America’s Next Top Model 2 – Who’s Got the Goods to Win?

When I first decided to recap this show, I never thought I would get into it as much as I have. I watched the first season off and on, but watched the last four episodes religiously. But here we are now, with only a few episodes left in the second season, and I still have no idea who is going to win. Each girl has had her ups and downs, which is making it impossible for me to decide who is going to win. Sure, I know who I want to win, but what does that mean? Exactly, nothing! If I had my way, Mercedes would have won on day one! Anyway, I took the liberty to evaluate each of the remaining four women. My evaluation is based on their personality, potential, and I’ll be taking a look at their best and worst shot, at least in my eyes. This is going to be fun!

Shandi: It’s no secret that I am a fan of Shandi. Of all the girls, I think she has changed the most. Tyra has said constantly that of all the girls, she could most see Shandi doing high-end fashion. I would have to agree with this statement. Shandi is definitely slender enough to work the high end runways, and she has a beautiful face. Personality wise, Shandi comes across as fun, but somewhat insecure. She is constantly worried that she will have to go home, but seeks comfort in the fact that she knows her boyfriend will always love her. I think I like Shandi so much because she comes across as real, plus you can tell she has the potential to go far in this industry, as long as she keeps on growing. Let’s take a look at her pictures.

I chose Shandi’s latest shot as her best. There is no doubt in my mind that this picture could be an ad. The somewhat insecure personality that she sometimes shows never comes through in her photos, and this one is a great example of that. Look how she sits on that ledge – with the attitude starting right back at you from the photo. Her hair and dress look amazing and the sunglasses that she is showing off just complete the picture. Even the pose she is striking says that she doesn’t have a care in the world, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. However, knowing what we do from her off camera, we DO know she cares what we think, but she does an amazing job at hiding it.

For her worst photo, I chose the picture that she did for the Quench Water ad. Take a look at this. Now, besides the fact that she looks like she is drowning, it doesn’t look like she is having an ounce of fun. Several girls had trouble at this shoot, so I’m taking that into consideration. However, Shandi’s shot for this photo shoot easily came out the worst. Even Xiomara’s was better, but Shandi was better then Xiomara overall, which is why I think Xiomara was eliminated when she was. So I’m not going to be so hard on Shandi for her worst photo. I mean, she could have done much better had she just relaxed and done her thing, but her nerves caught up with her, as well as all the emotional stress that she puts herself through.

Mercedes: Ahh, MY Mercedes. If you missed my last recap, I’ve officially dubbed her “MY Mercedes.” Anyway, MY Mercedes is great, isn’t she? Okay, I promise, that’s the last time. Seriously though, much can be said about Mercedes and her shots. I think each one has consistently gotten better over time. Her personality is to die for, and she always seems to be having fun. What worries me is her lupus. I’m scared that all the stress of a model’s lifestyle may be a bit much for her. Lupus is not something to mess around with, and I want to make sure that Mercedes stays healthy. However, I do want her to win and would be psyched if she did. What do I think about her pictures, you ask? Well, find out what I think are her best and worst.

In my opinion, Mercedes’ worst shot was her body paint photo, which was also her first. It’s not the fact that I think it’s a bad shot, I just think of what she has done thus far, this one sticks out the most. It could be argued that her Quench shot was her worst, but I would disagree, simply for the fact that even Nole' and photographer called her a “visual orgasm” during the shoot. Yeah, this is definitely not one of her best, and the reason I say that is because, honestly, it doesn’t even look like Mercedes. It kind of looks like some Egyptian high priestess waiting to inflict a curse on her people for disobeying her… which is actually pretty hot! Maybe that’s a stretch, but you know what I’m saying. I still love her from head to toe!

Easily, Mercedes best shot is her celebrity shot. In this photo, Mercedes captures the essence of Billie Holiday perfectly. Once again, during the shoot, the photographer said he loved the fact that she was truly becoming who she was supposed to be, and did an amazing job on the shoot when it came to making different facial gestures and letting the spirit of Billie shine through. I remember when I first saw this shot revealed, I was in awe. It looks amazing. This can be said about many of Mercedes photos and not just this one. I do think she has the personality and drive to win this competition, and the pictures don’t lie – Mercedes is a natural.