's Favourite Model, winning her $5,000 thanks to Impulse.

After Tahnee and Cassi were interviewed, the voting lines closed and the judges were ready to vote after viewing the girls' portfolios, but not after a quick good luck message from the one and only Brüno. Before the judges votes were conducted, Tahnee and Cassi were surprised when both of their mothers joined them on stage to give them support during the judging. Jonathan Pease begun the voting and stated that he was looking for 'the whole package' and his vote went to Tahnee while Claudie Navone and Russell James voted for Cassi due to her strong look and her ability to take stunning photographs. After a commercial break, the judging votes continued with Sarah giving her vote to Tahnee as she felt that Cassi was not ready to model while Tahnee was ready to perform. Priscilla Leighton-Clarke voted for Cassi yet still had concern over whether she was ready to model. In a shock vote, Charlotte Dawson, who has supported Cassi throughout the entire competition, gave her vote to Tahnee as she was concerned that Cassi wouldn't have the drive to model and just return to her old life and Alex Perry voted for Cassi due to her good looks and her ability to transform in front of the camera. With only one vote between Tahnee and Cassi, it was up to the public to decide who would be Australia's Next Top Model. Unfortunately, throughout the judges deliberation, Tahnee had a nose bleed which brought light to a serious part of the show.

After all of the votes were tallied, Sarah revealed that Tahnee Atkinson had won Australia's Next Top Model, beating Cassi Van Den Dungen. Tahnee made becoming the first winner of Australia's Next Top Model hails from Western Australia.

• Final Two: Cassi Van Den Dungen & Tahnee Atkinson
• Australia's Next Top Model: Tahnee Atkinson
• Australia's Favorite Model: Clare Venema
• Special guests: Jessica Mauboy, Russell James, Claudia Navone, Priscilla Leighton-Clarke, Ruby Rose, Brüno, Jane Atkinson (Tahnee's mum), Maree Rochester (Cassi's mum)