America’s Next Top Model: Tyra Takes a Stand and Will the Real Diva Please Come Forward
With the first photo shoot on the horizon for the young aspiring models a lot was at stake for the ladies. Surprisingly Ebony melted from an outspoken diva into a puddle of tentativeness and Bianca more than took her place with extra bells, whistles, flair and fanfare. In the end Tyra took a stand on an issue that has followed the modeling industry like the Papparazzi follows Britney making for a possible extra tough future for some of the young girls.
The girls start out with Jay in the L.A. fashion district. It was time to usher them to their new mansion and we found out that “Top Model” was going green. They loaded up in their 100% BioDiesel van instead of a stretch pimped out limo. It was a sweet “green” ride with grass inside and recycled tires for seats. Very glamorous for a green machine.
The Top Model mansion was gorgeous. Tyra was plastered everywhere of course and there was a lit runway with a monitor to watch themselves practice. Jaslene also got a few photos placed strategically about the house. Ebony decided she needed to be a little more reserved since some of the girls don’t like her and Mila had always thought she should be a model. So humble that girl can be.
The three major themes of the episode seemeed to be that Heather tended to keep to herself and was awkward which caused the girls to talk smack about her, Ebony’s withdrawal into herself and how Bianca has it out for Lisa.
The first photo shoot for the models was creating awareness of the horrible impacts of smoking. It is seen as glamorous and it directly impacts the modeling industry. What a cool shoot! They took one photo of them looking all glamorous and smoking and then one of them looking all nasty from the effects. They then combined the two images to make a bold statement. It was a great shoot. Mike Rosenthal was their photographer. He did the awesome freak show and dead model shots from last season. Some of the effects they represented were lung cancer, hair loss from chemotherapy, a burn victim, second hand smoke, and premature aging.
As the models took to their first shoot Ambreal was first and had great energy. Jenah admitted she was a smoker. Mila had the great dorky music behind her photo shoot which usually means she’s not doing the best. She couldn’t stop laughing at how she looked as a cancer victim. Okay, Mila must have some seriously deep issues she is covering up. I think Mila is on the chopping block for which I am eternally grateful. Jay got annoyed and that is never good. Janet did well and Chantal was striking. I thought her picture could have been in a magazine with that shoot.
The Bianca and Lisa drama was sprinkled through the whole shoot. Bianca had it out for “phony” Lisa. What does Bianca have against her? Oh wait, could it be that she is beautiful? Saleisha and Heather posed together for their shot because they represented second hand smoke. Heather struggled and Saleisha shut down a bit as she worked with Heather. Well, Heather did her best and the camera seemed to love her. I’m not worried for either of them. Kimberly had to take quite a bit of direction from Jay; I don’t see her making it far in this competition at all. Sarah was gorgeous and of course there was more Bianca and Lisa talkin’ smack in the make-up room and Bianca brought it all on.
Next was Victoria, the self-proclaimed nerd. She had beautiful lines. Ebony looked like a nervous disco diva and her legs were so stiff and awkward. Jay put it nicely by saying she looked like she was sitting on a toilet. Bianca held back on Jay and he pointed it out but she did better with the second half of her shoot. As she pranced off set she arrogantly proclaimed how great she was. The smack-down between her and Lisa was only moments away after that. Lisa was next up and Jay liked her poses. She connected emotionally and did great. Better than Bianca.
After Lisa’s photo shoot Bianca got her peacock puffed up Diva on and asked Lisa if she thought she did better than her and let her know that nodody did better than her. I’m shocked at her brazenness. It is 100% unattractive. Bianca needs to watch herself on video and see how absolutely conceited and arrogant she is!! Then on the way out from the photo shoot Bianca tells Lisa she is not her competition, she’s a stripper and nobody wants an exotic dancer for a Top Model so she should just go home. Lisa was in tears and gave her a few choice words. How sad. Bianca is only 18 and she’s already like that? Her beauty-o-meter continues to take a dive each time she opens her mouth and it will take a miracle for her to be the final model standing with all that going on up in her head and crawling out of her mouth.
Back at the house Lisa was the bigger person and made up with Bianca. Bianca apologized and then confessed to the camera she was all strategic because she didn’t want it to come up at panel what she had said. Her 18 years were shining brightly.
