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« America's Next Top Model
The Top Models Get Extreme Makeovers
Smell ya later, Smarty-Pants. Victoria by Lionel Deluy/The CW
Episode Recap: "The Girl Who Goes Bald"
This week's recap by Ben Katner
Wow, my first time subbing as TVGuide.com's America's Next Top Model recapper, and I get makeover week. Scary. Be gentle with me, people.
The episode starts out with Victoria saying for the umpteenth time that it didn't occur to her until recently that modeling might be a kick in the smarty-pants, and I'm not buying it. I mean, if she'd ever even considered trying out for this show, she'd have known that the wannabes, not to mention Miss Tyra, have major hate-ons for girls who don't sob openly about how walking down a runway in clothes you'd never see anyone wear on the street has been their dream since they were in utero.
Meanwhile, Saleisha clearly forgetting that once you say you won't you most certainly will announces that she's not ever going to be in the bottom two. But in her favor, she does sob openly about her aspiration to pose for pretty pictures for the rest of her life. More on that later.
For now, there is Tyra Mail to translate, and for once, the budding Cover Girls get it right: The piffle about butterflies and metamorphoses means that indeed it is makeover week.
Waiting for them at the Ken Paves Salon hey, isn't he the guy who bailed on Britney Spears right before her unbeweavable VMAs performance? Miss Tyra reveals what the girls' new looks will be. Allow me to paraphrase:
Ambreal, you're so elegant, we didn't wanna stick you with a giant afro, so we're just gonna cut your really short hair even shorter.
Bianca, the purple weave has to go. But to create drama, we're gonna bleach your hair a shade of blonde that's sure to make you look like Divine Brown's mug shot.
Sarah, you're kinda nondescript. Maybe if we hack off a lotta your mousey brown hair, it'll help.
Victoria, you think you're so smart. Try doing calculus as a blonde.
Chantal, it would be too easy to make you cry by giving you a mohawk, so instead... oh, to heck with it. You get bangs.
Lisa, for your hairdo-over, we're just gonna slice off some inches. Nothing radical.
Jenah, we've been doing this show for a long time now, and after awhile, honey, we run out of ideas. So for you, we're just gonna recycle the bleached-blonde look we gave Cycle 3's Amanda.
Janet, we've gotta get you out of the secretarial pool. Dyeing your hair black will either do the trick or leave you well prepared to shoot a YouTube parody of Madonna's "Rain" video.
Ebony, let's call your new look the Naomi Campbell, because after we just gave Jenah Amanda's old look, people might notice that we were turning you into an exact replica of Cycle 6's Danielle.
Saleisha, you're too JC Penney. We've gotta give you some Saks appeal. A Louise Brooks bob oughta do the trick. Or at least be good for a laugh. Either way, it's win-win.
Heather, the girls already have to hate you because we've made it clear that we like you, so we're gonna try to set them off further by not changing your look a bit.
After the slice-and-dice begins, Sarah confesses her worry that she'll look like her mom. And, once it's all said and done, she does sorta look like she'd be right at home driving a station wagon full of fifth-graders to baseball practice.
But she gets off easy compared to Bianca, whose weave is so bad, the stylists practically have to surgically remove the glue from her head. I'm not a fan of Miss Bad Personality, but even I had to feel for her a little when Mr. Jay told her they were going to just go back to square one, cut off all her hair and give her a wig. A Divine Brown wig, no less, to add insult to injury. Bianca cries, but quietly, to herself, and I have to admit I rather admire her for that. It's only hair, after all. And if for a second the judges feel you don't "own" it, they'll disown you! (And was Miss J baiting her by hovering over her and calling for tissues in a manner I felt was obnoxious, or was he trying to make her laugh? I'd like to think it's the latter, because generally, I don't get the impression the Thang that Miss is, is mean-spirited.)
Next, the girls compete in a make-up competition that's at least three quarters a commercial for CoverGirl and one-fifth an opportunity for us to meet Nigel Barker's wife, Crissy, a model-turned-make-up artist. In traditional fashion, there's lots of pushing and shoving at the make-up tables. It looks like an episode of Extremely Wild Kingdom, but with eyelash curlers. Janet rocks her look, but can't find her rack of dresses in time, so she puts on someone else's. As a result, Sarah wins, though I still don't think I'd be able to pick her out of a crowd like Lisa, who now looks like a Prince protege circa 1984, or Jenah, who, if I'm not mistaken, has the largest gums in captivity.
