'America's Next Top Model': Paulina Porizkova dishes on Tyra's tardiness

In a new interview with "Access Hollywood's" Billy Bush, former "America's Next Top Model" judge Paulina Porizkova mused why she was suddenly persona non grata with host Tyra Banks. 

“I must admit I was having a little bit of an issue with Tyra being late for every judging,” she told Billy. “It’s six hours later and I feel like I am being told my time is not as valuable as hers. They pointed out that I should shut up and be grateful for the job and that Tyra is really busy.”

Paulina should have checked her contract, where one imagines it clearly states that it's Tyra's world and we're just living in it.

-- Claire Zulkey

(art: WireImage)

For an "America's Next Top Model" cycle that started off with a lot of spark and lighthearted promise, the finale lacked a little luster.  But why? Teyona Anderson and Allison Harvard are both beautiful in unique ways. Unfortunately, neither creates TV magic on her own, and the show's rigid formality has made the finales more rote than riveting.

As usual, for instance, the top three found out that they'd be shooting a CoverGirl commercial and photo and that the winner's ad would appear in Wal-Mart stores (the news of this made Allison look as if she wanted to cry).  As usual, the previous Top Model (McKey Sullivan, in this case, looking lovely) stopped by to give advice and pretend to be having an off-the-cuff conversation about how great CoverGirl's newest product is. 

The girls did look beautiful, Aminat Ayinde in red, Allison in a fluttery teal dress, Teyona rocking yellow effortlessly. Aminat was slightly underwhelming, as was Allison, but for her underwhelming was better than awkward. Teyona stumbled over her words and cried. Oh honey. If there is one thing you shouldn't do, it's to cry. Then the makeup people have to come back and everyone is waiting for you. Why didn't anyone give her this advice?  Finally, Teyona made it through a take before the girls had to face Tyra, who was dressed like an evil queen. 

The judges deliberated: the judges were impressed that Allison pulled off both the commercial and the shoot.  Aminat's commercial was OK but her film was just "wah-wah," plus she had all the potential but couldn't work her face well.  Tellingly, the judges didn't have too much to say about Teyona despite her meltdown. Despite the Brazilian judge saying Allison wouldn't be his pick for a fashion show, Aminat was sent packing and as usual Allison and Teyona would face off in a fashion show. Allison was nervous, but she had practiced her walk and "gotten over feeling lame," which is a feeling we all should aspire to. 

Each season the producers try and up the ante on the fashion show with some silly gimmick like having it be on a hill or over a swimming pool or something. This was the first time, though, that the show felt rather second-rate and unprofessional. The first part of the show was a copy of a Victoria's Secret event, with the girls modeling swimsuits and wearing big feathered wings (plus over-the-top makeup that didn't seem to correspond at all with the rest of the look). Both girls performed adequately (that meaning, again, that Allison was surprisingly competent). Then, in what must have been a very long break, the girls changed into brand-new big costumes, this time with headpieces, and sambaed down the aisle.  Finally, after another pause for serious restyling, and seemingly unconnected to the other two parts of the show, the girls were covered in grime and oil and had to slither down the aisle on their hands and knees.  Allison said that it resembled an art installation, but it was more like a scene from a creepy '60s sex play. Teyona's fake ponytail fell off and, rather than freak out about it, she whipped it in the air -- which would have been cool if a.) this hadn't been done already on "RuPaul's Drag Race") and b.) the wig weren't still sort of connected to her head by an icky-looking thread.  But the girls "walked" the catwalk well in that case, I suppose. 

Because Allison and Teyona had modeled bikinis during the fashion show, they naturally had to wear them during judges' final panel, and it looked chilly. The girls always have the best makeup during the last judging, and Allison looked amazing with smoky eyes. The judges deliberated, and were wowed by Allison's improvement, but felt Teyona had wanted it more, and lo Teyona is our next Top Model. 

I'm not worried about Allison, though. I had heard of her as "Creepy Chan" online before the cycle even started, so I have a feeling we'll hear from her more in the future.

— Claire Zulkey

(art: the CW)

First Lucas and Peyton, and now Paulina?

"America's Next Top Model" judge Paulina Porizkova broke the news that she had been let go from the show Tuesday on CBS' "Late, Late Show." She told host Craig Ferguson that she was in Los Angeles looking for a job "because I was fired by 'America's Next Top Model' on my birthday."

She said she was terminated over the phone.

"The reason I was told I was fired was because, it seemed, that [the show] has gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me," Porizkova said.  

Bad blood between Porizkova and 'Top Model' star and executive producer Tyra Banks? Perhaps: "I figured it was either that or my gigantic huge ego. Which I wasn't aware of until I was told by the producers that I had an ego problem."

"Oh, I see what this is. I see what it is. It's rivalry. You and Tyra," Ferguson said. "Well, I was working for her, so it's not quite rivalry," the former supermodel said. "I really believe they just felt like they didn't need me, which of course they don't."

A rep for the CW confirmed her departure but declined to comment on whether or not Porizkova would be replaced on the upcoming 13th season.

The season finale of "America's Next Top Model" -- it comes down to Teyona, Aminat and Allison -- airs tonight.

-- Denise Martin

Photo credit: The CW

For the last four episodes of “America’s Next Top Model,” Celia Ammerman fought a battle with her age (an ancient 24), but somehow failed to stop or reverse the aging process up until tonight's episode.  Would she continue to be old or learn her lesson in time?

Before this cycle's final three were revealed, the girls were given a samba lesson, Paulina Porizkova advising that the aim was not only to move one's body but also to make it look easy. Celia moved with way too much elegance for a tall old crone, but Paulina gave her the maddening advice that she wanted it too much and that she was desperate, which was not sexy because she was too old. It was almost as if Paulina, who is older than 24 herself, was getting a thrill out of telling Celia how decrepit she really was.  Allison danced awkwardly, which she had warned everyone about, Aminat Ayinde moved naturally and Teyona Anderson, as her pal Aminat put it, had two left feet.

It feels like the "lessons" and then challenges this cycle during the last few weeks have been lacking either relevance or creativity. After learning how to dance, the girls put their new skills to work on a ... dance challenge. Allison, who hilariously described herself as a "rickety little windup doll made of tin," did not anticipate that she'd fare well, but Aminat was confident in her own skills and was unhappy when ol' Celia won the challenge (because she wrote the word "relax" on her wrist, sort of like how Lindsay Lohan tattooed the reminder "breathe" on her wrist, only not as stupidly permanent). It was odd when Paulina seemed to find it so strange that Celia chose her buddy Allison to share in the jewelry prize with her. It's never been typical on this show for the girls to share their prizes with who should have won, as opposed to their chums, but at least Aminat didn't seem to take it personally. The girls picked out some beautiful jewelry, and I am now trying to find a knockoff of Celia's onyx drop earrings. To celebrate her victory, Celia struck a seductive "Lost in Translation" pose in her panties in the girls' hotel room.

