America’s Next Top Model 9, Episode 10: Go-Sees and No-Sees

Previously, the girls arrived in China and took it by storm. They hung around with martial arts experts for their challenge, where Bianca was disqualified because of her fear of heights. Heather fumbled during their Cover Girl commercial shoot, but it was Lisa’s dwindling confidence that hit rock bottom and had her sent home. We’re down to five, so let’s see who is getting the boot tonight, shall we?

It’s nighttime, and the girls are at the hotel. Bianca asks Heather what she was thinking when she was in the bottom two, and Heather comments to the camera that she knows it was because of her bad commercial. Bianca says they didn’t bring up her being fed the lines so much, so it wasn’t a big deal, while Chantal comments to the camera that Lisa shouldn’t have gone home because if it was her who was fed the lines, she’d be in hot water. So true, but I like Heather, so I’m not going to come back at her.

Heather says that commercials aren’t her strong point because of her disability, but she did try. Meanwhile, Jenah tells the other girls that it’s not a modeling competition anymore, but a personality contest. She says she was in the bottom three last time because the judges didn’t see personality, but that’s not her – she’s sarcastic and funny, not off the wall like Saleisha, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a personality. Bianca just tells the other girls to pack their bags, since she isn’t going anywhere. That’s when the Tyra mail arrives and tells the girls they are going on go-sees, and all the girls are psyched.

The next day, the girls arrive at PT Models and meet Susan Yang and a successful Chinese model. They are told to go out and meet clients. Saleisha is happy and says that this is what being on the show is about. They are told to show their walk and personality, as Heather comments that she’s not great with first impressions. There are five designers to see, and the model who impresses the most will win the challenge. They get their portfolios and are told to be back no later than 6:00 p.m. The Chinese model tells them to be confident, and they are on their way. I can’t wait to see who is late and disqualified!

So the girls head out to their cars, and they each get a translator as well. There are now six hours, and we see Saleisha arrive at a designer’s studio right away. He’s not crazy about her and thinks she is pretty, but dull. Saleisha wasn’t “on,” in my opinion. Heather says that she likes her translator and he’s good, but when she is let out in the area she can’t find the studio. Jenah is frustrated, too, as Chantal finds a designer. She looks good in the sheer dress, but she is not wearing the right kind of underwear and you can see it right through the dress. She thinks the designer was harsh on her. Bianca is at a designer who is watching her do a runway walk. The designer thinks she was friendly and had a lot of character.

Chantal gets to another and does her walk. The designer says that she would book Chantal for a print ad, but not a catwalk. Heather is still lost and Jenah finally gets to a go-see. The designer doesn’t think she cares about her personality, and Jenah makes that quite clear. All the girls are running around and Heather is still lost. She knows that Tyra is going to be pissed. Helen Lee, one designer, says that she would book Saleisha. Finally, we see Heather find a designer, who tells her about eye contact. Heather has none, and really doesn’t impress. The designer says she felt Heather was beautiful, but her walk was really bad. I agree.

Jenah is with another designer and is told that her walk is terrible – it’s too forced. Jenah just brushes it off. Saleisha finds the next designer and Bianca is there. Saleisha doesn’t tell Bianca that another designer is right up the steps since only one girl will win. Bianca gets back to her car and finds out Saleisha didn’t tell her. Chantal has now arrived at the same designer and finds Saleisha kissing butt to the designers, which Chantal ends up doing as well when Saleisha leaves. I love it!

The girls all now realize that time is running out, so Jenah decides to head back. Heather is still lost and only saw one designer, but decides to head back so she’s not disqualified. Saleisha gets back with 15 minutes to spare. Jenah is driving and passes Heather, who now can’t even find her cab. Bianca makes it back with about six minutes left, and she and Saleisha are the only two to make it. They are told that they will wait for the others even though they are disqualified, and we see Jenah arrive 15 minutes late. Chantal is 20 minutes late and Heather is 40 minutes late – yikes!

Out comes Susan to give them critique. She says that Jenah, Chantal, and Heather have all been disqualified, and Bianca and Saleisha will find out who will be the winner later, after she speaks with the designers. Heather whines about being late on the way home and Saleisha tells her not to be so hard on herself. In the van, the girls do a group scream, but Heather looks confused. I sort of love it.

That night, the girls get to go out on the town for dinner. They arrive at a restaurant and look out on the harbor, which looks absolutely beautiful. Susan Yang appears and is there to tell the girls who the winner is. She says Bianca lit up the room and had great photos, but came off a bit nervous. Saleisha had a great personality with the designers, but they felt her pictures were all the same. The girls look out into the harbor to see a boat with a billboard for the 2008 Olympics, and it has Bianca on it – she won! All the girls scream and Bianca says she is ready to be called first at panel – that’s her goal.

The girls get home and read their Tyra mail, which says they will have a photo shoot tomorrow. Heather knows that she needs to nail it to stay. We see the girls arrive at their shoot and Jay is there to meet them, along with (surprise, surprise) Nigel Barker, who will be their photographer. Jay says that they learned about standing out in a crowd on their go-sees, so that’s what they’ll be doing for their photo shoot this week. In the shoot they will be accompanied by dragons and lions, and will need to stand out from all that is going on around them. Now, it’s time for hair and makeup!

During hair and makeup, Chantal comments that it’s important now, more than ever, to stand out. Jenah is being sarcastic with Nigel while she’s getting ready and you can tell he’s not happy about it. Bianca and Chantal trash her in their trailer and say it’s unprofessional. I think I have to agree – you don’t want to get smart with one of the judges! [Associate Editor’s note: See: CariDee in Cycle 7. Write your apology letter now, Jenah!]

Jenah says that she’s not intimidated by Nigel, but when she gets to the set she knows she has to impress him. Thing is, Nigel tries to tell her how to pose and move and Jenah doesn’t even seem to care, thinking that he’s messing up her flow. Jay doesn’t think that Jenah delivered today, since he didn’t see a spark. Jenah is concerned because she didn’t get much critique. Uh oh!