America’s Next Top Model 9, Episode 4: Flower Power

Once the girls are finished, they head home where Tyra mail is waiting for them. Of course, it says that tomorrow they will meet with the judges and someone is going home. Saleisha thinks she did well this week and won’t go home, while Victoria is talking to some of the girls outside, saying it’s ludicrous with some of the things they have to be and do. She’s not ready to go home yet, though, and needs to figure out and change why she did so poorly. Umm, maybe it’s the attitude? Chantal says that she has wanted this since kindergarten. I’m sorry, but if that’s her biggest aspiration since kindergarten, then we have a problem in our school system.

Tyra greets the girls at panel, and in her typical way, reminds them of the prizes. She introduces the judges, including Lionel Deluy, the photographer from this week’s photo shoot. Victoria is up first for evaluation. The judges like her look but want the hair to be more relaxed. In her photos, they see wrinkles on her neck and feel she is too posed. Twiggy begins to say, “I think it’s interesting that you were the prickly cactus, since…” but Victoria cuts her off with, “I don’t have a prickly personality!” Yes! I’m so glad someone is putting Twiggy in her place. The judges feel that Victoria needs to be more personable and less abrasive.

Sarah is up next and they like her new look. She looks elegant, and the judges feel her photo this week is great. Lisa is bamboo and the judges feel her as well, although Tyra mentions that she’d like to see Lisa take more chances in her photos, instead of always playing it safe.

Next is Saleisha and the judges love her new look and think she looks more like a model. When they see her photo, though, they think her eyes and neck were lost in the shot. Tyra says she was disappointed with the eyes. Umm, yeah, since her “new look” hides them! Jenah steps up and they tell her that she needs to balance out her hair. They love her photo and feel she took chances.

Janet has a great new look and the judges feel that her hydrangea photo looks good. Nigel thinks she has showed the most improvement this week, but Tyra wasn’t happy with her posing this week. Ambreal looks too corporate for the judges, but Nigel is digging her photo. She feels Ambreal moved around a lot but needs to work on the face.

Heather got her hair trimmed and the judges like it. They feel her photo this week is haunting and Nigel loves that she blended in but still stuck out. Bianca is next and says she went though hell with her hair. She shows them how she looks without the wig, and the judges are in ecstasy! Nigel isn’t crazy about her photo and Twiggy thinks she looks stiff. Tyra tells her to embrace her look the same way Ambreal did.

Chantal is in love with her new look. They look at her photo and Twiggy is bitching about it. Chantal says that she was being directed two ways and it was confusing. As usual, Tyra doesn’t show remorse at all. I actually like her photo. Tyra adds that it’s not the best she has had.

Finally, we have Ebony. They love her new look and Nigel says that she has what it takes when they look at her photo. He isn’t sure if he likes her as a person, though, since she has no charm. Tyra even demonstrates to the judges and Ebony how she acts in front of them. She tells Ebony that her photos this week blew her away, but her attitude really needs to change. I agree, but do they know how Bianca acts? I think Ebony is timid compared to Bianca! Time for the judges to deliberate, and here’s what they had to say:

Victoria is liked by the judges, but they aren’t sure about her attitude. Nigel goes as far as to say that she is smart, but not wise.

All the judges favor Sarah, but Tyra is concerned that she is losing weight, which is not in her favor. Twiggy agrees, and I have to roll my eyes. I’m sorry, but Twiggy hates plus-sized girls, if she admits it or not.

Janet is looking “men’s magazine” to Twiggy, but she can see a model in there somewhere.

Jenah is turning it out and everyone seems pleased with her.

Bianca looks like a dying sunflower to Ms. J., and Nigel adds that he really likes her newly shaved head. I do, too!

Heather has great eyes and the photographer felt she was one of the best.

Ambreal is wilted for Twiggy, but Nigel thinks that she looks very dramatic, and that’s what he likes about her.

Lisa has the bone structure, but Tyra says once again that her poses are too safe. She wants to see more danger from her.

Ebony has to change her attitude and Ms. J. isn’t happy with her at all. I think all the judges are put off by her, and I still don’t really get it.

Chantal is missing something. Nigel thinks that she has the pretty gene, but isn’t so sure that she has the modeling gene.

Saleisha could have given more, and the judges are disappointed. Tyra wants her to translate her personality into her photos, and then she’ll be on the right track.

The girls walk back into the room. Tyra says that there are 11 girls, but she only has ten photos. The first girl called this week is… Jenah! She is followed by Sarah, Heather, Lisa, Janet, Ambreal, and Ebony, who is told that she had the best photo of the bunch according to many of the judges, but she needs to relax and show a softer side.

Bianca is called next and is told to embrace her new look. Next is Chantal, who is told that she was called so late because the judges are having doubts about her. She had a pretty bad photo and is making the judges nervous.

Saleisha and Victoria step forward. There’s one photo left, and the girl not called will be sent home. Tyra tells Victoria that they love her look, and admire that she is a smart girl with no experience who gets in front of the camera and makes it look like she does. However, they look at her and feel she’s not very appetizing. She can’t be abrasive, since nobody will want to work with that.

Saleisha is told that after her makeover, she looks great. Her photo is just okay this week, and the judges aren’t sure she has it after looking at the photo. The girl who is called is… Saleisha, who immediately begins to sob. Victoria, in the meantime, is taking off her shoes. I love it!

Tyra hugs Victoria and tells her that she is smart but has to listen. The girls all cry over Victoria leaving and hug her goodbye. Victoria gets back to the loft and packs her bags. She is glad that there are no more high heels, makeup, or people messing with her hair. She gained an appreciation for modeling, and recognizes now that it’s not an easy thing to do. Her heart wasn’t into it, though, and she’d rather go home than take someone else’s dream. That’s admirable, but I’d still like to see more of her!

Next week, the girls will face off in a posing challenge that will bring fear and danger on ice. I guess Tanya Harding will be there. At the photo shoot, Ambreal’s fear of heights threatens to derail her dreams – that means that she won’t go home next week, and I’m happy for that! Here’s how I’m ranking the girls at this point:

Saleisha
Jenah
Janet
Heather
Sarah
Ebony
Bianca
Ambreal
Lisa
Chantal

Phil Kural is an office manager at a dental office, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. You can send feedback to him at pkural@gmail.com.

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