Mila got some much needed points with me because she noticed Heather was acting kind of weird but she was really open-minded and wanted to give her a shot. The other girls though weren’t quite as nice and more often than not the girls talked smack about her.
Miss J. made a surprise visit later and talked to them about style. Then he sent them to “Old Navy” to choose basic items to impress the judges at panel. Benny Ninja the posing instructor showed up at the store all decked out in way too many accessories. They had ten minutes to pick out an outfit. Heather seemed to have trouble picking trendy and Ebony showed up with no pants.
Kimberly gossiped about Heather back at the house because of her social awkwardness. Later Heather talked to her mom and her mom told her to believe in herself. What a great mom. She even told her to be sweet to the other girls. All those gossiping catty girls… I want Heather to win it all!
It was now time for elimination. They didn’t seem to like anyone’s “Old Navy” outfit except Saleisha’s. Most of the girls had too many accessories or picked ill-fitting clothes. Saleisha won. She obviously looked the best and walked away with a 1,000 dollar spending spree at “Old Navy” and will get to be in an “Old Navy” ad.
First up was Chantal. Tyra was blown away by her shots. She just had to watch the “bedroom eyes”. Jenah’s picture was great and her emotion came across. She shared she was a smoker and that she quit when she got back to the house. Ambreal’s shot was that of a model but Tyra just doesn’t see it when she looks at her in person. With Victoria Twiggy said she would never know from her photograph how shy and insecure she was it was so good. Victoria told Twiggy that she might be shy but she’s not insecure. Nigel encouraged her to say it with a smile or people immediately won’t like her. She took it well as Twiggy told her to work on her charm and said “yes ma’am”. Victoria just needs a little polishing. They love, love, loved Lisa’s photo. There was a sassiness about her they liked. She was paid a high compliment when she was compared to another high fashion model Shalom Harlow. I’m sure Bianca was silently seething.
Mila’s picture according to Miss J. looked like she just passed gas. Her body looked awkward and her eyes weren’t focused on anywhere. Sarah’s photo was breathtaking. Tyra loved all of her pictures. There was an inner dialogue going on and there was story she saw looking through her film. The camera loved Bianca but it was a little too posed and there was no light in her eyes. Tyra told her she more than anybody needs to study photographs and learn. Janet’s profile was strong and beautiful. Ebony’s photo was stiff and her legs looked bony and sick. They encouraged her to just be herself. Kimberly was up next. Her shot was a little hoochie but her ugly shot was great. Saleisha and Heather were last. Saleisha had the sass going on in the photo and they loved Heather and her dark hair, pale skin and the quiet beauty she exuded. They got a well done from all the judges.
Next the judges deliberated. Nigel thought Chantal was too perfect. Janet didn’t look like a model to Twiggy. Ambreal was beautiful but they weren’t seeing a model. Mila had a dead photo. Miss J. wasn’t 100% sold yet on Saleisha. Jenah was a little boring. Kimberly needed to watch her hoochie. Ebony was one of the most beautiful girls in Nigel’s eyes but there was a dark side to her. When they were critiquing her she just couldn’t handle it. Sarah was stunning. Lisa was loved and fabulous. Nigel thought Victoria had one of the best pictures of the bunch and they loved Heather’s face. She in their opinion photographed like a dream. The other judges didn’t know she had Asperger’s and were really proud of her and thought it quite brave of her to be in the competition. Bianca had a beautiful face but she didn’t seem “alive”.
When the girls came back into the room Tyra dropped her bombshell. This season would be a no smoking cycle. Wow, go Tyra. That will surely have some girls quitting cold turkey which should make for some interesting drama ahead. I’m proud of Tyra. You go change agent girl! The first girl Tyra called was Heather. Let that be a lesson to all of you gossiping catty girls who talked smack about Heather behind her back all week long KIMBERLY. The judges loved her non-conventional look and wanted to see more of her. Lisa got called next! Woo hoo!!!! Bianca got called late in the pack which was good for her since she’s so all that in her eyes. It boiled down to Ebony and Mila as the last two girls standing. Ebony got to stay and Mila got sent home. Did I see tears in her eyes? I hope so. She needed to get more in touch with her emotions. Leaving the house she confessed she thought was going to win the whole thing. Well, somebody has to be first to go and after all, there can only be one “Top Model”.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
