Recently in America's Next Top Model Category
"Walking on that runway next to Saleisha was the most challenging [moment]. She's so good and that got to me. We were so close to the end and any little thing could make you or break you."
Say like tripping over a guy on stilts with your dress?
"As soon as that happened. I was like 'Oh my God, you've got to be kidding. This cannot be happening,'" Chantal said. While she was concerned about the man that fell, she learned that her first priority should have been the runway.
"I definitely reacted. That's what you're not supposed to do. You're supposed to stay in character…I saw him fall and I lost it. I should have kept on walking—no reaction. I learned from that."
Photo Courtesy of The CW
Jenah gave us the scoop on her "breakthrough" at panel last night. The Top Model finalist broke down after opening up about how she practically raised her little sisters.
"I don’t feel like it was groundbreaking for me in the grand scheme of things. I think on the show, I opened up a little bit more. I didn't want to go there and share my life story with the whole world so talking about that on camera in front of people I don’t know that well—that was really hard for me…I'm not an affectionate, huggy emotional person."
What did Jenah's sisters think of their big sis on the show?
"My sisters love me and they're so proud of me," Jenah says. Her youngest sister, who is 11-years-old, called Jenah last night to tell her how proud she was. "It was nice to see cause my sisters are very, very close. My mom did work a lot and we couldn’t necessarily afford a babysitter. I was kind of like the dad in my house. I think someday, maybe not now, they'll appreciate it."
Photo Courtesy of The CW
And the winner is...SALEISHA! Hooray! The most boring season of Top Model has come to an end!
So the episode starts out with Jenah being completely negative, which is never a good sign. Maybe she’s one of those people who thinks that the more negative she is, the more positive the outcome? Guess that didn’t work this time.
Our three finalists, Chantal, Jenah, and Saleisha, meet Jay for their last challenge! The have to shoot a national print ad and commercial for CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzer Lip Gloss—say that five times fast. Cycle 8’s winner, Jaslene, shows up while the girls get ready and tells them how life her has changed since winning.
Saleisha, Bianca, Chantal, Jenah—only four girls left and they are on their way to Beijing! The girls tour the city before they get down to business. They arrive at a garden where Miss. Jay and Twiggy (who are being carried in by Chinese men) take them through the history of fashion in China by relating a story about four beautiful Chinese girls.
The girls head to their new home in Beijing and find four boxes waiting for them. Inside are the dresses of the four beauties they saw earlier. The girls put on the dresses and meet Miss J and Twiggy again, who tell them that their challenge is to take their outfits and modernize them. The girls get 1500 yuan and one hour to shop at the mall to buy whatever they need to accomplish their task. The history lesson makes sense now!
Bianca is having trouble finding what she needs and instead of working harder, she decides to “strategize.” She tells Jenah there’s a lot of great stuff across the mall, when in fact, there is nothing there! “There are no friends in competition,” Bianca argues.
On dealing with Asperger's...
"A lot of people think it's going to hinder me so much. They were expecting that. When it didn't, they were really surprised. It isn't something life threatening."
Five models left and it’s time for the go-see challenge! Heather gets lost and only makes it to one go-see during the entire challenge—this is not a good sign! Designer Flora Zeta doesn’t like Chantal’s or Jenah’s walk. Heather, Jenah, and Chantal don’t make it back to the agency on time—leading to their disqualification. Bianca and Saleisha, show up on time, but neither one of them seemed to shine during their go-sees. One designer said Saleisha is dull! During dinner that night, the girls find out that Bianca wins the challenge when they stand up and see her face floating by on a billboard in the water! She will appear in an ad campaign for the Beijing Olympics.
For this week's photo shoot, the girls have to stand out among lions and dragons. The catch with this shoot? Nigel is the photographer! Some of the ladies are pretty nervous, but Jenah gives Nigel an attitude that is not winning him over. When Nigel starts giving Jenah more direction during her shoot, she seems to get nervous, and Jay says that she loses her sparkle. Heather doesn’t work with her body during the shoot and remains stiff. The rest of the girls do pretty well.
The girls leave their L.A. digs for Shanghai! When they get to their new home, which is a gorgeous penthouse that overlooks the city, they find that there are only five beds for the six of them—four of which are single and one double. Heather isn’t quick to claim a bed, and Saleisha, who claimed the bigger bed, does not want to share! Heather gets upset, and the girls tease her relentlessly. Chantal quickly plays the peacemaker and tries to come up with a solution. Eventually, Bianca and Jenah offer to take the larger bed so that both Saleisha and Heather can have their own space.
