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« America's Next Top Model
Episode Recap: Ready for My Close-Up
Hey Top Model-ers. Gina here again – so glad you can join us. Last week, many of you (myself included) were disappointed to see Kat go after the Tyra-shot photo shoot. Hell, even Whitney was shocked she didn't get the boot. But such is life in the land of reality competitions.
Tonight's episode starts out with the final four ladies, Whitney, Fatima, Dominique and Anya. The girls arrive back to their pad to see Salesha's pictures all over the house. Of course Dominique has to make the comment that she's "the Salesha of the house" before heading to bed while the other girls take the opportunity to talk schmack about crappy eating habits. The fact that the girl can eat doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me is her make-up job in some of these scenes. Seriously though, does anyone else notice her foundation tends to be 4 shades to light for her face?
For the challenge, the girls arrive in the park, and as a little change of pace, they get to play photographer for the day (clearly they'll never be as good as Tyra was last week). Their mission: to capture the best picture of Paulina (and play nice with her at the same time) within five minutes. Fatima is up first, and she took charge, but with a professional manner. Dominique mastered the art of talking in circles. Whitney didn't really do much but tell Paulina how hot she was (brown-noser much?). And Anya tried to have Paulina be as perky as she is.
As far as results go, Whitney's lighting came out well and she "didn't hesitate." Anya was a "fun" photographer. Fatima made Paulina feel "relaxed" and provided "a lot of options." Dominique's critique – "Your compositions just weren't quite there," and, my personal favorite was Paulina's, "I was going to go wherever you were going to lead me…but you led me to a cactus." And the winner – Dominique! Juuuust playin'. Fatima went home the victor and nabbed herself 50 extra frames on the next photo shoot as her reward.
Back at the house, Fatima put in some extra time practicing her runway walk. And guess who had the most to say? Oh, Dominique. What you call self-confidence, we call self-obsessed-without-merit.
Anywho, tonight's challenge. The girls get to do a night shoot as a '50s movie star stalked by the paparazzi. But wait, who's that running towards the girls? Why, it's noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker! Let the shoot begin. First up is Anya. She couldn't seem to get out of the posey rut until Jay distracted her. Fatima was next and no one was impressed. But good thing she won those 50 extra frames, right? Wrong! She botched those too. Whitney was taking the posey shots as well. Dominique was her overly confident self going into the shoot, and according to Jay, "actually took a few steps back." So basically, the question now is who sucked the least.
At judges panel, Anya lucked out and got an amazing shot by the judges standards. They all loved her "fresh" energy. Whitney looked great, but they found her to be a bit stiff. And then was Dominique. Even in the final four, Tyra had to teach Dominique to dress at panel. According to Paulina, her picture was that of "a transvestite." At least she calls it like she sees it considering that was her softest shot. Tyra had to give her a little how-to lesson on avoiding the tranny look. Fatima looked like more of a Covergirl in her shot, but it was decent. With Fatima and Dominique in the bottom two, who goes? Bye-bye Dominique! And then there were three…
And that wraps up another episode of Top Model. Personally, I think it's about time Dominique left, but if I said it once, I'll say it again; I'm truly surprised Whitney hasn't been cut yet based on plus sized models of past cycles. Perhaps there really may be a plus size model in the Top 2 (but I'm not holding my breath). Overall, I secretly was hoping for a bit more drama, but come to think of it, now that Dominique is gone, the cat fighting may be as well. Hopefully Fatima will step up and resume her old role as the annoying one.
So what did everyone think of tonight's episode? Glad to see Dominique go or do you think the finale won't nearly be as entertaining without her? Does Whitney stand a chance as being the winner? Who do you think will be the final two on the runway challenge? Let's hear it!
And be sure to watch clips and extras of Top Model with our Online Video Guide now!
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May 7, 2008 10:17 PM
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I have to say that this is probably the worst top four that ANTM has had. I feel like none of them got it. None of them got the point of the photo shoot. Not one of them tried to look shocked or surprised during the photo shoot. Anya did the best but that was only because she tripped.
I have to disagree with you about Whitney, I think she deserves to be in the top three just as much as any other girl and I'm glad she wasn't in the bottom two this week. I'm glad that the judges finally called Fatima on her lack of listening skills and general snootiness.
I think the judges made the right choice sending Dominique home though I wish we could have gotten rid of both Fatima and Dominique.
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May 7, 2008 11:19 PM
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blugirlami21, I agree with you completely. This top 4 is terrible. Whatever happened to the girls like Joanie from Cycle 6, who never gave a bad photo throughout the competition? Every final four of every cycle has had at least two girls who have deserved to be ANTM in some area of the competition.
I also agree about Whitney - I really like her, and wish she could go all the way. Fatima is grinding my every nerve, and I almost wish we could have sent home her instead of Dominique. Although the double elimination would have been nice...
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May 8, 2008 12:17 AM
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It's just that they have been showing ANTM marathons and when I look at those old episodes and the great models that we have had in the past, I just can't help but be disappointed in these girls. Girls like Danielle, Renee, Joanie, hell even Jade could have rocked that photo shoot. Wouldn't it be awesome for the previous contestants/runner ups to come back and compete with each other, kind of like an all-star top model? I would love to see this on American Idol as well.
I really hope it's down to Anya and Whitney for the final two.
And I hope the next cycle is better.
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May 8, 2008 1:21 AM
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I agree with both of you. None of these girls can hold a candle to some of the past contestants. I can barely remember the current girls names.
