America’s Next Top Model 8 – A Preview of the Model Hopefuls

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel like the bottoms of MY Cari Dee’s runway heels aren’t even scratched yet, and we are already beginning a new cycle of America’s Next Top Model. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love this show, but I think that they should have spaced it out a little bit!

Now that I got that off my chest, let me just say that I am so excited and thrilled for this season to start. Tyra has boasted that she really sought after high-fashion looking girls this season, and you can tell! The girls are beautiful, and every single one of them looks like they could walk down a high-fashion runway. At least, from what I can tell from the little bit of information that we are given on The CW website. It’s pretty bare, besides a few facts about each girl and two photos. That has never stopped me in the past though, so here I am to give my opinion on each of the 13 girls we will see this season!

Brittany – Brittany hails from Savannah, Georgia, where she is a bartender. She is 21 years old, and to be quite honest, she looks a bit older than that. I would have guessed at least 24. Maybe her profile photo isn’t the best, I’m not sure. To be honest, I’m not getting much of a read off Brittany – she seems a bit bland. Very cookie cutter, and I don’t feel she is showing any edge at all. If I had to go out on a limb right now and make a prediction, I’d say that she’s an early boot. Probably one of the first three.

Cassandra – The first thing I think of when I look at Cassandra is, “She’s as skinny as Monique from last season!” The second thing I think is, “I hope she’s not a quitter like the first Cassandra.” I know it’s not fair to think either of those, but I’m being honest! Other than that, there’s not a whole lot to say about Cassandra. She’s a college student from Seattle, Washington and is 24 years old. Man, is she thin though! I don’t want to say that I will like her, since I said I would probably like Monique last season in my preview article and I couldn’t have been more wrong. I doubt she’ll be one of the first to go, but she’s not a lock for me in the finals. Probably get cut halfway through.

Diana – Diana is one of two plus-sized girls who were picked to compete this season, the other being Whitney. Of the two, I think Diana has a better chance of making it until the end. Looking at her photos, from what I’ve seen, you would never be able to tell that she is the heaviest girl who has ever appeared on the show. She has great facial features and in a way, reminds me of Joanie from Cycle 6 and Christina from Cycle 4. I’m very curious to see how well she will do, and I can guarantee that she isn’t sent home in the beginning, since the plus-sized girl never is. I am definitely in Diana’s corner, and hope she can break the mold that plus-sized girls have fallen into on this show. Diana is a 21-year-old college student from Garfield, New Jersey.

Dionne – Dionne is a college student from Montgomery, Alabama. She is 20 years old, and is another girl whose age I would have never guessed. From her pictures you would think she was at least 25 – she looks so mature! Now, I know this isn’t going to come across as a compliment, but I think that Dionne looks a bit like Omarosa from The Apprentice. Maybe it’s the high hair, I don’t know! She’s already rubbing me the wrong way though. However, you have to give it up for the girl – she looks good! My guess is that she’ll make it to around the top six or so.

Felicia – Wow, how pretty is Felicia? She’s a favorite from the beginning, and my first pick to make the final three. Felicia is a 19-year-old sales associate from Houston, Texas. I love her poses in the group photo and her solo shot, and I also like the way she’s connecting with the camera already! What I don’t like about Felicia is her golden hair, but I bet Tyra gives her a new weave when it’s time for makeovers. I have some positive feelings about Felicia though, and I think she’s going to do well – or at least I hope so!

Jael – Jael is a band manager from Detroit, Michigan. Although she looks sleek and edgy, I’m already getting a feeling that she is going to get pegged as the girl who “doesn’t want to be there.” Maybe that’s because to me, she looks like a more ethnic version of A.J. from last season, who was labeled the same way. Jael is 22 years old, and I must say that she is very camera friendly and ultra high-fashion looking. If she can keep a positive attitude and an open mind, I have a feeling she will do very well. However, if Jael slips into a miserable mood and the judges get that vibe from her, they will cut her very quickly.

