America’s Next Top Model 8, Episode 10 – Stories to Last a Lifetime

Dionne is up first and her photo is shown right away. Tyra likes the it, but Carissa wants to see more in Dionne’s eyes. Tyra says that in her photos she went from mean to super happy and really needs a middle ground. Jay Manuel said that she was frustrating to work with and needed too much coaching. Now it’s time for a test! Tyra asks her who has the most potential, and Dionne says Jaslene, since she’s so nice and has a great look. Who has the least amount of potential? She feels it’s Natasha, because something is missing about her.

Jaslene is up next. Her shot is great, but Nigel wants a different face from her. He says she has to figure out her look. Who does she think has the most potential? She says it’s her, since she wants this so bad. The least? Natasha. She respects her, but she’s coming off as phony.

Renee comes forward and the judges look at her prize for winning the challenge. Her photo gets rave reviews. She did the most posing, according to Tyra. She feels she has the most potential of all the girls because she is doing this for her family. As for the least, she also names Natasha. Renee thinks she is lacking personality and is playing games.

Natasha is last this week. When the judges see her photo, they don’t think she is connecting and want more face. Tyra says her film this week was terrible, and even though she was sick and tired, it doesn’t matter since she still looked so confused. As for who has the most potential, Natasha thinks it’s her because she has the features. Twiggy interrupts and says she can’t believe the other girls think she has the least potential. Natasha says she is always being talked about, and that’s always better than for nobody to notice you. She’s not asked who has the least amount of potential, so that’s that!

In the holding room, while the judges are deliberating, Natasha says there are no hard feelings, but she isn’t fake. Jaslene gets heated and tells Natasha that they were simply voicing their opinions, then makes it clear that she isn’t jealous of Natasha, nor does she see her as a threat.

Here’s what the judges had to say during deliberations:

Twiggy feels that Dionne is the weakest of the girls as a whole, but it was her best photo this week. She’s not a top model to Carissa, and Tyra can’t believe that Dionne didn’t say that she had the most potential of the group.

Jaslene always takes great photos, but has the same look. They like that she feels this is her life, and they adore her drive, but Tyra fears that if she doesn’t win this competition, she might stalk Ms. J. I doubt Jaslene is that crazy.

Renee looks great and she’s pretty, but Nigel doesn’t think she is the youngest or freshest face. Tyra adds that they once had an intervention at the house because everyone was hating her, but now they are all ganging up on Natasha.

Speaking of Natasha, Twiggy loves her and thinks she did great with the negativity the other girls had towards her. Tyra thinks that she was ganged up on, but has to say her photo was terrible this week.

The final four come back to see the panel, and Tyra says that there are four there, but she only has three photos. The first name called is – Renee! Tyra loves that she has the drive to win. The second girl called is Jaslene. She’s shocked and thought that she would be in the bottom two since she needs to show expressions. They really feel she has heart.

Dionne and Natasha step forward. The girl not called will be sent home. Dionne is told that she started rough, but got better and better. However, the judges feel like her ascent is very slow and rigid, and the judges are worried that she’s the only girl who didn’t say she had the most potential of the group.

As for Natasha, she started off awful. The judges saw her face and personality though, and she got better and better each week. However, this week, she got sick and her photo was dreadful. However, being sick is the oldest excuse in the book, and since the other girls are always with one another, Tyra says that sometimes they rely on them and what they say about each other. That’s bullsh**, and I don’t even care for one of these girls over the other! Tyra wonders if there really IS something fake about Natasha.

The final photo goes to – Natasha, since Tyra thinks the other girls are just jealous. Natasha gives Dionne a hug, which isn’t returned. Tyra tells Natasha that this isn’t about taking one bad photo and going home. Really? Then why were A.J. and Brooke sent home after one bad photo last Cycle? She says that Natasha’s body of work was better than Dionne’s, and even if she’s sick next time, there won’t be any more excuses.

Dionne gives Tyra a half hearted hug. Tyra tells her that she needs to take the training wheels off. She hugs the other girls – even Natasha. She’s disappointed and knows she could have done better, even though she did try. Dionne says she is tired but will miss getting glammed up everyday. She’s mad she failed but grateful that she had the chance to do something different. She’s proud of herself. Ehh, I saw it coming.

Next week, it’s time for the final three to strut their stuff and do the Cover Girl photo shoot! The final two will work a fashion show, and one girl will win the title of America’s Next Top Model! How do I think it will work out? This is how I see it:

1. Jaslene
2. Natasha
3. Renee

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