'America's Next Top Model': The contestants try to stand out in a crowd

This week’s “America’s Next Top Model” reminded me of those group assignments in high school. Remember that unique teen torture? I hated them because inevitably I’d end up with at least one person who wasn’t carrying his or her weight. You’re then left with a decision: Do you step it up, so that you get that A anyway, or do you simply do your part and hope not to fail? That’s the decision some of the young women faced this week, and their chances at being a top model depended on how they would answer it.

Posing coach Benny Ninja was joined by “America’s Best Dance Crew” judge Lil Mama and the show’s first season champions, Jabbawockeez, in the first challenge. The girls broke up into groups of three and were asked to choreograph a dance number that expressed four emotions while wearing masks. The goal of the challenge? To teach the girls how to express emotion with their bodies. Turns out good "smize" just isn’t enough.

Of the three groups, the one that had the most difficulties was the one consisting of Erin, Ashley and Nicole. By now we all know Ashley (who was discovered in Tyra’s talk show audience) is a dancer. I feel like Tyra has some unrealized dreams of being a ballerina or something, because she constantly picks on contestants who are dancers. According to Tyra, dancers have the hardest time adjusting from dance poses to modeling poses. That may be right, but it’s more fun to think she’s bitter about not being a dancer. Isn’t it?

Ashley’s group should have had this competition in the bag ...

'America's Next Top Model': Making Walmart and do-rags chic

Tyra and the the girls were in rare form this week. While Brittany (who was reeling from being in the bottom two last week) licked her wounds, the other kittens bared their claws. The best part about “America’s Next Top Model” (and the most incongruous to real life – bitter, much?) is that pretty girls actually do finish last. That’s part of what makes the show enjoyable. This week, Erin definitely lived up to the “I’m not here to make friends” reality-show mantra. Erin on Brittany: “Brittany has won a million challenges! Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” Ouch.

The show began with a make-up lesson from celebrity make-up artist Sam Fine. The goal? To show the girls how to do their own faces. The first thing they learned was that Tyra’s favorite makeup application is the smoky eye. Here’s a quick tip: Brown pencil smeared around your eye makes it smoky. Now go! Fine let the gals loose to start practicing what they’d learned. The best part was when Bianca began slathering the foundation on, which prompted Rice to breathe, “Oooh, child.” Of course, Bianca is what my mom would call “hard-headed,” because she never seems to learn anything. This foundation problem will come back to haunt her in the next competition.

Soon, the girls were rolling up in style to the fabulous Walmart. Yes, readers, the first half of this episode is brought to you by Cover Girl and Walmart. You know, Tyra keeps it real. Judge Nigel Barker and his gorgeous wife and Cover Girl spokesmodel, Christen Chin, were there to meet them. We soon found out the girls would be participating in a race that would be equivalent to the offspring of "Supermarket Sweep" and "Survivor" (if they had a baby). Again, Erin showed her true colors as she scratched, pushed and sabotaged her way to the race’s final three. Her behavior offended Nigel’s British sensibilities (but what doesn’t?) and he mentioned her ill behavior in the final judging. How did Erin defend her actions? “Races don’t have manners,” she explained. I had to agree with her on that one, because races aren’t human.

Though Sundai won for her make-up, I’d like to take this chance to mention something that has been bothering me since her makeover. Why did Tyra give her that asymmetrical bob a la '90s Salt N Pepa (and, most recently, Kate Gosselin)? C’mon, it’s not cute, right?

Now, the photo competition was just strange...

'America's Next Top Model': Petite model, Isobella Jade, on ANTM and how shorties can make it as models

Before Tyra was giving shorties hope on Cycle 13 of “America’s Next Top Model,” Isobella Jade was already in their corner. In her memoir, "Almost 5’4”," Jade writes about her experiences in the height-biased world of professional modeling. Now, she considers herself a petite-model advocate doling out advice on her blog and video podcasts. Recently, she has lent her critical voice to this season’s “Top Model.”

“I didn’t watch ‘America’s Next Top Model’ until this season,” explains Jade. “I had an interest, because the girls are like my little underdogs and I feel it’s relatable to a lot of girls in America. And I’ve been there. They need a perspective from a girl that’s lived it.”

Jade’s path hasn’t been easy, but she’s been able to book jobs that even tall girls would be envious of. They include Victoria’s Secret, Easy Spirit and Macy’s, among others. “I’ve had to make myself a model,” says Jade. “Despite being one of the tiniest girls out there.”

