Top Model blog

Episode 13-06: So You Think You Can Dance?

2009-10-12T21:16:44Z

Experience in dance and movement can be a huge advantage for models. So after dancing lessons from mega talented Benny Ninja and painfully awkward impromptu performances, these petite pretties headed off to Las Vegas to test their new skills at Cirque du Soleil.

Some girls fly through the air with the greatest of ease, while others fall flat on their face. Speaking of flat, Ashley is so confused and has lost her spark that the judges just don't think she has what it takes. Kara is given another chance to prove herself, but Ashley has her last dance. Ashley had a lot of potential while some girls just don't stand a chance at being models. The judges went crazy for Sundai's frames this week, but they were actually totally boring. Let's get down to business and find out which little lady actually stands a chance at being America's Next Top Model.

Episode 13-05: Show Your Best Face

2009-10-05T20:01:56Z

This week, Tyra Mail said, "Tomorrow you'll have to wrap your head around this competition" and that is exactly what these mini-models had to do. The goal of this shoot was to master the beauty shot without the help of hair, which was replaced with headscarves. Some girls struggled with the concept of face while others nailed it. At elimination it was time to say buh-bye to Bianca after way too many close calls. Girlfriend just couldnt get it together! Tyra felt that her inability to soften her face (and personality) took her out of the running to become America's Next Top Model.

Episode 13-03: Stop complaining already!

2009-09-24T15:06:22Z

Oops She Did it Again: Bianca just doesn't get it! When you are a model, if you are given a Dumpster and a trash bag, you better work it girl. This challenge, the aspiring models had to pose with a 5-foot jockey and horse. Bianca was not happy that she was given a platinum blonde wig and she totally wigged out. Tyra and the gang were not pleased one bit. Bianca really needs to quit blaming the makeup, wigs, and stylists for her sub par modeling if she wants to stay in this competition.

Once again, Bianca dodges the bullet as Courtney with the broken foot gets eliminated for a foul 'tude over having to wear her not-so-cute cast in the photo shoot. Courtney said that she just couldn't feel sexy with that thing on. Come on ladies! You need to work it out!

Episode 13-02: Ty-over time!

2009-09-22T21:11:10Z

Best hissy fit: Bianca unnecessarily freaking out about her Ty-over (Tyra makeover, how cute!). Seriously, we've seen girls get their heads shaved. We've seen girls cry about getting a new weave put in. But Bianca went bonkers over getting her eye brows bleached! Lady, get it together! There are no tears in modeling.

Hasn't she seen past seasons of ANTM? If you complain about your makeover, Tyra will hear about it and you will be called out. SMH. Well Bianca wasn't eliminated but she did land in the bottom two. We've got our eye on you, B! Shape up or go home.

Episode 13-01: Only shorties need apply

2009-09-22T21:08:11Z

America's Next Top Model season 13 is back and fiercer than ever. Tyra Banks and her fabulous team -- Jay Manuel, J. Alexander, and Nigel Barker -- take another step towards model and beauty equality with this season's models. All are 5'7" and under. The ANTM team cuts it down from 32 to 20 vivacious, gorgeous, and petite semi-finalists. Ultimately, 14 girls are chosen to be the pioneers of petite modeling. This season has got some definite crazies and drama is brewing all over the place!

Best moment of the night? The fact that all the models are 5'7" and under! Short girls can be super models, too! Looking forward to a great season. Short in height but high on drama.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 5

2009-07-15T20:00:17Z

The Winner: Nicole Linkletter
From the beginning, Nicole's supermodel looks were undeniable. She had the hair, the pale skin, the wide eyes, and the height to make it on any professional runway. Still, her performance didn't seem to pick up until midway through the competition. The judges described her personality as bland, especially when you compare it to Lisa, Kim, and Bre's show-stopping moments. But in this cycle, Tyra clearly wanted the winner to be high fashion and actually work in the industry. Nicole did just that. She especially had an advantage in the London when the girls went abroad. Was too much working in Nicole's favor? I might be a devil's advocate, but Top Model needs a little struggle now and then.

My Pick: Nik Pace
Now of course I have a bias, but I thought Nik was fantastic. While her and Nicole both embraced the supermodel styles that Mr. Jay gave them, Nik seemed to have more passion for the competition. Nik performed consistently well and was called out before Nicole at a majority of the eliminations. She was also extremely versatile. Nicole's look may have pigeonholed her into the pale, blank face, high fashion jobs, but Nik's personality and ethnically ambiguous features should have been a red flag to Tyra and the judges that she could represent Top Model in a multitude of outlets. Nik's 2nd place is nothing to be ashamed of, but if I could go back in time, Cycle 5 may be on my list of things to fix.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 3

2009-07-08T16:50:38Z

The Winner: Eva Pigford
Now I have to admit, Cycle 3 is the season I feel the least comfortable blogging about. I have only seen it once or twice all the way through, compared to the more recent seasons that I watch every night before I go to bed and play on loop as I sleep.

