ANTM Cycle 10: Only One Can Win Edition

America’s Next Top Model – And the Winner Is…
As the 10th season concludes, the three remaining models shoot a cosmetics commercial and pose for a print ad. The judges then send one lady packing, and the final two contestants take part in a runway challenge to determine the winner.

The girls do a Cover Girl TV commercial and print ad for Lash Blast mascara. The print ad will run nationally including a billboard in Times Square. The pressure finally gets to Anya, and breaks down in tears right in the middle of getting her hair & makeup done.

During the commercial:
Fatima is first. She memorized the lines well but she speaks monotone, running all the lines together. Jay says she is robotic and seems inhuman.

Whitney is second. She is determined. She forgets her lines. But she takes pauses at the right times, has great energy, and smiles a lot.

Anya is incredibly nervous. She cannot get through a single take, but she has great energy and an innocence that displays well on camera. She looks amazing.

During the photo shoot:
Fatima doesn’t give a lot of variety.
Whitney is great.
Anya models from her toes up.

During panel:
Fatima’s commercial is not good. Nigel says it’s more like a toothpaste ad. Her photo is stunning but not perfect. She’s looking up too high, "as if she saw God.” She doesn’t smile with her eyes.

Whitney is directable, but her commercial reminded Paulina of the Miss America competition. Her photo is stellar.

Anya’s commercial, taken all together, was a train wreck. However, she did the best because it was totally her. Unfortunately, her photo has no personality. Paulina says she looks stupid.

In private deliberation:
Fatima makes a wonderful print model but lacks confidence.
Whitney’s photo is her first flash of brilliance, but her size is a problem.
Anya did not do her best, which at this point is a problem. She can do better.

Fatima is booted off.

Whitney and Anya both do a Seventeen cover shoot with Nigel, and both do really well. Their final challenge is to participate in Versace runway show. It’s kind of anticlimactic -- certainly no “crazed gothic bride” show like CarriDee and Melrose had to do in Cycle 7. Whitney is a bit too bouncy and Anya’s face is blank except when she looks like she’s going to fall down.

During the final judging:
Anya didn’t bring it as strong as she should have, but she was stunning.
Whitney hit it, bam! It was a little too much was it was great.

During private deliberation:
Whitney was amazing. She has presence. Miss J says her “juicy booty did a damn good job.”
Anya didn’t have any fire. She fell apart.

And…



Whitney wins! And already people are asking, “Do she think she won because she’s plus-sized?”

ANTM Cycle 10: Paparazzi Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Ready For My Close-Up
The four remaining models photograph Paulina Porizkova for a challenge. Their own photo shoot, directed by Nigel Barker, requires them to impersonate movie icons.

How the hell has Dominique made it this far? Whitney is worried that she’s been in the bottom two twice in a row. Anya is supremely confident because she’s won so many challenges. She isn’t worried about the other girls. Fatima, Whitney, and Anya discuss the fact that they can’t believe Dominique is still in the competition. They also think she eats too much candy. Fatima is disappointed that she hasn’t yet won a challenge.

At the challenge: The girls go to a park, where they get a quick-and-dirty photography lesson, then meet the editor of Seventeen magazine and each get five minutes to shoot Paulina. They are evaluated by how well they work with the model, and how good the finished product is. The winner gets 50 extra frames at the next shoot. Fatima gives good direction, and is firm but gentle. Dominique does not give good direction and has no vision. Whitney knows exactly what she wants, gives great direction, and is very encouraging. Anya’s focus is all over the place. The winner is Fatima.

Back at the loft: Fatima seems to be the only one who practices. Everyone is tired of Dominique. She never shuts up; she’s one of those people who say the same thing over and over again, almost like she’s trying to convince herself because she doesn’t quite believe what she’s saying. The funny thing is, she’s talking about how much she believes in herself.

During the shoot: The girls are dressed up like movie stars from the ’50s who are caught by the paparazzi. They each share their shot with a male model, and Nigel Barker is their photographer.

Anya looks awesome but she’s modeling too much – so much that Jay says, “Oh really, is that how women get caught by the paparazzi?” In one shot Jay distracts her and she misses a step, stumbling a little. It is easily her best shot.

Fatima is uncomfortable posing with a male model. Her shots are pretty but she doesn’t look like she’s been “caught.” She keeps forgetting where the camera is. They stop to show her what her photos look like, and she’s horrified by how bad they are. Nigel is bored stiff.

Whitney looks a little too “pinup girl” and poses too much. But, Jay says, her “booty looks cute.”

Dominique’s shoot has a lot more action than the other girls, but feels staged. Nigel tells her to be herself, but she doesn’t really get it.

At the end, Jay and Nigel are both very frustrated.
The girls are terrified of panel because they all know they did awfully.