The next morning the girls head out to a film studio in Shanghai, where they meet a martial arts expert who teaches them some basic martial arts positions. None of it makes sense until the girls are told that their challenge is to hold these positions while suspended in mid-air. Bianca starts freaking out because she’s afraid of heights, but if she doesn’t go through with it she will be disqualified. As they lift her in the air she decides she is too scared and gets disqualified. It’s ultimately Heather does a great job holding the positions while in the air and wins the challenge. Her prize? A shopping spree for her and a friend. Heather chooses Chantal and the girls spend the day shopping in the city.
Heather is having a bad week and it all starts with the first challenge.
The girl’s team up with their own personal designers at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising to transform a frumpy-looking light blue dress into a new outfit that conveys each models personality. The girls then model their new dresses on the runway. The girl with the best walk and the best explanation for their outfit wins a chance to appear in a holiday spread for Seventeen Magazine.
Bianca’s designer wants to go with a Cleopatra in a tu-tu type of look that Bianca is definitely not feeling, but she still seems to pull it off with attitude on the runway. Heather’s designer has trouble working with her. They decide on an ocean-inspired look, but when she gets to the end of the runway, she completely freezes up and can’t get the words out to explain her look to the judges. Lisa has trouble controlling her nerves as she speaks, too and cries when she gets backstage. But at least her outfit looked amazing—her designer went for an elegant party girl look.
Finally we’re back to a normal week of Top Model. Ebony’s gone and Ambreal knows she has to step up her game.
As usual Bianca’s complaining. She says it doesn’t seem like Heather has to work as hard as everyone else. Her feelings about this are only made worse after the girls meet up with Tyra to learn how to move their bodies and be sexy while on camera.
Tyra has the ladies walking angry, sliding sexily down mirrors, being cute and coy, and crawling across the floor. Tyra thinks Chantal and Bianca need to push harder as they crawl across the floor. When Heather gives it a go, Bianca is sure Tyra will not be impressed with her performance. Instead, Tyra thinks Heather’s awkwardness works for her.
No eliminee this week! Tonight, the girls take a breather as ANTM highlights the first six episodes of Cycle 9. More importantly, we get to see some footage that didn’t make it on TV the first time around. Here are a few memorable moments including some that we may have missed:
Top Model takes us back to the first episode where the ladies are boarding the cruise ship. They weren’t too happy when Miss. J went through their luggage at the “fashion checkpoint” and chucked some of their clothing. Yikes!
When Ebony went from being a drama queen to a mousy girl in a matter of one episode, we were all confused. But that shock still didn’t compare to when she voted herself off of ANTM last night. Ebony, however, said that the decision to leave was not spur of the moment. She started to realize that she didn’t care half as much as the other girls about being America’s Next Top Model about two weeks before she made her decision.
Her experience on the show was not what she thought it would be. Before the show, she said she was shallow and materialistic, but after living in a multi-million dollar house surrounded by lavish things, she realized that all she could think of was her family. She also said that she never got used to being followed by. While Ebony is still interested in modeling, she does not care for reality TV shows.
Photo Courtesy of The CW
All of this alludes to the upcoming challenge. The ladies are split into groups and are asked to come up with with a brief public service announcement for Keep A Child Alive. Heather, Ambreal, and Jenah’s idea is picked, and Heather’s name is randomly selected as the winner. Awesome prize, by the way -- a photoshoot directed by Mary J. Blige. You go, Heather!
So I don't know about you, but I was pretty sad that Janet was sent home last week. Her pictures were great, she was mature, and seemed very determined! Luckily, the wannabe model's dreams have not been crushed by the experience. When I talked to her recently, she said that she would continue modeling and may even try to work her way into the entertainment industry. Of her experience on ANTM, Janet said it taught her that even though she was surrounded by lavish things, she loves her family and her life at home much more. Janet said that she constantly stopped herself, and asked whether her mother and father would be honored by her actions. How sweet is that? I just love this girl!
Don't forget to watch Top Model tonight to see who is next to get the boot!
After being in the bottom two last week, I think Saleisha learned a lesson in humility. This week, she says she’s going to work hard to never end up there again. Janet, who is labeled the “mommy” of the house, says the ladies need to start cleaning up after themselves. She even makes a list of chores! Heather starts telling the girls what they need to work on. According to her, Ebony needs help all around, Bianca needs to show more emotion, and she herself, has an awkward body. Lisa says she over thinks everything, and it’s apparent she’s dealing with a lot of insecurities.
Tyra Mail brings the girls to a gymnasium where posing instructor Benny Ninja shows them how convey emotion while jumping on a trampoline. The ladies are falling all over the place! Ambreal is one of the few who rocks it though. It must be all of her experience from being a theatre major. Lisa holds back a lot. Benny says she needs more confidence.
