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

Saleisha is shooting next and I have to say she looks amazing! She works with her angles and Jay thinks that she is really turning it around and becoming more confident. I think so, too – she did a fantastic job and I loved her poses. Bianca heads in and I think she looks terribly ghetto – I’m still not crazy about the hair. Jay feels that she is looking too mean in her photos and I’d have to agree, as much as it pains me to agree with Jay. He seems mildly pleased with her shot, but I’m not hearing rave reviews.

Next is Chantal and Jay thinks she’s posing like Diana Ross. Jay feels she is forcing it, but when she turns it around and gets a compliment, she laughs and breaks her pose. Finally, we have Heather. Her dress is amazing and she says she’s going to wing it. We see her get out there and Nigel tells her he wants a multitude of posing. Jenah is on the side talking about how she could work that dress but Nigel yells over that there’s too much noise coming form the peanut gallery. Jay isn’t crazy about Heather this week and doesn’t like that she’s second-guessing herself. He doesn’t think it was her best, but really wants her to learn and change.

Once home, the girls get their Tyra mail that says someone is going home tomorrow. Bianca isn’t nervous at all and is ready for panel. Jenah says that she’ll sweat bullets if she’s in the bottom two since she knows there’s a good chance that she might be going home this week. I tend to agree!

Tyra greets the girls at panel, reminds them of the prizes, and tells the girls that the final four will take a flight to the capital of China – Beijing! That’s actually pretty cool! She introduces the judges, including guest judge, PT Modeling president Susan Yang. Chantal is up first. They go over her being disqualified from the challenge and then look at her photo. Twiggy really likes it, but Ms. J. isn’t sure about the one hand. Nigel says that she gave too much emotion when she was given a comment. Tyra loves the photo, though, so I think it’s safe to say that Chantal won’t be going home this week.

Bianca is next and they announce her as the challenge winner. They look at her photo and Tyra loves the body language, but thinks she was dead in the face. Nigel says that she tried different things but wasn’t fluid at all – he’d like for her to relax a bit more.

Jenah steps forward and they discuss her disqualification from the challenge as well. The designers liked her portfolio but felt she was messy in person and not very personable. They scan her photo and Twiggy says that the shot is great. Nigel says it’s a great photo but her sense of humor is too sarcastic and comes off as arrogant. I think this is so funny because all of a sudden this is coming out. We’re in what? Week ten? I love when the judges seek out a reason to destroy someone they don’t want to win. Tyra tells Jenah that she’s on a fine line and that they see her as being bored.

Saleisha steps up and they say she was second on the go-sees. The designers thought she was beautiful and had a great personality. Nigel loved her photo this week and says she was the most fun to shoot. She was charming and tried different things. Tyra thinks that it’s one of her best and all the judges agree.

Finally, there’s Heather. They talk about her disqualification as well, as everyone gasps when they find out she was 40 minutes late. They note that the designer that she did see felt her walk was awkward, and she does a little talk to impress the judges. Ms. J. thinks that she needs a “Top Model ass-whooping.” They look at her photo and Twiggy didn’t even know it was her. They think she looks mysterious, but Nigel says that she didn’t give him a lot to work with since she was so stiff. Now it’s time to deliberate, and here’s what the judges have to say:

All the judges like Bianca and her photo, except for Nigel. He says it was his least favorite of the bunch this week and didn’t like that he had to work with her so much.

Heather’s look is loved by all, and the judges think America would love her. However, they don’t feel she can communicate and Nigel felt she was disconnected from the camera.

Saleisha was confident and slightly edgy for Ms. J. Tyra loved her photo this week and really feels like Saleisha is turning into an edgy model.

Chantal is missing something for Ms. J. and they all feel that she needs more confidence since she has no clue what she is doing. Tyra is just happy that she passed her little test while posing and not being distracted.

Jenah wasn’t so great this week and Nigel was turned off to her. Twiggy says that Jenah thinks she is being funny, and Nigel says that her personality is getting away. Tyra thinks that she is coming off as cocky and acting like she doesn’t need the help. I’d have a agree, to be honest, but Jenah has actually grown on me.

The girls come back in. There are five girls there, but only four will get photos. The first girl called is Saleisha, who Tyra tells she has come a long way and looks great. She pulled it off and made her proud. Saleisha is followed by Bianca, who Tyra snores at when she takes her photo. She wants more life in the face from her. Chantal is called next and is told to hold it together, and when she is given a comment, to celebrate on the inside and not mess up her stride.

Jenah and Heather step up. Tyra has only one photo, and the girl who doesn’t get one is going home. Is that how this show works? Tyra says that both have the strongest photos of all the girls in the room. However, both are struggling with their communication. Heather can’t make it to a go-see, so Tyra wonders how she is going to book a job, and the judges have no clue where she stands in the industry. Jenah has amazing photos, but her attitude turns the judges off. The final photo goes to… Jenah! I’m shocked! Tyra says that during casting there was girl that was so vibrant, and to bring that girl back – they are looking for fun and sweet! Jenah says that she will be that girl, and I still have to pick my jaw off the floor!

Tyra tells Heather that she is so proud of her and she came so far. She tells Heather that hopefully America will see more in her than what the designers in China did. I think they have – she’s always the Cover Girl of the week! Heather hugs Tyra and the other girls and heads out.

As she packs her bags she says she wanted to win and knows she could have done this. She went in thinking that her disability would be a huge problem, and that she wouldn’t be able to get along with the other girls, but that wasn’t the case. She has learned so much more and is more confident now. She knows that she’s not judged differently because she was born a different way. Finally, Heather says that the experience of what she learned is better than the prize. Oh, my goodness – I love her!

Next week, Tyra shoots the girls as we see them scaling the great wall of China. The challenge brings out some shady behaviors, as we see Bianca lying to Jenah about where to go. Wasn’t she just pissed at Saleisha for doing the same thing to her? C’est la vie! Here’s how I’m ranking the girls for next week. Please note, though, I’m still shocked over Heather going home – I thought she was final three for sure!

Saleisha

Bianca

Jenah

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.