During panel:
Anya’s shot is great but she fell into it, didn’t encapsulate a star, she lacks focus.
Whitney looks stunning but stiff; she found it hard to get into the moment.
Dominique is wearing bad clothes to panel (again), in her photo she looks like a transvestite.
Fatima’s photo is pretty but she wasted her extra 50 frames, didn’t take it to the next level.

Nigel points out that Anya had an advantage because he’d already shot her (for the 7-Up ad) and had learned her angles. He is disappointed with her shoot. Cover Girl of the Week is Whitney.

In private deliberation:
Anya lucked into it, it was an accident but she did get the best shot.
Fatima missed the point, made excuses, came off snooty, and doesn’t listen.
Whitney is pretty, but could’ve given a bit more.
Dominique is not pretty enough, or soft enough, for a Cover Girl contract.

The first photo is Anya.
The bottom two are Fatima and Dominique.
Dominique is sent packing. Jesus, it’s about time.

I want ANTM to prove me wrong but … it’s totally going to come down to Anya and Fatima. Anya is the golden girl, so she’s not going anywhere. Whitney is plus-sized, and the judges’ criticisms of her have been the same each week. She’s not improving. If you look at her portfolio on the CW website, her face is the same in nearly every single photo. Fatima has her own issues, which are too numerous to mention, but she did well in the Italian commercial so it stands to reason that she will do well in the Cover Girl commercial they shoot next week.

Tune into the CW next Wednesday for the season finale, or tune in here on Thursday for our recap. And I leave you with this: unlike the judges, I thought Whitney’s photo encapsulated the idea behind tonight’s shoot pretty well. They pointed out that the male model looks angry, like he’s trying to protect his woman, and if she had just “purred” it would have worked better. But I think she looks the part – she has that sly “oops, you caught me but really I want to be caught” look on her face.



What do you think?

ANTM Cycle 10: Renaissance Rock Edition

America’s Next Top Model – We Are Spartans!
The models train like gladiators for a challenge and the winner receives a shopping spree in Rome. Tyra directs the photo shoot in a Roman castle.

In many of this cycle’s photos, it is really hard to see the girls. I cropped the above photo a ton; Fatima is a tiny part of the original. Anyway, as this episode opens Fatima is feeling really confident. Katarzyna continues to be quiet and sweet, which causes the other girls talk about how dull she is. Awwww, poor Kat.

The girls go to some ancient ruins, where they see gladiators faux fighting. Fatima is uncomfortable with this because she’s “not a violent person.” Whitney thinks it’s “AWESOME!” A fight instructor named Alex teaches them some moves, but they have to be elegant at the same time. Katarzyna has a ton of fun. Fatima finds it too confusing, and has this weird side interview where she calls Dominique a bitch and then laughs like a crazy person. Closed captioning changes bitch to “bich.” Ha.

The girls get dressed up in gladiator outfits and are surprised to find Mr. Jay and Miss J waiting for them. Jay says the judges are frustrated because the girls are not strong enough. Then he drops the bomb – their photo shoot is right now! In the shoot, they have to “fight” a large, strapping man who grunts a lot. Whitney is more unclothed than we’ve ever seen, and she looks fantastic. An average shoot consists of roughly 75+ frames, but this time the girls get only 5 frames each.

The Jays don’t comment during this shoot so it’s kind of hard to tell how the girls are doing. One thing is obvious, though – Fatima is terrible. Dominique tries to stand out by doing odd poses like standing on one foot, but she just looks like an ungraceful stork.

After the shoot, the Jays critique the girls:
Katarzyna looked like the sword was too heavy, which ruined her pose; her face wasn’t great.
Dominique’s was her prettiest photo yet, but she did not do what was asked of her.
Fatima really struggled; she over-thought it; she was the worst.
Whitney did a great job; she’s unafraid.
Anya actually did the poses Alex taught her; takes direction well.

Whitney wins a € 1,000 shopping spree. She can pick a friend and split the money, or go by herself. Because she’s nice, she takes Anya. Later, the girls go to a gorgeous old castle where Tyra herself shoots them in a “modern interpretation of the Renaissance” complete with ugly wigs.

During the shoot:
Katarzyna asks what Tyra’s vision is, which is a good start, but does not do so great.
Dominique gets it, is amazing, Tyra “loves her.”
Fatima is fluid and beautiful. Tyra was “so impressed.”
Whitney was stuck, wasn’t high fashion. Tyra says, “More fashion less sex.”
Anya gave great poses, is comfortable with her body, and understands her angles.

Fuck, it’s going come down to Katarzyna and Whitney, and Kat’s totally going to get cut. Fatima is getting way too conceited, and there is an awesome moment when Anya says Dominique was the only one Tyra liked and the camera zooms in on Fatima while ominous music goes “BOM!”