Later, there's more Tyra Mail, and this time, the girls return to form, misreading its meaning. When Tyra writes that they're going to be deflowered, dear, dim Chantal assumes they're going to be posing naked. They're not. They're going to instead be posing as flora and fauna.
At panel, Twiggy notes that it was appropriate for Victoria to be cast as a cactus, because she is rather prickly. This naturally causes Vic to lash out again at Twiggy in most prickly fashion. Seriously, who lashes out at Twiggy? She's adorable. Ebony, who now looks like a black Cher, gets it even worse. To illustrate how bad her attitude is, Miss Tyra trades places with her and mimes a naughty schoolgirl who's just been called before the principal. Which, as it happens, is a dead-on accurate description of Ebony's demeanor.
Moving on, Saleisha's photo sucks big time she vanishes under the weight of her godawful bangs. The judges give Janet pretty good marks despite the fact that she looks no more or less hoochie in her photo than my beloved Kimberly did the week before. (If you don't know why I love her, you obviously missed our Q&A earlier today.) Once again, Bianca's picture isn't nearly as stunning as she is in person, yet the judges go easy on her. What? Was one mini-meltdown from her this week enough for you? Maybe they just figure they can make Chantal cry. But to what I suspect is their chagrin she keeps it together, even though she's always telling us she cares about modeling "on a different level." Ah, a closet existentialist. Tyra tells her you can listen to the creative director and the photographer at the same time, and I wish Chantal would say, "Even when one says to look left and the other says to look right? Could you demonstrate that move for us?" But she doesn't.
Perhaps because she keeps her yap shut, Chantal escapes elimination and even the bottom two. Last up are Saleisha and Victoria. The judges think Saleisha will eventually find a way to make her new cut look more Rihanna and less Buster Brown, so they grant Victoria's wish to go throw on a T-shirt and head to the library. This sends Saleisha bawling so voluminously, you'd swear she'd just been saved from the guillotine. In her closing statement, Vic says she used to think all models did was sit around and look pretty. And now she knows: they sit around, look pretty and squabble incessantly.
What did you think of this week's episode? Did Victoria deserve the stiletto'd boot? Leave your comments here.
For all the latest news and gossip on ANTM, tune into TV Guide Network's Reality Chat; October 16 at 8pm/ET.
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Oct 10, 2007 10:08 PM
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I was pretty annoyed when I realized I had double-booked myself for this week's show and that I'd be missing my chance to blog about what I think is the greatest ep. of Top Model every season. I might even venture to say it's better than the finale. Anywho, I felt the need to briefly sum up my take on each of this year's makeovers.
-Ambreal and Janet- both pixie cuts both great looks
Sarah- looks 10X better (even described herself as fierce)
Victoria- "I never thought a haircut could make me feel so beautiful!" I too was getting a little tired of the "not a model" schtick and I guess we won't be hearing it any longer.
Ebony- apparently the girl rubber cemented her own scalp to achieve her old look, that's some commitment there! Like the new hair though
Heather- looks even more beautiful and it was nice to hear the judges tell her she had model potential as is
Jenah- ehh
Lisa- ehh, as well
Bianca- Miss J was just cruel! She was supposed to be Beyonce but got Sinead O'Conner instead. Not bad though
Saleisha- also called herself fierce and though its a love it or hate it look, I think it works
Post Makeover favs: Janet, Ebony, Ambreal
Lastly, am I the only one who winces whenever those Covergirl ads with Jaslene come on? This week she had a big smile on her face talking about domestic abuse...she does better with still photography
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Oct 11, 2007 12:45 AM
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hehehe I love this show. I love this blog. The lesson here: twiggy don't play dat!
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Oct 11, 2007 2:06 AM
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HURRAY! Makeover madness! HURRAH! Everyone's favourite episode! But what? No meltdowns, no screaming, no hysterical phone calls to boyfriends or moms because girls who have professed to be willing to do ANYTHING to be a model are having their hair changed? And EVERYONE knows that a makeover hairdo is PERMANENT! Alert the presses: short hair will be made long and long hair will be made short! What happened to the good old cycles when Katie cried for 4 days because they cut 4 inches and Cassandra QUIT THE COMPETITION because Tyra wanted to make her already SHORT hair SHORTER, a la Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby?? Not that I blame her for not wanting that particular look: I'm sure that when Mia Farrow looks back and sees herself looking like that she wishes SHE hadn't had that look in Rosemary's Baby!
