America’s Next Top Model 2, Episode 1 – This Is No Garden of Eden

Ahh, it has finally arrived! Tuesday marked the return of UPN’s surprise hit, America’s Next Top Model, and I couldn’t be any happier. This season, we are promised more drama and confrontation than the first, and this first episode gets it all started off, disappointing nobody. We begin with a little montage of our host, Tyra Banks. She states that to be a top model, one must have high hopes, work hard, and a have a passion for what they are doing. Tyra knows what it takes because she has done all these to become a supermodel. She also asks us if we remember Adrianne, the winner from the first season. Well, since she won the competition, Adrianne has been in high demand by several fashion magazines and modeling agencies.

Now, we begin with 12 new finalists who are all edgy and different in their own ways. Each one thinks she has “it” –what it takes to become a top model. The finalists are to meet in Manhattan, in groups of threes, with each group being picked up by a bus as it makes its rounds. Catie, Anna, and Xiomara are first. The bus picks them up and goes on its way. Wow, I must say the bus is pretty swanky. None of the girls have any idea where they are going. Anna tells the other girls that she is married with a child. Both of them are taken aback, and we see a flash of Anna hugging her husband, who sort of reminds me of Ruben Studdard. She tells the camera that her husband supports her doing the show and how much she loves him for that.

The next three girls picked up are Yoanna, Camille, and April. Catie says that she has always wanted to be a model, while April says that she just left corporate America to pursue this whole modeling thing, thinking it was a change in her life. Ya think? Yoanna states that she used to be chubby, but lost 50 pounds in order to become a model, and now she is much more secure with herself. Xiomara looks at the other girls and feels she is much different than they are. She says that she was always different-looking, and wants to be a type of alternative model, whatever that means. I have to say though, for looking different, Xiomara is a knock-out!

We then see Bethany waiting on a corner. She tells the camera that she can do swimsuits, mainly because of her boobs, which are amazingly large. However, she does have other talents. I’m willing to bet at least two of them include boob tassels. Next, we meet Shandi, who is on her way to the same corner Bethany, and now Sara, are at. Shandi says she was always dorky, but is now starting to wear girly stuff and feel more feminine. We see flashback pictures of her youth, and I’m shocked at how much she looks like Sammy Hagar as a child. As Bethany, Shandi, and Sara get on the bus, April comments at how beautiful Sara is.

Inside the bus, Camille goes on and on that she has been in modeling shows and beauty pageants in the past. Then, to the camera, she says that she can probably do much better than the other girls because of her past experience. Bethany tells the camera that she doesn’t want to pass judgment on anyone else, but she can’t help it, and feels that Camille is very fake and will probably cause problems with the other girls. Just than, it’s time for more girls to board the bus.

We see the audition video of Heather saying she is “fresh fish” again, which makes me bite my tongue – again. Jenascia begins to assess the other girls, noting that she is the shortest one there. Mercedes is from New Jersey. She used to be very rude, but over time, she has evolved into a better person. Wow, I must say Mercedes is one of the most naturally beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Now that all the girls are together, they are all nervous because they don’t know where they are going. They see two marines waiting for them as they get off the bus. The marines welcome them, and show them the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that has fought in several wars. The girls follow the marines and Heather wonders if they are living on a ship. I can only bow my head in embarrassment for her. Jenascia is hungry and just hopes some food is on the ship. Sara sees Tyra first, as the girls line up while she congratulates them. Tyra introduces J. Alexander, who is a runway trainer extraordinaire and will help them later in the competition. He’s definitely a diva, and you can’t help but like him.

Tyra lets the girls know that she isn’t wasting time, and they are going on a runway – right now. The show will be in front of NY officers and firefighters, oh and they will strut to the mix of Funkmaster Flex. All the girls get very nervous because none of them have had training yet. On the other hand, Jenascia is disappointed because there is no food. I love this girl already. The girls’ next shock is finding out they have to do their own hair and makeup – and only have 30 minutes. Each girl reads her sign that is on their outfits and hurry to get ready. April gets messed up and puts on the wrong outfit – the second instead of the first – and begins to cry because it’s just about time to go on the runway. However, Jenascia jumps to her aid and helps her get ready as the other girls basically stand there and act like they don’t see this going on. Jenascia states that she doesn’t know what came over her because she isn’t normally that nice of a person. I’m telling you, I love this girl.