Cover Girl of the Week is Katarzyna.
And hey, here’s Veronica Mars’ Wallace again, this time in a commercial for Orbit gum.

During panel:
Katarzyna is pretty but doesn’t punch through; something is missing; she looks bored.
Dominique is gorgeous; Tyra wasn’t excited to shoot her but Dom “proved her a fool.”
Fatima is stunning and was like a ballerina on set.
Whitney looks mad; the judges expected more; she’s too sexual and is stuck in a rut.
Anya looks marvelous; “100% Italian Vogue”; is stunning; she rocked.

In private deliberation:
Katarzyna works with her brain, not her eyes.
Dominique has consistently gotten better but still looks terrible in person.
Fatima is not strong enough, but her face is amazing.
Whitney is gorgeous, rounded, and interesting.
Anya is just getting better and better, but she’s weak in personality.

The first photo is Fatima.
The bottom two are Katarzyna and Whitney.
Katarzyna is out.

I cannot adequately express how NOT INTO the final four I am. I do like Whitney but I swear to god a plus-sized model will never win this competition. I mean seriously folks, Dominique?!?! While I admit she has improved, she is 100% not top model material. I will be shocked if it doesn’t come down to Fatima and Anya.

Wow, look what I just found on Wikipedia:
After filming of Cycle 10, the producers of America's Next Top Model were served with a lawsuit from Michael Marvisi who owns the loft used as the Top Model house. The lawsuit claims the contestants as well as the production crew caused an estimated $500,000 in damages to the loft. Marvisi claims the contestants engaged in food fights, made holes in the walls, caused water damage to the bathroom, damaged a $15,000 chandelier beyond repair, and more.

Also:
In Cycle 10, Fatima Siad was kept over Stacy Ann Fequiere, which has sparked some controversy in the fan community, since Fatima broke two eligibility rules (being an American citizen and having a valid passport).

If Fatima wins some people will be PISSED!

ANTM Cycle 10: Woo! Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Viva Italia
The models travel to Rome and film a commercial in Italian.

So last week we posted a poll, and here are the results:

Who should win ANTM Cycle 10?
40% Anya
30% Katarzyna
10% Whitney

The girls go to Rome. They freak out, as is to be expected. They are dropped off at the Colosseum and Anya falls off the bus. Literally. Fatima says she (Fatima) has received a second chance and has no excuse not to do her best. Katarzyna describes their new apartment as “off the chain.” As soon as they get to Rome, Fatima gets sick. Anya is tired of everyone ripping on each other just to make themselves feel better.

On a tour of Rome, their tour guide points out fashionable women on the street. It reminds me of The Sartorialist. This has got to be part of the challenge. The girls meet designer Gai Mattiolo. Their challenge is to adapt to Italian style, so they get an “Italian” makeover. Whitney is concerned that all the clothes are sample sizes and she can’t fit into them, but she does find something to wear. Fatima is elegant. Dominique is natural but not fresh. Katarzyna is beautiful. Anya is “so blonde.” Whitney is “so American.” Lauren has beautiful legs. Anya wins the challenge. Seriously, WTF? I do not get the fascination with Anya at all.

When the girls get the next TyraMail it is in Italian. Katarzyna, who speaks a variety of languages, tells the girls they will be doing a commercial for Cover Girl. Lauren gets really worried, saying, “I’m not a cover girl, that’s not me.” Why is she on the show then?!?

Each girl shoots a 30 second spot after learning a script in Italian. They have a very brief amount of time to learn quite a lot – in addition to speaking an unfamiliar language, they have to walk, put on lipstick, and interact with other actors.

During the shoot:
Anya looks confused; didn’t know what was going on but she works it.
Katarzyna did an amazing job but her performance was a little lifeless.
Dominique makes up the language but her energy is good.
Lauren is truly terrible. She is hard to watch, and can’t take direction.
Fatima has lost her voice a little, but she’s determined. The director describes her as a goddess.
Whitney didn’t jive; her laugh was too fake and she came off bitchy.

During panel:
Anya was a “piece of dookie” but she does have the model look.
Katarzyna was good but Tyra felt the ending was boring.
Dominique was “hoochified” but she brought an energy. Paulina says she was scary.
Lauren didn’t even try, was too nervous, there was no elegance.
Fatima was a bit sexual, but the fact that she managed to say it all in one take is impressive.
Whitney was fake from beginning to end, but Tyra liked it. Paulina does not agree.

Katarzyna brings a lot more personality to panel, but unfortunately most of it comes out of her teasing Tyra about not being able to pronounce her name. It was a great idea to be more bubbly, but by the end Tyra seemed kind of annoyed. Cover Girl of the Week is Anya. Boo.

