America’s Next Top Model 2, Episode 10: Our Next Top Model Is...

Previously, on America’s Next Top Model 2, we saw 12 girls arrive in New York City. Friendships formed, like that of Shandi and Xiomara, but conflicts brewed as well. Do I have to remind anyone of the Camille/Yoanna situation? Each girl had to prove her worth in front of the camera, take criticism, act like a model, and dance in Tyra’s video. When only five remained, they headed to Milan, and the competition intensified. Shandi lost her focus and had sex with another man. Through it all, we have seen nine cuts thus far, and tonight it is down to three.

Tyra tells us that Mercedes has charmed the judges since day one. This charm hid the pain she was suffering from her lupus. However, she never gave in and always shined on camera. She is too cute sometimes though, and must show her edginess. Yoanna grew up with a passion for fashion. She had to lose 50 pounds, though, in order to get herself into peak model condition. Her self confidence has wavered from time to time, but each week she shows how much she wants to win. Yoanna is often inconsistent, and tonight must deliver a flawless performance to win. Shandi used to be a clerk at Walgreen’s. She lost her glasses, went blonde and improved her walk. She has the tools to win, but can she pull herself together? Wow, the tension is building and this was all before the theme song!

Still in Milan, the girls read the note that April left them. Yoanna didn’t think that she would be the one going home. And it turns out April isn’t that big of a “Yoanna fan.” Don’t believe me? Check out my interview with her! Anyway, Mercedes calls her mom and says she is doing all right. Then she says she is learning that lupus is all about maintenance and if she can maintain her disease, she’ll be okay. Yoanna calls her mom and says she didn’t realize how lonely she would get being away. Shandi calls her boyfriend and he tells her that he misses her. She thought he’d hate her forever, but apparently, it only took him a few days to get over the whole having sex with other people issue. He’s not mad and cares about her. She knows it was a bad thing to do but is glad they are close enough to work through it and love one another. I can’t wait to find out if they are still together.

Tyra Mail says that Yoanna has to move in with the other girls since there are only 3 girls left. Nobody helps Yoanna move her stuff because they want to sleep. The next morning, more Tyra Mail says that they will be getting beauty shots done today. Shandi thinks Yoanna is her biggest competition because she knows so much about the fashion world. Yoanna is worried about Mercedes because she would make a good role model and takes great photos. Mercedes thinks Shandi is her biggest competition because the judges always tell her that she would be perfect for high fashion. This is the last shoot though, and there is no room for mistakes!

The girls get to their destination and Jay Manuel is there to greet them. They are all beautiful, but he tells them that they will all get new looks. Yoanna’s dream has always been to appear in a beauty ad. Oh God, this girl has like so many “dreams” that I’m not even sure which is which anymore. Nole is there, as usual, to style it up. As they get changed and have the makeup applied, Jay attacks Shandi’s teeth with whitener. Anyway, Yoanna’s look will be a helmet. Mercedes needs to get out of the commercial look, says Jay, while Shandi is still going on and on about how much she wants to win. We get it.

Mercedes is worried about what Nole is doing with her hair and the wire he’s putting in it. Yoanna is stressing out about all the pressure, and is worried about the helmet making her hair itch. So, instead of asking someone to shape it up for her, she decides it would be smarter to just hack it off with scissors. It looks terrible. Jay notes that she may be breaking down. Someone takes a razor to it and fixes it for the most part, but what an idiot! Why would she do that?

Mercedes says her photo looks very Zulu and Aztec and that she loves it. She’s looking at the camera like its Shandi and Yoanna’s eyes and looking at them dead-on saying they can’t take this from her. Shandi even says that Mercedes is doing great. Shandi does her shoot and says she is having problems with her eyes. Mercedes says that Shandi looks scared, and she’s happy that Shandi is distracted with her standing in the background. Yoanna is up, and she looks GREAT! She gives the eyes, the lips and the move, noting how complicated each one is. As Mercedes watches Yoanna, she sees that the photographer and Jay really like her, so she says “Bitch, you ain’t going nowhere.” I love this girl more than words can describe. I’d move mountains for her. Jay says Shandi has done so well, Mercedes surprises all the time, and Yoanna wants it so badly that she’ll do anything to win.