America’s Next Top Model 7, Episode 10: Cold as Ice

Outside, CariDee tells Eugena that she doesn’t like Melrose. Eugena says that with her and Melrose, there’s sort of respect, but they both know they don’t like each other. CariDee says it’s keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. If Melrose wins, she’ll puke. I’ll join her. I really want CariDee to win, but at this point for me it’s anyone but Melrose. (Like last season when it was anyone but Jade.) Inside, Melrose dances obliviously.

After some beautiful shots of Spain, the girls gather at the bottom of some steps for their dancing “test.” Nacho tells them that there will only be one winner. There will also be a photographer there to shoot them. The girls head to hair and makeup, greeting the male dancers with kisses. Eugena says they put on complete flamenco costumes. Melrose thinks she wore her flamenco dress to prom. Amanda interviews that sometimes when you want something, you don’t get it because you psych yourself out. The guys practice. Melrose isn’t sure how she’ll be able to do the footwork in her dress. It’s too bad they didn’t get a dress rehearsal.

Everyone gathers to begin, that there’s a little audience there. Nacho says the girls look nice. CariDee is first with her partner José. She’s a little heavy-footed, but very graceful. Nacho interviews that she showed a lot of attraction to her partner. Eugena and her partner Oscar are next. Eugena does very well and looks like she’s enjoying self. She says that her strategy was to follow her partner because he knows what he’s doing. Works for me! Nacho says she was very elegant in her body.

Next up are Amanda and her partner Grua. Amanda has the steps down, but she’s not that graceful. However, Nacho notes that she’s working hard and has a sweeter expression than the other girls. Melrose thinks that everyone looks better than they did last night, but she feels like she has the footwork down. She and her partner Angel dance last. Melrose looks very nice and graceful, but she gets thrown off and has to “fib” her moves. She knows she messed up. We get a little dancing montage. I’d say Eugena and CariDee are the two best dancers.

Naama says Nacho is proud of all of the girls. Nacho tells Amanda that she was relaxed. CariDee worked well with her partner and Melrose had a good attitude and facial expressions, though she made a few mistakes. Eugena was very good and Nacho liked her attitude and expression. He actually liked all of the girls, but he chooses Eugena as the winner. She gets to pick a friend to share in her prize, and despite her bond with CariDee, she picks Amanda. CariDee interviews that she would have chosen Amanda as well because Amanda hasn’t won anything yet. Naama tells Eugena and Amanda that back at the house Amanda will receive one present and Eugena will receive two.

After everyone else is gone, Melrose tells Amanda that she messed up and couldn’t start over. She doesn’t like it when dance is so serious. Amanda says she pulled her ankle and thought, “Oopsy.” She interviews that Melrose reacted the same way to her loss as she always does – she freaked out. Melrose, who’s now crying, interviews that you have to be perfect to win a competition.

Elsewhere, CariDee tells Eugena that she doesn’t understand why someone would be so upset over losing a challenge. Eugena says it’s because Melrose is used to winning everything and is a sore loser. Melrose says she’s mad at herself, not the other girls, because she’s trying her best. Dancing is her soul and passion, and she doesn’t like being critiqued on it.

Back at the house, Eugena and Amanda get their presents. Amanda thought that Eugena would pick CariDee, so it was a nice surprise to get chosen herself. Amanda gets a jacket from the designer Custo Barcelona, and Eugena gets a Custo jacket and shirt. CariDee oohs and ahhs over the jacket.

Melrose interviews that CariDee is a lot to deal with. She doesn’t have to like everyone in the house. That interview seems really out of place; I’m not sure why they put it there. CariDee was being nice to a friend; what’s wrong with that?

CariDee interviews that she’s over Melrose. She has a problem with not winning and will lash out. Melrose says there are some diva attitudes in the house. She’s over CariDee, too, and is determined to win. The girls get more Tyra Mail: “Will you drown when faced with your own competition? See which girl will sink when she sees you floating to the top.” CariDee thinks the next challenge will involve sharks. I’m not sure how she got sharks from that.

The girls meet up with Jay, who tells them that they’ve walked down a long road and traveled across the world. Now they’re down to the final four. He’s brought someone along to the shoot to bring the competition to the final level. It’s Tyra, and Melrose says it’s huge to have her there because she’s helping them with their careers. Tyra tells the girls that she’s there to guide them in their shoots. It’s important to her to see how they work with a photographer and see what she can get out of them when she coaches them. She misses coaching, which she did in seasons 1 and 2.

In this challenge, the girls will be photographed floating on their backs in water. Tyra hopes they know how to swim. If they can’t, they’d better learn really quickly! Melrose just hopes there’s no chlorine in the water so her hair doesn’t turn green. Why am I not surprised?

There’s another element to the shoot – the girls will be working in pairs. Tyra teams up CariDee with Amanda and Eugena with Melrose. Eugena says she knew she’d be with Melrose. After all the CariDee/Melrose animosity, I’m surprised they didn’t get paired up. Eugena isn’t sure whether or not she’s happy. I’m going to guess she’s not. She doesn’t know how well Melrose will communicate with her since she’s selfish.

Jay tells the girls that they’ll be shooting as ethereal nymphs, so they’ll have long hair and flowing dresses. As they get ready, Eugena tells a hair guy that she doesn’t want glue in her hair. Tyra gives some instructions to the makeup guys. Melrose and Eugena are the first in the water, and Tyra tells them that the secret to floating is to arch your back. Eugena and Melrose get in and Tyra tells them to try different configurations.