50-50!

Last week on America’s Next Top Model: The five remaining girls showed that they didn’t have enough of a collective IQ to put out a fire when one of the tacos Jessica was attempting to cook went up. The girls went to the set of Hobbiton where Sarah McLeod (Rosie Cotton) judged their ability to cram themselves into a Hobbit hole and still get a good picture. Tyra later was their photographer in a shoot based on shadows. In the end, it came down to Raina and Jessica with Jessica getting the boot. Four girls remain, two will go home and two will stomp to the death. Who will be America’s Next Top Model? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

The final four celebrate their final-four-ness. Krista proves she can do math—they each have a 25% chance of winning. She wants to win. Alexandra was upset she didn’t get a first photo last week but she knows she’ll be in the final two. Raina pretends to interview Alexandra, who knocks her hand away. Alexandra doesn’t think Raina is very mature and we see her yelling “Final Four” whenever she can. Raina thinks that her happiness is turning the others off because they can’t tear her down. She says she’ll be an inspiration—she started off as an insecure, awkward girl to a confident top model. Angelea thinks America is ready for her to be Top Model.

The girls get a surprise visitor—Andre Leon Talley. Krista worries he’s going insult their house clothes. But he gives them real flowers—Angelea points out they are real. He tells them about traveling the world and how to behave with designers across the world. Krista asks about the invention of “dreckitude” and working for Vogue. He said he loves working and all he got to do. Andre admits he was insecure but he worked hard, first for Andy Warhol. Yes, Andy. Warhol. Angelea hangs on every word he said, associating with his story. We see her in Cycle 12 casting, saying she slept on the Port Authority bus depot. Andre tells them to work hard, not give up and gives them each a hug.

TYRA MAIL! “Time to get ready for a different kind of runway. Pack an overnight bag.” Where are they going?

They go to the airport where Mr. Jay meets them. They are going to Queenstown for their next photo shoot. Raina wants to step up her game. Each girl sits in the plane while Ms. J makes an announcement about being prepared. Mr. Jay goes on about bringing personality to their runway walk. It’s a runway challenge! The girls’ jaws drop.

The winner of the challenge will get to walk in New Zealand’s Fashion Week and get jewelry. We see Tyra walking in a Victoria’s Secret show as Mr. Jay tells them to walk with personality. Alexandra asks about heels, which she has in her purse. Angelea only has one heel. Alexandra is up first. She borrows someone’s sunglasses. Imitates the flight stewardess and comes back, returning the sunglasses. Krista is next. Ms. J gives her a little shove and he tells her that is what happens. Mr. Jay wants playful. The Jays don’t hate it. Mr. Jay likes how she works the jacket. Angelea goes next. The Jays don’t know what she’s doing with her hands but they love her turn. Raina finishes. Angelea declares her boring. She flirts with the crowd. Mr. Jay asks her for more grace.

The winner is: Krista. She is speechless. The plane applauds, probably cause they figure this torture is over. Alexandra was very close, which depresses her.

They arrive in Queenstown and drive. The girls love it and Raina calls it “Lord of the Rings.” Uh duh, that’s where they filmed the movies. So of course it looks like Middle-earth. Mr. Jay praises the environment. The shoot is about being “pretty-ugly.” The backdrop will be pretty, the girls will be ugly. And they will have to sell it. Mr. Jay reveals that at the next panel, two girls will be going home. Krista notes that ups it from 25% to 50%.

Top Model Lounge! Laura mentions that two girls were eliminated at once in her cycle. Bianca says it is now do or die.

The girls are sent to hair and make up. Krista goes first. Mr. Jay loves what she’s doing. She does broken down. He says her eyes are still soft and pretty. She gets a “good job.” Angelea gets tied in as Alexandra goes to the set. Monty likes her but Jay doesn’t think it’s what they are looking for. So she fights through and gets it. Raina is next and loves her outfit. Mr. Jay tells her to step out of the box. Mr. Jay calls her “pretty-pretty” not “ugly-pretty.” He likes that she took direction well but she still needs to step out of the box. Angelea is last. He wants more in her face because she’s just blank. She wants to tune him out. And I think Mr. Jay knows that. She starts getting awkward and he likes it.

That’s a wrap.

They go back to Auckland and admire Krista’s prizes. She got more prizes because she had the best photograph. They all help her open and even though the girls note she got doubles of some of the jewelry, she doesn’t share. Of course, I would be saving mine to share with my sister and friends at home, which may be construed as greed. SKULL AND CROSSBONES! Two girls aren’t going to make it. Sadly, that isn’t literal. The girls are nervous.

PANEL! There are prizes, there are judges and today’s guest judge is Mr. Jay. Raina is first. Andre loves her eyes, how they suggest something dark. Mr. Jay talks about her being “pretty-pretty.” Tyra says she was the prettiest. Angelea is next. Andre praises her go-see dress. Mr. Jay calls her the one who was most confused. Andre likes her photo as does Tyra, calling her “haunted.” Nigel says she is closing in on herself and Mr. Jay tells her that she set her own bar and she can set it again. Krista is applauded for the challenge win. Tyra calls her “androgynous” and that makes it work. Andre says this was a picture that could get her booked. Mr. Jay praises her. Tyra praises her for creating space. Alexandra is last. Nigel says it is more cinematic than fashion. Andre likes her face and how the person in the picture is different than the one before them.

The judges deliberate. Everyone feels like it’s the final elimination. Nigel sees real talent in Raina. Mr. Jay praises her beauty and her ability to direction. Andre doesn’t feel an emotional response from her. Andre praises Krista. Mr. Jay points out that her face is her weak spot. Nigel loves Alexandra’s shape. Mr. Jay praises her angles and eye lines. Tyra does know who Alexandra is. Andre thinks Angelea needs exposure and the chance to travel. Mr. Jay thinks that she doesn’t see the competition as a beginning or an end. The winner has to carry their career. Tyra mentions some past non-winners who have made it big: Fatima (Cycle 10), Anya (Cycle 10), Katarzyna (Cycle 10), Mollie Sue (Cycle 6).

ELIMINATION! The first finalist is Krista. She freaks out and talks about her 50% chance. The final three step forward. Alexandra: Has a great body but the pictures aren’t consistent. Raina: Second-coming of Brooke Shields. Strong face, great eyes but she seems to prefer some shoots over others and only excels at them. Angelea: Fantastic face but can she take criticism. So, who will be going head to head with Krista? Raina! I always knew she’d end up in the final two. I just thought she’d be going against Angelea but then Krista just shot out of nowhere. Tyra hugs Alexandra and tells her to work on her angles. Tyra moves to hug Angelea, telling her she came so far. But she needs to take criticism and keep her head held high. The girls hug. Alexandra thanks them and Angelea promises they will see her again. She stops to do her Hammer dance and Tyra tells her that is how she must handle rejection.

Tyra tells the girls that Anna Sui wants happy, winking, twirling and cutesy for her show.

Alexandra and Angelea go home to pack. Alexandra says it sucks to walk away without the title but she’s going to work at it. Angelea says she’s proud of herself and she’s still a winner. She says she believes and she is still America’s Next Top Model.

America’s Next Top Model:

Alasia

Alexandra

Angelea

Anslee

Brenda

Gabrielle

Jessica

Krista

Naduah

Raina

Ren

Simone

Tatianna

Part II and America’s Next Top Model in the next part!