The contestants were woken up by makeup artists Sutan and Christian jumping into bed with them, were partially made up and then driven out to the jungle, "not the jungle for TV" as Aminat clarified. For some reason, Tyra pretended to be a woman angrily kicking her broken-down Jeep, one of her best performances to date. Her reason for being out in the jungle? Not to teach the girls the "Guidelines for Unchaining Their Figurative Fierceness," or whatever it is, but to photograph them.

I don't know if Tyra was drinking some cachaça or if the heat was going to her head, but she was especially dotty during this episode. She held onto a huge prop wrench for an unnecessarily long period of time and advised the girls about the number of varieties of insects in the jungle, but clarifying, "We're not about insects. We're about birds!" The girls would be portraying birds in their photo shoot, but not just any old birds. Allison, for instance, would be an "owl-slash-pterodactyl" who'd be protecting her eggs.  Tyra, who makes Mother Theresa look like garbage, told Allison that due to her own experience as a model she sympathized with the pain of squatting over fake eggs, and thus Allison was allowed to stand up from time to time. At the end of the shoot Allison told Tyra that she was "really pretty," and then bemoaned what a "square" she is. I don't think she belongs in the top three, but she can be entertaining, that Allison.

For her shoot, Aminat resembled drag queen goddess Bebe Zahara Benet, but of course not nearly as fierce. As Tyra and Jay Manuel discussed Celia's shoot, Tyra got buzzed by a wayward moth and freaked out. Time to get out of the jungle, Tyra, before the horror comes and gets you.

Teyona predicted that only Celia or Aminat would make the top three, not both. I personally wanted to see the two of them in the top three and possibly do a photo shoot together since I thought they have similar lanky tall figures, and the contrast between Celia’s pale skin and short blonde hair and Aminat’s beautiful dark skin and long black hair would look amazing in a picture.

The judges loved Allison's photo, so much that it inspired Mr. J. Alexander to speak in bird tones, which went over like a lead balloon. They liked Teyona's picture but weren't entirely enthusiastic about it, and felt the same way about Aminat's. They seemed to like Celia's picture but not enough to save her from the bottom two. Tyra informed Celia and Aminat that what they have in common is that they're butterfaces. Well, what she really said is that they're both fabulous from the neck down. And unfortunately, Celia, unable to stop the hands of time, was finally sent home.

Tyra gave Celia a lovely farewell and predicted that she'd have a great career in fashion, just so long as she says in the background the way old people should.

So next week Teyona, Aminat and Allison will battle it out for this cycle's top model. I don't think Allison will be able to pull off the Cover Girl challenge, and while the judges love Teyona, I've never found her one of the prettier girls in the competition, possibly due to her high hairline. Aminat is like that woman in the episode of "Seinfeld" who sometimes looks gorgeous, sometimes looks wrong, but I think due to her amazing body and tendency to occasionally say something vaguely amusing, I'm pulling for her to win it all.

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

I feel as if I've learned a lot about modeling from this cycle of “America's Next Top Model.” It is better for a model to be old than short, but better to be old or short rather than fat.

We were served up tonight's judging showdown right at the beginning of the episode, with Celia Ammerman talking about her decrepitude (age 25) being a liability for her the competition, and Fo Porter lamenting her shortness. Fo was still a bit annoyingly immature, but it was nice to hear her admit that before the show she was a slacker, and for once she actually wants to try hard at something. Yes! That is what America's youth needs!  Can-do spirit, as long as you're on the right reality show!

The girls had their go-see challenge this episode, which made Allison Harvard want to "die a little bit" (say what you want about her looks, but she's one of the more personable girls to come along on this show). They all fought traffic and Allison fought against the better instincts that told her not to wear a silly leopard-print bow in her hair.

It seemed like the girls modeled more fabulous-than-usual clothes than on previous go-see episodes.  Celia looked amazing in a bikini and translucent caftan and Allison modeled a beautiful dress by Osklen covered in long, narrow swinging palettes.  Not surprisingly though Allison's bad walk was a factor against her in the challenge, as Fo's shortness was against her. The judges liked Celia's elegance and Aminat Ayinde's beauty and body. By the way, Aminat made a joke about being African and how that means that she's never on time, so make of that what you will: funny, irreverent joke or unfunny reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Teyona Anderson won the go-see challenge, and she and Allison and Aminat got to take a helicopter back to the meeting place. After returning to their rooms, Teyona bragged about the new clothes she won in the go-see challenge, which the judges and Celia all noted that she needed desperately, as her wardrobe had been lacking.

The photo challenge was a swimsuit shoot, with the girls needing to stand out in a large scene of characters, as shot by Nigel Barker. I was hoping Allison would remember to tell Nigel that he was her favorite photographer, as earlier in the cycle she'd stupidly said that to another photographer in his presence, but she missed a great opportunity to make up and be funny. She did have a good shoot, though, flirting with the camera and using the extras, utilizing the nervousness she got from being in a literally obscenely small bikini to her advantage. The shoot was less than high-fashion overall, especially as the girls for some reason needed to wear one glove, a la Michael Jackson, with their suits. Celia, after practicing too hard in front of the mirror, got flustered when the shoot wasn't what she expected, and Fo turned out a horribly unflattering picture that made her look squat, not to mention short.

At panel, Tyra Banks, wearing a fuller-than-usual wig, gave the girls a modeling lesson (remember when she actually used to go and hang out with the girls at the house? I miss those days) and Paulina Porizkova advised Celia not to practice any earlier than the night before a modeling shoot, because "the more you try, the more you'll sink."

The judges praised Aminat's body and Allison's "sexual mermaid" photo, and the bottom two came down to — surprise! — Fo and Celia, for being too short and too old. Celia made it through to another week (and again, I do like her: She seems old-fashioned and elegant in a way I like). Fo, not surprisingly, wept when she found out she was going home, but she was unexpectedly mature about her elimination, even claiming that she's going to go back and finish high school.  Who would have thought that despite Tyra's attempts to guide "future girls" through breaking out the “Rules of Owning Your Inner Fierceness” (What does that even mean? Seriously? Hello?), Fo would be the real role model.

— Claire Zulkey

(Image: the CW)

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model': Slidin' down the catwalk into a finale

For an "America's Next Top Model" cycle that started off with a lot of spark and lighthearted promise, the finale lacked a little luster.  But why? Teyona Anderson and Allison Harvard are both beautiful in unique ways. Unfortunately, neither creates TV magic on her own, and the show's rigid formality has made the finales more rote than riveting.

As usual, for instance, the top three found out that they'd be shooting a CoverGirl commercial and photo and that the winner's ad would appear in Wal-Mart stores (the news of this made Allison look as if she wanted to cry).  As usual, the previous Top Model (McKey Sullivan, in this case, looking lovely) stopped by to give advice and pretend to be having an off-the-cuff conversation about how great CoverGirl's newest product is. 

