Long Hair, No Hair and learning not to fill your cheeks full of bun!

Hello America’s Next Top Model Fans!

After a few weeks off, we are finally back in Top Model form and have a double dose of ANTM!  For those of you who don’t know, episodes 2 and 3 aired this past weekend on Saturday back to back.

I totally love the new intro for the show!  How fierce is the whole rock star video feel? This episode starts off with the girls talking about the amazing prizing for this cycle’s winner, including a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl, a guest correspondent role with ‘Extra’, a cover on Italian vogue, as well as a blog on Vogue IT. 

Isis is still basking in the glow from her previous win and she feels very confident that she will take the competition all the way. Alexandria reflects on how she was really upset that the fans didn’t seem to like her, but says that even though people don’t seem to take to her,  she has a lot of support from friends and family back home and feels that she is truly just a ‘misunderstood star’.  Sheena talks about how hard it is to be an Asian in the modelling industry and feels like she wants to make her mark and really represent her culture.  Tyra then walks into the apartment with Martin Lindstrom, a brand strategist who works with fortune 500 companies and also represents Tyra. Tyra tells the girls that Martin is a genius at what he does and even though he is harsh, he gets results.

Martin talks to all the girls about how they can stand out and stretch their 15 minutes of fame over a lifetime.  He tells them that they all could use help establishing their brand because he hasn’t seen any of them on the cover of a magazine or on a television show outside of Top Model.  He tells the girls they have asked fans what image they each portray and how these labels compart to how the girls brand themselves.  Each girl is given a different word that they embody based on fan feedback.

Laura is ‘daring’.

Sheena is ‘unexpected’

Kayla is ‘free’

Shannon is ‘trustworthy’

Dominique is a ‘survivor’

Allison is ‘unique’

Angelea is ‘persistence’

Bre is ‘girlfriend’

Camille is ‘proud’

Isis is ‘inspiration’

Laura is ‘lovable’

Alexandria is ‘tough’

Bianca is ‘candid’

The girls are told to think about everything they say and every action they take and how to exemplify their brand. 

The next day brings the girls to see Mr. Jay at Siren Studios in Hollywood.  Miss Jay then comes in and introduces singer Ashlee Simpson who talks about how each girl’s image and brand is so important to their success.  Mr. Jay says that the girls are going to receive Ty-Overs, a.k.a. Tyra Makeovers! 

Alexandria's new shorter do!

Bre's cropped cut

The most drastic makeovers are the girls who get their locks chopped off.  Alexandria looks fabulous with a new shaggy do and Lisa also looks fabulous with her shorter crop.  Only Bre is extremely dissatisfied with her very short cut and threatens to quit and leave the competition because she is so unhappy about the way she looks.  I actually think her hair looks really sleek and sophisticated with her asymmetrical cut.

                                                           

Mr. Jay walks in with lunch for the girls from the famous Pink’s Hot Dogs.  He explains that the photo shoot they’ll be doing will be a picture of each girl with their very own hot dog creation that represents their brand.  The winner will be featured on the Pink’s website and they will ‘model’ their ANTM dog! 

Laura puts everything on her hot dog including beans, chili, BBQ sauce and everything that would be on a cook out!  She performs really well with innovative and fun poses and starts things off with a bang.

Camille has a hard time making it look natural and suffers the ultimate insult when Mr. Jay brings Laura in to ‘show her how it’s done’.  Angelea impresses Mr. Jay and looks refined and beautiful and Bianca also does well in her shoot.  Sheena adds rose petals to her hot dog and tries to do something ‘unexpected’ like her brand, but has a hard time getting a good shot.  Alexandria looks amazing and cries in reaction to her new makeover.  She feels so happy with her new look and has an amazing session. Kayla has a hard time and Mr. Jay advises her to ‘try not to fill her cheeks full of bun’!  Lisa creates a hot dog with no bun and Mr. Jay loves the poses she strikes.

Lisa's winning shot

At elimination, Ashlee Simpson joins the judging panel.  The judges think that Bianca and Lisa did really well and that Kayla and Sheena performed the worst.  Before the winners and losers are announced, Tyra pulls out a razor and says that although she had initially encouraged Nigel to grow out his hair, it does not suit the ANTM brand and she immediately shaves off his hair!  I for one, am relieved…Nigel looks incredible without the added hair!

After Nigel’s quickie makeover, they announce Lisa as the winner and Bianca as the runner up.

Kayla

Sheena

Sheena and Kayla are then announced as the bottom two and Sheena gets sent home.  Sheena talks about how disappointed she is that she didn’t go further in the competition and how she didn’t have a chance to show her true star quality.  She says she is okay with being eliminated because she will always be remembered as an All Star.

Do You Have ‘Booty Tooch’? Episode 3 Recap

The girls open this episode talking about how two strong girls have gone home and everyone is a little nervous seeing great contenders go home so early. Lisa is thrilled to have won Best Photo but knows it is not safe for anyone.  Isis talks about how she is here to win.  Allison acknowledges that she is strange and quirky but knows that she is smart and has the energy to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Kristin Cavallari from ‘The Hills’ and ‘Laguna Beach’ drops in to see the girls at the mansion and shares her experiences being a reality t.v. star.  She talks about misperception and how no matter what they do, they will always have haters and it is key to remain true to themselves if they want to succeed.  Kristin talks about finding a great agent and publicist and how she is now producing a reality show and a shoe line.  She encourages all of girls to make smart choices and to decide what their brand will be. 

The girls later arrive at the Grove Mall and Nigel Barker informs them that they are to be interviewed by Mario Lopez from ‘Extra’.  Angelea is excited and talks about how beautiful Mario is!  The girls are split into two teams and the winning team automatically receives immunity from elimination. 

Mario interviews team one and Lisa first and although she answers her questions well, she interrupts other girls and constantly high-fives everyone during the interview.  Isis talks about the importance of educating the public about acceptance and her transition from male to female. 

Team two is up next and Bianca makes the mistake of saying she sometimes experiences ‘word vomit’ when trying to communicate her message.  Allison demonstrates an ease in front of camera and Camille talks about how she has a degree and if modelling doesn’t work out, she will continue to pursue a career in fashion.

Nigel informs everyone that team two comes out on top and Allison is the big winner of the ‘Extra’ interview challenge.

The next day the girls head into Siren Studios and see people on dancing on stilts.  Mr. Jay tells the girls that there will be teams of two and each team will consist of one girl from the winning team and one from the losing team.  Each pair will model on stilts and it is up to the girls to make an impression. 

Dominique and Allison

Most of the girls fall multiple times and try to pose in creative ways.  At elimination, only Dominique, Isis, Angelea, Lisa, Alexandria and Laura are at risk of going home.  Kristin Cavallari joins the judging panel.  Allison is announced as the winner and Tyra mentions that the effectiveness of her picture is in her ‘Booty Tooch’ – her ability to give her derriere more shape and attitude by arching her back in a sharper angle.

The bottom two are announced to be Isis and Angelea.  Tyra explains that neither girl took the worst photo, but because of the immunity challenge, they were now the bottom two.  Isis is sent home and says how she is shocked to be going home so early.  Isis says she will continue to make appearances, public speaking engagements and establish a presence in the entertainment industry.

I am sorry to see her go home.  Isis was one of my favourites and I definitely think she had a lot more to give.  Let’s see what drama and excitement next week brings!

                                                                                               

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J