ANTM opens with Victoria claiming that she’s just finally realizing how important modeling is to her, and Saleisha once again professing how she’s so great that she’ll never end up in the bottom two. A little foreshadowing, maybe?
But moving forward to what we’ve all been waiting for -- makeovers! Finally, we don’t have to look at that purplish red mess on Bianca’s head. Instead the poor girl has to get rid of all of her hair because it’s too fried to do anything else with. It actually didn’t look too bad though!
This week on Top Model, Bianca’s attitude reaches new heights. She pretends to be helpful and critique Kimberly’s walk, but later tells camera’s she’s giving Kimberly bad tips on purpose. Bianca also says that Heather receives too much pity as she receives a friendly makeover from the other girls in the house. I guess she’s just upset no one has offered to help her out with her red hair!
The ladies make their way to the Fashion Madhouse where Miss. Nurse J is ready to cure them of their fashion illnesses! Miss J says the girls need to learn how to deal with some of the restrictions that come with being a model. The first task? The ladies are asked to strut their stuff in straight jackets and heels!
Since there wasn’t a lot of juicy news about the show, I asked Mila a few quirky questions. Regarding her beauty secrets, you’d be surprised to know that just like many of us, she uses Neutrogena! And her favorite reality TV show (besides ANTM, of course)? The Hills! I guess she can’t get enough of Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag, either!
Stick around for more Top Model news.
Photo Courtesy of The CW
Even Top Model is following the latest Hollywood trend. They’re going green! From the girls’ biodeisel bus to their green-themed home and a ten-minute limit on their showers, ANTM seems to be all about the environment this season.
Tyra is not stopping at environmental issues though. The first photo shoot addresses one of the biggest health issues of our time -- the effects of smoking. The girls take two photos: a glamorous shot with a cigarette in hand and a second shot that depicts the nasty consequences of smoking.
But really, what’s a first photo shoot without a few cat claws coming out? And it’s only the second episode!
America’s Next Top Model is back and fiercer than ever. Tyra Banks, Miss J. Alexander, and Jay Manuel are once again in search of that one girl that’s got that certain “je ne sais quoi”. The show started with Tyra personally calling the finalists and telling them to get their bags packed for the Caribbean. The 33 girls arrived in Puerto Rico where Miss J was waiting to take them aboard a cruise ship—complete with swimming pool, promenade, ice skating rink, and mini golf course! Not bad, eh?
Once on board, Miss J didn’t waste any time putting the ladies to the test. We have girls to send home, people! The wannabe models did their best runway walk while sporting a life vest—classy! While there were a few girls who seemed to move naturally, there were more who had no idea what they were doing when it came to the catwalk. One girl in particular, Heather, had a lot of trouble with the walk. She tends to walk with her shoulders slouched. That coupled with having Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD, make her a unique candidate for a runway model.
Not even a full 24 hours together, and the sharp-tongued wanna-be model, Ebony, was telling cameras that Heather’s insecurity problems will keep her from doing well. I guess it didn’t take us long to find out who the quintessential mean girl is going to be.
Tyra Banks watch out! There's a new model show coming to town, and it's hoping to better than yours. Bravo announced its new reality show Make Me a Supermodel at the TCA Press Tour. Based on the UK series, 14 contestants (both men and women) will compete for -- you guessed it -- a modeling contract (oh, and $100,000).
Anyone else thinking catfight?
But don't think Bravo is completely ripping off Tyra or the CW completely. They're making the show a hybrid of Top Model and American Idol -- allowing you and me to vote on the winner. No word yet on when the show will air, but I can already sense this yet another reailty show I'll get completely sucked into. I'm such a sucker for the voting rights!
Do you think the market has too many model shows? Or do you like the idea that you can vote on this one?
What did it feel like when you heard that you won America's Next Top Model?
There are no words that can describe my actual emotions, but my life has changed drastically. I'm living in a whirlwind right now and enjoying every moment of it.
Even though Top Model is over, you can still MAKE FUN (haha!) of Tyra. Here's a great game from our friends at gURL.com. (Click on the image to play.)
Not only do you get to dress Tyra in some of her most infamous outfits, but she also gets the judging treatment--if ya know what I mean. Have fun! And let me know what you think...
She might not have been the most professional of the girls, but Dionne's interviews ALWAYS kept me laughing. Here's what she had to say about the Top Model experience, Brittany's whining and "phony" Natasha.
How did you get involved with Top Model?
I went to an audition in my hometown Montgomery, Alabama. I had a call, "We want you to come to Atlanta for a call back," and so I went there. Some more interviews and then onto L.A. for semifinals. We went through a lot of IQ testing, doctor's visits, things like that and that's when Tyra wanted me to be a part of her final 13.