America's Next Top Recap: Photo Oops

Last week I wrote that, out of the final four ladies still in the running towards becoming "America's Next Top Model", Dominique (pictured, right with Nigel) was most likely to have a meltdown and be eliminated.

Though she didn't get into a completely non-sensical fight with one of her fellow competitors, the only "crazy" we got out of Dominique was her referring to herself in the third person a few times (nothing new), delusionally thinking her place in the finals was secure and (here was the BIG shocker) the revelation that she constantly sneak-binges on candy.

Even though she kept her crazy in check, it wasn't enough to propel Dominque into the finals after doing a considerably worse job than usual covering up her tranny features. Let's be honest: the judges were just waiting to see whether Dom or Whitney would mess up more so they could kick the tranny or the plus-size girl, respectively, out of the finals.

Since the first 15 minutes of the episode were unbelievably dull, you don't mind if I skip ahead to the challenge do you? Ok, here's my quick recap of the first 15 minutes of the episode — (insert sounds of each of the girls saying clichéd things about working hard and making it to the finals.) We also had Whitney fretting being in the bottom two for two straight weeks (a legit concern), Anya spacily blabbing on about something (as she usually does) and Fatima becoming more insufferable (where did this annoying ego trip come from?) Those three also decided that Dominique needed to be kept out of the bottom three because she didn't look like a model — and ate too much candy.

Anyway, I snapped back awake when the girls were strolling in a lovely Italian park and ran into Paulina (quickly becoming my favorite thing about this cycle) posing for a photographer named Francesco. Francesco taught the girls about photography and composition, and the final four photographed each other. This was also sort of boring, except for the part where Dominique tried telling Fatima what to do, and Fatima came back at her with some 'tude.

The challenge was for each of the girls to direct and photograph Paulina during a 5-minute shoot. I actually thought the whole models-as-photographers thing was a great idea, and the Paulina shoot was a highlight of the episode. I like that, even though she's a judge, Paulina dutifully played along, easily accepted direction (no matter how misguided) and didn't bust anybody's chops.

Fatima went first and she was very concise, focused and professional. Dominique followed, and she was, predictably, all over the place. Whitney guided Paulina with a firm, but welcoming hand and had a strong concept in mind. Finally, since Anya went last, she had the most time to think about her shoot and came up with — Paulina throwing a bunch of leaves in the air. Too bad you couldn't even see Paulina's face in that picture.

Though I was rooting for Whitney, Fatima won the challenge (she DID have a wider variety of shots) and an extra 50 frames for the week's photo shoot.

I actually cheated a bit and looked at the episode description before the show started and saw they'd be posing as "50's Movie Icons". I thought it was awesome that they'd be posing as glamorous movie stars of yesteryear (Anya as Marilyn Monroe, anyone?)

Instead, "noted and sexy" Nigel showed up to shoot girls, who were pretending to be actresses caught off-guard by the paparazzi while they were out on the town with their boyfriends. I thought my idea was cooler.

I especially believed that after watching the final four completely bomb the photo shoot before next week's final.

Anya, looking like 1992 Madonna instead of Marilyn Monroe, lucked into the best shot of the week after Mr. Jay distracted her while Nigel was shooting. Whitney and Fatima appeared to forgo the "surprised" part of "surprised by paparazzi" and instead went for sultry and smiley, respectively. Whitney's shot was deemed beautiful, but not sexy enough by the panel (after being told to tone down the hoochie last week), while Fatima, who mostly wasted her extra 50 frames, was too Cover Girly. Personally, I thought the prop male models outshone the girls in each of the shots.

In the end, the panel sent Dominique home after she produced, arguably, her most tran-tastic shot to date. Tyra/Tyrone gave her a quick lesson on how to soften her look at panel, but it was too late to save Dominique and her hopelessly un-modely outfits she insisted on wearing at judging panel.

Although Dominique didn't break down after being eliminated, and she was such a pain in the ass early in the season, I was a little surprised by how bad I felt after she was kicked off. I mean, she was never going to win, but there was no denying the girl really wanted it, and she lasted longer than she should've given the fact that the judges relentlessly mocked her to her face and behind her back.

It probably also had something to do with how annoying and conceited Fatima has become. I found myself wishing they'd sent her home instead. Instead, I think she's going to triumph next week over Whitney (after Anya bombs her Cover Girl commercial and gets kicked off).

So what'd you think of this episode? Were you more let down by the lameness of the challenge (and this cycle in general) or the girls' performances? Why didn't we hear about Dominique's candy addiction before? (Oh yeah, because it's not interesting.) Anybody else think Paulina was going to be wearing less than she was when she suggestively took off her trench coat? How did such a relatively lame season produce a surprisingly strong final 3? Finally, who do you have winning the whole thing next week?