Mega Model (often abbreviated as Image Mega Model) is a Nepalese reality television show in which a number of young Nepalese women compete against each other to win for the title of Mega Model and an opportunity to start their career in the modeling industry. The premiere is set to air on September 25, 2010 and the season finale in which the top 6 compete against each other on a stage is coming live on Image Channel.
The show's format was originally created by Indian's reality modelling show Get Gorgeous.
Mega Model has had 2 Model hosts to date. For Season 1, Pallavi Dhakal and currently, for Mega Model Season 2 is hosted by former model & beauty queen Sahana Bajracharya. Like its American version, Mega Model features a photographer and model on its judging panel, Raj Bhai Suwal, Sneh Rana and Sijan Bhattachan.
In 2015, Nagma Shrestha posted in her Facebook page that she will be the new host for the third season of Image Mega Model but later on, Malvika Subba replaced her from Episode 10.
Season 1 begin on June 12, 2008. The host is Pallavi Dhakal. The other judges are Ruby Rana and Sijan Bhattachan. The cast consist of 16 girls who will compete for the title of Image Mega Model.
The winner of Mega Model wins a contract to appear in a music video, a 6-page fashion editorial spread as well as the front cover in Wave Magazine and many other prize from the sponsor.
(ages stated are at time of contest)
New host Sahana Bajracharya, with Sijan Bhattachan, Sneh Rana and returning judge Raj Bhai Suwal all join together as the second season introduces a new format. The show started with 3 weeks audition sessions and 1 week bootcamp where they reduced the 50 semi-finalists into top 14 finalists for the main competition. Every week the girls were groomed interims of posing, catwalk and communication; in the end of each week the judges evaluated the girls through their photo which they took part in a photoshoot that week. And one or more girls were eliminated every week until the top 6, who took part in a live finale show which declared the winner through the judges and the public vote.
(ages stated are at time of contest)
After a hiatus of 5 years it was announced that Mega Model would return in 2015. The new host/head judge is the Nepalese beauty queen Malvika Subba. The other new judges will be Nepalese photographer Kishor Kayastha and male supermodel Prasant Tamrakar. The cast consist of 16 girls who will compete for the title of Image Mega Model Season 3.
The auditions for the third season of Mega Model has started from Dharan Audition, Pokhara Audition and the final Kathmandu Audition. Because of the recent earthquake in Nepal the auditions have been postponed to later this year. On June 29 it was announced on their official Facebook page that the postponed auditions will take place on August 5 in Pokhara and August 8, 9 and 10 in Kathmandu.
The winner will receive NPR 200,000 prize money as well as a trip to Bangkok.
(ages stated are at time of contest)
After a hiatus of 5 years it was announced that Mega Model would return in 2020. The new host/head judge is the Nepalese beauty queen Niti Shah. Nepalese photographer Kishor Kayastha returned as a judge along with fashion designer Bina Ghale. The cast consist of 16 girls who will compete for the title of Image Mega Model Season 4.
The auditions for the fourth season of Mega Model has started from Dharan Audition, Pokhara Audition and the final Kathmandu Audition.
The winner will receive NPR 500,000 prize money as well as other prizes from the sponsor.
(ages stated are at time of contest)