America’s Next Top Model 2, Episode 9: Wine and Hot Tubs Are Always Trouble Together

So the next night, the girls get to the elimination ceremony. They are reminded of their prize, which includes a modeling contract with IMG and a spread in Jane magazine, along with other prizes. We are also introduced to the judges as usual, which include Janice Dickinson, THE first supermodel. There is famed photographer Nigel Barker, Jane fashion editor Eric Nicholson, and guest judge Stephen Fairchild.

For individual evaluations, each girl will have to take a t-shirt, and mark it up with markers, paperclips, pens, scissors, and other stuff to make it looks sexy. The girls quickly do so and return to the room.

Shandi shows off first and says that since she couldn’t show off her legs, she’s showing some back. The judges like it a lot, even Janice! Yoanna keeps it simple with a bow on her arm. Janice says it almost looks like a strait jacket. There’s the Janice we love! April tries to show off her legs, but Janice feels like April is going to a nightclub. Mercedes wants to show her shoulders and does the plunging neckline. Janice adores it. Tyra and Eric are impressed as well.

Time for picture evaluations! Shandi and Yoanna step up first. The judges look at the picture and love it. Shandi is so thin and Yoanna looks hot as they mention she showed in the photo that she can be versatile. They adore Shandi’s legs in the photo, but her face is lacking.

Mercedes and April step up. In the photo, they look like sisters, and much softer then Yoanna and Shandi’s photo. Janice says it could be an ad today for perfume or anything. She loves it. Nigel also says it looks great. Tyra mentions that the photographer didn’t like how April started being bossy during the shoot, so the judges give her advice on that.

The judges deliberate, saying Yoanna amazes them at times. Janice remarks that even though she has rolls of skin over her jeans, she’s still a good model. Shandi has great legs and the look for this competition. She’s a true wildcard. Her only problem is the fact that she is too passive – she’s a follower. April has no life to her and looked like the queen of disco tonight. However, they feel she is very consistent with her shots. Mercedes reflects erotic in her shot, and for the first time, really looked high fashion tonight. Janice just adores her. Nigel says the fashion industry won’t catch on to her.

Our four remaining model wannabes enter the room. Tyra is holding photos of the three girls who will continue on. Yoanna is called first. She looks beautiful in the shot but needs to work on her sex appeal. Shandi is next. Tyra tells Shandi that she gives hope to girls everywhere that anyone can achieve their dreams. However, they wonder if she really wants to win this thing. April and Mercedes step forward. Mercedes is told that for the first time, she showed that she is high fashion. April poses the best of all the girls, but is too mechanical. Her emotion needs to show. The one moving on is – Mercedes! Ugh, I’m so happy I can’t control myself at this point. Two weeks in a row and I’m scared out of my seat.

Anyway, April breaks down and all the girls hug her. She’s even crying as she walks out the door and in the apartment. She doesn’t understand why she’s gone because she always wins. Wow, what a way to learn the lesson that you can’t win EVERY time. She says that she wanted this badly and doesn’t want to go back to what she was doing before. Geez, you would think she was a high school janitor or something. Finally, she promises that she will become a top model because that is what she is destined to become, just not that way.

Next week is the season finale. With nine cuts down, only three girls remain. The finalists will compete in a show and the judges will have to decide who will be America’s Next Top Model! Who do you think will win? Do you think it will be Shandi the hot tub vixen? Could it possibly be fashion obsessed Yoanna? Or will MY Mercedes take the prize? Only one way to find out – tune in next week as someone walks away with the prize. Wow, I can’t believe how excited I am. Let me go do a rain dance for Mercedes, and I’ll be back next week. Until then!

Phil Kural is a senior at Temple University, and can be reached at pkural@temple.edu.

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