Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search, Episode 3: Ice Ice Baby

The models are back in the mansion discussing the elimination. Stacy is the most vocal and says she was sure she was going home. Jenna is crying to Alicia in the bathroom that the Joel said Jenna looks like a porn star. That’s not entirely correct – he said she looks like a pinup – but according to Jenna, “pinups, to me, is pornography,” and she was deeply hurt by that comment. Aren’t models supposed to have a thick skin so that they don’t take these kinds of comments personally? Alicia tries to comfort her by telling her they mean that she’s “super, super sexy.”

Jenna and Alicia really seem to have formed a friendly bond. It’s good to finally see a different, more human side to Alicia than the win-at-all-costs side that we’ve been seeing lately. Even Jenna says as much to the camera, adding that she has soft spot for Alicia.

The first SI clue of the day arrives outside the front door the following morning. Most people go outside to get the morning paper, not a sexy magazine cover. Jenna brings it in and gives it to Betti who reads, “Do you have the staying power?” and, “The ball’s in your court.” Continuing the tradition of puns and aphorisms, this tells us that today’s activity will involve some kind of endurance test, as well as a sport that involves a ball. The clue tells the models the usual info – that the next athletic challenge will have a Supermodel Pass up for grabs.

On the way to the event, Shannon says that she’s uncomfortable putting down other people. Alicia makes it known that she has no such problems – “Just do what you gotta do” is her philosophy. Stacy talks about how she hasn’t yet shown her full level of confid…zzzz. Huh? What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Stacy’s Whine of the Week. Three words, Stacy: Get over it! Stop talking about how you lack confidence and do something about it already! Yes, she’s one of the prettier women left, but oy is she a worrywart! I get an ulcer just listening to her.

The models arrive at Manhattan Beach, which is just outside Los Angeles. Eric Fonoimoana (try saying that 10 times fast!), a 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist, welcomes them to the home of Beach Volleyball (and also a place where a lot of cool, albeit scripted, TV shows are filmed). He then introduces the models to another Olympic Gold Medallist, Kerry Walsh, and Olympic Bronze Medallist Elaine Youngs (I guess the Silver Medallists were busy).

The models are told they are going to be playing beach volleyball with Walsh and Youngs, who will each captain a team. Walsh picks Stacy, Alicia, and Jenna, while Youngs picks Betti, Krisi, and Shannon, who isn’t pleased about being picked last.

The game is on! It’s tied at 12-12. Walsh’s team scores a point and goes into a huddle. They shout “win!” and break. It’s 20 -19 – match point, Walsh tells Stacy, whose turn it is to serve to get the ball over the net. If she does, her team wins, if not, Youngs’ team has a chance to tie the game and possibly win it. The pressure is mounting. Stacy tells the camera, “All I’m thinking is, ‘Get the ball over the frikkin’ net!’” Cue the Chariots of Fire music. Her teammates are telling her to take her time. The whistle blows. The serve is shown in slow motion. A couple of members of the opposing team try to get the ball…but it’s gone. It’s an ace! Walsh’s team wins! Stacy and her teammates celebrate. Betti looks deeply upset.

After that bit of excitement, it’s time for Round Two. Each member of the winning team – Stacy, Alicia, and Jenna – must stand with a ball over their head. If they rest the ball on their head or let the ball drop below their forehead, they are out. The last woman standing gets the Supermodel Pass and gets to give one to a friend.

Thirty minutes in and everyone’s hanging in there. Forty-seven minutes in, and arms are starting to ache. Not only that, but there’s now an added twist: each model has to squat while still keeping the ball above her head. The camera immediately zooms in on Stacy’s quivering right thigh, poor girl. It’s 63 minutes into the challenge and the contestants are starting to feel the pinch now.

Stacy looks like the wind might topple her at any moment. Alicia has her eyes closed and looks to be in a Zen state. At 1:13:37 Stacy falls to her knees and crumbles like a cheap lawn chair. Walsh immediately attends to her. Stacy starts doing what she does best – whining. This time it’s about how she’s never won anything, and how badly she needed that Supermodel Pass.

It’s now 90 minutes into the challenge, and nobody wants to take Fonoimoana up on his offer to call it a day. At 1:38:37, exactly 25 minutes after Stacy went out, Jenna leans her left arm against her head. Apparently this is one rule that went unmentioned at the start of the challenge, and Jenna is eliminated, leaving Alicia as the winner while Jenna starts sobbing silently.

As the winner, Alicia receives a three-stone diamond pendant. Ever the gracious winner, she tells Jenna, “If you would have just stuck in with me a little bit longer, you probably could have beat [sic] me.” To be fair, though, Alicia also starts her victory speech by telling the others, “All of you are my competition, but beside that, all of you are my friends,” which somewhat redeems her for her unambiguous comments last week about winning and having friends being mutually exclusive.