In the private deliberation:
No one aced it.
Anya is a model physically but you can’t understand anything she says.
Katarzyna was the director’s favorite.
Dominique was not a cover girl at all, but they enjoyed it. J Alexander “still thinks she’s a brother.”
Lauren is a model. She takes the best pictures but she was too nervous.
Fatima’s was one of the best she’s ever done.
Whitney has a lot to work on and she’ s too fake.

Fatima gets called first. The bottom two are Lauren and Whitney. Sorry for the photo trickery this week, but there was no photo of Fatima’s shoot on the CW site.

Lauren takes amazing photos but she is still awkward in person. They feel she has given up. Whitney takes beautiful pictures but she is too phony. And Lauren is eliminated! I did not see that coming.

ANTM Cycle 10: Jetsetter Edition

America’s Next Top Model – For Those About To Walk, We Salute You
Paulina instructs the models how to behave during interviews and public events, and then the gals test their new skills at a cocktail party where they mingle with fashion-world notables. One contestant panics when she loses her travel documents and realizes she may not be able to go to a secret overseas location with the rest of the group.

After the last episode I, for the first time ever, voted in the Cover Girl Model of the Week poll. I’m only slightly ashamed. Mostly I feel ok about it.

The girls talk about how they are proud to have made it so far. Whitney, in particular, is thrilled since she is a plus-sized model. But, there is no way a plus-sized model will win this competition so I feel sorry for her. Irresponsible Fatima has lost her travel documents so she can’t leave the country. She has been talking with a lawyer trying to expedite the process of getting new docs, and all the girls are really encouraging and sympathetic. Bitch please! ANTM sends the girls to another country. Every. Single. Season. Fatima is an idiot.

In other news, Katarzyna’s hair looks amazing. Paulina teaches the girls to think on their feet for interviews and whatnot. They each have to approach and impress Paulina as she pretends to be a makeup mogul at a party. Paulina is a royal bitch, which is fabulous. Lauren just giggles. Paulina thinks Katarzyna is a waitress. Whitney and Stacy Ann are too fake. Anya does well. Next, Paulina pretends to be an airheaded interviewer. Whitney answers the questions well but her expression goes blank. Dominique rambles.

The girls make potato pancakes. What? Models can eat that shit? I guess Whitney’s the one making them, though, and she is plus-sized. I kid, I kid. Anyway, Lauren cuts the tip of her finger off and has to go to the hospital. The ANTM producer calls Fatima. Apparently the consulate has said that her scramble to get travel documents is too last minute. The producer is concerned that she will not get them in time. But this is ridiculous, because money can do anything and of course she will get them. I am in a bad mood tonight and it would cheer me immensely if some girl gets fucked in this competition just because she’s irresponsible.

In a commercial for Farmer Wants a Wife, the CW totally disses Dominique by comparing her to some horrible-looking girl who will be on FWAW. Awesome!

Tyra sends the girls a huge box of lemons and limes. They are invited to a “green carpet” event hosted by 7 Up. Designer Jay Godfrey sends over dresses and stylists to get the girls ready. The challenge is to work the red carpet and the party. The girls are actually decent on the red carpet, except Dominique commits the ultimate faux pas by getting the designer’s name wrong when asked who she’s wearing. Lauren is confident, but curses in her interview. Whitney still looks fake.

At the party, Lauren does really well. She is self-assured and svelte as she talks about her love for crust punk. Nigel even comments on it. Stacy Ann thinks she’s doing amazing, but in reality she’s coming off as phony. Anya wins the chance to star in a 7 Up ad. She gets paid $10,000. And she kinda gloats about it in front of the other girls. I think she should have kept it to herself. It’s called class, girl.

Big fucking surprise. The ANTM producer calls to let Fatima know she has an appointment at the consulate at 9:00 am the next day. At the same moment, the girls get a TyraMail telling them to pack for a trip abroad. They get into the limo at 5:00 am and are taken to the airport. Fatima is freaking out, though to be honest ANTM is building the drama way too much and it is super obvious how this will turn out. Really, she shouldn’t even be in the limo since she has no travel documents.

Anyway, it’s all a sham. This is actually a photo shoot. They’re not going anywhere.

The idea is for a group shot of the girls running to catch a plane. Each girl is “featured” in turn, and then the photographer will put together a composite of each girl’s best shot. Fatima explains her situation to Jay, and he is totally unsympathetic. He thinks she’s been lax, and I agree. She rushes off to the consulate.