Eva Pigford was deserving of the title. Runner up, Yaya Da Costa may have been more high fashion, but in my eyes, she took herself entirely too seriously. After the brownie incident, Yaya "felt the need" to wear "RESPEITO" across her chest, making up for the "lack of it" in the ANTM house. Eva had the personality and commercial appeal to make for the perfect CoverGirl, even with her height working against her. Post ANTM, Eva works her butt off, booking campaigns, fashion shows, and television roles. She now goes by "Eva Marcille." But I've heard some call her Eva-Diva.

My Pick: Toccara Jones
Plus-size models have to defend their role in the fashion industry daily (Janice Dickenson, anyone?). It makes sense for the judges to want to make ANTM as professional as possible. However, the judges questioning Toccara's role in the competition makes little sense to me. If ANTM truly reflected the industry that they say exists, then they would not have let her on the show to begin with. Toccara performed exceptionally well in photoshoots and challenges. Her consecutive "CoverGirl of the Week" wins showed that she was someone America looked up to. Here was the confident, beautiful, and sassy plus-size model that Tyra was waiting for. Today, Toccara's success as a model and entertainer prove her fierceness. We have yet to see another ANTM plus-size model measure up.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 7

2009-06-30T20:26:08Z

The Winner: CariDee English
CariDee was unquestionably beautiful, but in my eyes, never took it to the next level. She always, however, got noticed, winning CoverGirl of the Week frequently. Viewers enjoyed how outgoing and witty she was, a very relatable contestant when you consider how many sensational characters compete on ANTM. It may just be personal preference, but to me CariDee didn't have the X-factor (modeling wise) that makes America's Next Top Model unforgettable. Post competition, CariDee's personality has made her wildly successful, hosting many different shows and events. But does a standout personality translate to a standout model?

My Pick: Melrose Bickerstaff
Melrose may have rubbed every girl in the competition the wrong way, but it didn't stop her from almost winning America's Next Top Model. She had everything going for her: a background in fashion, a versatile look, and won nearly half of the reward challenges. The judges, and other contestants, saw Melrose as a perfectionist who would do whatever it took to win. Why should she be faulted for that? Sure, she never won CoverGirl of the Week. But in a cutthroat industry, being driven and self-motivated are qualities that should be recognized as positive. She wanted it more than anyone. Her passion aside, Melrose took some of my favorite pictures in the entire series. She was even called out earlier more consistently than CariDee. Tyra constantly reminds contestants that America's Next Top Model is not a beauty pageant. Perhaps there should be less of an emphasis on likeability for that distinction to be made.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 10

2009-06-24T16:00:00Z

The Winner: Whitney Thompson

Whitney made for a great CoverGirl: she is well spoken, friendly, personable, and most importantly, sets a positive example for young women to be healthy and comfortable in their bodies. She made history by being the first plus-sized winner of America's Next Top Model. But it would be impossible for me to agree with her victory. Don't get me wrong, I am no Renee! I can picture a plus-sized model on the cover of Vogue...just not Whitney. Her win was especially surprising when you take into consideration how exceptionally Katarzyna, Fatima, and Anya all performed throughout the competition. Whitney may have been the best fit for the CoverGirl contract, but then the show would be called America's Next Top CoverGirl.

My Picks: Katarzyna Dolinska and Fatima Siad

These girls were international, catwalking, eye-smiling, powerhouses of fierceness. I still can't wrap my mind around why either of them didn't make it farther. Their pictures speak for themselves. The amount of high-fashion work that Katarzyna and Fatima get post-ANTM also atests to their talent. They are the real deal. Katarzyna was eliminated because the judges thought she was coasting through the competition. I think they got too accustomed to how spectacular she was, taking it for granted. It seems like the only real way to get attention from the judges is to do horrible and then miraculously improve. Fatima had been called out first three times and Whitney only once. Unfortunately for Fatima, her elimination came down to performance in a CoverGirl commercial. But in all honesty, I would rather see Fatima's "Life As A CoverGirl" than Whitney baking cupcakes.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 6

2009-06-17T20:24:04Z

The Winner: Danielle Evans

I don't have a single criticism about Danielle. She was strong throughout the competition, had a great attitude, and is one of the most successful winners of ANTM. Danielle is in the Top Model Hall of Fame for being in the hospital one morning and delivering a gorgeous photograph on top of an elephant later that day. Tyra repeats this story to every contestant that claims to use 'sickness' as an excuse for not delivering a flawless shot. The judges felt that Danielle's thick, southern accent would make her difficult to understand in CoverGirl commercials. She was also pressured to 'fix' the gap between her front teeth. Danielle kept her integrity and didn't change who she was for the competition. Interestingly enough, Danielle never won a reward challenge. But since when does organizing mascara on a Wal-Mart display translate to model stardom?