The girls did look beautiful, Aminat Ayinde in red, Allison in a fluttery teal dress, Teyona rocking yellow effortlessly. Aminat was slightly underwhelming, as was Allison, but for her underwhelming was better than awkward. Teyona stumbled over her words and cried. Oh honey. If there is one thing you shouldn't do, it's to cry. Then the makeup people have to come back and everyone is waiting for you. Why didn't anyone give her this advice?  Finally, Teyona made it through a take before the girls had to face Tyra, who was dressed like an evil queen. 

The judges deliberated: the judges were impressed that Allison pulled off both the commercial and the shoot.  Aminat's commercial was OK but her film was just "wah-wah," plus she had all the potential but couldn't work her face well.  Tellingly, the judges didn't have too much to say about Teyona despite her meltdown. Despite the Brazilian judge saying Allison wouldn't be his pick for a fashion show, Aminat was sent packing and as usual Allison and Teyona would face off in a fashion show. Allison was nervous, but she had practiced her walk and "gotten over feeling lame," which is a feeling we all should aspire to. 

Each season the producers try and up the ante on the fashion show with some silly gimmick like having it be on a hill or over a swimming pool or something. This was the first time, though, that the show felt rather second-rate and unprofessional. The first part of the show was a copy of a Victoria's Secret event, with the girls modeling swimsuits and wearing big feathered wings (plus over-the-top makeup that didn't seem to correspond at all with the rest of the look). Both girls performed adequately (that meaning, again, that Allison was surprisingly competent). Then, in what must have been a very long break, the girls changed into brand-new big costumes, this time with headpieces, and sambaed down the aisle.  Finally, after another pause for serious restyling, and seemingly unconnected to the other two parts of the show, the girls were covered in grime and oil and had to slither down the aisle on their hands and knees.  Allison said that it resembled an art installation, but it was more like a scene from a creepy '60s sex play. Teyona's fake ponytail fell off and, rather than freak out about it, she whipped it in the air -- which would have been cool if a.) this hadn't been done already on "RuPaul's Drag Race") and b.) the wig weren't still sort of connected to her head by an icky-looking thread.  But the girls "walked" the catwalk well in that case, I suppose. 

Because Allison and Teyona had modeled bikinis during the fashion show, they naturally had to wear them during judges' final panel, and it looked chilly. The girls always have the best makeup during the last judging, and Allison looked amazing with smoky eyes. The judges deliberated, and were wowed by Allison's improvement, but felt Teyona had wanted it more, and lo Teyona is our next Top Model. 

I'm not worried about Allison, though. I had heard of her as "Creepy Chan" online before the cycle even started, so I have a feeling we'll hear from her more in the future.

— Claire Zulkey

(art: the CW)

First Lucas and Peyton, and now Paulina?

"America's Next Top Model" judge Paulina Porizkova broke the news that she had been let go from the show Tuesday on CBS' "Late, Late Show." She told host Craig Ferguson that she was in Los Angeles looking for a job "because I was fired by 'America's Next Top Model' on my birthday."

She said she was terminated over the phone.

"The reason I was told I was fired was because, it seemed, that [the show] has gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me," Porizkova said.  

Bad blood between Porizkova and 'Top Model' star and executive producer Tyra Banks? Perhaps: "I figured it was either that or my gigantic huge ego. Which I wasn't aware of until I was told by the producers that I had an ego problem."

"Oh, I see what this is. I see what it is. It's rivalry. You and Tyra," Ferguson said. "Well, I was working for her, so it's not quite rivalry," the former supermodel said. "I really believe they just felt like they didn't need me, which of course they don't."

A rep for the CW confirmed her departure but declined to comment on whether or not Porizkova would be replaced on the upcoming 13th season.

The season finale of "America's Next Top Model" -- it comes down to Teyona, Aminat and Allison -- airs tonight.

-- Denise Martin

Photo credit: The CW

For the last four episodes of “America’s Next Top Model,” Celia Ammerman fought a battle with her age (an ancient 24), but somehow failed to stop or reverse the aging process up until tonight's episode.  Would she continue to be old or learn her lesson in time?

Before this cycle's final three were revealed, the girls were given a samba lesson, Paulina Porizkova advising that the aim was not only to move one's body but also to make it look easy. Celia moved with way too much elegance for a tall old crone, but Paulina gave her the maddening advice that she wanted it too much and that she was desperate, which was not sexy because she was too old. It was almost as if Paulina, who is older than 24 herself, was getting a thrill out of telling Celia how decrepit she really was.  Allison danced awkwardly, which she had warned everyone about, Aminat Ayinde moved naturally and Teyona Anderson, as her pal Aminat put it, had two left feet.

It feels like the "lessons" and then challenges this cycle during the last few weeks have been lacking either relevance or creativity. After learning how to dance, the girls put their new skills to work on a ... dance challenge. Allison, who hilariously described herself as a "rickety little windup doll made of tin," did not anticipate that she'd fare well, but Aminat was confident in her own skills and was unhappy when ol' Celia won the challenge (because she wrote the word "relax" on her wrist, sort of like how Lindsay Lohan tattooed the reminder "breathe" on her wrist, only not as stupidly permanent). It was odd when Paulina seemed to find it so strange that Celia chose her buddy Allison to share in the jewelry prize with her. It's never been typical on this show for the girls to share their prizes with who should have won, as opposed to their chums, but at least Aminat didn't seem to take it personally. The girls picked out some beautiful jewelry, and I am now trying to find a knockoff of Celia's onyx drop earrings. To celebrate her victory, Celia struck a seductive "Lost in Translation" pose in her panties in the girls' hotel room.

The contestants were woken up by makeup artists Sutan and Christian jumping into bed with them, were partially made up and then driven out to the jungle, "not the jungle for TV" as Aminat clarified. For some reason, Tyra pretended to be a woman angrily kicking her broken-down Jeep, one of her best performances to date. Her reason for being out in the jungle? Not to teach the girls the "Guidelines for Unchaining Their Figurative Fierceness," or whatever it is, but to photograph them.

I don't know if Tyra was drinking some cachaça or if the heat was going to her head, but she was especially dotty during this episode. She held onto a huge prop wrench for an unnecessarily long period of time and advised the girls about the number of varieties of insects in the jungle, but clarifying, "We're not about insects. We're about birds!" The girls would be portraying birds in their photo shoot, but not just any old birds. Allison, for instance, would be an "owl-slash-pterodactyl" who'd be protecting her eggs.  Tyra, who makes Mother Theresa look like garbage, told Allison that due to her own experience as a model she sympathized with the pain of squatting over fake eggs, and thus Allison was allowed to stand up from time to time. At the end of the shoot Allison told Tyra that she was "really pretty," and then bemoaned what a "square" she is. I don't think she belongs in the top three, but she can be entertaining, that Allison.

For her shoot, Aminat resembled drag queen goddess Bebe Zahara Benet, but of course not nearly as fierce. As Tyra and Jay Manuel discussed Celia's shoot, Tyra got buzzed by a wayward moth and freaked out. Time to get out of the jungle, Tyra, before the horror comes and gets you.

