America’s Next Top Model: The Runway Ahead Special

Next up is one of my personal favorites of this season, Xiomara! Xio knew that going into the competition, she wasn’t perfect. To illustrate that, we get some clips of her messing up in the water and my favorite clip from this season: When J. Alexander told her “Gurrl, you walk like you on crack. What are you? Scared of something?” However, she says that when people give her criticism, she turns it into positive energy. Even Tyra notes that Xio had a great attitude. Xio felt that being a New Yorker helped because she had the edge and the attitude necessary to succeed. She loved doing the show, but lost focus along the way. Also, Xio is happy to report that she is more confident because of the show and improved emotionally, physically and mentally. She’s determined and now has a manager at TTA. I’m not quite sure what that is. The manager lady tells Xio she wants her hair fixed up and that’s Xio is the “top girl” that she has. Um, okay. Xiomara meets with some people from BOSS models, and they know her from the show. She even states that THIS is the real competition, not what went on during the show. Now it’s time to see who is making moves and who is getting work Tyra chimes in that Xio has had requests from three cosmetic companies to do spreads for them. Aww, I love you Xiomara!

If you are a Heather fan, she’s next! We start with watching her streak the house while saying that she just likes to have fun and be spontaneous. She’s a people person and very talkative and that’s why she had trouble adjusting in the house since she had never been away from home before and wasn’t really talking to anyone. Catie understood where she was coming from, and that really helped her. Heather says that she was shocked when she was eliminated and thought she was prettier then most of the other girls. What a winning attitude on this one. She will continue to try to make it in the modeling world, and is happy she did the show because doors have been opened for her. Some UPN lady tells her about a script, and that she should try for the part. Heather wants all her dreams to come true. Wow, that was short and sweet!

I’m sure you were wondering what happened to Camile right? Well, Tyra starts out by saying that Camile was very sweet and normal during her auditions – almost too sweet and normal, so she was surprised when Camile turned out to be the one everyone hated. Camile talks about how she was different then the other girls, and felt she could do everything better then them – that was the difference. She says the competition was very stressful, as we see her shouting match with Yoanna again. Camile even says that the person she got along with least was Yoanna, probably because Yoanna was jealous that she had personality and confidence, and that Yoanna was lacking both. Oh God, give me a break. This girl is just TOO full of herself. We see a clip of day 1 when Camile is telling the other girls she can help them since she already has modeling experience. Sara notes that Camile already thinks she is “The Stuff” since she can’t say “S**t.” More clips of Camile being stupid, like when she hogged the mirror in the “smoky eye” challenge. Oh, and then we get to see her signature walk again, not to mention when she mouthed off to the judges. Priceless! Tyra says that she didn’t feel Camile was in the right competition, and needs to get a job where she is telling people what to do, not one where people tell Camile what to do. Camile then goes on about how she is always recognized, and how she goes to Howard University, which is a fashion school. It is? I didn’t know that! She goes out all the time and everyone loves her. Yup, that’s what she said. Her and her girls get all dressed up and hit the town. Honestly, the way they show it, it looks like the Destiny’s Child video for “Bugaboo” when the four girls are walking down the street acting like they own it. We are quickly introduced to her mother who says she is very proud of her daughter. Apparently she didn’t watch the show. Camile demonstrates her signature walk again. I can’t stop laughing! Finally, she says that she isn’t a bitch, but is a very sweet and loving person – I just threw up, excuse me. Oh, she vows that we will see her again, and I can’t wait!

Once again, we are shown Yoanna winning over MY Mercedes. I get a tear in my eye, but it’s time to talk about Yoanna! All the judges talk about how much they love every aspect about her. You better – ya'll picked her! Yoanna talks about her entourage that follows her from day to day, and that she finds it odd. She did the morning show circuit and had a blast, and then got her free shopping spree at Sephora, noting that it was insane. Also, she did her photo shoot with Jane magazine and signed with IMG models in New York, all of which she won from the show. I have to admit, she looks great! Then we see her fly to LA and go on the Ryan Seacrest show, along with participating in shows during Fashion Week. She loved doing the shows and compared them to the “Fashion Olympics.” For her 24th birthday, she actually got to go home and see her family in Jacksonville, Florida. Before the show, she was a bohemian and a babysitter extraordinaire. What the heck is that? She lost 60 pounds over a two and a half year period. As we all know, she had a love for fashion since she was young, but now gets more attention since she lost all the weight. Yoanna admits that she won something she wanted for a very long time. Never the prom queen, she’s overwhelmed by it all – and you can tell. That’s the good thing about Yoanna – she is very humbled by the experience, in my opinion.

We close with Tyra telling the female viewers that the application is on UPN.com to apply for the next season of the show. Who knows, maybe you could be hanging out with Tyra Banks in NYC in a few months. I say, go for it girls, you never know what might happen if you try. Don’t forget that season one will be running again, this summer. Good luck to everyone who applies for season three!

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

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