Australia’s Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson found dead in Sydney aged 47

Charlotte Dawson had been a judge on Australia’s Next Top Model for six seasons (Picture: Getty Images)

TV personality and former model Charlotte Dawson, best known as a judge on the Australian version of the Next Top Model series, has been found dead at her home in Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

The New Zealand-born 47-year-old is reported to have been discovered on Saturday morning at around 11am local time.

Police said investigations into her death were continuing but added that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Ms Dawson – who also hosted the Australian reality TV show The Contender – had a history of depression, and had previously been hospitalised after being targeted by Twitter trolls.

Previous reports suggested she attempted to take her own life in 2012 after being bombarded with online abuse and even death threats, sparked by her involvement in an anti-bullying campaign.

She later appeared on Australian TV to speak out against internet trolls, saying they had ‘triggered feelings of helplessness’ in her.

The model was found in her apartment in Woolloomooloo, an upmarket area of Sydney (Picture: Getty Images)

Ms Dawson left her native New Zealand when she was 16 to pursue her modelling career in Europe and the US.

She relocated to Australia a decade later and worked in publishing before turning her attention to TV, becoming a familiar face on the likes of E! News and Good Morning Australia.

More recently, she joined Australia’s Next Top Model in its third series as a judge and took part in six ‘cycles’ of the show – although a question mark remained over whether she would be returning for the forthcoming ninth ‘cycle’.

Some reports had suggested she had been axed from the show, and was planning to move away from the limelight to pursue a more low-key career.

Series producers Foxtel said in a statement they were ‘devastated’ at the news of the model’s death, adding: ‘This is tragic news and deeply sad. Our sympathies are with Charlotte’s family and friends.’

Others paying tribute included New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key, who tweeted he was ‘shocked and saddened to hear of Charlotte Dawson’s death’.

Meanwhile actor Russell Crowe – who had known Ms Dawson since they were teenagers – was reported to have been grief-stricken after learning the news.

He later said on Twitter: ‘Charley D…just don’t understand. There’s not enough kind souls as it is. Rest in peace.