America’s Next Top Model 8, Finale: Back To The Stone Age

Before I get into my recap, have you read my article updating you on some of the girls from Cycles past? If not, I suggest you do that right now!

We begin this week with Tyra telling us that the 13 girls this season have been through it all! Some have hit some great heights, while others have been washed up. Through it all though, three girls have stuck out, and are now the final three.

There’s Natasha, the Russian beauty and mom who came into the competition knowing the least about modeling. She was almost sent home during the second elimination, but her optimistic view and ability to learn has helped her improve the most. Although she is the most improved, is it enough to win?

Then there’s Jaslene, the Latin spitfire who didn’t make it for Cycle 7. She proved that his season, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her photos have been very consistent, but her personality has been fading. Will she be able to embrace herself, but not be over the top?

Finally, there’s Renee – the mom from Hawaii. She has taken amazing photos, but aggravated her competitors through the show. Se was confronted, but managed to find balance with herself. Will she find a way to show her maternal glow and still be fierce? Let’s see!

The first we see of the girls this week they are meeting with Jay Manuel, who tells them it’s time for their Cover Girl photo shoot and commercial. The print ad they are shooting will appear nationally and Renee says that she has always dreamed of being a Cover Girl, as she shows up the Cover Girl wink!

Jay tells the girls that they will be doing a commercial for a new lip color, not to mention a segment for “My Life as a Cover Girl.” Renee will be on a boat, Jaslene will be getting out of a car on a red carpet and Natasha will be backstage at a photo shoot. They won’t have ea script, so it will all be ad libbed, and the girls will be forced to really be themselves and show what they got.

Jim De Yonker is their photographer, who actually shot the ads for Danielle and MY CariDee. Jay thinks the girls still need a little more help, so he brought along MY CariDee to help them out! She tells the girls not to over think the whole thing, and she’s glad that she isn’t them right now. Yeah, great advice! Although, she adds to the camera that she thinks it’s good that the girls hear it from a girl that has gone through it all.

Natasha says it’s important to get the commercial down, as she is filled on a few lines that she needs to say. She’s up first, and you can tell when she is doing her commercial that she practiced a bit too much. It sounds very rehearsed, and Jay brings that up to her. Once Natasha ditches the script, she does a much better job and sounds real.

Renee is up next and she’s on a boat, confused about her lines. She begins by saying her life was over when she had a child. Probably not the way you want to begin a commercial. Jay tells her to turn a negative into a positive and she says it’s the best thing ever. Yeah, I’m sure her child is going to love seeing that one day! She does turn it around though, and I love her lines once she gets it together – and she looks great!

Finally, there’s Jaslene, who is getting out a car and onto the red carpet. She says that she lives the fabulous life, but really is coming off a little fake. Jay has a talk with her as well and tells her to act like she is with her girlfriends. She has some issues still, but once she gets into the swing of it, Jaslene does well, even adding some Spanish to the commercial, which Jay loves! Meanwhile, in the back, CariDee gives advice to Natasha on how to make her neck look longer.

Natasha is up for her photo as well. Jim likes her but thinks that she is struggling with her smile. Meanwhile, CariDee is on the side showing Natasha what to do. What’s up with that? Jim thinks that for Natasha to smile, she has to almost laugh, and I can see what he means.

Renee goes second and she does look pretty old during the shoot. Jim wonders if she is too old to begin a modeling career. By the end of her shoot though, I think her look begins to grow on me and I think she looks pretty good.

Then we have Jaslene, and I have to say she looks GREAT! She’s surprised how hard it is to smile when you aren’t ready, and how the muscles in the face tense up. I think she looks great though, even though she says she is struggling. I’d even go out and buy the product!

The girls get home for the evening and Tyra mail is waiting. It says that someone is going home the next day. Renee comments to the camera that Natasha shouldn’t be in the finals because she’s a “Pigeon toed duck with a piece of poop hanging out of her ass.” I couldn’t make up that quote. Natasha thinks that Jaslene is leaving since she doesn’t give personality while Jaslene says you might think you did well before going into panel, but you never know what the judges will think, so you have to expect the unexpected.

Jaslene, Renee and Natasha enter panel. The judges are introduced, including Sarah Jane Clark and Heidi Middleton, the creators of Sass & Bide, which is the fashion show that the final two will be walking in. Natasha is up first to be critiqued!

Natasha steps forward and the judges look at her commercial. Twiggy says that it must be tough for her with English being her second language, but Nigel thinks she is endearing and lovely. As for her photo, Twiggy says that she looks great, but it’s not her favorite photo. The judges love that she is selling lip product and has larger lips. I’m not kidding. Nigel thinks that she has confidence in her eyes, and that’s what sells it.