A side note to Entertainment Weekly: I love your magazine. Really, I do. I grab it out of the mail pile every Friday and read it cover to cover. And usually you guys are great about summarizing TV shows without giving much away. But did you realize that there was a two-hour finale? Because you revealed the final two when there were still four contenders in play! Tsk, tsk.
This past cycle: Thirteen girls braved Perez Hilton, runways of swinging pendulums, New York City, the chance of walking the plank, and earning the phrase “dreckitude” from new judge Andre Leon Talley. The final six flew to Auckland, New Zealand and then had to survive the possibility of being sacrificed to the volcano, sheep, Jessica’s attempts at cooking, crouching into Hobbit holes and Tyra herself. Angelea and Alexandra were JUST eliminated and now Raina and Krista will cute their way down an Anna Sui fashion show to be crowned America’s Next Top Model. Who will win? Find out now! But only if you’ve read the post directly below this first!
Wanna be on top?
Raina and Krista celebrate being the Top Two. Krista says she’s focused and she needs to beat Raina. Raina wonders about their Cover Girl commercial. She wanted to do it. She says she wants to win and her competitive spirit comes from playing volleyball which she put aside for modeling, her true passion. Krista mentions she’s tried out
TYRA MAIL! “One of you will rise aove the other to claim the title of America’s Next Top Model but right now you are flying on the same level. So pack an overnight bag.” Raina celebrates which Krista dubs as fake.
The girls go to catch a helicopter. They go to Hurakia Lodge for some pampering. They are greeted with champagne as Ms. J sashays in. Krista says she just wants to celebrate but the work starts right away. Ms. J says they are getting pampered so they are young and fresh for tomorrow’s Cover Girl commercial. He gives them their scripts and Raina is overjoyed. They study. Krista doesn’t want cue cards. Mr. Jay comes up making fun of Krista when she got her photo. He tells them they are filming their commercial and shooting a picture which will be used nationwide. Nicole from the last cycle comes back to give them some advice. The concept: the girls are getting ready for a night out on the town. They hit the make up booth and the poor stylists have to shill for it.
Raina goes to take her still photograph. Tony, the photographer, loved how Raina worked her eyes. Nicole goes to give Krista a pep talk. She then goes to film her commercial. She messes up a line and we see up to take 7. Mr. Jay threatens to use the cue cards.
Top Model Lounge! Bianca calls the cue cards the “kiss of death.” Laura says Krista’s psyching herself out.
We come back to Krista still blanking out and finally asking for the cue cards. Mr. Jay likes that Krista is laughing it off as most girls would crumble. Mr. Jay and Jonathan like her sway. She goes to take her still print. Tony loves her smile. Which saves her from looking cold. Raina is now up to shoot her commercial. Mr. Jay tells her not to choreograph herself as she keeps screwing up. Jonathan tells her she has the lines and it’s time to model.
Raina and Krista go back to Auckland and receive Tyra Mail saying they will be doing their Seventeen Magazine shoots. Oh, Ann Shoket should be showing up then. Raina figures she has the upper hand on that shoot. They go to meet Nigel who sends them to hair and make up. I loved Raina’s little peace sign. Krista says she wants to see a “chocolate black girl” on the cover of something.
The girls go back to their house to find Tyra setting up cameras. She says she wants to do a family portrait but something is missing. Are they bringing back the eliminated girls? The girls’ families?
They brought in the girls’ families! Krista goes to hug her mom and stepdad. Next comes out Raina’s dad. Tyra does Krista’s family first. Her mother says she’s proud of her and starts to cry. Tyra tells Raina’s dad to relax and he is proud of Raina’s passion. The pictures will be on Tyra.com. Time for the family reunion to end. The girls say their good-byes.
