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

CariDee is out first for the show and I have no clue what she is wearing and how it’s supposed to sell in the real world. Oh well, that’s fashion! Natasha is a bit frantic for my taste, but the judges, especially Tyra, are eating it up! Jaslene is creeping around too and I’m just not feeling it yet. However, it’s all hell breaking loose backstage with outfit changes!

Natasha does her second walk and says that didn’t hear anything while she was walking, but her skirt was falling off. It ends up REALLY falling off when she is at the end of the runway, but the judges say that it actually looked like it was supposed to be that way. Jaslene is doing her cha-cha walk and I love it. Natasha comments that she did better than every other girl on the runway and doesn’t have to scream that she is good because people will see it themselves.

Jaslene thinks that she is fierce and that Natasha isn’t bringing that. The girls do their finale, which includes ladders and a very obstructive pose, and I just don’t get it, but the crowd seems to love it, and that’s all that matters!

Jay says it was one of the craziest shows he’s ever been backstage for and that the girls both worked it. Natasha wonders if she rocked it enough to win and think she would be a great role model while Jaslene thinks she is the Latin spice in the competition and has the edge to win. She’s not the girl next door, but she’s the girl down the block from the hood!

It is now time for the final panel. The girls walk in and both are nervous. They are reminded of the prizes, which include a contract with Elite Model Management, a five page spread in Seventeen magazine and $100,000 contract with Cover Girl cosmetics. Of course, the judges are here, but even Jay Manuel weaseled his way in. His excuse is that he’s seen the girls since day one. What I’ve always loved about this show is that I don’t have to see Jay during judging. Please remove him.

The judges take a look at Natasha first and think that her runway was great. Tyra loved how she came out and Jay said that she pulled it together. The mention how she worked the skirt that fell off, but Nigel says that she lost her original power by the end of the show though.

Jaslene had spread her legs a little wide in the beginning and was looking very “Bond” to Nigel. Her first pass wasn’t too strong but she picked it up as the show went on. She looked like a winner and the judges loved that about her. Now it’s time to compare previous photos from the season!

For the first photo shoot, the girls had to sell a political statement. Natasha was pro choice and Jaslene was pro death penalty. Natasha messed up on the first photo and Jaslene rocked it out.

The second photo shoot brought back the old high school days. Jaslene was the weirdo and the judges loved it, saying she looked so edgy, while Natasha was the teachers pet and the judges just didn’t like it.

Next is the gender switch photo. Everyone thought that Natasha really improvised and brought it home, while Jaslene was able to convince people that she really was a boy and looked great while being one!

The judges look at the girls during their men’s/woman’s magazine photo shoots next. They feel that Jaslene needed to be more “on” and that Natasha really showed a great face in her photos. Nigel must admit that he loved Jaslene’s men’s photo. Tyra asks the girls if they have anything to add, and both say they are grateful for the opportunity. Now the judges will deliberate.

Twiggy says that Natasha is funny. Jay likes her features and Nigel says that she is a quick study and runs with her ideas. They think she has a great future.

Nigel thinks that Jaslene started strong, but hasn’t exactly improved. Jay says that her journey was coming in crazy and leaving as a sophisticated woman. Twiggy thinks that her photos are some of the best this season and Jay wonders if she could do anything other than editorial. Tyra thinks that she can, while Twiggy adds for no good reason that these two girls aren’t the norm, and that’s what makes this so great.

Tyra asks who did better during the show and Ms. J. and Tyra think it was Natasha while Twiggy and Nigel think it was Jaslene. All the judges agree that they love both girls and aren’t sure what to do!

For the final time, the girls walk back in. Tyra tells them that they had a very long deliberation. She says that both girls come from strong cultures, and are the epitome of what this show is about. They have the biggest hearts, but one is stronger and the judges feel can represent better. The winner is… Jaslene!

Jaslene breaks down right away and starts shaking, even as she hugs Tyra! She gives Natasha a hug, and Natasha tells the camera she is happy to go home and see her family. Meanwhile, Jaslene is shocked and thanks the judges. She says her family believed in her as much as she believed in herself and she overcame so much. She didn’t make it the first time, but now she’s a Cover Girl and America’s Next Top Model. Finally, she adds that you need to have the drive and keep going – the second time around was enough for her, as we close the Cycle with Jaslene dancing with salsa with Ms. J. and all her ruffles.

Is there a better way to end such a splendid season? I think not!

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