America’s Next Top Model 7: Why Amanda Is Not a Top Model

I predicted last week that Amanda would be the next model eliminated from America’s Next Top Model. Though she was talented and wanted to win, I didn’t think she was more talented or more passionate about modeling than the other girls left in the competition. In fact, I was surprised she made it farther than Michelle (though only by one week).

Amanda was mostly average, and I think much of time she lasted in the competition because she flew under the radar. She did what she needed to do, and even when her photos weren’t spectacular, they were better than the other girls’, so she got to stick around. So why didn’t she get to stick around until the final three? The Top Model Tips will help us figure that out.

The first tip is to be open and welcome to change. I think that the way Amanda approached the whole competition indicates that she was very open to the experience. In addition, she approached each challenge with an attitude that said that she wanted to do new things.

However, I think part of the reason Amanda was so welcome to doing new things was because she had a support system with her. While the other girls came into the competition on their own, Amanda had Michelle with her. She was more confident with her twin around. After Michelle was eliminated, Amanda admitted that she was uncertain about how things would go. I think Amanda leaned on Michelle a lot more than she let on, and it would have been harder for her to do all of the challenges on her own.

Tip #2 is to know something about the fashion industry. Amanda probably knew more about the industry than Michelle did, but compared to the other girls in the final three, I don’t think she the most fashion knowledge. (I think that honor would probably go to Melrose, as she’s actually studied fashion itself.) However, we didn’t see this aspect of modeling come into play much during the competition, so whether or not Amanda had knowledge of the industry didn’t help or hurt her at all. She got to the final four for different reasons.

The third tip is to practice your walk. I don’t remember seeing Amanda practice, but she did all right in the pool-walking challenge, so not practicing didn’t hurt her. I think Amanda focused on the things she really needed to change and that the judges mentioned she needed to improve, so if she didn’t think walking was one of them, she wouldn’t have spent time worrying about it when she could have been focusing on other things. Since the judges never told her she needed to work on walking, she didn’t.

Tip #4 tells the girls that personality counts. Amanda had a friendly, likeable personality, but until Michelle left, it was hard to see it. She herself admitted that she was reserved and shy for much of her time in the house, so it was hard to see her true personality. When we did see it, she was still a little quiet, though that might be because so many of the other girls in the house were louder and more outgoing. Still, I’m not sure Amanda had a “model” personality. Shyness is fine, but in a profession where you’re often responsible for booking your own jobs and making connections with people who can further your career, Amanda’s being so reserved might not have been a good thing.

Tip #5 tells the girls to focus on themselves, not the other girls. Amanda did well with this until the week that Michelle basically came out. This revelation caught Amanda off-guard and distracted her a little. Her photos didn’t suffer much from the news, but I think her focus became split. Later, after Michelle was eliminated, Amanda showed signs of distraction again. She wasn’t sure how things would go now that she was the only twin left, and she was also concerned with the idea that Michelle sacrificed herself so Amanda could stay in the competition.

Still, Amanda was able to focus on the dancing competition; she practiced longer than the other girls because she was determined to do well and stay in the competition. She never let the other girls get the better of her personally, and that helped her keep her head in the game.

The last tip is to roll with the punches and not fight with the judges. Amanda never showed any trouble with this tip. She was pretty easygoing and always listened to what the judges had to say; she didn’t disagree with their criticism, and she often took their advice and used it to improve her performances.

In addition, Amanda didn’t let the different challenges throw her. Even when she didn’t feel comfortable with what she had to do, she did it, often committing to a point where the judges admired her focus even when she didn’t have the best performance. This is one of the reasons she was called the most improved a few weeks ago - she was able to adjust so well that she took everything in and made herself a better model.

Amanda did pretty well overall in the competition, but I don’t think she had what it took to win. She was average at best; not one of the worst models but also not one of the best. Fourth place was a good spot for her - she has the potential to be a good model, but she still needs a lot of work.

I think more than showing talent in this competition (which she did), Amanda learned a lot and will be able to use the skills she’s acquired in the future. She did follow the Top Model Tips, but they weren’t enough to get her to the end. Even with talent and desire, Amanda didn’t have anything that made her really stand out and make the judges think she had to be in the competition. Amanda’s lack of distinction and striking personality are why she’s not a Top Model.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent America’s Next Top Model articles:

Jenn Brasler is an Assistant Editor of Reality News Online and an aspiring writer from Falls Church, Virginia. By day she works for a court reporting firm, and by night she’s a spy for a covert branch of the CIA. You can e-mail her at luckyjenn@hotmail.com. Now she thinks Melrose might be in danger of the next elimination.

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