Teyona predicted that only Celia or Aminat would make the top three, not both. I personally wanted to see the two of them in the top three and possibly do a photo shoot together since I thought they have similar lanky tall figures, and the contrast between Celia’s pale skin and short blonde hair and Aminat’s beautiful dark skin and long black hair would look amazing in a picture.

The judges loved Allison's photo, so much that it inspired Mr. J. Alexander to speak in bird tones, which went over like a lead balloon. They liked Teyona's picture but weren't entirely enthusiastic about it, and felt the same way about Aminat's. They seemed to like Celia's picture but not enough to save her from the bottom two. Tyra informed Celia and Aminat that what they have in common is that they're butterfaces. Well, what she really said is that they're both fabulous from the neck down. And unfortunately, Celia, unable to stop the hands of time, was finally sent home.

Tyra gave Celia a lovely farewell and predicted that she'd have a great career in fashion, just so long as she says in the background the way old people should.

So next week Teyona, Aminat and Allison will battle it out for this cycle's top model. I don't think Allison will be able to pull off the Cover Girl challenge, and while the judges love Teyona, I've never found her one of the prettier girls in the competition, possibly due to her high hairline. Aminat is like that woman in the episode of "Seinfeld" who sometimes looks gorgeous, sometimes looks wrong, but I think due to her amazing body and tendency to occasionally say something vaguely amusing, I'm pulling for her to win it all.

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

I feel as if I've learned a lot about modeling from this cycle of “America's Next Top Model.” It is better for a model to be old than short, but better to be old or short rather than fat.

We were served up tonight's judging showdown right at the beginning of the episode, with Celia Ammerman talking about her decrepitude (age 25) being a liability for her the competition, and Fo Porter lamenting her shortness. Fo was still a bit annoyingly immature, but it was nice to hear her admit that before the show she was a slacker, and for once she actually wants to try hard at something. Yes! That is what America's youth needs!  Can-do spirit, as long as you're on the right reality show!

The girls had their go-see challenge this episode, which made Allison Harvard want to "die a little bit" (say what you want about her looks, but she's one of the more personable girls to come along on this show). They all fought traffic and Allison fought against the better instincts that told her not to wear a silly leopard-print bow in her hair.

It seemed like the girls modeled more fabulous-than-usual clothes than on previous go-see episodes.  Celia looked amazing in a bikini and translucent caftan and Allison modeled a beautiful dress by Osklen covered in long, narrow swinging palettes.  Not surprisingly though Allison's bad walk was a factor against her in the challenge, as Fo's shortness was against her. The judges liked Celia's elegance and Aminat Ayinde's beauty and body. By the way, Aminat made a joke about being African and how that means that she's never on time, so make of that what you will: funny, irreverent joke or unfunny reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Teyona Anderson won the go-see challenge, and she and Allison and Aminat got to take a helicopter back to the meeting place. After returning to their rooms, Teyona bragged about the new clothes she won in the go-see challenge, which the judges and Celia all noted that she needed desperately, as her wardrobe had been lacking.

The photo challenge was a swimsuit shoot, with the girls needing to stand out in a large scene of characters, as shot by Nigel Barker. I was hoping Allison would remember to tell Nigel that he was her favorite photographer, as earlier in the cycle she'd stupidly said that to another photographer in his presence, but she missed a great opportunity to make up and be funny. She did have a good shoot, though, flirting with the camera and using the extras, utilizing the nervousness she got from being in a literally obscenely small bikini to her advantage. The shoot was less than high-fashion overall, especially as the girls for some reason needed to wear one glove, a la Michael Jackson, with their suits. Celia, after practicing too hard in front of the mirror, got flustered when the shoot wasn't what she expected, and Fo turned out a horribly unflattering picture that made her look squat, not to mention short.

At panel, Tyra Banks, wearing a fuller-than-usual wig, gave the girls a modeling lesson (remember when she actually used to go and hang out with the girls at the house? I miss those days) and Paulina Porizkova advised Celia not to practice any earlier than the night before a modeling shoot, because "the more you try, the more you'll sink."

The judges praised Aminat's body and Allison's "sexual mermaid" photo, and the bottom two came down to — surprise! — Fo and Celia, for being too short and too old. Celia made it through to another week (and again, I do like her: She seems old-fashioned and elegant in a way I like). Fo, not surprisingly, wept when she found out she was going home, but she was unexpectedly mature about her elimination, even claiming that she's going to go back and finish high school.  Who would have thought that despite Tyra's attempts to guide "future girls" through breaking out the “Rules of Owning Your Inner Fierceness” (What does that even mean? Seriously? Hello?), Fo would be the real role model.

— Claire Zulkey

(Image: the CW)

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model's' Paulina Porizkova: 'I was fired'

First Lucas and Peyton, and now Paulina?

"America's Next Top Model" judge Paulina Porizkova broke the news that she had been let go from the show Tuesday on CBS' "Late, Late Show." She told host Craig Ferguson that she was in Los Angeles looking for a job "because I was fired by 'America's Next Top Model' on my birthday."

She said she was terminated over the phone.

"The reason I was told I was fired was because, it seemed, that [the show] has gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me," Porizkova said.  

Bad blood between Porizkova and 'Top Model' star and executive producer Tyra Banks? Perhaps: "I figured it was either that or my gigantic huge ego. Which I wasn't aware of until I was told by the producers that I had an ego problem."

"Oh, I see what this is. I see what it is. It's rivalry. You and Tyra," Ferguson said. "Well, I was working for her, so it's not quite rivalry," the former supermodel said. "I really believe they just felt like they didn't need me, which of course they don't."

A rep for the CW confirmed her departure but declined to comment on whether or not Porizkova would be replaced on the upcoming 13th season.

The season finale of "America's Next Top Model" -- it comes down to Teyona, Aminat and Allison -- airs tonight.

-- Denise Martin

Photo credit: The CW

For the last four episodes of “America’s Next Top Model,” Celia Ammerman fought a battle with her age (an ancient 24), but somehow failed to stop or reverse the aging process up until tonight's episode.  Would she continue to be old or learn her lesson in time?

Before this cycle's final three were revealed, the girls were given a samba lesson, Paulina Porizkova advising that the aim was not only to move one's body but also to make it look easy. Celia moved with way too much elegance for a tall old crone, but Paulina gave her the maddening advice that she wanted it too much and that she was desperate, which was not sexy because she was too old. It was almost as if Paulina, who is older than 24 herself, was getting a thrill out of telling Celia how decrepit she really was.  Allison danced awkwardly, which she had warned everyone about, Aminat Ayinde moved naturally and Teyona Anderson, as her pal Aminat put it, had two left feet.