And then head for their runway show. They are in the Auckland Museum. It is themed of “Rock and Roll Circus.” So besides Nicole and professional models, the girls will be walking with Alasia, Jessica, Alexandra and Angelea. Angelea supports Team Krista. Jessica is on Team Raina. The crowd enters and then the judges plus Ms. J. Mr. Jay directs the show. He cues the circus performers. Nicole then opens the show. Angelea is next before Krista takes her first walk. We see Jessica before Raina takes her first walk. Alasia and Alexandra strut down the catwalk while Krista and Raina change. The next turn is tandem walking. Alexandra and Alasia are paired as are Angelea and Jessica. Raina and Krista walk down together. Raina blows a kiss before leaving. Then comes the finale, everyone walks out clapping.
Tyra goes to talk to Krista. She says she brought her personality in the walk and to be Krista. She says she didn’t always pretty. She wants to show dark-skinned girls they are pretty. Tyra hugs her. She then goes to visit Raina. Raina says it was one of the first times she let loose and had fun. She says she wouldn’t have been able to do this two years ago. Raina recalls being picked on for being tall, gangly, odd eyebrows and big lips. Tyra says she loves the differences. Tyra hugs her.
Final judging…What is up with Tyra’s top? I love their outfits. For the last time this cycle the prizes are: a contract with Wilhelmina Models, a six page spread and cover of Seventeen Magazine and a contract with Cover Girl. There are the judges Nigel Barker and Andre Leon Talley. And the guest judge is Ms. J, back on the panel. The girls are called forward. Ms. J says Krista went back to safety steps but Andre says it was like she was walking on air. Ms. J says she was heavy footed but she was cute. Andre loved her smile and Tyra just loved her walk. Nigel calls Raina’s picture gentle while Andre calls her fresh. Ms. J calls Krista “in your face” beauty. Tyra calls her stunning but she is not smiling with her eyes. Commercial time. Nigel likes Raina’s timber and enunciation. He tells her not to forget her eyes. Andre didn’t read her personality. Tyra tells her to be the girl she is when she is just chilling. And Tyra mentions that Mr. Jay said Krista forgot her lines. Tyra tells her to remain in the commercial. Nigel says the light loves her.
Time for the final deliberation. Andre says both were strong in the competition and both used it as a learning experience. Nigel says they are charming in their own ways. Krista is better body wise while Raina has it made in the face. Andre thinks Raina would be better in the European market while Krista could do the international market. Krista is great for shows while Raina is great for pictures. Nigel thinks Raina will be successful at home but Andre argues they should look for someone with international appeal. Nigel says Krista shows heart but they both have drama.
America’s Next Top Model is…Krista! She starts to cry and apologizes to Raina but she tells Krista it’s okay. Tyra hugs Raina and says she is proud of her. Raina says she knows she should be sad but she’s not. She’s learned so much and has accomplished so much. Raina thanks the panel and wishes Krista luck. Tyra tells Krista she is the embodiment of America’s Next Top Model. All her attempts to get on the show have finally paid off. Even Andre is crying.
America’s Next Top Model: Krista
Alasia
Alexandra
Angelea
Anslee
Brenda
Gabrielle
Jessica
Naduah
Raina
Ren
Simone
Tatianna
Did I want Raina to win? Hell yes. Am I surprised Krista won? Hell no. I got the feeling she would win sometime around New Zealand. She was rising so fast and doing so well that it was the only logical conclusion. However, she is talented and a model through and through. The sad thing is this show will probably hamper her career a bit. But I predict Raina and Angelea will be mentioned in a few cycles as runners up who made it big. And I wish they would bring either Jessica or Angelea back for Top Model Lounge. Angelea especially would provide good commentary.
So, I shall see you all next September for Cycle 15! Time for a whole new set of model wannabes, new runways, more antics from the Jays and perhaps the girls modeling scenes from Tyra’s new fantasy series?
Have a fantastic summer!
Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to write about this summer!
PS: Just one request, new model wannabes—work on the sound bites. I love my quote of the episode bits but I need quotes for it to work!
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