At 5-foot-4 in heels, Jade is outspoken in her criticism of this cycle. “As long as the show is on, instead of giving tips like I normally do, I’m making the show my focus: what a girl can get from it, how the show is misleading girls, and just how I’m feeling about it as a whole.”

The pint-sized beauty has no problem taking Tyra to task...

'America’s Next Top Model': Tyra Banks loses weight, wins bet with staff

Tyra Banks is shedding more than her fake hair these days, she’s also shedding pounds.

This week on CNN's "Larry King Live," the "America's Next Top Model" host and exec producer described how she created a weight loss challenge with a group of friends, including "ANTM" staffers.

"We were sitting around a table and kind of trash talking,” Banks said. "And decided to do this challenge because we all love food. I trash talked so much where I had to win – and I did."

Banks' appearance since she quit modeling full time has been scrutinized in the media. Two years ago, she fought back in the pages of People after tabloids printed unflattering pictures of her in a bathing suit. She told King that she didn’t quite see her weight gain then. "When I told the world to kiss my fat ass, I didn't look at myself, even on television, and think that I was too big or, I don't know, it didn't connect."

Even slimmed down, Banks told King that it's not her body she has the problem with. "I always feel great when I don't have clothes on. But sometimes certain clothes, when I put them on and they don't fit the way that I would like them to, that's when I tend to get self-conscious."

I think the changes are noticeable. I’m not sure if she lost the weight before Cycle 13’s premiere or in the midst of shooting it, but I did note she was looking really healthy during the premiere.

What do you think? Is the new Tyra, with her natural hair and recent weight loss, looking fab or what?
 
— Jethro Nededog

Photo: Tyra Banks at the Daytime Emmy Awards last month. Credit: EPA

'America’s Next Top Model': Some girls walk tall while others act small

I’m just as guilty as anyone else in doubting that a short girl can be a top model, but that’s exactly what this week’s episode sought to disprove. Finally the girls received some real instruction on what it would take for them to compete against the Amazons who dominate the business. 

Before I get into the competition, I have to talk about some of the drama in the house. Lulu and Ashley have become the mean girls of "Top Model." According to Nicole, all Lulu and Ashley do is talk trash. One of their favorite targets? Bianca. Sundai clues Bianca in on the backstabbing, but instead of confronting them she fumes about it. Didn’t I call it? Big bark, no bite. Later, she discloses to Nicole that while she may seem hard, she’s really very sensitive. Duh.

The overarching message of this week’s episode was that just because the contestants are short doesn’t mean they can’t learn to look tall. Who better to prove that fierceness comes in all shapes and sizes than runway coach extraordinaire Ms. J? He’s joined by his mini-me for the night, Diva Davanna. 

Nine-year-old Diva Davanna proves that one doesn’t need to be tall to work the runway like a pro. She has no problem asserting confidence and proves it by working it alongside Ms. J in an entrance that warrants a rewind. I just hope that, with more than 200 runway shows under her belt, she’s not washed up at 12 wondering where her childhood went.

In the meantime: Work, Diva Davanna!

What not to wear: Behind the scenes at the L.A. auditions for 'America's Next Top Model'

Last Saturday, hundreds of model wannabes arrived at L.A.’s Sheraton Universal Hotel in the early morning -- some waiting almost three hours -- for the chance to catch the eye of the person who holds the golden ticket to “America’s Next Top Model”: casting director Michelle Mock-Falcon.

Mock-Falcon has been "Top Model's" casting director since its Cycle 1 six years ago. “I always tell Tyra, 'You know these girls, who are coming in right now at 18, were babies when the show started and they’ve watched every season.'”

When Tyra decided she wanted to do a shorty edition, she put Mock-Falcon’s team to work. “We always get [submissions] in the thousands, but when we did the petite cycle, we just got an obscene number," she said. "We filled rooms with tapes."

But for the post-shorty season, it’s back to tall models – only girls who are taller than 5'7. Not that it makes the job any easier. “My job is to bring her the best of what I see out there,” she said. “I bring [Tyra] everything, from what people would think is typical pretty to models people would say, ‘Wow, I don’t see it’ -- but once they’re transformed, they’re in shock. Tyra just wants to see beauty in all shapes and sizes.”

'America's Next Top Model': A surprise double elimination and the mystery of 'smize'

This week's "America’s Next Top Model" kicked off with a lukewarm (read: boring) interview competition with judge Nigel Barker and Wilhelmina Models’ President Sean Patterson. Each girl faced the handsome panel while fielding questions and walking on demand. 