Hopefully next cycle they will bring back ANTM castoffs (like maybe all the runner ups) and have them duke it out.
Now that would be a show.
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May 8, 2008 7:38 AM
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OK, I have to ask what was the purpose of the pictures of Salesha?? I was expecting her to come around any corner! My favorite comment from Dom was "she got her picture taken with Tyra?" Did this girl ever WATCH the show? Of course she got her picture with Tyra, heaven forbid she not be larger than life in all photos and in the house!!
SO glad to see Dom leave. I am sick of these dumb photo shoots, none of which will be good in their portfolio!! Head shots, body shots looking gorgeous SELLING something!!!
Good GOD!!
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May 8, 2008 8:58 AM
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Gina--learn how to proofread your column, use proper grammar and proper word choice. Maybe this is your rough draft and not your final copy, but I could hardly concentrate on what you were trying to say because of how poorly you were saying it.
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May 8, 2008 9:40 AM
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I was glad to see Dominique go she was to much in love with herself and I don't think she was as good as she thinks she is. I hope Fatima goes next that girl is just nasty and I feel sorry for the other girls that have to live with her. I love it that Whitney has made it this far it's about time a plus size model got up there, I hope she can hold out I think she's doing a great job. Anya is such a little airhead but she takes great pictures so it's anyones gues who will be top two.
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May 8, 2008 10:15 AM
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two things:
first, i think whitney will win simply because she is plus sized. shes my favorite, so i dont mind. but i think tyra picks her winners now based off of "messages" rather than talent.
second, it bothers me how they never got on dominique about her eyebrow. you cant raise your eyebrow in every picture you do. they got on whitney from jaslenes season for doing it, so why not get on dominique?
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May 8, 2008 10:16 AM
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i have to say, this cycle is better than lasts (although i LOVED heather!) i think fatima will be eliminated next week-she's just too skinny. anya is a little boring but takes great pictures, but i'm pulling for whitney. i think she's got a great shot at winning. for one, she'll probably end up with way more work than some of the previous winners. two, she can speak a lot better than anya...hooray for women with curves!
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May 8, 2008 10:26 AM
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Dom definitely got the "Jade" edit of the cycle - crazy, way too full of herself, and not enough talent to match her "confidence." The difference for me personally? Jade was so much prettier and, every now and again, could turn on a "fierce" picture. Dominique, well, even I have to admit that she's had some decent ones. But that's the point, they were DECENT! Not one of them were good or "model-esque". Also, I agree with you Gina, every time they showed her during a shoot, her face foundation did NOT match her body! That's what we call "Exhibit A" that this girl was there (1) just for the drama and (2) there because she's an ex T-Zoner.
This is an interesting final 3. While I can't excuse Fatima's attitude, my word, she really does look like Iman! So in my book, that buys her some credit.  Her pictures aren't consistent, but she is gorgeous! Anya, well, she takes a great photo, but to quote Whitney, "she just so... blonde." And Whitney, well, something has to be done about that weave and while she has a great face, the more I see her, the more she does look like Anna Nicole Smith!
Anyhow, I can't say this is my favorite top 3, ESPECIALLY with Kat gone. The last 3 seasons, I haven't been wild about the final 3 though. Sigh. I hope that they revamp this show for next season. Since this season was shot before Tyra and company got wind of "Saleshia-gate", perhaps for the next season they will continue to revamp the show. But I ahve a feeling that's just wishful thinking. :-\
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May 8, 2008 10:26 AM
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A good example about this cycle's final four vs. other's (let's not talk cycle nine):
Cycle 8's final five had the girls (Brittany, Renee, Natasha, Dionne and Jaslene) taking two photos - one shot by Tyra for a women's magazine and one shot for a men's magazine. And all ten photographs were amazing (Dionne's were probably the weakest, but they were still solid). And that was top five, let alone top four. And with twice the photos to take. Geez.
(If you want to take a walk down memory lane... you might want to turn down the volume on Paris Hilton's song, but... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I36_E4IoIjw&feature=related)
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May 8, 2008 10:46 AM
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Yea!! Dom is gone! I'm glad to see my girl Whitney still there. I honestly don't think that she will win it but I love seeing her still in the competition.
The thing that really got me about his photo shoot is that they did not want the girls to look like models. Hello, isn't this a modeling competition? Isn't the whole point of this to find America's next top model? Isn't a model's job basically to sell something? Whether it is clothes, makeup, jewelry, cars etc, a model's job is to make you want it. They seem to have lost that focus in this season. Maybe it is because Tyra is so focused on her TV career now. I'm not sure.
Next week will be interesting. Will it be the extremely skinny skeleton girl or will it be the plump, curvy girl in the final two?
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May 8, 2008 10:50 AM
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About Whitney, I don't see Anna Nicole. Who I do see is a young Bo Derek. They both have the same facial bone structure.
And thank goodness, they finally gave Dominique the boot. Yes, her pictures did get better, but no matter what, she still looked like a man, and she looks too old to be a Cover Girl. Did I read one posters comment correctly, that Dom was a T-Zoner? Maybe I misunderstood.
I'm pulling for Whitney, but don't see it happening. I don't think the judges like her all that much. Anya takes good pictures, but can't talk worth a darn, I can never understand what she's saying. Her makeover maked her look like an albino.
I would like to see Whitney win, if not her they I guess Anya. I can't stand Fatima - waaay to skinny, bad skin and attitude.
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May 8, 2008 10:55 AM
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I must have missed something. What is "Saleshia-gate" about??
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May 8, 2008 10:59 AM
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