America’s Next Top Model 13, Episode 9: Hold Your Breath

Previously on America’s Next Top Model, the six aspiring models found that the Top Model house in Los Angeles had been condemned due to it being so filthy… which ended up being a ruse to move the entire production to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, the contestants received surfing lessons and had a photo shoot challenge on top of their surfboards. Erin won the challenge for the second consecutive week and got an awesome helicopter tour of Maui as a reward… but she complained the whole time that it wasn’t a prize she could keep or money she could spend. Laura got badly sunburned during the photo shoot challenge.

In the main photo shoot, the models had to emulate two disparate ethnic groups from around the globe – a nod to Hawaii’s multi-ethnicity. Nicole won the photo shoot, followed closely by Laura. Erin and Brittany were the bottom two, with Brittany being eliminated (which shocked this writer). Erin barely escaped elimination for the second consecutive week.

Five models remain, but not for long.

Missed anything? Check out my recap of the previous episode right here right here and also check out Phil Kural’s exit interview with Brittany.

The winner of this season of America’s Next Top Model will receive a dream contract with Wilhelmina Models, a $100,000 Covergirl contract, and a cover with six-page spread in Seventeen magazine.

Now, on to this week’s episode.

We begin just after the last elimination on the way back to the Hawaii Top Model house. Jennifer admits she’s shocked that she made the final five. In a less enthusiastic admission, Erin is shocked that she’s still in the competition after being in the bottom two for two consecutive eliminations. Sundai claims Erin is hanging on by the tiniest of threads.

Back at the Hawaii Top Model house, Jennifer and Nicole discuss Brittany’s elimination and how strong she was in the competition. Jennifer reminds Nicole that it’s always about your most recent photo. In confidence, Jennifer notes how well Nicole is doing and how she rarely is in the bottom half of any competition.

Tyra Mail arrives and hints about something coming on to the shore. Laura guesses that they’ll be working with sea turtles. Jennifer guesses there will be a mermaid theme, while Nicole guesses that they’ll be photographed surrounded by driftwood and seaweed.

Later, all of the women chat in one of the bedrooms and Nicole asks Sundai about her life story. Sundai seems hesitant to share, and then promises that everyone can Google her story after the competition ends. Sundai confides to the audience that she was adopted after spending time in foster care as a child and believes that it all made her a stronger person.

Sundai claims that her life would pretty much be over if she were eliminated from America’s Next Top Model, as modeling is all she wants to do.

The next morning, our models take a moment to celebrate Laura’s birthday. Erin and Jennifer bring Laura’s breakfast to her out on the patio. Laura notes how quickly her life has changed from castrating bulls at home to modeling in Hawaii.

Later, the models are whisked away to a deserted beach and are greeted by a group of native rowers on an outrigger canoe. Also in the canoe is a tiny, yet beautiful woman. As the canoe nears, a few of the models think that the woman may be supermodel Marisa Miller, but they can’t believe that it’s truly her. The canoe lands on the beach and two of the rowers carry the woman to greet the models, and it really is supermodel Marisa Miller. Laura is stunned that Marisa is right in front of her. Marisa does a quick rundown of her résumé and then admits that she’s only 5’8”.

Marisa promises to teach the models how to be “hot without going over the top” and instructs them to get into their bikinis. Marisa says that posture is huge when doing swimsuit modeling, especially in sticking out the derrière. She then gives a demonstration in how to pose in a swimsuit to be sexy without being slutty. Marisa also shows our aspiring models how to point their toes in the sand as if they’re wearing high heels in order to accentuate the hips and legs – a move she calls “Barbie toe.”

Marisa then commands the models to jump in the ocean water and get completely wet… a command that everyone follows… except for Sundai. Sundai fears getting her hair wet. Marisa then has the models roll around in the sand on the beach. Laura confesses that rolling in the wet sand feels just awful on her sunburned skin. After they get all sandy, the models must shower off the sand while maintaining the “sexy without being slutty” standard. The women take turns in the shower, all while getting advice and direction from Marisa.

Marisa then takes the models to a rocky outcrop where they’re greeted by Nigel Barker. He tells the models to look behind him as a bikini-clad woman jumps from the rocks into the ocean. They’ll all be doing the same thing in a photo shoot challenge, attempting to strike a sexy pose mid-air. Nigel then announces that they’ll each have only one jump.

In a nearby boat is the guest photographer for the challenge, Jono Knight. Laura volunteers to be the first to jump and she looks like a dying swan. Erin is next to jump and she lacks grace. Nicole follows and tries to jump showing her profile. Jennifer is next and does a sort of awkward pirouette. Sundai is the last to jump and she lands in the water a bit hard, but she’s okay. She did land on the side of her head and got a bit of water in her ear.

The models gather for the results of the photo shoot challenge. Marisa announces that the winner of the challenge will receive a pearl necklace worth $5,000. Nigel announces that the winner will also receive bonus frames in the next photo shoot. Then, the winner will select a friend to receive additional frames, who will then pick another to receive additional frames… and so on until four of the contestants receive some additional frames and one receives no more frames than usual.

Laura’s picture is graceful, but lacks focus. Erin’s picture is too cheerleader. Nicole’s picture is good, but understated. Jennifer’s picture shows that she was scared to jump. Sundai’s picture exudes calm.

Marisa announces the winner is… Nicole. In addition to winning the pearl necklace, Nicole receives extra frames. She chooses Sundai to receive extra frames as well. Sundai chooses Laura and Laura chooses Jennifer. Erin is the only model to not receive extra frames in her next photo shoot.