Jaslene – The instant I saw Jaslene I was hopping up and down! Why? Well, Jaslene actually made it to the semi-finals last season, but didn’t make it into the house. She was a bit over the top, and admitted to the judges that she was top model, 24/7, even showing them how she runway walked in public. Jay Manuel compared her to a drag queen, and he wasn’t that far off. However, Jaslene was too much fun, and I was so disappointed that she didn’t make it into the house – thank goodness she got a second chance! An online college admissions advisor, Jaslene is 20 years old from Chicago, Illinois. I’m not quite sure where she’ll end up in the competition, but I do know that she has the desire, and that counts for a lot in this competition. She’s top five.

Kathleen – A 20-year-old hair stylist from Brooklyn, New York, Kathleen looks like a perfect mix of Brandy from season three and Jade from season six. It looks like she has the attitude and facial features of Jade and the hair and posing of Brandy. That’s not necessarily a good thing. In fact, I think Kathleen is another girl who will be gone within the first three eliminations. I’m also curious to see how she does if Tyra wants to cut off that hair. If she reacts the way Brandy or Jade did… it won’t be good!

Natasha – Originally from Russia, Natasha currently resides in Dallas, Texas. She is a 21-year-old college student. First thing I want to know is does she have that sexy Russian accent? I haven’t found out yet, but if she does I love it! I really don’t have much else to say about Natasha. She has the full lips that Coryn had, but other than that, she’s not really standing out to me. She’ll probably make it through the first few eliminations, but be cut somewhere in the middle when she just won’t be standing out from the other girls.

Renee – Renee is a stay-at-home mom from Maui, Hawaii. On looks alone, Renee is probably the prettiest girl this season. That’s not saying she has the most edge, or that she’d be the best for commercial, but based on looks alone, I think Renee will do well. Of course, that all depends on how well she does with the coping of not being around her child. She’s 20 years old, so I’m not sure if this dose of freedom is exactly what she needs right now, or will be her undoing. I’m guessing that she will adapt well, and I’m going to go out on a limb here and place her in the final three. I hope she doesn’t let me down!

Sarah – Sarah is high-fashion to the max! A 20-year-old photographer from Lake Zurich, Illinois, Sarah has it going on! I could definitely see her winning the competition, and in fact, that is my prediction – Sarah will win this season of America’s Next Top Model. She has high-fashion written all over her – from her hair and posing, straight down to her look and build. Plus, I heard through the grapevine that Tyra is very fond of her. That has to help, right? Either way, Sarah is very pretty, and I think she’s going to come across as very sweet. I hope I’m right and she takes it all!

Samantha – A sales associate from Pinson, Alabama, Samantha is just oozing Nicole, the winner of Cycle 5. Do I think Samantha will win this season? Not at all, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her get very far. She has a very high-fashion look, and her “plain-Jane” look is always something that the judges love, since they are able to poke, prod, cut, and basically do anything they want to her in order to make her fit the high-fashion model mold. She could totally be top four if things work in her favor. I like her!

Whitney – Whitney is a 21-year-old college student from West Palm Beach, Florida, and is the second of our two plus-sized girls this season. However, unlike Diana, I don’t think Whitney will do that well. I’m just not getting a confident read from her, but since I think the two plus-sized girls will be pitted against the rest of the group, look for Whitney to at least make it to her makeover. She’ll probably be the third girl cut, which will give Diana a wake-up call and more time to work it out. I want to like Whitney, I just don’t think she is going to connect with viewers.

Well, we’ve now looked at the 13 girls who will compete this season. I pegged Whitney, Brittany, and Kathleen as the probable first three to go, while I feel that Felicia, Renee, and Sarah will make up the final three, with Sarah taking home the title! However, I wouldn’t be mad at all to see Jaslene or Diana make it into the final three as well, or even Samantha!

This season has a very good mix of girls, ranging from race, ethnicity, age and even build. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. As usual, I’ll be interviewing each girl as she is eliminated, and recapping the episodes each week. I look forward to corresponding with all my regular readers, as well as the new ones! America’s Next Top Model 8 premiers on Wednesday, February 28th at 8:00 p.m. EST with a two-hour premiere. Until then… 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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