During the shoot, Lauren doesn’t do that well but Jay does acknowledge that she’s dealing with pain. Stacy Ann sucks. Whitney also sucks. Anya does well. Fatima gets her docs. Duh. Working with Dominique is like “Remedial Posing 101.” Katarzyna is great. Fatima does not make it back before the end of the shoot. Which sucks for her, because when the girls go to relax after the shoot, panel is waiting for them. Damn.

Tyra explains that immediately after the judging, they are going abroad. She is way overly tough with Fatima, so it’s clear she will not be sent home. During the judging, Fatima stands in the back crying. Katarzyna, Lauren, Dominique, and Anya are praised. Stacy Ann and Whitney are not. My guess at this point is Stacy Ann. Normally I would say Fatima, but they’ve overplayed it too much. Lauren wins Cover Girl of the Week.

In the deliberation: Katarzyna is “pretty good.” Dominique is improving week to week. Lauren is still not that great in person, but Jay and Paulina believe in her. Whitney takes good photos but she’s fake in person. Stacy Ann has plateaued. Anya stole the show. Fatima’s body of work is split between good and bad.

Anya takes the best photo. The bottom two are Stacy Ann and Fatima, and of course Stacy Ann is eliminated. Tyra hopes that Fatima has learned a lesson in responsibility. After a sobbing Stacy Ann leaves the hangar, Tyra tells the girls they are going to Rome. They start screeching and jumping up and down.

I have to say that I am really not into Anya. It’s not that I dislike her. She is nice and agreeable and her photos are fine. Overall, she has won more than the other girls, but I absolutely do not see this girl as top model material. I continue to be shocked every week when she wins things. Am I the only one?

ANTM Cycle 10: Not Worth Watching Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Top Model Confidential
A clip show of previously unseen footage, including model wrestling matches and firefighters trying to walk the runway.

Apparently. I didn't bother to watch it, but I'm pretty sure most of it was the girls being bitches to each other. Tah-dah!

ANTM Cycle 10: Drowning Edition

America’s Next Top Model – If You Can’t Make It Here, You Can’t Make It Anywhere
The ladies are divided into groups as they go on modeling auditions. Then, they visit Broadway for a photo shoot, where they are photographed through a plastic sheet while lying face down in water.

Only 8 girls left. At this point I’m pulling for Katarzyna.

Dominique is craaaazy! Like me, Lauren and some of the other girls think Claire was disrespectful to Aimee last week. Lauren maybe drinks Fatima’s coffee (it’s unclear), Fatima is annoyed about it, and Lauren starts cursing up a storm. Whatever.

The girls go on go-sees in groups of four. Wow, these girls get cell phones with navigational capabilities. And they don’t have to do this ep in a country where they don’t speak the language. However, they are not allowed to take taxis. They have to walk everywhere. B.F.D.

Whitney is perfectly aware that, as a plus-sized model, she would not be booking the same jobs as the other girls. And in fact, the first designer they meet says she would not hire a size 10. Whitney is upset even though she saw it coming. I finally think Dominique might be a little kinder toward Whitney, but I am wrong.

The teams swap go-sees, and the second designer Whitney meets does use plus-sized models. The other group doesn’t do so well at their second go-see. At a third location, they all meet up and the winner is announced. I just realized Katarzyna’s hair has not been cut. Anyway, the winning group is Claire, Whitney, Stacy-Ann, and Dominique. Stacy-Ann booked the most jobs. Team 1 gets to be in Seventeen magazine.

For the photo shoot, the girls pose face down, in water, on a huge sheet of plastic suspended above a stage. They don’t go through hair or makeup; in fact they are stripped of the makeup they are wearing. Claire belly flops onto the plastic even though Jay tells her not to, and hurts her neck. What an idiot. I like Claire, but she fucking does a belly flop onto a solid sheet of plastic! What did she think would happen?!?

Dominique rocks it. Claire sucks. I can see her going home tonight. Lauren does not do well. Anya is ok but keeps forgetting about her toes. Finally, they chop off Katarzyna’s hair. She does well. According to Jay, Whitney is “incredible,” and she’s funny – “You just can’t know what you look like. I mean, how often do you practice laying in puddles on the ground?” Stacy-Ann is just ok. Fatima does very well.

Awww, the girls all get along as they talk about how hard the photo shoot was.

In the judging room:
Claire’s photo is flat. She tries to blame it on her face-plant, but Tyra knows that Jay told Claire not to belly flop and she did it anyway.
Stacy-Ann struggled.
Katarzyna looks like a dancer and a model.
Whitney is alive. Her film blew Tyra away.
Dominique is beautiful and has a great expression.
Lauren looks like she’s dead. It’s her weakest shot yet. And she’s awful in front of the judges.
Fatima looks perfect. Her film was stunning.
Anya looks like a nymph and has good intensity.