My Pick: Jade Cole

For the sole reason that she is the most entertaining person in Top Model history, I would have loved to see Jade make it to the end. This "undiscovered supermodel," as she described herself, seemed to be on another planet for most of the competition. Jade created an entire vocabulary of new words (Jade-isms, if you will) like "withhandle," "dwelve," and "considerating." Who could forget Jade's CoverGirl commercial? She twirled, flirted, and schmoozed her way through a party, seeming to forget the entire point of the challenge: selling a product. When describing herself to the judges, Jade reminded them, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but at the same time, "What you see is what you get." I could go on for days about Jade. But truth be told, she was FIERCE. She could do high fashion and commercial, and pass as any ethnicity. To put it plainly, Jade took amazing pictures. She is undeniably one-of-a-kind, and I demand that she get her own talk show.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 9

2009-06-10T18:13:34Z

The Winner and Underdog: Saleisha Stowers

At this point, I am sure we are all familiar with the controversy surrounding Saleisha's win. While Cycle 9 aired, evidence surfaced that Saleisha may have had experience and pre-ANTM connections to Tyra Banks that gave her an unfair advantage. Sure, Saleisha appeared in a nationally shown Wendy's commercial and modeled for the "Especially Yours" wig line. But I wouldn't call that high-fashion experience. The real drama surrounded Saleisha's enrollment in T-Zone, Tyra's self-esteem camp for girls, when she was 14. She had even modeled for Rami Kashu (of Project Runway fame) on The Tyra Show. So why is Saleisha an underdog? Because she was given the worst haircut in Top Model history...or rather...the history of womankind. In my eyes, no ANTM makeover, not even Brittany's self-destructive weave, has put a model at such a disadvantage. So despite the supposed edge she had from the start, rocking that bowl-cut made Saleisha the real underdog of Cycle 9.

ANTM Underdogs: Season 8

2009-06-08T14:59:27Z

The Winner: Jaslene Gonzalez

The judges instantly noticed Jaslene's potential after the first and second photoshoots. Her "Death Penalty" and "Weirdo" shots were absolutely striking. However, her "Cha-Cha-Diva" persona seemed to fade (the word no Top Model contestant ever wants to hear). She wasn't the flamboyant model Tyra claimed to have seen at casting. Her all-time low was Week 6. The girls had to give themselves new names. Jaslene stuck with her own name, but her photoshoot, a Brady-Bunch spread of four different emotions, looked exactly the same. I, along with the judges, questioned her versatility. Her pace didn't pick up until nearly the end of the season, the Go-See episode to be exact. Renee may have looked older than Jaslene, but they were actually the same age. Despite Natasha's adorable accent, it may have been difficult for her to sell products to the American masses. Jaslene had the body for high fashion, but was also modeling for a cause, speaking out against domestic abuse. Of the final three, Jaslene was the best fit for America's Next Top Model.

My Pick: Brittany Hatch
Throughout the entire Cycle, Brittany (or Brit after Week 6) had the best shots of the competition. Despite that awful weave working against her, she was the total package from the start. The issue is that Tyra and the judges aim to create America's Next Top Model. They want to find someone with potential and see her grow as a result of their criticism. They want a transformation. Tyra even admitted at elimination, "Dionne you're pictures have been nice, by far not as strong as Brittany's... You have to be coached so, so, so much, as if this was Week 1 of America's Next Top Model." Australia's Next Top Model winner Alice Burdeu seems to fit the "Brit" formula: great model from the start with little to change. However, her lack of a 'journey' was not held against her, as she won the competition. It's true that Brittany messed up in the Go-See challenge, but for the quality of her pictures, she deserved a second chance and should have made it to the end.

