America’s Next Top Model 10, Episode 6: I’ve Got the Music in Me

Last week, every confessional Dominique had, she spoke about herself in the third person. It drove me nuts and it was funny, more than a few of you wrote to me to tell me how much you hated that as well. But what really took the cake was seeing a clip of her doing just that on Talk Soup this weekend. I laughed so hard; I backed it up and watched it again. At least she’s getting noticed somehow, huh?

Speaking of confessionals, the first two sound bites come from Aimee, the model who everyone loves for her luminescent skin, and from Lauren, who tells us that she really has to figure out how to get past her fear of the panel. I agree with Lauren as she looks like a whipped pup every time she gets called up to look at her photo with the judges. Poor kid. She takes beautiful photos, so I hope she can move through this.

Next we watch as Claire talks to her husband on the phone and we’re treated to delightful video of her daughter who is teething. She also tells us that every time she thinks of her baby, her milk starts flowing and she has to pump. The good news is that she’s starting to dry up finally. I wonder if she’s still drinking it? Claire feels that it’s difficult living in a house with so many other people, but she would be cheating her daughter if she didn’t go after her dreams. She looks like a model already and she seems to have the most grace and poise to me.

Well let’s see how she handles the next issue with grace and poise. That issue is Dominique and her alarm constantly going off and her not shutting it off. It annoys the other girls in the room, but Claire is the most vocal, even to the point of calling her a witch (or something to that effect). The lights come up and Dom looks like my cat does in the morning – blinking, hair standing on end, and with pissed-off cat face. Several other girls get in on the conversation and Anya even tells us that having Dominique is draining.

In the kitchen over breakfast, the battle between Dominique and Claire continues to the point where Dom brings in Claire’s husband. Claire seems to be laughing at Dom or at the way she’s handling the situation. A few others get in on the catfight, including the non-confrontational Lauren who even gets up on her chair to yell. Whitney gets in on it as well! Wheee! There are f-bombs dropping all over the place and I check the channel to make sure I haven’t accidentally taped an episode of Jerry Springer!

Later in confessional, Dom tells us that she thinks everyone fights with her because she’s so strong. Then her tone changes and she says that she’s hurt by all the drama. The music shifts to a more soulful tune as she talks to her mom and cries. She’s really rattled by this ordeal, but I have a feeling she’ll bounce back.

That’s a lot of drama for the first ten minutes of the show, isn’t it? I can’t imagine living with that much estrogen all in one place. Yikes!

The next morning, the girls hop into the limo waiting outside; when they get to their destination, the window between them and the driver goes down. Who is on the other side, but none other than Tyra, herself. Do you think she has a commercial driver’s license for that thing?

The girls head up to the studio and change into matching red leotards and heels. This looks like yet another runway walk seminar, but Tyra says that they have to start working it hard but making the most of the three-second pose at the end of the runway. She keeps yelling “Fierceness” at the girls, hoping to channel some of her energy. Two models in the pack stand out to me, though – Lauren and Fatima. Lauren doesn’t look comfortable and is just schlumping as she walks, while Fatima’s Russian soldier march is just distracting. I wonder to myself if Tyra will say something to either of them?

As they go for another round of group marching, Tyra suddenly looks as if she twists her ankle. It surprises me for a moment, but then her “acting” skills show clear through. She takes that faked pain and uses it to segue into the next session, which is posing as if the model was in pain, but beautiful pain, mind you. They go through headaches, heartaches, and (sorry guys) period pain. That’s right and Tyra actually comments on how well they all show it. Snort!

The camera guys and editors seem to really be spending a lot of time showing Dominique this week, even in the background. It makes me wonder if they’re setting her up for the fall this week.

It’s time for another pose-off. Tyra makes mention of Anya and my favorite, Whitney, for how well they do with the poses thrown at them. Poor Lauren just bombs hers. She looks so awkward and ungainly. Tyra doesn’t mention anything about a winner, but later that night there’s Tyra mail. In the obnoxiously read scrolling thingy, we find out that Anya was declared the winner of the challenge.

Her prize is a one-on-one photo shoot with Nigel Parker. Wow, for a model, that’s actually a fabulous prize! That man can certainly mold some of these girls and get them to take some amazing shots. This should be a good boost to her portfolio.

We move to the studio where Nigel is waiting for her. The set is stark white except for an old-fashioned, black iron bed. He tells her that he’d like her to have this photo for a long time in her portfolio so he wants to be sure that it won’t be dated any time soon. Because clothes can date a picture, Anya will do this shoot in the nude, tastefully of course.

Nigel does an amazing job with the photo shoot. We’re treated to about four shots, all of which are just stunning. He says that she has no idea how good of a model she is and that there is still some trepidation in her eyes.

What is with her accent? It’s so strange. Can any of you place it?

Anyway, Anya goes back to the apartment, excitedly telling a few of the girls in the kitchen about the nude shoot. They seem genuinely interested and happy for her. Aimee is visibly stunned and doesn’t think she’s ready to be nude in front of people. She grew up Mormon and they think the body is a temple. Whoa, that’s not a good sign at all, because we all know there are regularly one of these nude or semi-nude shots most seasons.

More drama ensues between Dominique and the trio of Whitney, Claire, and Lauren. I’ll spare you.

After a commercial break, we’re treated to Tyra mail and the wide-eyed Aimee telling us about how she wants to make modeling a career. We’re seeing a lot of Aimee this episode. If Dominique doesn’t go, I’m thinking Aimee will.