YAY!!! Cover Girl of the Week is Katarzyna, my new favorite model. Obviously I don’t know why Claire didn’t win this week, but I would bet money it has to do with her nasty behavior in the last episode.

The judges deliberate: Claire is a one-note wonder. Katarzyna takes great photos, but has no personality in the judging room. Dominique looked awful at judging. Nigel thinks Fatima lucked into her shot. Lauren lacks self-confidence, and she’s not getting any better.

The winner is Fatima. The bottom two are Claire and Lauren. Claire can take great pictures, but they are monotonous. Lauren takes great pictures, but is “like Frankenstein” in person.

Claire is eliminated. I totally saw that coming!

ANTM Cycle 10: Lame Photo Shoot Edition

America’s Next Top Model – House of Pain
Tyra teaches the models how to express themselves at the end of a runway; the winner of a pose challenge is selected to work with photographer and judge Nigel Barker; and three of the girls get upset when one girl’s alarm clock keeps going off during the night.

Dominique sets her alarm for 6 am every day even though she doesn’t plan on getting up that early. Claire, Stacy-Ann, and the other girls in the room are irritated. Dominique claims she doesn’t understand how to use the alarm, and is a total brat about it. There is a lot of screaming and Dominique cries because everyone gangs up on her. Good lord, this bitch needs to be taken down a peg or two. Or twenty.

Tyra takes time out for a special lesson because all the judges have complained about the girls’ runway walks. During the lesson she dramatically collapses, pretending to sprain her ankle in order to teach them how to “pose with pain.” Tyra is so freaking weird, I love it. The models have another pose-off. Tyra thinks Whitney, Anya, and Dominique are good. Lauren does really badly. Aimee and Claire don’t do very well either. It turns out that this was their challenge, and Anya wins a one-on-one photo shoot with Nigel. A nude photo shoot. Nice one.

I had drinks with a friend last week who told me Anya’s accent, which I described in an earlier post as “deaf,” is actually what a Hawaiian accent sounds like. Oops. But really, she is going to have to work on that because the judges have already started to complain about it. In a side interview, Aimee talks about how she wouldn’t want to be pose naked because she’s Mormon and her body is a temple. She’s in for some trouble.

Dominique doesn’t feel well, so she gets into bed to rest. Claire, Lauren, and Whitney enter the room, sit on the couch, and loudly trash Dominique. When she asks them to leave the room, Claire basically tells her to fuck off. In tears, Dominique says, “You’re a really big person,” and Claire responds, “I never claimed to be a big person.” These girls are going to start throwing punches pretty soon.

For the photo shoot, each girl has to embody a style of music. It’s not one of the better shoots. Jay is not into Stacy-Ann, Claire, Aimee, or Anya. Dominique and Whitney both do well.

Cover Girl of the Week is Claire. Again! I wonder if her bitchiness will affect next week’s vote. In the judging room, the judges praise Whitney, Fatima, Lauren, and Katarzyna. They are not so happy with Anya, Aimee, Stacy-Ann, or Dominique. Tyra says this was Claire’s worst shoot.

It’s interesting how the girls who are praised during the shoot are often shot down in the judging room. Jay said this was one of Dominique’s best shoots, yet the judges didn’t like the final product. Gotta keep those models on their toes!



In the end Whitney wins, which makes no sense to me. So far all of Whitney’s photos involve the same facial expression. Katarzyna comes in second, but she should have won. I am growing to love Katarzyna. Tyra and the judges adore the wig she wore for the shoot, so they decide to chop off the rest of her hair. Perhaps now they will stop comparing her to a porn star.

Claire and Aimee are in the bottom two. Claire is “too comical and blasé,” while Aimee, who had the easiest genre (R&B), “fell flat.” Aimee is voted out, and Claire screams “YES!” While I respect the sentiment, it seems really mean to be so overtly thrilled while another girl dissolves in tears next to her. She doesn’t even hug Aimee before she bounces off to stand with the other girls, and that’s just poor ANTM etiquette.

ANTM Cycle 10: Vogue Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Top Model Takes It To The Streets
Supermodel Vendela gives the ladies tips on posing for catalog, commercial, and couture shoots to prepare them for a posing competition on the streets of New York City.

I can’t believe just a few short episodes ago I liked Dominique. Because now I hate her. So does Whitney. Claire describes Marvita as a “crazy hood rat” (not to her face). Whitney is proud of her curves (she’s the “plus-sized” model, remember). But ever since they dyed her hair blond during the makeover episode she keeps getting compared to Anna Nicole Smith, so she’s irritated.

Vendela and Benny Ninja teach the girls about posing in different situations (couture, commercial, and catalog). I don’t know who Benny Ninja is but the girls are thrilled.

