Well that cleared up nothing.
Near the end of this episode, Tyra directly addressed what has been a major criticism for this 5’7” and under cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” – namely the fact that many of the challenges seemed geared toward making the girls look taller. Basically, Tyra reiterated that it is crucial for the petite models to be able to photograph and walk down a runway as if they are bigger than they really are in order for them to survive in the modeling world.
Fair enough. However, what happened to all of the rhetoric from the season premiere about how Tyra was trying to revolutionize the modeling industry and redefine what is considered beautiful? Again, I get what Tyra is saying, but trying to make these short girls look like their taller counterparts is kind of pointless. I mean, if someone wanted to hire a model that looks tall, wouldn’t they just hire someone who’s actually tall, rather than someone who has to place their leg in a certain place or elongate their neck at a certain angle? By trying to make these girls like everyone else, it seems like Tyra is homogenizing rather than revolutionizing. Oh well.
I spent two decent-sized paragraphs on that topic because nothing much really happened in this episode.
The girls got their annual runway walking lesson from Miss J and what appeared to be a Mini-J (pictured, right. It turns out that was pint-size runway extraordinaire Diva Davanna). None of the girls really had a disastrous walk (too bad for us at home). Lulu stubbornly (and inexplicably) refused to alter her short-step approach, while Miss J admired Brittany’s sexy walk.
I don’t know if Lulu saw the footage of Miss J’s compliment or not, but she and Ashley spent WAY too much of this episode criticizing basically every aspect of Brittany. From the editing, it played out like a sequel to “Mean Girls” with Ashley starring as the Queen Bee, and Lulu playing a combination of all the sidekicks.
But they weren’t done there. The two later turned their attention on Bianca, speaking derisively about her behind her back. Obviously, I’m no Bianca fan, but the whole thing was so off-putting that it almost made me feel bad for her. (Emphasis on ALMOST.) Fortunately, Bianca found an ally of sorts in Nicole, who disapproved of the Mean Girls’ gossiping ways and actually got Bianca to open up about why she’s so harsh with people. I wouldn’t exactly say I like Bianca now (in fact, I still strongly dislike her), but I would definitely say I like Nicole a LOT more for not other reason that she’s a free thinker.
The week’s challenge paired our petites with 5’10” models side-by-side during a runway show. Again, there was nothing much to report here. Pretty much all of the girls acquitted themselves nicely, except for Lulu who had very low-energy showing (it was painfully obvious she was going home last night). It was also here that I really noticed that, although Sundai is a very sweet and likable girl, she’s absolutely not a runway model. Sorry. Brittany won the challenge and brought Wal-Mart aisle walker Laura (second shout-out in a row for Wal-Mart) and Kara along for a photo shoot.
The week’s photo shoot was also pretty generic. Basically the girls were sent to an artfully shabby basement and tasked with using the props around the set to make themselves look tall.
Though Kara’s picture was hot like fire and deserved the win, if the challenge was to make oneself look taller, I would’ve given the prize to Nicole (who looked about eight feet tall). I also thought Erin’s photo was pretty strong, as was Jennifer’s. The rest of the girls were somewhat unremarkable with the worst pictures coming courtesy of Brittany (she looked pretty, but unfortunately managed to make herself look four feet tall), and Lulu who showed little imagination and spark in her picture.
Those two ended up on the chopping block and Tyra kicked out Lulu. (After all, Brittany was at least “smizing” in her photo – I knew we hadn’t heard the last of that.) Either way, Lulu is gone and Ashley is now left to criticize people without the benefit of having an overeager sycophant to agree with her harsh critiques.
So what’d you think of this episode? Did anyone else think guest judge Jaime Rishar was terrific and should become a permanent part of panel? (She gave helpful and specific advice to her fellow petites.) Could Laura be any (unintentionally) funnier? Finally, do you agree with what Tyra is trying to do with these girls, or are you a little let down with the direction this cycle has taken?