Bianca cried because they went from Beyonce to Bald. She sat there quietly, silently, and I thought with great dignity, in spite of Miss J being an ass. I don't like the inside of that girl, but her outside, as Tyra pointed out, is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and who knew? Props to Bianca for handling it the way she did: professionally and calmly - good for you girl: for once I'm impressed. AND I can't believe they couldn't find a better pic of her in that sunflower get-up for panel, because even Mr. Jay, not a big fan of hers normally, said she CAME to the shoot and she BROUGHT it, and from what they showed of her poses, she really did. Tyra, you goofed on this choice for best pic of the shoot. Nor did she repeat Mr. Jay's comments about the huge improvement in Bianca's whole attitude. Boo to you, Tyra-pooh.
Okay, maybe it's just my husband and me, but does Saleisha's new high-fashion cut [read: sarcasm] not look IDENTICAL to Tootie's on The Facts of Life?? I felt and feel so sorry for her because the picture they showed of what the cut should look like bore no resemblance whatsoever to what she has on her head - she can barely SEE under those bowl bangs - no wonder her eyes weren't fierce! And the way she just danced up to the judges, so pleased with her new look, too: just about broke my heart when they ripped out HER heart through her nostrils about the photo when it is obvious to anyone with HALF an eyeball that the problem with the photos wasn't HER it was her bowl cut Tootie-hair! Go on, you KNOW you want to say it! Her chances of being in the final three, which up until this point were pretty good, just plummeted, and she is going to have to really, really think hard about how to get Tyra to fix that mess. Good luck Saleisha: you deserved MUCH better. N.B.: I wonder what the designer who chose her to go to Paris would say if she saw her now?? Think she'd win again? I don't.
Ebony, good God, what did you do to yourself? And yet she too, was really cool about the whole thing, when you could see that it both upset her AND hurt her like heck, too! Props to you too, girl: handled it like a pro. I hope she paid attention to Tyra's dead-on but really mean role-playing at panel, because the girl that everyone figured would be the B**** of the season has morphed into the most insecure of the lot - even more than Heather!
Now that Jenah and Janet no longer look even slightly alike, I will figure out which name belongs with which look: high fashion, very short, BLACK hair or high fashion, layered, long and BLOND. Either way, both of them have killer bodies, especially in the post-makeover pic, I thought the short, black-haired one looked amazing! Was she the rock climbing instructor, because whoever she was also has a killer bod.
I don't like Sarah's hair. OK, throw your tomatoes, but I don't. Her face is SO beautiful and the streaks are SO awful and fake looking. It looks like she did it all alone at home with a kit you buy at Wal Mart, AND forgot to use the cap! The cut isn't as bad as Tootie's, but the colour sucks. And why are they whining about her losing weight? What's that all about? Being around all of those size Zeroes or Twos would make anyone think twice before stuffing their face, except Tocarra - I forget which cycle she was the token Plus Size in - did you SEE the food she kept under her bed? I swear I saw a whole roasted chicken at one point! I'm not criticizing: she is beautiful and one of the few, the very few, who are working post-ANTM exposure, just saying that it would take someone who was uber-secure in her own beauty and desirability [as Tocarra obviously is]to NOT under-eat in that household! Seriously, if your bed is right underneath a picture of Jaslene the Bone Queen, how on earth could you avoid counting every single calorie? And then knowing you'd be evaluated by Twiggy of all people! And there are pictures of her on the walls from her heyday as well! I'd need therapy to ever eat again! Nah, I'd eat again.
Ambreal has to learn to stop smiling so much: she is more beautiful when she does that whole look-down-her-nose-I'm-an-African-Queen-thing, don't you think? And thank God her haircut made her look more like herself and less like Miss J who just looks like an idiot this cycle with that Afro. Maybe that's where Ebony's self-confidence is hiding! Although anything is better than those flowers.
Wasn't at all surprised to see Victoria go home: in fact predicted it at the beginning of the episode and only had it confirmed when she opened her yap at Twiggy again FOR NO REASON. Last week Twigs got on her for no reason, but this week Tory was just belligerent, rude and in-your-face, and I was glad to see her go. You shouldn't be there if you don't really want it, end of story. I was hoping for another Shandi, but she didn't even come close. Good luck and don't let the door hit your skinny ass on the way out.