I’m not sure those two should ever host a segment on their own again – snorefest. It wasn’t until the interviews were over when we found out why we should care. It was an elimination challenge and the girl who did the worst would be OUT. In the end, Bambi-eyed Rachel went home for her lack of charisma. Why? You can’t say you’re into musical theater, especially in our "Glee"-obsessed world, and not be able to burst into song on command. Bye Bambi.

Now here’s where it gets good: The rest of the show is dedicated to creating a smile with your eyes, or “smize” as Tyra calls it. Anyone who has watched more than a few episodes, let alone 12 previous cycles, knows that Tyra is the queen of smize. It’s the ubiquitous talent, according to Tyra, that brings one up from plain model to top model. To drive the point home, she dons a leotard and cape and shows up as her alter ego, “Super Smize.” (By the way, shouldn’t it be smeyes?)  

How does one smize? After the jump...

'America’s Next Top Model': Can short models really find work? We ask designer Yotam Solomon

Last week on "America's Next Top Model," L.A.-based designer Yotam Solomon’s designs were featured in the first elimination challenge. Just back from New York Fashion Week, Solomon is a rising star in the design world. Since graduating from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, he’s one of the youngest people to show at L.A. Fashion Week, a champion of the eco-friendly design movement, and he has already impressed style's heavy hitters. "British Vogue did the most beautiful write up," he remembers. "They actually said I brought high fashion back to California. That was the biggest compliment I can ever get."

We asked him his thoughts about host Tyra Banks, who while consoling some of the eliminated shorties, er, contestants, tried to convince them they had options in modeling. (Remember she came up, um, short. She could only list two options: commercials and face modeling.)

Solomon wasn’t at the filming due to scheduling conflicts, but watched the episode and gave it his best shot: “I know that Tyra said petite models don’t have a big chance to be runway models and that’s all correct," he said. 

"I myself would not hire anybody under 5 [foot] 8. But still, editorial is a huge part of the business. It’s half, actually more than half," he continued. "There’s more editorial being done than runway shows. It doesn’t have to be the Chanel runway show that you have to be in. There’s just so much else to be done."

Which girls worked his designs? 

'America's Next Top Model' premiere: What's a short top model to do? Tyra sort of knows

 For me, the "America's Next Top Model" formula was fine as it was – a well-oiled top-model-selecting machine. I thought, just like many of you I'm sure, what the heck is a short model going to do even if she wins? Well, Tyra answered that in Wednesday's second elimination as she was consoling the girls who didn’t make it:

“Ladies, I know this is hard,” says Tyra. “And the advice that I can give you is, yes, you’ll walk into agencies and they will say you are too short.” Please note she’s supposed to be consoling them. “But there are some other things you can do. You can do commercials. You can do [slight pause, eyes widen, wait for it] face modeling …OK?” And hugs.

She could only name two things! If that was Tyra’s version of a pep talk, please Lord, don’t let her volunteer for a suicide hot line. After Tyra’s less-than-graceful goodbye speech, I realized something – Tyra was just keepin’ it real.

So, in the spirit of Tyra, I'm going to keep it real with my review of the moments that made me go "Wha?" in Wednesday's two-hour premiere:

'America's Next Top Model' preview: Short stature. Hi, drama!

"America's Next Top Model" is back tonight for Cycle 13 -- what I've dubbed "ANTM: The Shortie Edition."

The premise: Every girl must be 5 feet 7 or below. I have to admit that I originally thought the idea marked a sad milestone. "ANTM" is finally "jumping the shark." But turns out I could be wrong, because what these gals lack in height they make up for in attitude. The "Thumbelina Complex" is out of control. These girls have been told their entire lives that they could be models if only they were taller. And now, suddenly, they really do have a shot. And let me tell you, they aren't taking it for granted.

It makes sense that Tyra Banks, who claims to have experienced racial and body discrimination herself, would find it her duty to expand the idea of what's beautiful. The show has already had plus-sized models, a transsexual and women of different ethnic backgrounds compete for the title of Top Model. Why not give more petite girls a crack at it too? Tyra told ETOnline.com that it took two years for her to convince the producers that they should do a "Shortie Edition" of the show. If I were to judge by looks alone (I get the irony), Tyra seems reinvigorated this cycle. She's looking healthy and the orange-hued locks have given way to a more natural-looking dark brown. She is either feeling great about breaking boundaries once again or she realized during the taping that these girls are ratings gold!

But enough with the tall chicks (so last cycle). I've seen the premiere, so let's get to the shorties, um, petite gals, I think you should keep an eye on tonight: