Britain's Next Top Model's first transgender contestant shunned by co-stars and judges

It was announced earlier this year that the new series of Britain’s Next Top Model featured the show’s first ever transgender contestant, with Talulah-Eve Brown hitting our screens when the show returned to Lifetime last Thursday.

However, it has now been reported that Talulah-Eve has been shunned by her fellow contestants and even the show’s judges, with her fellow models jealous of the amount of headlines that she has already nabbed.

In fact, The Sun report that some of the models have accused the producers of giving Talulah-Eve “special treatment”, with a source explaining: “The show is renowned for its cat fights. When you’re already in a pressure cooker environment, feelings intensify and arguments break out.

“But since the line-up was been announced, the bitchiness and resentment towards Talulah-Eve, has reached another level. They’re jealous of the success and barrage of headlines she’s had.

“Quite a few of the girls had complained to the producers, about how they’re not being given the same opportunities as her and how they feel side-lined on the show.”

However, the judges are also unimpressed with the 22-year-old hopeful, with the insider continuing: “The judges have been less than impressed with her. She’s different, outspoken and wasn’t afraid to challenge any criticism she faced.

“She’s noticed the judges following some of the models on social media and not her and it is hurtful.

“Talulah-Eve won’t be put off by it though and just wants to keep her head down and keeping moving forward.”

This wouldn’t be the first time that BNTM has seen bitchiness go on behind the scenes, with judge Paul Sculfour previously admitting: “The drama backstage on the show is unbelievable at times.”

However, a spokesperson for the show insisted that none of the models have been getting special treatment, saying in a statement: “All contestants are treated the same on BNTM no matter who they are.

“All models are subject to the same judging criteria and are judged on equal merit as aspiring female models and given the same support during and after the show.”

Talulah-Eve underwent gender reassignment sugery last year after starting hormone treatment in 2015 and she previously admitted to suffering a lot of transphobic abuse in the industry, telling PA Real Life at the time: “The level of abuse I get is hurtful, but if I was to report every instance of hate crime I’ve experienced to the police, I would be in court every single day.

“Instead, I just hold my head up high. There have been times where I could have potentially been beaten up, but I refuse to hide away and let these people see that they’ve upset me.

“I don’t want to feel like a victim because it isn’t me with the problem. I’m not any less of a person just because I’m transgender.”

Britain’s Next Top Model continues at 9pm on Lifetime this Thursday.