And I am SO BLOODY GLAD they were smart enough to leave Heather alone, basically. Her look is just so amazing - good grief - those eyes! - I was really afraid they would mess that up - see poor Tootie for reference. I am sure she will be in the final three and she may even pull it off completely. The only thing that would hold her back at this point; since we know she photographs flawlessly AND can strut her stuff; would be during the whole talking commercial part that so many, many others have completely SUCKED at. I hate to give Tyra credit for any really serious thinking, but maybe she realized that Heather's hair wasn't just hair but a place for her to hide behind and to use as security when she is overwhelmed by the whole social scene, and that is why she wasn't chopped. Anyone else have any thoughts about that? Anyone else out there ever hide behind their hair?
I swear, it isn't until the first attempt at the commercial that I realize just how stupid some of these girls are - they can't even read tele-prompters! The girl who was going blind and had those icy, Viking Blue eyes did a better job than some of the other would-be Cover Girls - most of the time it seems that they don't even practice reading out loud beforehand, to get comfortable with the sound of their own voices! Yet, they will walk up and down the house in heels until they have blisters to try to get better. Makes no sense to me. Although if anyone does think to practice the whole reading-out-loud thing, I hope they don't ask Bianca for her advice!! Remember Kimberly?
Poor Chantal: I felt REALLY sorry for her at that photo shoot! And she is one of those contestants who wants to win so much it is almost painful to watch: sometimes I think those girls would sell their souls to become the next Top Model, and for what? It is obvious her whole heart and soul is invested in this competition which is so, so sad, since I don't think she will even make it to the final three. Even really experienced models would have had a hard time with those two idiots giving such diametrically opposed instructions, and an inexperienced, novice girl didn't stand a chance. ALTHOUGH, do you suppose they would have tried it with someone like, say, Janice Dickinson? I think not! She actually wound up having something better than I would have thought, given the situation. I'm also glad she spoke up, a little, to let them know the reason why this photo was NOT her best, but then backed down before offending anyone. How on earth Tyra figured she could have done what she was being told by each of them, I have no idea: wonder what Tyra would do in the same situation today? And I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it when she said she'd have done better if "they had both just SHUT UP" You go girl! Not a favourite of mine before this epi, but I like her spirit, so Chantal, you're on the radar now. Her never-say-die attitude and spunkiness remind me of Carridee, even if the rest of her personality doesn't.
One last question: is this the same salon that did last year's mayhem on poor Britt and Jael? And WHY on God's green earth did Mr. Jay have to tell that SO-CALLED PROFESSIONAL HAIRDRESSER not to do something else to Bianca's hair because it would fall out of her head??? I'm willing to bet good CANADIAN [little joke there] dollars that those hairdressers charge a fortune for a cut, and yet my own cut-rate stylist would NEVER do half of the terrible things they do to their helpless guinea pigs!
But, no matter whether you LOVE the makeovers (Bianca) or HATE them (Tootie), you've got to admit that this episode is the turning point for the show, and after this it gets serious. Plus, now I can finally remember which name goes with which face - I hope!
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Oct 11, 2007 3:26 AM
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I can't even watch those Cover Girl commercials with Jaslene. She talks like she has marbles in her mouth which makes me shudder. And, last night's ads with her sitting there with a plastic smile on her face while talking about domestic abuse were so stupid. Last cycle, I never thought that she would win since her non-still photography persona left alot to be desired. Oh well......
Anyway, loved the makeovers! Everyone looked great. Bianca looks SO much better without the pink, scraggly hair/weave. Hate the wigs, though. She should stick with the short, short hair.
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Oct 11, 2007 7:17 AM
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Ben great job. I agree about Jaslene. She talks like she has marbles in her mouth. I remember Tyra use to dog Danielle for talking with a southern drawl but Jaslene talks like she has sh** in her mouth.
I did think Bianca handled herself very well. She was vey poised and professional. I don't think I could have handled it that well. She looks great. I love Sara's. I too would lose weight, if I lived with those skinny girls.
I wonder if anyone is having trouble not smoking. No one has addressed that yet.
What is wrong with Ebony. She is absolutely gorgeous. Why is she so insecure????
On another note, Nigel's wife is gorgeous too.
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Oct 11, 2007 7:38 AM
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I think Ebony is going to need one of Tyra's talks where she spills the beans about her business for the world to know that she was abused/abandoned or whatever. Not trying to be insensitive. But that is what she needs. I think she does not want to come off as stank so she just does not say anything. Is is better to open your mouth or not? I still like her though and her new hair really does make her look better. Tootie. hahahahahaha that was funny.
