Dolly Magazine brought back its famous model search competition that was axed ten years ago that put Miranda Kerr in the map of the fashion world.

For thousands of Australian girls, Dolly magazine is their primary source of fashion and beauty tips. However, the innocent-looking magazine was accused by critics of exploiting young girls and transcending the wrong message to readers, especially to teenage girls who are their target market.

Recently, the magazine brought back its model search competition and announced 13-year-old Kristy Thatcher as winner. Kristy beat 500 other hopefuls in the contest. She will sign a year-long contract with Dolly as well as with high-profile agency Chadwicks. She will also fly to New York to meet potential agents as well as to do some castings.

The controversial contest was axed by former editor-in-chief Mia Freedman who deemed that the competition tend to incur pressure to young girls to look beautiful and model thin. Freedman advocated that young girls should become real life role models by being themselves.

However, current Dolly editor defended the magazine saying that Kristy will only take age appropriate work. Moreover, Kristy will be the ambassador for the young readers of the magazine.

In 1997, Dolly crowned a country girl that became one of the most successful models today. Miranda Kerr was 14 years old when she won the model search competition. Since then, she catapulted her career to major fashion industries like New York, London and Paris.

Critics slammed the magazine as Miranda was so young back then and she would be modeling revealing swimsuits showing inappropriate nature of modeling for a young girl.

Miranda Kerr, on the other hand, was very grateful for the magazine who gave her the opportunity to be where she is right now.

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