America’s Next Top Model 7, Episode 6: The Fine Line Between Sexy and Sleazy

Okay, so last week, in the “shocking episode of the season,” we saw Michelle tell the other girls that she wasn’t sure if she was a lesbian or not. Meanwhile, her sister Amanda shut down to everything around her. A red carpet challenge with Janice Dickinson flustered most of the girls and at the photo shoot, but Melrose was stunning. However, it was A.J. that couldn’t hide her indifference, and when the judges felt she didn’t want to be there, her attitude sent her packing. We’re down to eight, so let’s see who gets the boot next!

We begin with the girls eating pizza. Eugena is in the confessional venting about the other girls: Jaeda never stops crying, MY CariDee can’t keep her clothes on, Melrose is a backstabbing bitch, Anchal is too insecure, etc. Coincidently, we hear from Anchal next, and she’s talking about her weight. Brooke is in the other room, opening a package she received from home, which has her diploma. Apparently, she missed graduation and prom to be on the show, but she admits that it’s a sacrifice that she made, and she’s happy that she is there.

The next day, Melrose walks outside to the backyard and finds photo shoot equipment set up. A woman, Elyssa, welcomes Melrose and says it’s time for a photo shoot. Out comes Tyra, who is the photographer! She tells Melrose that this is going to be a black and white photo and very edgy. Angry… almost evil. Each girl will get contacts as well, to illuminate their eyes. Melrose does her thing, as does Brooke.

Eugena gets some cat eyes, and Tyra thinks she got the shot on the first try. Michelle asks some questions, and Tyra loves it. Of course, Jaeda is complaining about her contacts and saying that she doesn’t like to look freaky. Shut up, Jaeda… I used to like you!

Amanda is a bit nervous, but Tyra has a little talk with her which seems to help. Here comes Anchal, who is already amazed that Tyra is directing her. MY CariDee is last, and she looks great! Tyra seems to love her, and I love it, too!

The girls get Tyra Mail which asks if they are ready to flaunt their assets. They pile into the limo and arrive at their destination. Out comes Sutan, their makeup artist, in drag. They are told that they will learn to be sexy, as they meet up with Dita Von Teese, a burlesque performer who is also married to Marilyn Manson. Brooke is already hoping that they won’t have to strip, since her dad will kill her. Honey, you already posed naked!

Dita tells the girls not to be sleazy, and to give a tease. Pop some hip, you know! Anchal is the first girl to start with her prop, a sunflower. She looks so insecure and Dita can tell. Michelle says she isn’t used to doing this kind of thing, but gets some tips. Melrose is a bit over the top, according to Anchal, while Eugena is admired for her body.

Jaeda is complaining about her hair as usual, saying that she feels naked without it. I wish this girl would seriously get over it. Amanda seems to do a good job, and Dita seems impressed. MY CariDee does her thing and even though she’s a little over the top, there’s no denying that she’s sexy. Brooke is up next and admits that she isn’t normally seductive, but she’s trying hard, even though she’s having a tough time. The girls finish up and are told that on their next shoot, they better think about how sexy they can be… and show off their best!

So the girls head home, where Jaeda is complaining about – guess what? If you said “hair,” you’re right! She felt that when she lost hair, she lost her personality. Eugena just wishes Jaeda would shut up about it, since she looks better. Amen, Eugena! She also tells the camera that she can’t wait for another girl to go so that she can be less confused. Tyra Mail arrives and references “mom,” so I’m already praying Tyra’s mom doesn’t show up. It also says that you’re supposed to keep your elbows off the table, but there’s nothing that says feet can’t be on.

The girls arrive at their next destination, where Cathy Gould, the director of Elite Management, is waiting for them. With her is Kylie Bax, a present-day supermodel. I’ve never heard of her. Apparently, there will be a private party that evening where the girls will need to walk on the table in sexy clothing and jewelry.