It feels like the "lessons" and then challenges this cycle during the last few weeks have been lacking either relevance or creativity. After learning how to dance, the girls put their new skills to work on a ... dance challenge. Allison, who hilariously described herself as a "rickety little windup doll made of tin," did not anticipate that she'd fare well, but Aminat was confident in her own skills and was unhappy when ol' Celia won the challenge (because she wrote the word "relax" on her wrist, sort of like how Lindsay Lohan tattooed the reminder "breathe" on her wrist, only not as stupidly permanent). It was odd when Paulina seemed to find it so strange that Celia chose her buddy Allison to share in the jewelry prize with her. It's never been typical on this show for the girls to share their prizes with who should have won, as opposed to their chums, but at least Aminat didn't seem to take it personally. The girls picked out some beautiful jewelry, and I am now trying to find a knockoff of Celia's onyx drop earrings. To celebrate her victory, Celia struck a seductive "Lost in Translation" pose in her panties in the girls' hotel room.

The contestants were woken up by makeup artists Sutan and Christian jumping into bed with them, were partially made up and then driven out to the jungle, "not the jungle for TV" as Aminat clarified. For some reason, Tyra pretended to be a woman angrily kicking her broken-down Jeep, one of her best performances to date. Her reason for being out in the jungle? Not to teach the girls the "Guidelines for Unchaining Their Figurative Fierceness," or whatever it is, but to photograph them.

I don't know if Tyra was drinking some cachaça or if the heat was going to her head, but she was especially dotty during this episode. She held onto a huge prop wrench for an unnecessarily long period of time and advised the girls about the number of varieties of insects in the jungle, but clarifying, "We're not about insects. We're about birds!" The girls would be portraying birds in their photo shoot, but not just any old birds. Allison, for instance, would be an "owl-slash-pterodactyl" who'd be protecting her eggs.  Tyra, who makes Mother Theresa look like garbage, told Allison that due to her own experience as a model she sympathized with the pain of squatting over fake eggs, and thus Allison was allowed to stand up from time to time. At the end of the shoot Allison told Tyra that she was "really pretty," and then bemoaned what a "square" she is. I don't think she belongs in the top three, but she can be entertaining, that Allison.

For her shoot, Aminat resembled drag queen goddess Bebe Zahara Benet, but of course not nearly as fierce. As Tyra and Jay Manuel discussed Celia's shoot, Tyra got buzzed by a wayward moth and freaked out. Time to get out of the jungle, Tyra, before the horror comes and gets you.

Teyona predicted that only Celia or Aminat would make the top three, not both. I personally wanted to see the two of them in the top three and possibly do a photo shoot together since I thought they have similar lanky tall figures, and the contrast between Celia’s pale skin and short blonde hair and Aminat’s beautiful dark skin and long black hair would look amazing in a picture.

The judges loved Allison's photo, so much that it inspired Mr. J. Alexander to speak in bird tones, which went over like a lead balloon. They liked Teyona's picture but weren't entirely enthusiastic about it, and felt the same way about Aminat's. They seemed to like Celia's picture but not enough to save her from the bottom two. Tyra informed Celia and Aminat that what they have in common is that they're butterfaces. Well, what she really said is that they're both fabulous from the neck down. And unfortunately, Celia, unable to stop the hands of time, was finally sent home.

Tyra gave Celia a lovely farewell and predicted that she'd have a great career in fashion, just so long as she says in the background the way old people should.

So next week Teyona, Aminat and Allison will battle it out for this cycle's top model. I don't think Allison will be able to pull off the Cover Girl challenge, and while the judges love Teyona, I've never found her one of the prettier girls in the competition, possibly due to her high hairline. Aminat is like that woman in the episode of "Seinfeld" who sometimes looks gorgeous, sometimes looks wrong, but I think due to her amazing body and tendency to occasionally say something vaguely amusing, I'm pulling for her to win it all.

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

I feel as if I've learned a lot about modeling from this cycle of “America's Next Top Model.” It is better for a model to be old than short, but better to be old or short rather than fat.

We were served up tonight's judging showdown right at the beginning of the episode, with Celia Ammerman talking about her decrepitude (age 25) being a liability for her the competition, and Fo Porter lamenting her shortness. Fo was still a bit annoyingly immature, but it was nice to hear her admit that before the show she was a slacker, and for once she actually wants to try hard at something. Yes! That is what America's youth needs!  Can-do spirit, as long as you're on the right reality show!

The girls had their go-see challenge this episode, which made Allison Harvard want to "die a little bit" (say what you want about her looks, but she's one of the more personable girls to come along on this show). They all fought traffic and Allison fought against the better instincts that told her not to wear a silly leopard-print bow in her hair.

It seemed like the girls modeled more fabulous-than-usual clothes than on previous go-see episodes.  Celia looked amazing in a bikini and translucent caftan and Allison modeled a beautiful dress by Osklen covered in long, narrow swinging palettes.  Not surprisingly though Allison's bad walk was a factor against her in the challenge, as Fo's shortness was against her. The judges liked Celia's elegance and Aminat Ayinde's beauty and body. By the way, Aminat made a joke about being African and how that means that she's never on time, so make of that what you will: funny, irreverent joke or unfunny reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Teyona Anderson won the go-see challenge, and she and Allison and Aminat got to take a helicopter back to the meeting place. After returning to their rooms, Teyona bragged about the new clothes she won in the go-see challenge, which the judges and Celia all noted that she needed desperately, as her wardrobe had been lacking.

The photo challenge was a swimsuit shoot, with the girls needing to stand out in a large scene of characters, as shot by Nigel Barker. I was hoping Allison would remember to tell Nigel that he was her favorite photographer, as earlier in the cycle she'd stupidly said that to another photographer in his presence, but she missed a great opportunity to make up and be funny. She did have a good shoot, though, flirting with the camera and using the extras, utilizing the nervousness she got from being in a literally obscenely small bikini to her advantage. The shoot was less than high-fashion overall, especially as the girls for some reason needed to wear one glove, a la Michael Jackson, with their suits. Celia, after practicing too hard in front of the mirror, got flustered when the shoot wasn't what she expected, and Fo turned out a horribly unflattering picture that made her look squat, not to mention short.

At panel, Tyra Banks, wearing a fuller-than-usual wig, gave the girls a modeling lesson (remember when she actually used to go and hang out with the girls at the house? I miss those days) and Paulina Porizkova advised Celia not to practice any earlier than the night before a modeling shoot, because "the more you try, the more you'll sink."

The judges praised Aminat's body and Allison's "sexual mermaid" photo, and the bottom two came down to — surprise! — Fo and Celia, for being too short and too old. Celia made it through to another week (and again, I do like her: She seems old-fashioned and elegant in a way I like). Fo, not surprisingly, wept when she found out she was going home, but she was unexpectedly mature about her elimination, even claiming that she's going to go back and finish high school.  Who would have thought that despite Tyra's attempts to guide "future girls" through breaking out the “Rules of Owning Your Inner Fierceness” (What does that even mean? Seriously? Hello?), Fo would be the real role model.

— Claire Zulkey

(Image: the CW)

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model': Don't trust anyone over 20!

For the last four episodes of “America’s Next Top Model,” Celia Ammerman fought a battle with her age (an ancient 24), but somehow failed to stop or reverse the aging process up until tonight's episode.  Would she continue to be old or learn her lesson in time?

