America’s Next Top Model 3, the Finale: Amanda, Eva or MY Yaya?

Eva is nervous about the whole thing and knows what’s on the line. Tyra greets them in the back and says she’s nervous too. Yaya says that she has to re-center herself. Jay tells the girls it’s time to start the show and the girls get ready. Yaya is out first and looks amazing. Eva heads out next and says she wants to go out strong because she deserves to win.

Its madness backstage as the girls have to get changed. Yaya is out right away. She looks great once again, but Eva is looking amazing as well. When Eva goes out, Janice screams to her what to do, saying that she looks perfect, and telling Yaya to walk faster. Both of the girls are doing a great job. MY Yaya heads out for the last time and Eva is walking and almost bumps into her.

The show ends and the girls come out on stage. The judges applaud and Yaya says it feels good. Eva feels the same. Jay tells them both that they were dead on, so they have to go right to the judges from there. The girls get in a car and Eva says it’s over now – one girl is going to win.

The girls walk in and meet the panel. Tyra says that only four judges are present – there is no guest judge because the four of them have seen the two girls the whole time from week to week. She wishes that both of them could win, but there can be only one winner. The winner will get a contract with Ford Models, a fashion spread in Elle Magazine and a $100,000 contract for Cover Girl Cosmetics.

It’s time for evaluations. Tyra says they walked in a show for Noriko, and then they take a look at the girls. Nigel says that Yaya was breathless and looked great, but Nole’ thinks that there was no personality. Janice says that she looked like a zombie at times, but she will get it next time. At the show, Tyra’s mom told her that Yaya has a nice booty. Can’t argue with that! Nigel says that Eva had a great walk, but Tyra says she had a “head bob” going on, while Yaya had this “heel-toe” thing going on.

Now it’s time for some comparing of past photo shoots. Week one’s shoot was in Jamaica, and the judges agree that it goes to Yaya. Week two is beauty shots, and it seems to be a tie. For the kimono shots, it seems to be a tie again. For the alter ego shot, it seems to go to Eva, but for the spider shots, it’s a tie again – wow, this IS hard! In the Cover Girl ad, Nigel says they are both striking, but Eva is more “now” and Yaya is more “old fashioned” which can also be good. Time for deliberations, and the girls head out of the room.

Nigel says he keeps going back and forth. Tyra feels that Yaya moves like a pro, but Nole’ says that Eva looks amazing. Janice says that Eva has grown on her, but she’s still a fan of Yaya’s refinement. Nole’ says that Eva needs to know herself and Nigel tells them that Eva makes him smile. Tyra thinks that Yaya has a great body, and bodies like hers don’t come often. Nole’ feels that Eva came in as a tough boy and is now a beautiful woman. Tyra think the whole thing is horrible that they can’t choose one over the other.

The girls walk back in the room for the last time. Tyra says that now she will announce who the next top model is. Yaya says she can’t stand and Eva says she’ll cry either way – she’s speechless. Tyra says it was so hard because both of them are so different. Yaya went from the girl that was great in pictures, but not relatable on a personal note. However, somehow she kicked that chip off her shoulder and is very personable now. Eve walked in as a pretty girl, but a girl that will hate you before you can hate her, and now she is a real model.

There can be only one winner though – and that winner – is Eva! She begins to cry right away as the judges cheer for her. Eva asks the judges “Me, a model? Beautiful?!?” Yes Eva, you are! MY poor Yaya says that she deserved to be recognized, but the judges wanted someone bubblier, and they found that with Eva. Eva can’t believe that she’s a Cover Girl, and says that the tom-girl from LA that wasn’t the cutest girl in school is now America’s Next Top Model!

Eva says that now she gets to represent all the little girls that feel the way she did. Tyra tells the camera that Eva is relatable to young girls everywhere, and that is why she is the next top model. Eva tells the camera that she’s going to be a star and for the world to look out!

I’m glad Eva won – she deserved it! However, you know I wanted MY Yaya to win! Oh well, I think I’m doomed to always love the second place winners. Last season it was Mercedes, and this time it’s Yaya. Same thing with The Amazing Race. I loved Jon & Kelly and I loved Colin & Christie and they both came in second place. Hopefully I’ll have better luck next season! Good luck to Eva – I’m sure she’s going to be great! Keep on the lookout as I’ll be doing interviews with the final three girls over the next week or so. It was a blast recapping this show, as usual – I’ll be back next season!

Phil Kural is a recent graduate from Temple University, with a degree in journalism. You can reach him at pkural@gmail.com with any feedback that you may have.

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