Near the end of this episode, Tyra directly addressed what has been a major criticism for this 5’7” and under cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” – namely the fact that many of the challenges seemed geared toward making the girls look taller. Basically, Tyra reiterated that it is crucial for the petite models to be able to photograph and walk down a runway as if they are bigger than they really are in order for them to survive in the modeling world.
Fair enough. However, what happened to all of the rhetoric from the season premiere about how Tyra was trying to revolutionize the modeling industry and redefine what is considered beautiful? Again, I get what Tyra is saying, but trying to make these short girls look like their taller counterparts is kind of pointless. I mean, if someone wanted to hire a model that looks tall, wouldn’t they just hire someone who’s actually tall, rather than someone who has to place their leg in a certain place or elongate their neck at a certain angle? By trying to make these girls like everyone else, it seems like Tyra is homogenizing rather than revolutionizing. Oh well.
I spent two decent-sized paragraphs on that topic because nothing much really happened in this episode.
The girls got their annual runway walking lesson from Miss J and what appeared to be a Mini-J (pictured, right. It turns out that was pint-size runway extraordinaire Diva Davanna). None of the girls really had a disastrous walk (too bad for us at home). Lulu stubbornly (and inexplicably) refused to alter her short-step approach, while Miss J admired Brittany’s sexy walk.
I don’t know if Lulu saw the footage of Miss J’s compliment or not, but she and Ashley spent WAY too much of this episode criticizing basically every aspect of Brittany. From the editing, it played out like a sequel to “Mean Girls” with Ashley starring as the Queen Bee, and Lulu playing a combination of all the sidekicks.
But they weren’t done there. The two later turned their attention on Bianca, speaking derisively about her behind her back. Obviously, I’m no Bianca fan, but the whole thing was so off-putting that it almost made me feel bad for her. (Emphasis on ALMOST.) Fortunately, Bianca found an ally of sorts in Nicole, who disapproved of the Mean Girls’ gossiping ways and actually got Bianca to open up about why she’s so harsh with people. I wouldn’t exactly say I like Bianca now (in fact, I still strongly dislike her), but I would definitely say I like Nicole a LOT more for not other reason that she’s a free thinker.
The week’s challenge paired our petites with 5’10” models side-by-side during a runway show. Again, there was nothing much to report here. Pretty much all of the girls acquitted themselves nicely, except for Lulu who had very low-energy showing (it was painfully obvious she was going home last night). It was also here that I really noticed that, although Sundai is a very sweet and likable girl, she’s absolutely not a runway model. Sorry. Brittany won the challenge and brought Wal-Mart aisle walker Laura (second shout-out in a row for Wal-Mart) and Kara along for a photo shoot.
The week’s photo shoot was also pretty generic. Basically the girls were sent to an artfully shabby basement and tasked with using the props around the set to make themselves look tall.
Though Kara’s picture was hot like fire and deserved the win, if the challenge was to make oneself look taller, I would’ve given the prize to Nicole (who looked about eight feet tall). I also thought Erin’s photo was pretty strong, as was Jennifer’s. The rest of the girls were somewhat unremarkable with the worst pictures coming courtesy of Brittany (she looked pretty, but unfortunately managed to make herself look four feet tall), and Lulu who showed little imagination and spark in her picture.
Those two ended up on the chopping block and Tyra kicked out Lulu. (After all, Brittany was at least “smizing” in her photo – I knew we hadn’t heard the last of that.) Either way, Lulu is gone and Ashley is now left to criticize people without the benefit of having an overeager sycophant to agree with her harsh critiques.
So what’d you think of this episode? Did anyone else think guest judge Jaime Rishar was terrific and should become a permanent part of panel? (She gave helpful and specific advice to her fellow petites.) Could Laura be any (unintentionally) funnier? Finally, do you agree with what Tyra is trying to do with these girls, or are you a little let down with the direction this cycle has taken?
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