America’s Next Top Model 18, Episode 5: “Nailed That and a Bag of Chips!”

The episode begins with AzMarie’s prize for winning “Best Photo” last week. The British girls talk about their jealousy of AzMarie and, as always, talk about how they must win. American Eboni also recaps how upset she is about Kyle staying in this competition, as Kyle doesn’t seem like she actually wants to be there.

Here comes the product placement! Annaliese yells to the girls that they have a Virgin Mobile message! Their message comes from Jay Manuel, telling them they will work with real casting models to see how they do in the real world of modeling for this week’s challenge. The models are heading to Toronto Fashion Week to strut their stuff on the runway.

The models get off the plane in Toronto, get on a tour bus and head up to the CN Tower to meet with Jay Manuel. Even though the models are excited, Sophie is freaked out by the height of the building.

So how do the models win this challenge? The model that books the most castings for fashion week, and has the best fashion show, will win pieces from Jay’s collection and will also win the opportunity to head back to Canada for a special event.

The models then head to the first in a series of auditions with casting directors and Sophie, Laura, and Kyle are first to book a runway show. The models thrn all head to another room to walk for six csdting directors all at once. Annaliese, AzMarie, Sophie, and Eboni are all selected for shows while the other models are upset that they haven’t been chosen. Seymone, Catherine, and Ashley are all very discouraged as they head to the go see for Jay Manuel’s collection.

After the girls strust their stuff, Jay announces that there are four girls he wants to have for his show – Laura, Kyle, AzMarie, and Sophie. Jay loved Seymone’s look, but not her walk or attitude so she misses out – and says she doesn’t care. Yeah. Right.

The models spend the next several hours rehearsing for their shows and, unfortunately, Kyle and Laura are cut from the Pink Tartan show because their performance wasn’t that great. Womp womp… Sophie’s the only one who makes the cut for that show.

Time for the fashion shows! Many of the models are showing their distaste for not being chosen, while Kyle and Laura are pretty bummed about being cut. Seymone receives some words of encouragement from Jay and the fashion shows begin.

Sophie is the star in these fashion shows, walking in multiple shows throughout the night. Her goal is to make AzMarie finally see her as competition.

The models head to the One Key West hotel and they all show their love for their penthouse suite and almost cannot handle the excitement.

Eboni announces Tyra mail to all the models and everyone gets excited for their photo shoot the next day. Before going to sleep, Ashley and Sophie spend some time bonding about their journeys on America’s Next Top Model and Ashley talks about her children, giving us insight into her motivation for doing the show.

The models meet Jay in the streets of Toronto and Jay announces that Eboni and Sophie both walked in four shows. Jay declares them both winners. Both models will receive pieces from his collection. They also are both winning an all-expense paid trip back to Canada for a rodeo. Cool?

The models head to hair and make-up. Their photo shoot is simple, as they will be using Toronto as their backdrop. What is the Top Model twist? Using leaves. No, seriously. They’re clothes are made out of leaves. That makes sense…

Not only are the models clothed in leaves, but they are also having maple syrup poured on them… Sophie is first up for her shoot, giving Jay her best work. Alisha is next up for her syrup-shot. “Good” is the word used to describer her work; I’m not sure if that’s a good compliment or not. Catharine is next up and Jay loves her awkward angles, telling her she is “beautiful.”

Laura is up and her emotions are finally getting the best of her. She had a friend who died in a motorcycle accident shortly before she left for the show and Laura’s still processing that. But even though the syrup basically goes into her eye she handles it well!

Annaliese’s turn is here and she takes Jay’s advice and he says “beautiful” again. Ashley is here and she is already certain she’ll be in the bottom two because of her 0 for 8 showing at the go sees. Even though she didn’t get cast, Jay believes Ashley needs to find the strength to continue.