America’s Next Top Model 8, Episode 10 – Stories to Last a Lifetime

Last week, on America’s Next Top Model, the girls raced around Sydney on go-sees, and Brittany’s temper got the best of her when she was disqualified. At the photo shoot, the girls needed to sell their look to men and women, and although Brittany looked great in front of the camera, her presence in front of the judges failed her and she was sent home. We’re down to four, so let’s see which one gets the axe tonight!

It’s night, and the girls return to their apartment, where Tyra mail is waiting for them. It says that some girls believe they are born to win this competition, but only one will have the heart, soul, and spirit to actually win. Dionne doesn’t feel like figuring out what the whole thing means, so she goes to bed, but not before reflecting on being in the bottom two and how the judges think she scowls all the time.

Renee talks with the other girls and wonders if they thought Brittany was going home that night. Jaslene says she had no clue until panel started. Renee adds that you know you might be going when the judges don’t have anything to say right away when your photo is shown – that’s a hint.

The next morning, Natasha is basically having phone sex with her husband, moaning and moaning. Renee thinks that Natasha is weird, but Natasha says that all the girls are into her behavior and are intimidated by her because her look is so strong. I still love Natasha even though she really is in her own world.

We see the girls walking through the forest and saying how cold it is. Jaslene can’t believe that Natasha is wearing wedge heels and walking on rocks. They meet up with a man called Uncle Max and his niece, Calita, who tells the girls that they will be learning how the Aborigines tell stories through dance. Renee comments that she knows models tell stories through their pictures and runway, and Dionne acts like she knows what is going on, but I don’t believe so.

The challenge is to create a story that defines them with body paint, dresses, and dance. There will be young girls from the community who will be there to listen, as well as that chick from Seventeen magazine who we met earlier in the season, who will be judging them. With that, the girls are given 15 minutes to get their stories and wardrobe in order.

Even though she is freezing, Renee goes first. She tells a story of her brother and sisters, staying unified and basically staying away from danger. I have to say, it actually makes sense and has a pretty good message.

Jaslene is up second and her story is about how badly she wants to be a model. She talks about being misled and the pain she had as a little girl, but it really doesn’t make much sense. She also gives no movement.

Dionne says in makeup that she really doesn’t want to do the whole dance thing, adding “Tell what story? What do you want to hear?” I love it! She says she’ll make it fast, and tells the group a story of her mom being shot at when she was little. It’s about her life, modeling, and her daughter. It’s quick and to the point, but I like it more than Jaslene’s story!

Out comes Natasha. She speaks very quietly and explains that’s so that people pay attention to her. Dionne can’t hear a thing though, and Renee agrees. I hear a few things, and she needs subtitles. Renee feels that Natasha is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Before you know it, Natasha’s story is over and she tells the camera that hers was better than the other girls’ since she used the trees and was barefoot. If you say so, Natasha!

Seventeen” lady gets the girls together and says that she wanted to pick a girl who the readers of the magazine could connect with. Therefore, the winner is Renee, who she deems the most relatable. She can pick a friend for a special prize, and she chooses Jaslene, since she gets along with her the most.

Once the girls are home, there is a gentleman from Autore Pearls waiting for them. He’s gives Renee and Jaslene pearls, and they are amazed. Jaslene has never seen anything like them and they can’t believe they are so lucky. Dionne just wishes she had tried harder. She really wants to just go out and have some fun.

All the girls decide to go out for the night. Well, except for Natasha, who is feeling ill. Once at the club, though, the trash talking begins. Jaslene is happy that Natasha didn’t go out because Jaslene finds her annoying, but when Renee says they need to get Natasha eliminated, Jaslene disagrees, saying it’s not her time. Dionne wants her out as well. Then Renee questions why they have never seen pictures of Natasha’s husband or child. She feels Natasha is lying.

Natasha is in bed at home, saying that she knows she is the center of every conversation with the other girls, and that they are only nice to her face. She won’t let them get into her head.

Tyra mail says “Sorry girls, you’re history!” Nobody feels like staying up to figure the clue out, so they all head to bed.

In the morning, the girls get ready to leave, and Natasha is still sick with a fever. However, she knows the pressure is on and has to rock it out. I’m already a little worried for her.

Jay greets the girls and tells them that this week, they will be assigned a story to act out in their photos. Dionne just hopes that they aren’t going to have to dance again, but the girls soon learn that there will be dancing. Dionne is annoyed.

While the girls are in hair and makeup, Natasha says she is still sick. At this point, the girls are learning their dance. Jaslene is the first to go this week for her photo shoot.

Jaslene learns her dance, which is like the chicken dance. She looks great during the shoot and Jay gives her some advice on her look. He loves that she has picked it up and not only is she doing the dance in the photos, but she is adding her own interpretation to it.

Dionne is next. Her dance portrays her as a food gatherer. She knows that she can’t make mean faces. She does her thing even though the whole time Jay says, “Give more in the face!” She’s trying to work it, and does get the shot eventually, but Jay doesn’t like that he had to coach her though the whole thing.

Here comes Natasha! She is learning the dance of the Wiggly Wag Tail Bird. She says that she is sick again, and as she is having her photos taken, she is coughs a lot. You can tell she is miserable, which doesn’t make Jay happy. He tells her to push it away, and she says that she just wants to lie in bed. Jay goes as far as to tell her that her shoot looks very weak and is not working at all. Yikes!

