Jermaine and Lea: Deadline stress after the “GNTM” victory

Since winning “Germany’s next Topmodel”, a lot has changed for Lea Oude Engberink (25) and Jermaine Kokoú Kothé (19). In an interview about the launch of a new Fila campaign, they reveal how “intense” and “crazy” they experienced the weeks after the finale of the 19th “GNTM” season.

During the casting show, the two were booked together for a shoot for the sports and streetwear brand. Lea and Jermaine also appeared together in front of the camera for the continuation of the “La Dolce FILA” campaign, which was shot in Fila’s home country of Italy in keeping with the motto.

“Very, very surreal”

Even two months later, Jermaine and Lea still can’t quite believe that they were chosen as the winners of “GNTM” by Heidi Klum (51). “I’m doing great. I’ve never felt better. It’s all very, very surreal,” says the 19-year-old. He is only slowly beginning to process what happened and is grateful for all the experiences. His co-winner Lea feels the same way: “Even though it was a while ago, I still can’t believe it.” The time on “GNTM” was “a dream that I was able to live and that came true.”

Every day appointments

The two models don’t have much time to reflect, however – they’ve been very busy since their victory. “I imagined beforehand that I would be traveling a lot, but not that much. I really feel like I’m somewhere different every day, in a different city or a different country,” says Jermaine. The experiences are “very intense” – and therefore very exhausting.

“It’s really nerve-wracking,” admits the man from Kassel, who is also successful as a content creator. His appearance at Berlin Fashion Week, where he walked the runway for Kilian Kerner like Lea, “was a nice experience, but also a tough one, because you have so much pressure from outside.”

Lea is in no way inferior to Jermaine when it comes to appointments. “You can tell that there are so many jobs coming up, you’re being invited to events everywhere, people on the street are talking to you even more,” she says in an interview. She can’t even remember when “I was at home for three days in a row. I see my apartment very, very little.” Time with their families is therefore a little lacking – but the two try to call their loved ones every day.

Continue to work together – but also individually

Lea and Jermaine are often perceived as a duo because they won the modeling show together. “We have a few things together, but also a few things separately, which I actually think is pretty cool because you are still perceived as an individual and not just as Jermaine and Lea,” explains the 25-year-old. But she also enjoys the joint engagements with her colleague.

The fact that they are now back for Fila is an indescribable feeling. “It just makes you proud. You already had that feeling when you were there, when the pictures were taken. But to see yourself hanging here in the entire store with the products, or in this huge shop window, that’s unbelievable,” says Lea enthusiastically.

The two never expected to be able to shoot two campaigns for the brand after their first booking, Jermaine emphasizes. “That’s why it’s even nicer to not only see each other on the cover together, but also at Deichmann, among others, with the Fila campaign. It’s a really, really nice feeling.”

For Luna Schweiger they are the “Perfect Fit”

How well the two harmonize is shown in the pictures together – and that is also reflected in the outside world. Actress Luna Schweiger (27), who hosted the Fila event, is enthusiastic about the duo. “I have to say, they are the perfect fit. They are both beautiful, inside and out. Super relaxed. Casual. They embody this sporty elegance perfectly,” she praises the two in an interview.