Before this cycle's final three were revealed, the girls were given a samba lesson, Paulina Porizkova advising that the aim was not only to move one's body but also to make it look easy. Celia moved with way too much elegance for a tall old crone, but Paulina gave her the maddening advice that she wanted it too much and that she was desperate, which was not sexy because she was too old. It was almost as if Paulina, who is older than 24 herself, was getting a thrill out of telling Celia how decrepit she really was.  Allison danced awkwardly, which she had warned everyone about, Aminat Ayinde moved naturally and Teyona Anderson, as her pal Aminat put it, had two left feet.

It feels like the "lessons" and then challenges this cycle during the last few weeks have been lacking either relevance or creativity. After learning how to dance, the girls put their new skills to work on a ... dance challenge. Allison, who hilariously described herself as a "rickety little windup doll made of tin," did not anticipate that she'd fare well, but Aminat was confident in her own skills and was unhappy when ol' Celia won the challenge (because she wrote the word "relax" on her wrist, sort of like how Lindsay Lohan tattooed the reminder "breathe" on her wrist, only not as stupidly permanent). It was odd when Paulina seemed to find it so strange that Celia chose her buddy Allison to share in the jewelry prize with her. It's never been typical on this show for the girls to share their prizes with who should have won, as opposed to their chums, but at least Aminat didn't seem to take it personally. The girls picked out some beautiful jewelry, and I am now trying to find a knockoff of Celia's onyx drop earrings. To celebrate her victory, Celia struck a seductive "Lost in Translation" pose in her panties in the girls' hotel room.

The contestants were woken up by makeup artists Sutan and Christian jumping into bed with them, were partially made up and then driven out to the jungle, "not the jungle for TV" as Aminat clarified. For some reason, Tyra pretended to be a woman angrily kicking her broken-down Jeep, one of her best performances to date. Her reason for being out in the jungle? Not to teach the girls the "Guidelines for Unchaining Their Figurative Fierceness," or whatever it is, but to photograph them.

I don't know if Tyra was drinking some cachaça or if the heat was going to her head, but she was especially dotty during this episode. She held onto a huge prop wrench for an unnecessarily long period of time and advised the girls about the number of varieties of insects in the jungle, but clarifying, "We're not about insects. We're about birds!" The girls would be portraying birds in their photo shoot, but not just any old birds. Allison, for instance, would be an "owl-slash-pterodactyl" who'd be protecting her eggs.  Tyra, who makes Mother Theresa look like garbage, told Allison that due to her own experience as a model she sympathized with the pain of squatting over fake eggs, and thus Allison was allowed to stand up from time to time. At the end of the shoot Allison told Tyra that she was "really pretty," and then bemoaned what a "square" she is. I don't think she belongs in the top three, but she can be entertaining, that Allison.

For her shoot, Aminat resembled drag queen goddess Bebe Zahara Benet, but of course not nearly as fierce. As Tyra and Jay Manuel discussed Celia's shoot, Tyra got buzzed by a wayward moth and freaked out. Time to get out of the jungle, Tyra, before the horror comes and gets you.

Teyona predicted that only Celia or Aminat would make the top three, not both. I personally wanted to see the two of them in the top three and possibly do a photo shoot together since I thought they have similar lanky tall figures, and the contrast between Celia’s pale skin and short blonde hair and Aminat’s beautiful dark skin and long black hair would look amazing in a picture.

The judges loved Allison's photo, so much that it inspired Mr. J. Alexander to speak in bird tones, which went over like a lead balloon. They liked Teyona's picture but weren't entirely enthusiastic about it, and felt the same way about Aminat's. They seemed to like Celia's picture but not enough to save her from the bottom two. Tyra informed Celia and Aminat that what they have in common is that they're butterfaces. Well, what she really said is that they're both fabulous from the neck down. And unfortunately, Celia, unable to stop the hands of time, was finally sent home.

Tyra gave Celia a lovely farewell and predicted that she'd have a great career in fashion, just so long as she says in the background the way old people should.

So next week Teyona, Aminat and Allison will battle it out for this cycle's top model. I don't think Allison will be able to pull off the Cover Girl challenge, and while the judges love Teyona, I've never found her one of the prettier girls in the competition, possibly due to her high hairline. Aminat is like that woman in the episode of "Seinfeld" who sometimes looks gorgeous, sometimes looks wrong, but I think due to her amazing body and tendency to occasionally say something vaguely amusing, I'm pulling for her to win it all.

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

I feel as if I've learned a lot about modeling from this cycle of “America's Next Top Model.” It is better for a model to be old than short, but better to be old or short rather than fat.

We were served up tonight's judging showdown right at the beginning of the episode, with Celia Ammerman talking about her decrepitude (age 25) being a liability for her the competition, and Fo Porter lamenting her shortness. Fo was still a bit annoyingly immature, but it was nice to hear her admit that before the show she was a slacker, and for once she actually wants to try hard at something. Yes! That is what America's youth needs!  Can-do spirit, as long as you're on the right reality show!

The girls had their go-see challenge this episode, which made Allison Harvard want to "die a little bit" (say what you want about her looks, but she's one of the more personable girls to come along on this show). They all fought traffic and Allison fought against the better instincts that told her not to wear a silly leopard-print bow in her hair.

It seemed like the girls modeled more fabulous-than-usual clothes than on previous go-see episodes.  Celia looked amazing in a bikini and translucent caftan and Allison modeled a beautiful dress by Osklen covered in long, narrow swinging palettes.  Not surprisingly though Allison's bad walk was a factor against her in the challenge, as Fo's shortness was against her. The judges liked Celia's elegance and Aminat Ayinde's beauty and body. By the way, Aminat made a joke about being African and how that means that she's never on time, so make of that what you will: funny, irreverent joke or unfunny reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Teyona Anderson won the go-see challenge, and she and Allison and Aminat got to take a helicopter back to the meeting place. After returning to their rooms, Teyona bragged about the new clothes she won in the go-see challenge, which the judges and Celia all noted that she needed desperately, as her wardrobe had been lacking.

The photo challenge was a swimsuit shoot, with the girls needing to stand out in a large scene of characters, as shot by Nigel Barker. I was hoping Allison would remember to tell Nigel that he was her favorite photographer, as earlier in the cycle she'd stupidly said that to another photographer in his presence, but she missed a great opportunity to make up and be funny. She did have a good shoot, though, flirting with the camera and using the extras, utilizing the nervousness she got from being in a literally obscenely small bikini to her advantage. The shoot was less than high-fashion overall, especially as the girls for some reason needed to wear one glove, a la Michael Jackson, with their suits. Celia, after practicing too hard in front of the mirror, got flustered when the shoot wasn't what she expected, and Fo turned out a horribly unflattering picture that made her look squat, not to mention short.

At panel, Tyra Banks, wearing a fuller-than-usual wig, gave the girls a modeling lesson (remember when she actually used to go and hang out with the girls at the house? I miss those days) and Paulina Porizkova advised Celia not to practice any earlier than the night before a modeling shoot, because "the more you try, the more you'll sink."

