Time for modeling competitions to stop placing financial strains on competing models!

I do Feel that these guys are just using models to make money off. I entered This competition because it seems to represent a great platform to kick start your modeling career. I entered the competition on a promotion of R180 (original price is R280 per entry) with the hope of being invited to a workshop worth R2000. I received my invite to the workshop two days before the workshop where other models received their invites like a week before the workshop. Top Model announced on their social media that they do stress everybody who got invited to attend the workshop because it would count towards being chosen as a semi Finalist.

Now how could this be any fare? I contacted them about the workshop twice through social media and still not received any info on the workshop, as mentioned I only received info two days before the workshop....This is unprofessional and Problematic.

I was relieved when I got added to a semi finalist group on whatsapp, just to find out they are giving all semi finalist only 1 week to sell a minimum of 3 tickets for the semi finalist showcase event at R200 per ticket (very expensive for a semi final event). I do understand what they are trying to do but they do not take into consideration that R600 is a lot of money for a model to gather in a week especially between the dates of 11 - 18 October, its already a harsh financial time in any household in South Africa at this time in any month.

the semi final event takes place on the 28 of October, we got informed on the 11th of October. This is also very problematic because universities and schools have exams in these times, i do understand that models entering should prepare to study in advanced but that would be possible if we knew dates for events from the time entering, but to me its apparent that these guys are only after the money from semi finalist to cover the event's productions costs....again R200 per ticket for only seeing the semi finalists....this is a bit outrages, where are your sponsors?

Its really sad because there is so many model who want to take advantage of this opportunity but Top Model SA's planning and organizing is not up to standard for a national and international competition. They should take into consideration the harsh economical time in our country. I would also propose that they inform all models entering from the start about financial obligations and event dates when entering the competition so that models know what they are committing to from the get go. On the whatsapp group models aren't really treated very warmly....So their PR and communication should really start looking into this.

I saddens me because I have chosen to withdraw from this event because from entering I have only experienced unprofessional organizing! There are models out there not all rolling in money an opportunities, this event should start catering to all models from all economical and cultural backgrounds and should start taking into consideration the environment in which they are hosting this event. They are after all an international brand representing South Africa.