|
|
America’s Next Top Model 7, Episode 7: Up, Up, And Away!by Phil Kural -- 11/09/2006
Two weeks ago, we saw the girls meet up with Dita Von Teese, who showed them how to get all kinds of sexy. Then, the girls put that sexiness to the test during their challenge where they walked on a table. Yeah, I still don’t understand. Anyway, Anchal struggled more with her self esteem and the girls did a photo shoot with Fabio. It was Brooke who couldn’t conquer her inhibitions though, and in the end, she was sent home. We’re down to seven, so let’s see who’s leaving us this week. 
The girls arrive home after Brooke’s elimination. They find a letter that Brooke wrote to them and Jaeda tells the camera that nobody thought Brooke would be sent home and they will miss her. Melrose actually comments that Brooke was growing the most out of all them. The girls talk about being models someday, and Michelle mentions that she doesn’t know much about the industry and is just there to “try.” Melrose tells the camera that she wants to win this and it frustrates her to see girls who don’t want this hang around each week . Tyra Mail arrives and asks the girls if they could bump one girl out of the competition, who would it be? The next day the girls are on the beach, meeting Gabrielle Reese, a professional volleyball player who is an action model. Jaeda is already happy because she played volleyball in high school. They will be learning how to dive for the volleyball and make a pose that is “action worthy.” Anchal is already nervous, saying she isn’t a sporty person. Melrose is getting more irritated with Anchal because Anchal won’t get into her bikini, stating that models need to be ready for anything. Does Melrose think she is Tyra? Each of the girls gives it a try. MY CariDee says she felt awkward and isn’t sure how she did, while Eugena says that she played volleyball in high school and sat the bench. Jaeda actually does a great job and is happy that she knew how to do something for once. Amanda is another one who has trouble while Michelle thinks she is going to break. Of course, Anchal is so shy but actually does a good job. What is wrong with this girl? When they are finished, Eugena says that Anchal makes herself look like a big blob and more flabby since she can’t carry herself. Back at the house, Melrose says there are two sides to Anchal. There’s the timed Anchal and the outgoing one. Melrose is frustrated with Anchal’s attitude and her pictures. Anchal just feels that she has no friends, and even though she has tried to get along with Melrose, she keeps getting attitude and wants to slap her. Tyra Mail arrives and asks the girls if they will snap when the pressure is on. We see the girls arrive in the middle of nowhere, at a race track. James St. James, who has appeared during Cycle 5, is there to greet the girls. Eugena describes him as a gothic drag queen. He’s going to help the girls with their action photography, along with a racing star, whose name I didn’t even catch they flashed it so quickly. The girls get 10 minutes to get changed – oh, and they will be pushing a button and taking their own photos as they “attack” their racer-boyfriend. 
Eugena is up first, and seems to do pretty well. Melrose just does an okay job and Jaeda looks like she was made for this. MY CariDee looks straight up hot! In the background, we hear Melrose say that Anchal is too pretty for this. Seriously… as much as I hate to agree with Melrose, Anchal really does struggle with this. Even the racing boyfriend wants to know how badly she wants this. Michelle is the last girl to go and does an okay job to me, especially since she poked a hole in his car hood by standing on it with heels. So the girls rally up and are told that Michelle is the winner. She can choose three friends and she takes MY CariDee, Amanda, and Melrose. Jaeda is surprised that Melrose was picked since all the girls are irritated by her. The “winners” will get a chance at a $10,000 shopping spree. Anchal is sad since she hasn’t been picked for anything yet. The girls arrive at a store, where they are told that the four winners will have 30 seconds to run through the store, put on as much as they can, and the person with the most clothes on at the end will win ALL of the clothes the girls were able to put on. Jaeda comments that she hates having to watch this and would rather sit in the limo, as all the girls scurry through the store and scoop up as much as they can. At the end of 30 seconds, it turns out that Melrose has the most clothing with 13 pieces. She takes all the girls’ clothes and Eugena laughs to the camera saying that the other girls didn’t understand what was going on and Melrose walked away with everything. Melrose admits to being happy, but knows the other girls are seriously pissed at her. At the house, the girls are talking again. Anchal swims in the pool saying that she has no friends in the house and then proceeds to argue with Melrose. Yeah, because that will earn you friends. She feels she can’t talk to the girls and is too affected by them. Tyra Mail arrives again and says that the girls will defy stereotypes tomorrow. That sounds oddly familiar. Haven’t we had that shoot already this season? Looks like the girls are at an airport for this photo shoot and Jay Manuel is there to greet them. He says they’ll be taking part in an action photo shoot. Also, this is the girls’ first Cover Girl assignment for a new whipped foundation! Whoo hoo! The girls will portray a sexy space siren, while airborne in a skydiving simulator. This actually sounds pretty damn cool! The each go through hair and makeup and begin the shoot. Michelle is up first and admits that it’s too hard to stay balanced. Jay feels that she had a true lack of grace and that she might not have connected. Jaeda has the Cover Girl face and attitude according to her and although she is not graceful during her shoot, Jay thinks that the posing and this shoot might have actually saved her.