I’m not going to bore you with this challenge, since it really is probably the most boring challenge ever. Basically, they walk on a dinner table. Nobody falls, so it’s not very exciting. Anchal is conscious about her weight, but what else is new? The winner ends up being Melrose, who picks Brooke, Amanda, and Michelle to join her for a photo shoot for Seventeen. Whoop de doo! Melrose knows that this win will isolate her further from the other girls, but she doesn’t seem to care.

Everyone gets back to the house where more Tyra Mail is waiting. The whole thing is very sexy, dramatic, and sensual. The girls head to their shoot in the limo and meet up with Jay Manuel. He tells the girls that there is a fine line between sexy and sleazy, and for this shoot, they will be walking that line. They will each be on the cover of a romance novel, each drawing their cover from a different storyline.

The girls are assigned as follows:

• Jaeda – A Dracula scene
• Eugena – A secret lover caught in the act
• Michelle – The woman with a secret love child
• MY CariDee – The humble peasant in love with a rich man
• Melrose – A madam of a burlesque house
• Amanda – Leaving her man for another woman
• Anchal – Cleopatra (seriously, that’s all we get)
• Brooke – The desperate woman

The girls meet up with their photographer and find out that they will have a co-star in this photo as well. As they are getting ready in hair and makeup, Jay drags the girls out to meet their co-star. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking that this can’t get any cheesier, since they are on the cover of romance novels, but it has. Here comes Fabio to “help” the girls. That dashes Brooke’s high hopes of a “young, hot guy” coming on set. Eugena even comments that when she was little, she remembers seeing Fabio on all the covers of her mom’s romance novels.

MY CariDee goes first this week as the peasant, and Fabio really seems to like her. Even Jay comments that her shoot was “beyond orgasmic.” Amanda has some issues figuring out what she wants to do, and Fabio senses it, too, saying that she was fair, but he knows she was nervous.

Michelle tries to work with the baby that she has as her prop, but admits to being uncomfortable since she has never laid in a bed with a guy before. Anchal isn’t very engaging either, but even though she is being shy, she is working the body. Jay seems pleased and Fabio likes her, so I guess that’s all that matters!

Eugena, before her shoot, tells Jay that she has been a secret lover before. However, she doesn’t seem to draw on that since Jay feels she is only giving three quarters of a tank of gas. Jaeda struggles as well, seeming pretty limp during most of her shots, until Jay lights a fire beneath her and finally gets her to give some life.

Brooke is nervous and needs a good amount of direction. She feels like she is being forced to grow up. Fabio comments that she needs some time to mature and grow into being a model. Finally, we see Melrose be very mature as she basically jumps onto Fabio’s lap and begins her shoot. He doesn’t seem to mind, though, and when she’s finished, Jay says that he needs some cold water. Please, like that turned him on.

When the girls get home from their long day, Tyra Mail is waiting. They will meet with the judges tomorrow, and someone is going home. Brooke says that panel the next evening will be taking place the exact time her high school graduation is taking place, so it would suck if she was sent home. Meanwhile, Anchal says that she’s just hoping Cathy Gould isn’t the guest judge, since she knows that Cathy doesn’t like her body and will be rallying against her. Oh, Anchal – always the pessimist.

The girls strut into panel. Tyra welcomes them as usual, then reminds them of the prizes and introduces them to the judges, including Ms. J. and his “bird of paradise” hair that she’s sporting this week, and Cathy Gould. You know – Anchal’s best friend. First they will have their individual evaluations, and ironically, Anchal is up first!

The judges look at Anchal’s black-and-white photo that Tyra took first, and feel that it’s scary, but she rested on the makeup. For her photo with Fabio, she looks in control, but showed too much booty, according to Tyra. It’s borderline hoochie! I love it. Amanda steps up next and Twiggy loves her black-and-white photo. They judges don’t say much about her Fabio picture, so I’ll assume they didn’t have a problem with it.

