America’s Next Top Model 7, The Finale: Scare Your Way To The Top!

Now it’s time for the final walk. Dani leads the group, and I love that Tyra has to tell her how to walk down the runway, with her hands on her hips. Always the mother, that Tyra. Melrose thinks that with all the disasters that happened to her during the show, she rocked it anyway and should win. Umm, she had a small hole ripped in her dress. How is that “all the disasters?” MY CariDee says that she just wants to prove to everyone that ever doubted her that she is a winner. You already proved it, girlfriend!

They don’t waste any time, and the girls walk into the final panel, both in very cute dresses! Tyra asks who would have thought that they would be the final two? I did! She reminds them of the prizes for the last time, which I’ll tell you since I haven’t mentioned them since the first episode. There’s a contract with Elite Model Management, a cover and six page spread in Seventeen, and a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl cosmetics. The judges are on hand, as usual, but this time – Jay Manuel has joined them! Will we EVER get rid of him?

There will be individual evaluations first, as the girls step up. First, we’ll see Melrose and her best walk during the show. Twiggy says she loved Melrose and Tyra feels that she didn’t overcompensate at all. Nigel loved her in the acting segment too. Ms. J. said that she was graceful and beautiful.

Now, MY CariDee. Tyra tells her that she needs to keep her walk pretty and strong, and that it looked like she was holding her breath some of the time. In her theatrical walk, it was all bit to crazy and there was no modeling. She was holding up the dress and really just needs to trust in her beauty. However, this judging is not just about the runway show – it’s overall. Therefore, it’s time to compare photos from throughout the competition!

We begin with the first photo shoot – supermodel stereotypes. Nigel says that MY CariDee did a great job with the “dumb blonde” look, but the judges felt that Melrose flopped with her “$10,000 model” stereotype. Jay even admits to thinking that Melrose was going home that week!

For their celebrity couples photo shoot, both of the girls excelled by far in front of the rest of the girls, and when it came to posing with Fabio, MY CariDee showed a more gentle side for the first time, while Melrose was sexy and not raunchy, which Jay says is something that Tyra can do easily. Kiss a** much?

The judges then compare the photos that Tyra took of the girls in black and white and feel that MY CariDee took it home since Melrose looked like she was thinking too much. Then there was the matador photo, where MY CariDee had a great photo, and reminded them of the girl they met in casting. Melrose could have done better and they feel that she was a bit forced.

Finally, there’s the Cover Girl photo. Both girls looked great, but MY CariDee really worked with the light. Melrose’s lips appeared to be a bit tight. It doesn’t end there though. Tyra tells the girls that normally the winner is based upon the Cover Girl photo and the fashion show. Each girl took one of these though. So of course, their body of work will be even more important, along with the challenges and tests they were given. Time for the judges to deliberate one more time!

Nigel starts right out and says that Melrose doesn’t have the “wow” factor that MY CariDee has. Tyra feels that even though the other girls didn’t like Melrose, her photos were great and that was her revenge. Jay says that Melrose showed that she wants to win. Twiggy feels that MY CariDee makes her laugh, but she a loose cannon. Jay adds that the industry loves extreme, and that might actually help MY CariDee, although Tyra adds that they won’t like her being crazy. Ms. J., who has actually been pretty quiet (I think it’s because he can’t handle having two queens on the panel), says that MY CariDee was acting like the runaway bride of Chucky on the runway.

Tyra feels that the bottom line is that one girl isn’t very likeable, but knows the whole industry and knows what she wants, while the other girl is very likeable, but they wonder how stable she is. Jay says that everyone on the panel is unpredictable in their own way, but Tyra adds, in what is her best quote of the season: “Please, I’m very predictable. Everyone knows I’m gonna have a weave, a lot of makeup and a dress cinched at the waist.” Sing it, sister!

MY CariDee and Melrose walk in. Tyra says that it wasn’t easy, since both girls have amazing strengths, but also have weaknesses. They are asked if they’d like to say anything and MY CariDee says that she loves this industry, and it’s a part of her life that she never thought she’d be able to get into. Melrose adds that she came a long way and she’s still shocked to be there, but very happy – it’s an out of body experience.

Tyra cuts right to the chase and says that America’s Next Top Model is… MY CariDee! I can’t contain myself! Neither can MY CariDee! She’s jumping all over the place and crying. It’s so sweet! She asks where the alarm is, since she’s sleeping.

Meanwhile, we see Tyra give Melrose a hug and tell her not to get deterred. Melrose tells the camera that she is pissed. She was misunderstood and was herself the whole time. She didn’t win, and all she did was get called a bitch for being herself. She’s in bum city right now. Meh, I’m over it!

MY CariDee is celebrating with the judges and Tyra tells her to NEVER do that face that she did at the runway show ever again! MY CariDee gives Tyra a big hug and shots that she did this. She’s a Cover Girl now and is so excited – her dream to be a model has come true. Although she was made fun of as a kid, now she’s America’s Next Top Model, and I couldn’t be any happier. I don’t think there could have possibly been a better ending for this season, and although I was beginning to think that Melrose right pull out the win, I never lost faith in MY CariDee!

Thanks to all the readers that sent me email every week. I’m glad there are people so obsessed with this show the way I am. Thanks to Jenn Brasler for covering for me last week – I was practicing my walk. Keep a look out for my interviews with the final three girls in the next coming days, and don’t forget to check out Jenn’s articles on why Eugena and Melrose aren’t top models and why MY CariDee IS one! I look forward to Cycle 8 next year! Until then, everyone have a fun and safe holiday! I need to go work it like the rent is due.

Phil Kural is an office manager at a law firm, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. You can send feedback to him at pkural@gmail.com.

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