Renee closes out the photo shoot this week and she is the flight of the butterfly. She knows that she can work with the dance in her poses and Jay is really digging her and the way she is experimenting. She thinks it went well and impressed the judges. I agree – she looks great!

Once the girls get home, they have Tyra mail waiting that says someone is going home tomorrow. Natasha asks the others if they have any ideas on what is going to happen tomorrow, and Renee says that they will be meeting with the judges and someone is going home. Ha! Natasha tells the camera that she is happy with her photo even though she was sick and knows she did well. Renee just hopes that Natasha doesn’t use her sickness as an excuse, since the judges will eat her alive.

Time for panel! The girls are reminded of the prizes and introduced to the judges, including the guest judge, Seventeen magazine chick, Carissa Rosenberg.

Dionne is up first and her photo is shown right away. Tyra likes the it, but Carissa wants to see more in Dionne’s eyes. Tyra says that in her photos she went from mean to super happy and really needs a middle ground. Jay Manuel said that she was frustrating to work with and needed too much coaching. Now it’s time for a test! Tyra asks her who has the most potential, and Dionne says Jaslene, since she’s so nice and has a great look. Who has the least amount of potential? She feels it’s Natasha, because something is missing about her.

Jaslene is up next. Her shot is great, but Nigel wants a different face from her. He says she has to figure out her look. Who does she think has the most potential? She says it’s her, since she wants this so bad. The least? Natasha. She respects her, but she’s coming off as phony.

Renee comes forward and the judges look at her prize for winning the challenge. Her photo gets rave reviews. She did the most posing, according to Tyra. She feels she has the most potential of all the girls because she is doing this for her family. As for the least, she also names Natasha. Renee thinks she is lacking personality and is playing games.

Natasha is last this week. When the judges see her photo, they don’t think she is connecting and want more face. Tyra says her film this week was terrible, and even though she was sick and tired, it doesn’t matter since she still looked so confused. As for who has the most potential, Natasha thinks it’s her because she has the features. Twiggy interrupts and says she can’t believe the other girls think she has the least potential. Natasha says she is always being talked about, and that’s always better than for nobody to notice you. She’s not asked who has the least amount of potential, so that’s that!

In the holding room, while the judges are deliberating, Natasha says there are no hard feelings, but she isn’t fake. Jaslene gets heated and tells Natasha that they were simply voicing their opinions, then makes it clear that she isn’t jealous of Natasha, nor does she see her as a threat.

Here’s what the judges had to say during deliberations:

Twiggy feels that Dionne is the weakest of the girls as a whole, but it was her best photo this week. She’s not a top model to Carissa, and Tyra can’t believe that Dionne didn’t say that she had the most potential of the group.

Jaslene always takes great photos, but has the same look. They like that she feels this is her life, and they adore her drive, but Tyra fears that if she doesn’t win this competition, she might stalk Ms. J. I doubt Jaslene is that crazy.

Renee looks great and she’s pretty, but Nigel doesn’t think she is the youngest or freshest face. Tyra adds that they once had an intervention at the house because everyone was hating her, but now they are all ganging up on Natasha.

Speaking of Natasha, Twiggy loves her and thinks she did great with the negativity the other girls had towards her. Tyra thinks that she was ganged up on, but has to say her photo was terrible this week.

The final four come back to see the panel, and Tyra says that there are four there, but she only has three photos. The first name called is – Renee! Tyra loves that she has the drive to win. The second girl called is Jaslene. She’s shocked and thought that she would be in the bottom two since she needs to show expressions. They really feel she has heart.

Dionne and Natasha step forward. The girl not called will be sent home. Dionne is told that she started rough, but got better and better. However, the judges feel like her ascent is very slow and rigid, and the judges are worried that she’s the only girl who didn’t say she had the most potential of the group.

As for Natasha, she started off awful. The judges saw her face and personality though, and she got better and better each week. However, this week, she got sick and her photo was dreadful. However, being sick is the oldest excuse in the book, and since the other girls are always with one another, Tyra says that sometimes they rely on them and what they say about each other. That’s bullsh**, and I don’t even care for one of these girls over the other! Tyra wonders if there really IS something fake about Natasha.

The final photo goes to – Natasha, since Tyra thinks the other girls are just jealous. Natasha gives Dionne a hug, which isn’t returned. Tyra tells Natasha that this isn’t about taking one bad photo and going home. Really? Then why were A.J. and Brooke sent home after one bad photo last Cycle? She says that Natasha’s body of work was better than Dionne’s, and even if she’s sick next time, there won’t be any more excuses.

Dionne gives Tyra a half hearted hug. Tyra tells her that she needs to take the training wheels off. She hugs the other girls – even Natasha. She’s disappointed and knows she could have done better, even though she did try. Dionne says she is tired but will miss getting glammed up everyday. She’s mad she failed but grateful that she had the chance to do something different. She’s proud of herself. Ehh, I saw it coming.

Next week, it’s time for the final three to strut their stuff and do the Cover Girl photo shoot! The final two will work a fashion show, and one girl will win the title of America’s Next Top Model! How do I think it will work out? This is how I see it:

1. Jaslene
2. Natasha
3. Renee

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.