America’s Next Top Model 8, Episode 1: Goodwill Hunting

Brittany is up first and she is pro-fur. Nigel says that she has an air of arrogance about her, which is exactly what he wanted. Kathleen, who is anti-fur, says that she actually likes fur and thinks people look pretty in it. She has some problems posing and Jay demands from her that she give high fashion. Kathleen is understandably confused since she has never modeled before. Nigel thinks that she can’t embrace or understand what she is doing. Kathleen feels that she had problems but brought it together in the end. I really do like this girl!

Jaslene goes next and is pro-death penalty. She gives it her all and looks great, while her opposite, Sarah, shoots for life in prison. She tells the camera that she has worked with other photographers in the past and they all praised her. Nigel is actually surprised by her, though, feeling that he didn’t get too much out of her.

Diana is pro-gun and says that she believes guns are good for protection. Jay doesn’t feel she really committed to her shoot, and when you don’t give 100%, you can tell. Meanwhile, Jael is still sick and bitching in the back. Does anyone care? Yeah, me neither. Renee does her anti-gun shoot and says it’s hard for her to portray a hippie and be so peaceful when she has her child on her mind at all times. Okay, Renee? You are going to have to get over that for the time being!

Jael is pro-life and won’t allow being sick to affect her. She knows that her nerves hurt her though in her shoot, and says she felt like she was going to pass out. So she goes to the back with the other girls and says that maybe using a hula hoop will help. What?! Renee wonders what the heck is wrong with Jael, especially considering that she was just “so sick.” Sarah adds that one second Jael is sick, the next she is fine. She doesn’t get it.

Natasha is pro-choice and she prefers not to be involved in politics at all. She really has no clue what is going on, and to be honest, I don’t think she’s as pretty as she acts, although I do enjoy her accent!

Samantha and Whitney are for gay marriage, and although Whitney has been exposed to such things, it’s hard for Sam to relate since she’s such a Southern girl. They do a good job, though. Felicia does her shoot for straight marriages, saying, “Oh, I love men!” She seems a bit stiff and Nigel feels she didn’t do enough during the shoot.

Dionne is the vegan, and they have her dressed in fruits and veggies. It’s actually kind of corny looking. Nigel wishes she would have had more fun, while Cassandra, who is a meat eater, dos a great job with playing with the chicken and burgers on her set. Jay thinks that the girls did an okay job, but for the most part fell flat across the board. Really? I think some did okay!

After the shoot, Jay tells the girls that he got some pretty weak shots and the girls really need to step it up. The girls shake their heads and Jay sends them downstairs, where their limo is waiting to take them to the house.

Looks like the house is even bigger this year! The girls go running in, and the theme of the house is the girls from previous seasons. Each room is themed after one of the winners (not once do I hear them mention cycle 1’s winner, Adrianne). There is a pool, of course, and a runway for the girls to practice on. In one room, Jael and Renee are talking and Jael says that she loves Renee because they are such opposites but get along so well. Whitney cries on the balcony because she can’t believe she made it this far.

The next day, the girls take some pictures of one another with their digital camera. Kathleen says she likes the other girls, but they are still her competition. Jaslene tells the camera that Kathleen is probably one of the most outspoken girls in the house. Ugh, I don’t know why I love Kathleen so much already! She’s such a breath of fresh air.

The girls are now sitting around talking about all they have done in the past. Sarah goes on about how she wants to model, act, and be a photographer. Renee feels that Sarah is a bit full of herself and brags all the time. She tells Sarah that there are tons of girls who would kill to be on the show just to be a model. Sarah scolds Renee, via the camera, saying, “How DARE you tell me I don’t want to be here!” I’m so over Renee AND Sarah already!

Tyra mail! It reads that one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure, and Kathleen knows she’s going to have to do something with “crap… or stuff people throw away.” You can’t script these lines.

Ms. J. meets the girls at the Goodwill with Phillip Block, stylist to the stars. He tells them that there are some great things at the Goodwill, and they do wonderful things for the community. Their challenge will be to work the store and find the best look for themselves. Ms. J. and Phillip will be watching the whole time and they only have three minutes. On that note, he sets the girls loose like a pack of lions on a herd of gazelles!

Jael says that she is good at wearing clothes that tell a story and that she shops at thrift stores all the time. Renee says there aren’t many thrift stores in Maui. Kathleen says she rocks in thrift stores as we see time wind down. The girls are all dressed up and Ms. J. tells them that, guess what – they are doing a charity fashion show! Cassandra can’t believe it. On top of it all, there will be an auction for each outfit. The girl who brings in the most money for her outfit will win the challenge and get to sign the check for the Goodwill, which all the proceeds from the auction will be going to.