Dominique blames Whitney for something stupid. Whitney tells Dominique she doesn’t respect her. Dominique tells Whitney she’s racist. Whitney’s reply? “My best friend is black!”

As much as I judge these bitches I hate to say – and anyone who knows me will agree – as an individual who has a horrible inability to control her facial expressions when dealing with people she dislikes, I would be absolutely hated if I were on this show. So I guess I’ve learned something from ANTM: keep quiet and control yourself!

The girls are split into two teams for a posing battle. The winning team gets to go to a swag tent. This seems like a weird prize. From the side interviews, it becomes apparent that nobody likes Dominique. Fatima describes Whitney as “the cheerleader in high school who sleeps with all the football players.”

The team of girls I like wins. Hooray! In the individual judging, Claire wins a trip to Bora Bora. The other girls are shocked that the prize is so big. Marvita starts to worry that she’ “too ghetto” for the competition.

During their photo shoot, the girls have to take close-up shots with paint splattered on them. Usually I try to make a list of who’s good and bad, but they all do pretty well. Woah, except Fatima and Marvita. They suck. Jay calls Marvita a “disaster.” She has clearly lost her confidence.

You can see armpit hair in Fatima’s photo, and the judges attack her when she says she doesn’t shave. Vendela doesn’t think Whitney is taking the competition seriously enough. They all agree that that in the judging room, Aimee looks like a “real girl” instead of a model. That’s bad.

Claire wins Cover Girl Model of the Week for the fourth time in a row. I didn’t watch the last two cycles of ANTM, but as far as I know no model has had a solid run through the entire show. Can she do it?

Paulina loves Lauren, yet still describes her as “lumbering like Young Frankenstein.” Stacy-Ann takes the best photo. The bottom two are Marvita and Whitney. Even though it’s clear that Marvita has given up, I still liked her. She’s really sweet to the other girls in her goodbye.

I will probably regret this, but currently my prediction is that it will come down to Lauren and Claire. Although Stacy-Ann has a lot of potential too. And snap! In the scenes from next week, the girls come down hard on Dominique for being a crazy bitch. Hallelujah!

ANTM Cycle 10: Meat Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Where’s the Beef?
The models visit the meatpacking district and pose with racks of beef. Cycle 8 winner Jaslene judges a runway challenge and hurts one contestant’s feelings with some harsh criticism.

Tyra Banks looks insane in the credits this cycle. Once again Fatima is a bitch, muttering “stupid” under her breath when Amis talks.

The girls meet Jay at a fire station to learn how to runway walk. They have to “quick change” in 90 seconds, then walk in front of a bunch of firefighters, who look kind of embarrassed. They don’t actually show Jay teaching the girls anything, but I assume that part is on the cutting room floor. Jay is hard on Dominique, Fatima, Lauren, and Amis. Amis is always terrible. She’s gotta be sent home soon.

Aimee is uncomfortable being naked in front of other people so she gets upset when the girls want her to leave the bathroom door unlocked while she showers. Whitney stands up for her, and somehow Fatima turns it around so everyone gangs up on Whitney. God Fatima sucks. I am quickly growing to hate both her and Dominique, who calls Whitney “white trash” behind her back.

In their challenge, the girls have to quick-change all by themselves and participate in a Tuleh fashion show. An editor from Seventeen and Cycle 8 winner Jaslene are there to judge them. Whitney accidentally flashes the audience, Lauren's walk is stiff and terrible, Fatima’s shirt is buttoned wrong, and Amis is just plain awful. After the show, Jaslene asks Lauren if she really wants to be there. Lauren manages to wait until she’s in private, then cries. Katarzyna wins the challenge. She gets to pick two friends to be in a Seventeen photo shoot with her, and she picks Amis and Marvita.

For the photo shoot, the girls are taken to the meatpacking district, where they have to wear bikinis made of raw meat. Once again, Amis is terrible. Also, because she doesn’t take 2 hours to get ready, the girls think she is too casual about what she wears to panel. While I kind of hope Tyra says her outfit is cute just to shut the rest of them up, my guess is that Amis will be gone tonight.

In the judging room, the judges are hard on Stacy Ann, Aimee, Fatima, and Marvita. They are sweet on Whitney, Anya, and Lauren (though Jay belittles her runway walk). Tyra does rip Amis for her outfit.

For the third time in a row, Claire is voted Cover Girl of the Week by the fans. While the judges deliberate, Nigel says Whitney is the best in the competition. Go Whitney! But she’s the “plus-sized” model so she won’t win.

Anya wins even though Lauren’s photo is amazing, and Tyra tells Lauren if her runway walk had been better she would have been called first. Fatima and Amis are in the bottom two. As predicted, Amis is eliminated. That was too, too obvious. She is sweet, grateful, and good-natured in her exit interview.