MY CariDee is up next and they believe that she really is committing herself to the whole thing. They feel she looks great with Fabio and is showing a soft side that they had never seen from her before. Brooke steps forward and they feel her black-and-white photo is interesting – she really went for it. However, they feel she is dead in the eyes in her Fabio picture. Tyra says that Brooke has two personalities, and you can see them when comparing her photos this week.

Ms. J. says that Michelle’s black-and-white photo makes her look like a “man-eater,” and I’m instantly humming the Nelly Furtado song. If you haven’t heard it yet, you better download it! Tyra says that her Fabio picture was just okay, and really strayed from what they are used to seeing from her. Eugena is up next and the judges feel her eyes were great in the black-and-white photo. However, they don’t feel she is coming off very likeable and she’s showing that she doesn’t want to be there, like A.J. However, she worked her body in her shoot with Fabio, but once again, her face was dead.

Melrose won the challenge this week and the judges congratulate her. They like her black-and-white photo but know she is capable of more. However, her photo with Fabio is called the best of the week by Nigel. Finally, we have Jaeda. Her black-and-white photo is great, and she looks scary as hell. She knew she needed to step it up, but the judges feel that her photo with Fabio doesn’t show any character. They do feel she is trying, but she has to show them more.

Now the judges will deliberate. Here’s what they have to say about each of the girls:

• Twiggy feels that Brooke gets better and better every week, but Nigel think she is a pageant girl.
• Anchal is very exotic-looking, and her black-and-white photo is good, but she actually has “too much” going on and doesn’t know how to control it.
• Amanda isn’t a classic beauty, but she is rising in the ranks and she really broke out this week.
• Jaeda is a bit all over the place, and the judges don’t know what to do with her.
• MY CariDee really wants this, but tries too hard. There’s a difference between being eager and being desperate.
• Eugena really needs to work on the attitude because the judges really feel that she is being snotty towards them.
• Melrose can’t do freaky, and even though they are happy with her photo this week, she needs to show more edge.
• Michelle had a weak week, and the judges are frustrated with her and really want to see her bounce back.

One by one, the girls walk back into the judging room. Tyra has eight girls in front of her, but only seven photos, and the first girl getting her photo this week is Amanda! Tyra tells her that she was the most improved this week and really pushed through. Amanda is followed by MY CariDee, Anchal (who is told that she needs to work on her self-doubt), Melrose, and Jaeda, who Tyra tells that she needs to carry herself better and show that she has the confidence to win. Michelle is called next, and Tyra tells her that she doesn’t want to hear any more excuses. Michelle says that she won’t have any.

Brooke and Eugena now step up. There’s only one photo left, and the girl not called will need to pack her bags and hitchhike home. The two girls are standing in the bottom two for very different reasons. One girl has a great personality that the judges love, but the judges wonder if she is still in the competition because of her personality, or is it because she has potential? The other girl definitely has potential, but needs humility and respect. The final photo goes to… Eugena, who is told to start showing some humility, or her time will be cut short.

Brooke walks over to the other girls and gives them a hug, saying that she could have been at high school graduation. When she’s walking out, Tyra comments that she might have missed the ceremony, but she still graduated, and they believe in her. Then she gives Brooke a hug and sends her on her way. You know this was done on purpose. It pisses me off, and that’s the second week in a row that Eugena or Jaeda should have gone home and didn’t. Ridiculous. Brooke tells the camera that she didn’t see it coming, and gave up a lot to be there. She wouldn’t do it any differently and experienced so much. She’s going home as a grown-up, and not a high school senior.

Looks like the girls will have an action-packed week coming up, and there will be some high-flying action, not to mention that Anchal and Melrose will hit a new low! I can’t wait. However, I’m upset that Brooke, who was one of my favorites, was sent home. She didn’t deserve it. What’s up with the judges. First A.J., now Brooke? Eugena and Jaeda have long overstayed their welcome. I finally take Brooke out of my bottom two, and she’s sent home. Here’s how I see it going down next week:

MY CariDee
Melrose
Michelle
Amanda
Anchal
Eugena
Jaeda

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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