GNTM winner Ibo dreams of Hollywood while Heidi plans live finale

The GNTM finale 2026 is developing into an ongoing construction site with several parallel stories. Heidi Klum breaks her silence on the leaked winners and announces on Instagram that she will produce the finale live again in the future – a direct step to prevent such leaks. The moderator is thus sending a clear signal that the show is rethinking its production methods.

Meanwhile, this year's GNTM winner Ibo proves ambitious: The winner is planning an international career and dreams of Hollywood. Berlin is to be only the first step. Ibo is using his victory as a springboard for bigger goals in the international fashion industry and beyond.

Romantic surprise and personal balance

Beyond career ambitions, the finale is also making headlines. Two ex-model contestants made their relationship official after the finale and showed themselves hand in hand – a romantic surprise that shows the show also creates personal connections.

Candidate Aurélie meanwhile reflects on her time at GNTM: She reveals how the show prepared her for the modeling world and discloses which goals are still on her fashion wish list. Her assessment is nuanced – not everything GNTM conveys is sufficient for a professional career.

An interesting detail on the side: The finale was already recorded in Hollywood months ago, not produced live in Germany. A Spiegel author was in the audience on site but was only allowed to report now – another indication of the strict confidentiality measures that nonetheless did not work.