The judges praised Aminat's body and Allison's "sexual mermaid" photo, and the bottom two came down to — surprise! — Fo and Celia, for being too short and too old. Celia made it through to another week (and again, I do like her: She seems old-fashioned and elegant in a way I like). Fo, not surprisingly, wept when she found out she was going home, but she was unexpectedly mature about her elimination, even claiming that she's going to go back and finish high school.  Who would have thought that despite Tyra's attempts to guide "future girls" through breaking out the “Rules of Owning Your Inner Fierceness” (What does that even mean? Seriously? Hello?), Fo would be the real role model.

— Claire Zulkey

(Image: the CW)

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model': Let's go see the city (Get it? 'Go-see'?)

I feel as if I've learned a lot about modeling from this cycle of “America's Next Top Model.” It is better for a model to be old than short, but better to be old or short rather than fat.

We were served up tonight's judging showdown right at the beginning of the episode, with Celia Ammerman talking about her decrepitude (age 25) being a liability for her the competition, and Fo Porter lamenting her shortness. Fo was still a bit annoyingly immature, but it was nice to hear her admit that before the show she was a slacker, and for once she actually wants to try hard at something. Yes! That is what America's youth needs!  Can-do spirit, as long as you're on the right reality show!

The girls had their go-see challenge this episode, which made Allison Harvard want to "die a little bit" (say what you want about her looks, but she's one of the more personable girls to come along on this show). They all fought traffic and Allison fought against the better instincts that told her not to wear a silly leopard-print bow in her hair.

It seemed like the girls modeled more fabulous-than-usual clothes than on previous go-see episodes.  Celia looked amazing in a bikini and translucent caftan and Allison modeled a beautiful dress by Osklen covered in long, narrow swinging palettes.  Not surprisingly though Allison's bad walk was a factor against her in the challenge, as Fo's shortness was against her. The judges liked Celia's elegance and Aminat Ayinde's beauty and body. By the way, Aminat made a joke about being African and how that means that she's never on time, so make of that what you will: funny, irreverent joke or unfunny reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Teyona Anderson won the go-see challenge, and she and Allison and Aminat got to take a helicopter back to the meeting place. After returning to their rooms, Teyona bragged about the new clothes she won in the go-see challenge, which the judges and Celia all noted that she needed desperately, as her wardrobe had been lacking.

The photo challenge was a swimsuit shoot, with the girls needing to stand out in a large scene of characters, as shot by Nigel Barker. I was hoping Allison would remember to tell Nigel that he was her favorite photographer, as earlier in the cycle she'd stupidly said that to another photographer in his presence, but she missed a great opportunity to make up and be funny. She did have a good shoot, though, flirting with the camera and using the extras, utilizing the nervousness she got from being in a literally obscenely small bikini to her advantage. The shoot was less than high-fashion overall, especially as the girls for some reason needed to wear one glove, a la Michael Jackson, with their suits. Celia, after practicing too hard in front of the mirror, got flustered when the shoot wasn't what she expected, and Fo turned out a horribly unflattering picture that made her look squat, not to mention short.

At panel, Tyra Banks, wearing a fuller-than-usual wig, gave the girls a modeling lesson (remember when she actually used to go and hang out with the girls at the house? I miss those days) and Paulina Porizkova advised Celia not to practice any earlier than the night before a modeling shoot, because "the more you try, the more you'll sink."

The judges praised Aminat's body and Allison's "sexual mermaid" photo, and the bottom two came down to — surprise! — Fo and Celia, for being too short and too old. Celia made it through to another week (and again, I do like her: She seems old-fashioned and elegant in a way I like). Fo, not surprisingly, wept when she found out she was going home, but she was unexpectedly mature about her elimination, even claiming that she's going to go back and finish high school.  Who would have thought that despite Tyra's attempts to guide "future girls" through breaking out the “Rules of Owning Your Inner Fierceness” (What does that even mean? Seriously? Hello?), Fo would be the real role model.

— Claire Zulkey

(Image: the CW)

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model': Oh, Natalie

Being kicked off "America's Next Top Model" won't keep former contestant Natalie Pack from voicing her opinion.

She complained to E! Online that she was edited to look "spoiled" in "shady" editing.  Oh, also, according to Pack, "ANTM" host Tyra Banks favors black contestants.

Somebody had better tell past nonblack winners Adrianne Curry, Yoanna House, Nicole Linkletter CariDee English, Jaslene Gonzalez, Whitney Thompson and McKey Sullivan.

-- Claire Zulkey

Photo credit: The CW

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

"America's Next Top Model": Chiquita b-a-n-a-n-a-s!

The nice thing about this season is that there always seems to be someone new to find irritating, and if she's not kicked off, it's possible that she'll redeem herself and fall back in line.  Like how Aminat Ayinde recovered from losing her cool earlier in the season in front of Natalie Pack and Celia Ammerman. Now she's endearing, if not just less annoying than Natalie and now Fo Porter.

Natalie has come off as entitled, and worse, boring, since the season began, but Fo, except for her post-haircut hissy fit, has always seemed spunky and cute.  But since last week, she's come off simply as immature. She decided that Teyona Anderson was her enemy for not choosing her to go with Teyona on her Seventeenmagazine shoot. Instead, Teyona chose Aminat and Celia, who was her model. It's professional and makes sense, but Fo could only take it personally and complain about it. 

The girls couldn't harbor resentment for too long however: They were off to Brazil, home to the famed Brazil nut!  Once there, they met model and host of "Brazil's Next Top Model" Fernanda Motta, who gave them a mind-numbingly stupid challenge. They were to take cabs to a flower shop, buy birds of paradise and race back to a designated point in the botanical gardens where they met Helô Pinheiro, the inspiration for the song "The Girl from Ipanema."  The value of this lesson was that the girls would have to move gracefully, like her. Do real models go through this type of thing? For winning, Fo won a pair of $500 flip-flops. 

The girls then went to their Brazil home where Natalie groused about having to share a bed and how she wanted to get a tan while she was in Brazil.  But Natalie, there are much more important things to do in Brazil, like eat Brazil nuts and listen to "The Girl from Ipanema"! 

The girls then learned the Capoeira fighting technique so they could use it in a challenge, i.e. fighting while posing. Celia and Aminat both seemed to pull it off, initially, despite Celia kicking Aminat in the eye, but Fo won the challenge, the prize being extra frames during the photo shoot. She could also take them away from one girl, which she did gleefully from Teyona. Fo just fell into a petty downward spiral all episode, to the extent where I was glad when she fumbled during the photo shoot.

The photo shoot was a little confusing: The girls were supposed to dress up as and channel Carmen Miranda, but in a high-fashion way while being shot in a shanty town.  I'm not clear what about this concept screams "sex appeal," but Natalie assumed that that's what it entailed and that she'd be able to nail it. Fortunately, the makeup artist Sutan filled them in on Miranda, and just for those of you who wondered about her "horrible death," she did die in an interesting, but not necessarily horrible, way, which you can read about here.  Incidentally, I love Sutan. 

