America’s Next Top Model 9, Episode 9: “I’m A Queen Because…”

Bianca continues to complain the whole time and then finally asks for the wires to be taken off – she doesn’t want to do it. Louis says she’s disqualified and Saleisha tells the camera that she was scared, but still did it. She’s irritated that Bianca didn’t even try. So Heather goes up on her own and does the poses tremendously. To nobody’s surprise, she’s picked as the winner of the challenge and will get to go on a shopping spree that evening with a friend. She chooses Chantal, even though she knows Bianca wants to go shopping – she says it’s tough love and I love it!

Heather and Chantal go shopping that night and Heather says they stick out like sore thumbs. There’s a huge height difference between the girls and the locals and Heather feels like she and Chantal are giants in a world of little people. Chantal is amazed at how much everyone wants to help them and give them good deals. It actually looks like a lot of fun!

At the house, the girls get Tyra mail that says tomorrow they will bring out their inner queen. Christ – that’s every Friday night for me! Anyway, the girls head out the next day with some outfits that describe their personalities. They meet up with Jay Manuel and “Brent from Cover Girl.” Brent tells the girls that they will be shooting a print ad and commercial for Cover Girl’s Queen line. They’ll have a script to follow, but will have to add something about themselves as well, to make it their own. Jay wants each girl to show that she can be a Cover Girl. Lisa is already stressing because she feels everything that has made her strong is out the window and she has to work to get back on top.

The girls practice as they go through hair and makeup and I realize how much I hate Bianca’s voice. Heather is having issues memorizing words again, while Chantal has her own dilemma – she has to wear her own clothes and not designer stuff! Oh Lord. Saleisha is up first.

Of course, Saleisha looks great on film. By the second take, she has the whole thing down. Jay gives her some advice as far as looking endearing and the way she looks around and on the third time – he’s speechless! Jeffrey Chu, the photographer, says that Saleisha is convincing as a Cover Girl and I have to agree with him.

Bianca is up next and she stumbles a little in the commercial. She looks good on camera, but sounds like crap. Her reason that she’s a queen is believable and her photo shoot seems to go well. That being said, I just couldn’t see her as a Cover Girl.

Heather is third and I have to say she looks very whimsical in her commercial. She’s exaggerating her lines though, and continues to mess up, making faces every time. She looks great, but can’t land the lines. Jay even goes as far as to feed her the lines one by one and she can’t even do that. It’s about performance and Heather doesn’t have it. In her photos, she looks great!

Fourth is Jenah and her hair looks amazing. I really wish they would have done something with her teeth though. Jay thinks that even though she took a ton of takes, Jenah came off as very genuine and endearing. Her photos are good, but nothing about them screams Cover Girl to me.

Next we have Chantal and she looks great! Her outfit and hair remind me of the little girl on the Swiss Miss box. Jay says that her commercial is very “girl next door” and it works for her. He’s happy with it and she looks great. Her photos look amazing, and for the first time, I could really see Chantal making it to the final three!

Lisa goes last and I have to say that she looks amazing. The only problem is that she continually messes up her lines and, every time that happens, she gets more nervous and looks like she is about to cry. Jay tells her that they don’t expect her to be perfect and she’s focused on failing. I hate to say that I agree with Jay, but he’s right. Lisa knows she can do better and, when the commercial is over (since she’s dismissed), she comments that she has to do great during the photo shoot to turn it around.

Once all the girls are finished, Lisa and Saleisha talk. Saleisha says that Lisa always had challenges in her life and tries to tell her how to do better. Lisa isn’t having it and doesn’t want to pay attention, so Saleisha gets up and walks away, saying she won’t help girls that won’t allow her to help them. I think Saleisha thinks she is Oprah. Lisa tells the camera that she’s breaking down at this point and is the only girl that has to sweat right now before panel.

Tyra mail says that someone is going home tomorrow. Lisa says that she wants this so bad and, when Bianca asks her what she’ll do if it’s her going home, Lisa says, “cry.” At least she’s realistic. Lisa mentions to the camera that she knows there’s a model in her, but her confidence is just so low right now. Bianca talks about not being sent home because she was disqualified from the challenge – she won’t let them send her home because of that. Meanwhile, Heather is talking to the camera, saying she has weaknesses and that she loves being there, but there’s a huge chance it’s her going home this week.

Tyra welcomes the girls to panel. She reminds them of the prizes and introduces the judges, including Jeffrey Chu, the director of photography from the Cover Girl commercial shoot. Lisa is up first!

Lisa steps forward and the judges watch her commercial. They can tell she was about to cry the whole way through and Nigel says that she’s the queen of nerves. Tyra says that if you are going to cry, then just do it and let it out. When they look at her photo, Nigel feels it’s charming and real. Tyra adds that Lisa is too self-conscious with critique and I agree.