Stomping to the Win

Last week on “America’s Next Top Model:” Paulina took the four remaining girls to a samba lesson and then made them samba. Celia won for faking the best. Tyra took the girls into the jungle for a bird photoshoot. She and Mr. Jay were nearly attacked by the world’s largest moth. In the end, Celia was sent home, leaving Aminat, Teyona and Allison to battle it out for the dubious honor of “America’s Next Top Model.” Who wins the kit-n-caboodle? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

SAO PAOLO! TYRA MAIL! “Be on point tomorrow or you can kiss this competition good-bye.” Aminat discovers scripts and the girls get excited for their Cover Girl commercial. Aminat says she’s nervous as she’s the underdog. She and Teyona practice, loudly,in the bathroom. Allison crawls under her covers and studies, looking lonely now that BFF Celia is gone.

The final three meet Mr. Jay. It’s the commercial/photoshoot standard! And the winner’s print ad will be in Wal-Mart. He introduces last cycle’s winner McKey, who mumbles about the lipstick they’ll be shilling. The girls hit hair and make-up. McKey talks more about the lipstick as Aminat is up first. She reminds us she has no room for mistakes. Mr. Jay tells her to be expressive. Mr. Jay and Elyssa watch her and give each other looks. I don’t think those were good looks. Aminat heads to her shoot with Jim de Yonker.

Allison is the second one up. She’s nervous because she bombed the last Cover Girl commercial. But to be fair…so did everyone else. She starts and forgets her lines. She just blanked in front of the camera. Mr. Jay calms her down and she gets through the commercial. Jim de Yonker loves Allison’s look.

Teyona is the last one. She trips over the script, unlike Allison who just blanked. Mr. Jay tries to slow her down and gets her to sing the song she made up to memorize the script. She forgets that too and has a near melt-down. Never mind, she has a meltdown as we head into commercials.

SAO PAOLO! Teyona cries as she knows it’s her nerves. She nails the shoot later and Mr. Jay sends her to Jim de Yonker for her photoshoot. He loved all the girls!

TYRA MAIL! Someone’s going home. Allison and Teyona, Allison and Teyona. Please, Tyra, I’m still not sure why Aminat is there! The girls are nervous. Teyona continues crying in confession while Allison hits the hay.

Morning comes to Sao Paolo and the girls report to panel. I love Allison’s outfit. Tyra informs them the final two will be walking in a Rosa Cha fashion show, with the creative director of said line as their guest judge. Holy crap, kill Ms. J’s tie! Teyona goes up first. At least they don’t show her crying, but they show her tripping over her lines. The judges note she was nervous and Tyra tells her how to cover it up. They love her picture. Allison follows Teyona and is much better than Teyona’s. The judges aren’t too thrilled with her pacing, but Paulina loves her voice. Tyra says that Allison is not just high fashion, but commercial. Aminat finishes this panel. Nigel golf claps and Tyra praises her commercial. But her film didn’t impress them. Tyra doesn’t think Aminat can harness her potential. Time for deliberation! Teyona and Allison, Teyona and Allison.

Time for SPEAK UP MCKEY! It’s her swan song. And she mumbles about living her dreams.

SAO PAOLO! The judges deliberate. Teyona: Love photoshoot, hate commercial. Paulina calls her one-dimensional. They talk about carrying oneself and proportions when it comes to Allison. Tyra thinks Aminat is still in her head. ELIMINATION! Allison is the first called and in the final two. Oh my god, for a girl I had to prep myself for every episode because I thought she’d go home, I’m so proud of her. Teyona and Aminat come forward. Aminat: “The Body,” but got stronger as the competition progressed. She had the strongest commercial. Teyona: “Edgy Beauty,” she had great pictures—she had three weeks of best picture (so did Allison, BTW). But the commercial was a disaster. And I called it! Final two: Allison and Teyona! Tyra tells Teyona that she worked hard and deserves to be there. Then she hugs Aminat and tells her to relax and be strong. Aminat says her good-byes.

She is grateful for her time on the show and promises to keep modeling. 