ANTM Cycle 10: Underwear Edition

America’s Next Top Model – Top Model Makeovers
The ladies receive makeovers and model lingerie by Elle Macpherson, who makes an appearance at the photo shoot. Fatima and Allison cause friction in the house.

Allison is sick of all the screaming and clapping. I agree with her, except it turns out she is really stuck up. Fatima, who is apparently an accidental bitch (“I didn’t mean to!”) says that Allison is bigger than her. Allison. Who struggles with anorexia. Fatima is making enemies right and left.

For their challenge, the girls are taken to Wal-Mart where we hear all about how fabulous Wal-Mart and Cover Girl are, and how they have a new partnership. The girls have five minutes to pick out and put on their makeup. Claire wins.

Allison says Fatima “likes to take it in the back because she’s black.” This girl is going to die if she doesn’t get cut.

This is the makeover episode, and surprisingly nobody freaks out. It must be that ANTM has been on the air long enough, so they know what to expect. The marked improvements come in Marvita, Lauren, Katarzyna, Dominique, Amis, and Fatima. There is little complaining, except from Fatima, who cries the whole time. However, I forgive her because that weave looked awfully painful.

The photo shoot is for Elle MacPherson’s lingerie line, and the supermodel herself is there to give the girls advice. Most of them do really well, though Lauren is too awkward, Allison is too posed, Amis cannot take direction, and Dominique is too commercial. This is the girl who was told she looks like a transvestite in the last episode. Apparently she can’t win.

Almost all of the talking head interviews are with Allison, and she’s a cocky bitch, so it’s pretty clear she’s the one going home. Ironically, she has more modeling experience than the rest of them. Claire is voted model of the week by fans again.

In the judging room, the judges are harsh on all the girls, though the worst is when Paulina Porizkova tells Katarzyna she looks like “Russian Mail Order Bride #1.” In private, the judges bash Anya’s accent. If this girl is still around for the episode where they shoot a commercial – that is, have to talk in a commercial – she’s in trouble.

Considering how mean Jay was about Lauren’s shoot, it is a shocking when the judges decide she has taken the best photo. It comes down to Dominique and Allison and, thank goodness, Allison gets the chop.

ANTM Cycle 10: Homeless Edition

America's Next Top Model – NYC, Here We Come
The 14 models move into a NYC apartment and visit a modeling agency, where they are critiqued by Paulina Porizkova. Later, they pose as homeless individuals for a photo shoot.

The girls move into their NYC loft, where there is one room of bunk beds and one giant bed that apparently some will have to share. Marvita (who was homeless) and Fatima (the girl from Somalia who suffered through genital mutilation) are bitches at first, but along the way they decide to be friends.

Immediately I like Amis, Claire, Lauren, and Dominique. The girls do a Badgley Mischka runway show in Times Square -- already it’s clear that being in NY is going to make this a very different ANTM. In my opinion Dominique does the best, though Whitney (this season’s token plus-sized model) is also good.

On their first task the girls go to Elite and meet Paulina Porizkova, who tells them their faults. This brief scene was shown in its entirety during the commercials, so nothing too exciting here, although it's still funny when Paulina tells Dominique she looks like a transvestite.

Anya talks weird, like she’s deaf. There is way too much screaming and clapping. The “Tyra mail” comes electronically and they all read it out loud together. Ick.

For the first shoot, ANTM wants to “spotlight a major issue in America” so the girls team up with a foundation for homeless girls. The contestants are dressed as very fashionable homeless individuals while the real homeless girls pose in the background dressed in couture. Unless they’re about to “discover” a homeless girl who will join the show, this seems unnecessary and a bit weird. Amis is worst, way too bouncy and unfocused. Assuming that the first girl chosen in the judging room is still the “winner,” Anya takes the best photo.

Claire is voted Cover Girl’s “model of the week” by viewers. In terms of personality she reminds me a lot of Danielle, and unless she does something drastic I predict that she will go far, and continue to be a fan favorite. She’s a sweet, outgoing, somewhat unusual-looking activist and so far, she takes great pictures. I mean, duh.

In the judging room, Tyra announces that Paulina Porizkova will take Twiggy’s place as a judge. So far she’s great– opinionated, funny, and honest. And she’s amazing-looking. Through the entire episode, Kim has talked about how she doesn’t believe in high fashion because “no one should spend $500 on a piece of clothing.” Unbelievably she says this to the judges, and they are horrified. Tyra asks if she wants to leave, and she says yes. As far as I know that’s a first…

Regardless of this, the judges go on with their elimination. It comes down to Amis and Atalya. Amis has an “interesting face” and Atalya looks like “a pretty Barbie.” So guess who gets cut?