Episode 1-01: More Than Just a Pretty Face

2009-05-13T16:00:00Z

Thousands of tapes were submitted, but only twenty were chosen to become America's Next Top Model semi-finalists. The girls were told that after meeting with the judges, only ten New York-bound hopefuls would remain in the running. Some standouts include Ebony, a lesbian from Harlem, Adrianne the rock and roller from the boondocks and a plus-size pageant queen, Robin. Tyra throws the girls for a loop when she tells the girls that the judges only agreed on eight women to move on! Ah! Nicole, Robin, Kesse, Elyse, Katie, Ebony, Adrianne and Shannon are the lucky ones.

After familiarizing themselves with their posh New York penthouse, Tyra announces that she conducted another nationwide search and has found semi-finalists nine and ten to join them, Tessa and Giselle. That's not all though! A personal trainer and bikini waxer pay a surprise visit to the top ten to prepare them for their photo shoot the next morning for JLo Swimsuits. Exciting...and painful! Robin, Kesse, Ebony and Shannon missed the car to the shoot and started their day off on the wrong foot. Tyra even gives it to 'em in front of the others once they arrive at the shoot!

As if the bikini waxes weren't painful enough, the ladies learn that their photo shoot will be on the top of a skyscraper, where the wind chill was about eight degrees! Talk about freezing your tush off! While some excelled and looked like pros, others like Tessa and Shannon failed to impress the photographers. Later on at dinner, Robin and her religious posse dug into Elyse about being atheist, leaving Elyse feeling a bit uncomfortable. Unfortunately, after meeting the judging panel the next day, it was new addition Tessa who got the boot and was sent packing.

Episode 12-12The Final Four

2009-05-08T19:07:23Z

Let me start out by saying that I'm slightly jealous that the girls are in hot and fabulous Brazil. The girls start out by doing a little samba dancing with some hottie boy dancers. Paulina encouraged them to "fake it with confidence." I was really surprised that Celia looked so beautiful and graceful as she faked her way through the dance. She gets picked on for being "too old" in modeling years (she's 25), but she certainly proved to the other girls and the judges that she's clearly got what it takes! Poor Allison looked as if she had pebbles in her shoes. She was stiff uncomfortable and looked awkward for the entire dance. Poor girl. I'm embarrassed for her. Ouch! Yay for Celia who won the challenge. You can teach an old model new tricks!

The girls wake up early for hair and make up and they're whisked away to the beautiful Brazilian jungle. They're met by a hyper-excited Tyra who's going to shoot the girls...in feathers. Holy Tuscan Sam! Beauty and feathers don't really seem to go hand in hand. I'm trying not to laugh out loud! Poor Allison definitely needs to "fake it with confidence" because she looks like Courtney Love on a really really off day. Sorry Ally! We still love you though. It's not your fault. On to the photo shoot!

Allison's photo was deemed stunning by the judging panel. I guess feathers can be photogenic. Tyra says Allison's pic is the best of the week. Who knew? Anyway...Teyona also had a great shot. She's my fav so far and she's my pick for the season winner. Come on, she's the opposite of last season's winner, McKey! She's a shoe-in! Aminat didn't take such a great pic but she's decent enough. So who goes home? Looks like Celia is getting kicked out of the nest. Tyra says Celia is too "mature" for the youth obsessed fashion industry. I don't agree with their choice! I would've sent Aminat home, but alas Tyra hasn't approached me yet about joining the judging panel. There's always next season though! Good luck Celia! I'll miss you!

Episode 12-03Make Me Famous

2009-05-08T18:47:21Z

It's that time again! Makeovers! Of course, there were the usual emotional outbursts...crying, skepticism and absolute adoration! Jessica went short and voluminous, Sandra went bleach blonde, Allison went long and blonde, Nijah got a weave, Fo got a short 'do (which she wasn't too thrilled about), Celia got cut short, Aminat got Naomi Cambell waves, Kortnie went fiery red, London goes short and blonde, Tiana got a slicked back weave, Tahlia went blonde and Natalie stayed the EXACT same. I don't think that's ever happened in Top Model history! After the girls got their hair done, they were put into teams of 3 where they got to play CoverGirl spokesmodel to random NYC women. Sandra, Aminat and Celia won the challenge and won a photoshoot for CoverGirl that will be featured on WalMart.com. Exciting!

The next day the ladies were whisked away to a photo shoot with renowned fashion photographer, Nigel Barker. The girls were to conduct their own lighting during the rock & roll inspired group shoot to demonstrate their skills of lighting and posing. While some did really well, like Celia, Tiana and Allison, others like Jessica, Fo and Aminat weren't so hot. Nigel even told the girls that Celia overshadowed the "main attractions" in some of the photos, even though she was in the background. Ouch! Anyway, Jessica gets sent home despite being the "pretty girl" proving true that modeling is more than just a pretty face.