Still in the Running: 

Celia

Aminat

Tahlia

Kortnie

Isabella

Nijah

Allison

London

Sandra

Natalie

Fo

Jessica

Teyona

Teyona and Allison go to meet with Ann Shoket to take their possible front cover pictures for Seventeen Magazine. Allison says it feels insane she is in the top two. Teyona says it feels amazing. Ann calls the competition tight.

The Brazil Bus brings Allison and Teyona to meet Mr. Jay to prep for their runway. They go to a musical school/home of Brazil’s orchestra. They hit hair and makeup—look, there’s McKey. Hey, are they giving the girls the same girls they had to model a few photoshoots back? Teyona has purple while Allison has pink. She talks to McKey, saying she’s trying not to psyche herself out. Tyra comes to encourage Allison and Teyona. Tyra mentions the “Brazilian Stomp.” Teyona also preps herself.

Okay, I’m a little worried for Allison as the catwalk—not her strong suit.

SAO PAOLO! Say hi to Fernanda Motta, hot of Brazil’s Next Top Model and a guest judge. Allison is a little nervous because it’s swim suit. Teyona tries to remain calm. Look, an actual audience. The panel begins, with the Capoeira fighters following. Mr. Jay cues the music and McKey opens the show. Teyona flaunts her feathers. Maiera, winner of Brazil’s Next Top Model 2, is also in the show. Allison follows and the panel thinks she looks awesome. Her walk has improved! Time for the second go-around. They shove Teyona and Allison in an elevator with Anda. Teyona informs us they will be samba dancing down the aisle. Teyona goes down while Allison fakes it down the runway. Tyra thinks it was cute. What is Ms. J doing? Final trip time! They are covered in mud and Mr. Jay threatens to beat anyone who touches him. Teyon, Allison, give him a big hug when you are done! The models crawl down the runway and I don’t know what they are doing. Allison accurately calls it “performance art” while Teyona loses her weave. But she works it. The panel is impressed.

Tyra calls the girls “amazing.” She sends them to get clean and some more hair. And she says she’ll see them to crown America’s Next Top Model.

FINAL PANEL! They are still in their bikinis. Prizes: A contract with Elite Modeling, six page spread and cover of Seventeen Magazine, and a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl. Tyra starts with the fashion show and with Allison. They were surprised that Allison did so well as they thought the same I did. Teyona is next. They think she has a good walk but needs to work on her movements. Photoshoots! They start with week 2, self-lighting. Paulina thinks Allison’s was stronger. She is praised for knowing the lighting and her look. But Tyra likes Teyona’s pose. They go to the color shot—oh, Teyona was yellow not purple. Most of the panel prefers Teyona’s photo over Allison. In the Ciara shot, the girls get praised. They follow that with Carmen Miranda photoshoot. Tyra loves Teyona’s take on Carmen Miranda. Paulina calls Allison a “50’s pin up.” They finish with the bird photoshoot. Tyra loved shooting Allison. They think Teyona was good but it could’ve had more.

Ann Shoket was right, this is close. Someone call for a pizza, the panel’s going to need some time.

Top Models in Action! Cycle 10’s Fatima is up next. She has been on covers and done numerous photo shoots. Yay, Fatima.

We get back to panel. They were really surprised by Allison. Tyra loved Allison playing along with Ms. J, while Teyona gave Tyra chills during the mud-wrestling thing. Ms. J thinks Teyona wants it more but that Allison will go further. Paulina thinks that Allison has come the furthest. Paulina isn’t sure about Teyona’s personality but Nigel thinks she deserves to be there. She has been consistent.

It’s Judgment Day. Tyra calls them strong but that someone had a little something more. America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 winner is Teyona! Allison gives her a hug. Tyra follows. She says Teyona worked hard and the judges took notice. She then goes to comfort Allison. Tyra says that Allison had a transformation and is no longer the weird girl. Allison says she wanted it and is disappointed but is proud she made it this far. Ms. J sends Teyona to do a photoshoot with Tyra and Nigel. Mr. Jay gives her a hug. Tyra blathers on about how she discovered Teyona.

America’s Next Top Model: Teyona!

Anyone surprised by the final two? The eventual winner? I must admit, though I was a huge fan of Allison, I’m not upset that Teyona won. We’ll see Allison again. I know it.

So, that was Cycle 12! See you all again for Cycle 13 coming this September. And keep an eye on my blog for other recaps and reviews!