The series featured a group of young female contestants who attended preliminary auditions across Australia with finalists selected to star in the series proper, where they ended up living together in a house for several weeks whilst taking part in lectures, challenges, photo shoots and meetings with members of the modelling industry.

Each episode of Top Model covered the events of roughly a week of real time (however, while overseas, an episode might cover a shorter period), and featured a fashion challenge, a photo shoot and/or commercial, a critique of each contestant and her performance by the judging panel, and the elimination of one or more contestants.

Starting from season 3, the final two contestants competed in front of a live studio audience in Sydney before the winner was revealed live-to-air.

Following a breach of contract with Heynatz's appearance on the Channel Seven series It Takes Two,[3] she was replaced as host by Jodhi Meares, who was consistently scrutinized for her lack of involvement in the show.

During the season 3 live finale, she made a number of embarrassing blunders that drew commentary from critics on her ability to host.

In season 4, Demelza Reveley's win provoked negative feedback from critics and the public due to her bullying of Alamela Rowan during the fourth episode.

During the finale, Vogue Australia's editor-in-chief, Kirstie Clements, and judge Charlotte Dawson voted in favor of fellow contestant Alexandra Girdwood because of Reveley's behaviour.

Moments after Martinovich had made her victory speech, Murdoch stopped the celebrations and announced that Amanda Ware was the winner of season 6.

[7] In the days following the bungled announcement, top industry commentators expressed scepticism about whether the episode was a publicity stunt, with the editor of Harper's Bazaar Edwina McCann accusing Foxtel of manipulating the result.

It was also noted that while the disqualification might have been the proper course of action, it was still incorrect to showcase the occurrence as a selling point to draw in more viewers for the show.