Amanda does her thing and we don’t see much, except for her saying that it was fun. Anchal and her boobs step up next. She catches the girls watching her during her shoot and admits that she hates when they look at her. Honey… you’re a model. Jay says, when Anchal is finished: “Anchal wasn’t graceful at all, as if that’s anything new.” Jay is such a bitch. Eugena works her face and knows that she has to nail it there. Melrose jumps right into the whole thing and although Jay was expecting her to knock it out of the park the way she always does, he finds her look to be blank, and her body is a bit too flat for him. Finally, we see MY CariDee just go in there and go balls to the wall. You can tell she is having fun and she is all over the place. Jay didn’t like that she didn’t follow directions, but he did enjoy her posing and commitment to the shoot. The girls get home and find some Tyra Mail waiting for them. Tomorrow they’ll meet with the judges and someone is going home. Melrose knows it’s going to be a hard panel but feels that she had a good photo. Anchal tells the camera that Melrose should go home because she’s a bitch. That’s not a good enough reason on this show, Anchal. Usually, the bitches hang around longer! Eugena just prays that her face isn’t jacked up. I’m actually starting to like Eugena. It’s time for panel! The girls file in and greet the judges as usual, including Gabrielle Reece, the volleyball modeling lady. Of course, they are reminded of the prizes. Now, it’s time for individual evaluations. Eugena is first, and her test this week will be to take a verb and an adverb, then act them out. She gets “shake flirtatiously.” Here is what the other girls got:
As you can imagine, this was designed to embarrass the girls and make the judges laugh – and it works. The girls are all over the place. I will say that MY CariDee does a great job and although Jaeda is a mess, she works it out. It’s clear that Michelle and Anchal aren’t really trying, and we see Anchal actually bolt out of the room when she’s finished. The funniest has to be Melrose though, who thought the “box” in “box joyfully” meant to put yourself in a box, like doing a vogue, instead of the sport of boxing. MY CariDee has the judges laughing their butts off though, so that’s always good! The first girl to face the judges is Eugena. Twiggy says that her actions came off as half hearted, and when they look at her photo, Tyra compares her to Naomi Campbell. Nigel likes her shot though, but feels she could have had more magic.
Amanda is up next and Tyra says that although her actions weren’t great, she committed – and that’s all they ask. Her picture is viewed as “pretty” but the judges feel her body is too thin for what they were doing. Jaeda steps forward next and she’s another girl who is praised for not giving up. However, she wasn’t too sensual. Her photo is compared to an “old Michael Jackson” face according to Tyra. Anchal is the next victim – I mean – model. Tyra tells her that they know she wants to be a model, but when she is tested and feels uncomfortable, she just gives up and gets embarrassed. Tyra says it was the strangest exit on the show besides Jade’s departure last season. They continue to lecture her, then tell her that her photo was great in the face, but they don’t feel she is graceful in person. At least, that’s what Jay Manuel said. Of course, when it’s Melrose’s turn, they make fun of her for not knowing what “box” meant. Even she admits that she realized it while walking out. They love her photo this week and it reaffirmed Tyra’s thought that a good shot really could be taken. MY CariDee steps forward and the judges applaud her actions during the test. They also feel her photo was great but she was out of control according to Jay and needs to listen. Finally, we have Michelle. Nigel tells her that her actions were frightful and she chickened out. Tyra says that the way she just didn’t care to do it reminds her of all the girls that didn’t make the finals and would kill to be there. However, she won the challenge and deserves to be congratulated. Her shot is accepted by the judges, but Tyra once again says that she looks like a young Michael Jackson. Nigel likes it though and on that note, it’s time for the judges to deliberate. Here is what they say about each girl:
The girls walk back into the room. Tyra tells them that she has seven girls in front of her, but only six photos. The first girl she calls this week is MY CariDee! She is followed by Melrose and then Jaeda, who is told that her picture this week was crappy, but she was called third because she really committed. Amanda is called next and then Eugena, who was saved because she worked the challenge this week. Eugena actually smiles and has fun with it all. I like the new Eugena! Michelle and Anchal step forward. Only one photo left and only one girl can stay. The other girl has to hitchhike home. Anchal is told that she started out with a face that was so beautiful. However, if she doesn’t believe how beautiful she is, it’s not going to work. She has to “fake it until she makes it.” Tyra wants her to show up strong. Michelle is told that she has all the natural talent. Some girls have it and Michelle is one of them. However, Tyra says that even if she doesn’t want this, she has a gift and has to show that she wants to use it. With that, the final photo is given too… Michelle! Tyra tells her to show her talent and not goof and laugh her way through the competition. Anchal thanks Tyra for the opportunity and gives her a hug. Then she hugs the other girls, exchanging a playful “I still hate you” with Melrose, as she heads out of the room. Back at the apartment, she says she’s disappointed that she didn’t give it her all in a way, but she expected to go home. She admits to being self conscious, but that God has bigger and better plans in store for her. She can’t believe she made it so far and is stepping away with some real life lessons.
Wow – even until the end, Anchal doubted herself. It’s a shame, really, since she is so beautiful and can totally work her face in pictures. I don’t think it will be the last we see of her. Oh, and next week, the girls will be losing their inhibitions at an acting class. That should be interesting! Also, it’s time for the girls to “pack their bags” because they will be going on a trip of a lifetime. I’m thinking it’s Spain, but we’ll have to wait and see. Here’s how I see things going down next week. Sorry Jaeda, but your time is finally up! MY CariDee Melrose Michelle Amanda 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. Be sure to sign up for our e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on the site! And take a look at the rest of the site. You can find all of our recent articles on this show at our America’s Next Top Model page and take a look at our sections on The Apprentice and Survivor. You can even buy reality show stuff at our Reality TV Store! For more news about America’s Next Top Model, be sure to check out SirLinksALot: America’s Next Top Model! |