During judging, Allison Harvard got called first for once while Aminat and Natalie were the bottom two. It wasn't hard to predict that Natalie would be the one sent home as she blamed Jay Manuel for her lackluster shoot and everyone knows you don't blame the Jays, ever.

I am concerned about Celia, however. I like her personal style and that she seems rather intelligent and mature for "ANTM," but for the first time, the judges seemed to sour on her, calling her "not fresh." We have go-sees next week, however, so maybe Celia will make a good impression there. 

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

"America's Next Top Model": No fat chicks

 It was funny that on a day when weight played such an important part of the news, it was also the theme of "America's Next Top Model." Tyra Banks obviously moved on from her "Kiss my fat ass!" pro-plus-sized model kick, because on tonight's episode she kicked off a contestant for being too chunky. Well, she didn't put it in so many words but we know that's what happened.

The girls actually had an interesting challenge on tonight's episode, having to serve as creative director on one another's shoots. Some models unexpectedly took charge during their turns, especially Allison Harvard and Teyona Anderson, who had the vision to style Celia Ammerman as a "hood diva." I was also thrilled to see Sutan the makeup artist back (she now co-stars in a Cover Girl commercial). The show is wise to give us more Sutan. 

Fo Porter had a challenge, though, styling London Levi, who has gained weight throughout the season.  For a "normal" girl, London would be a perfectly normal weight; but as a model, yes, it's evident that she has gotten heavy, and it's not very flattering in her face. Moreover, she was sensitive about it, which affected her performance, which is too bad because she is charming. Her funky, free-spiritedness makes her perhaps odd relationship with God (Does he really care how we do in modeling competitions?) easier to take. 

Teyona won the competition and picked her friend, Aminat Ayinde, and her model, Celia, to be in a cheesy fashion spread for Seventeen magazine. Fo couldn't figure out why Teyona chose Celia instead of her -- maybe because it would be pretty crummy for Teyona not to include the person integral to her winning the challenge? 

The photo challenge was with Ciara, who I always thought of as a second-tier R&B singer, but who is apparently an "icon," according to many of the girls, who were to portray crazed fans wrapped up in her microphone cord. In a swimsuit. London, not really grasping the definition of irony, found this ironic. Poor London. What girl hasn't been uncomfortable in her clothes, or in the position of thinking, "Well, if I lose it the 'right' way it won't happen as fast as I want it to"?

Before judging, Tyra went through an unconvincing little skit where a half-naked man presented her with a nut, which was a clue to the destination for the cycle's trip. Really, that's the best Brazilian clue they could find? A nut? So the top six are going to Brazil. 

The bottom two in the photo challenge were Aminat and London, and as much as I liked London she looked distinctly unmodelesque standing next to Aminat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see her go. The weight was clearly the issue, but Tyra kind of glossed over the topic. This seemed a little disingenuous, especially as Tyra, looking svelter these days, could maybe give London some advice on how to handle the mental aspect of weight loss, gain and maintenance in the industry. It's too bad that the weight crept up on London so quickly (which you could see throughout her portfolio); otherwise she might have caught it and it wouldn't have done her in. London, I'm eating a chocolate for thee tonight, just because I can.   

--Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

‘America’s Next Top Model’: Has Celia already won this thing?

None of the girls did especially well during the Cover Girl commercial challenge. (Has any contestant ever really nailed this one?) But the judges seem especially enamored with the Celia as if they‘ve already chosen her to win.

That’s probably the reason Tyra was so upset when Celia tried throwing Thalia under the bus last week -- she nearly ruined Tyra’s plans! And was Celia’s take any better than Natalie‘s? Not really. And yet, every week, I can’t help but think the girl’s got this already in the bag. 

No suspense in her win, but at the very least, it was the last we’ll see of Thalia. What a drip! She makes it on to the circus that is “America’s Next Top Model” -- overcoming a body full of burn scars, no less -- and she spends the whole time being self-conscious, whiny and totally unable to pose in any other way that doesn't involve looking imperious. (Go figure.) Could you really blame Celia for feeling the injustice of having to compete against such a sad sack?

I’d talk more about the challenge itself, but it was ho-hum. Same goes for the entire episode. The mini brawl over dishes? It didn’t beat last week’s Aminat-Natalie brawl. Tyra didn’t do or say anything crazy. Even guest judge Clay Aiken couldn’t shake things up. (Could we have used more Clay, maybe? Yes. In a funnier scene? Yes. The best acting challenge for me is still the Cycle 4 scene that required the girls to have cockney  accents by way of Eliza Doolittle.)

So instead, let’s keep handicapping the remaining 7 girls:

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)

'America's Next Top Model': America's next top cardboard cutout

Each cycle of "America's Next Top Model" has a girl who has a problem with another girl, but rarely is there an all-out house war. Yet that's how tonight's episode started. After Celia Ammerman foolishly told the judges about what she perceived to be Tahlia Brookins' lack of desire to be in the competition, the girls divided up. Aminat Ayinde and Teyona Anderson yelled at Allison Harvard, which Allison took with aplomb, proclaiming Tahlia's self-esteem speech from the stairs "Too much 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' for me." Then Natalie got into it with Aminat and egged her on and on, all while seeming completely at ease and Aminat worked herself up.   

The girls then had one of the dumbest and most entertaining challenges in "Top Model" history (the drama of which was demonstrated by a mannequin falling down and shattering). First they had to practice expressions. Allison complained when guest judge Beth Stern judged her big eyes: "Yes, I'm sorry I have big eyes, they're on my face, they're not going anywhere." Tahlia, after her victory last week, was rather cocky. And Beth Stern, despite her picking on Allison, seems like a very nice lady. 

That was just the warmup, however. The girls had to stick their heads into cutouts of Tyra Banks photos and try to guess how Tyra posed in the pictures. I hope somebody saved those cutouts so they'll be on display when Tyra Banks debuts her own theme park.

After this, Tahlia and Celia had a -- surprise! -- very calm and adult discussion about what happened at the last judges panel, which made me root for both of them (although I already do like Celia, despite her tattling last week).

The girls then had a beauty photo challenge, where each had paint sprayed across her face and she had to somehow "convey" that color. For a lot of them, especially London Levi, the paint just looked unflattering. Allison gave the same expression again and again and she seemed sure to be doomed.

Before judges panel, Celia, convinced she'd be sent home, carefully picked out her outfit, which did look great: a light, bright ochre full short skirt with a fitted black motorcycle jacket over it. Her photo came out very well, and so did Allison's, despite her giving the same expression over and over again. Natalie Pack, until now the judges' favorite, was accused of having no bone structure in her face in her photo. Sandra Nyanchoka, however, was criticized harshly for giving good profile shots but not looking great head-on.

In the end it came down to Sandra and Celia. Tyra tore Celia a new personal orifice for talking about Tahlia at judges panel, but ultimately her picture saved her, which is good, since she's a cool contestant and Sandra has been tedious since Day One. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(image: the CW)