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Oct 11, 2007 8:16 AM
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Ebony really got exposed. That weave she had wasn't worth 5 dollars much less 5 hundred. It was so nasty, no wonder she couldn't do anything with it. I am not a fan of her facial expressions at panel either.
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Oct 11, 2007 8:21 AM
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Hi- agree with so many things already said. I can not stand Saleisha's new do. She was right on when she said she looked like a Beatle. Like another poster, I think it would have been fine if her hair looked like the pic they showed but her's is just way to long and shaggy. I love, love, love, Bianca's new look. Throw that wig away for good and work with that beautiful bald head. Heather has an amazing look so I'm glad they kept it. I find Jenah to be so unattractive. I can not remember what she looked like before the new do but that fake bleached look is just nasty. I myself am not a bangs girl so Chantal's bangs do nothing for me.
Lastly, I find myself watching the Jaslene commercials much like one finds themselves looking at accidents on the side of the road. Why oh why did they not get that girl a dialect coach?
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Oct 11, 2007 9:39 AM
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I just looked up the old Jennah on the CW page. Why did they give her that awful look. She was much prettier before with her dark hair!!!
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Oct 11, 2007 9:48 AM
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This show is such a guilty pleasure and makeover day is the BEST! Overall, I think the looks turned out great this season. I like that they left Heather alone and didn't go too crazy on anybody. I do love Sharondunford's Tootie comparison. I knew she looked like somebody but I couldn't place it. Thanks for the hint!
I forgot to count the "fierces" but I think we should add a counter for "bring it from within" and "take it to the next level". JMO...
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Oct 11, 2007 9:56 AM
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I think Ebony probably has been told all her life that you are pretty even though you are dark skinned. Being an African-American but not as dark has heard that said to people and it is really demeaning.
I did not find Miss J as mean I thought it was nice that he was there trying to wipe her tears away.
I do not like Jaslene but think that last was the best I have heard from her so far this season.
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Oct 11, 2007 10:04 AM
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Ok even I felt sorry for Bianca this week. I felt she handled the entire situation like a pro. She didn't cause a scene or cry violently, just silently. I do think Ms. J was trying to make her feel better. I think he sympathized with her. I do think she looks a whole lot better without that hair! The blonde wig has got to go!
Saliesha's hair is horrible, much to heavy for her. Of course if she would just tilt her head up a little a lot of the weight coming forward would go back and you could see her face.
I agree that Jenah looks terrible with that awful blonde hair. Looks completely fake on her. I don't think she look all that great before the makeover and now she really doesn't look good.
The rest of the girls I liked their new looks. I was glad Heather got to stay the same. Someone posted last week that they were afraid if Heather's change was drastic how it might affect her. Apparently Tyra and the crew realized this as well.
Onto Victoria, now could this girl be just a little more defensive?? I knew she was heading home when she jumped all over Twiggy. I can how a girl might get a way with talking back like that once but to do it 3 times....You are asking to be sent home. I am glad to see her go. She always looked like a frightened child in her photos to me. I didn't see a model at all.
And finally Jaslene...Her speech bothered me last season and I can't even watch the commercials with her this season. She may have a good message to spread but I won't be hearing it because I fast forward past her commercials so I don't have to hear that awful voice.
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Oct 11, 2007 10:27 AM
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There was a huge production glitch last night, but if you blinked, you wouldn't spot it--WHOOPS!
At the end, when they show the photo of all the girls superimposed together, and then remove the one who got eliminated--Jenah was COMPLETELY ABSENT from the photo.
The photo was a new one that had all of their post-makeover pics, and I was looking at it closely because I have a theory that you can tell who wins (or who the last few are) based on how good they look it that particular picture--at the end of the finale when they show that photo with just the winner, it can't be a bad photo!
Anyway, based on the previous picture (pre-makeover) the best pictures were of Heather, Lisa, Jenah and maybe Chantal, so I wanted to revise my opinion w/the new photo. Well, Jenah wasn't in it at all.
So what does this mean? Just an error, or is she the next to go? She's been doing so well, I'd be shocked if she went next, but the fact remains (And I know because I paused my Tivo and counted all the girls--no Jenah) that she wasn't in the shot.
Boo on ANTM for such as stupid error!
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Oct 11, 2007 10:39 AM
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With the new make-over, Jenah looks like Courtney Love.
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Oct 11, 2007 10:46 AM
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