A Klingon Is Born

ANTM was filler this week, as they did a recap of the season so far - enticing us to watch by throwing in 'never before seen footage'!

I watched it regardless, and there honestly wasn't that much new stuff... So I'll just throw in this somewhat humorous observation that I had at the beginning of this season but just haven't said yet...

I think Tyra is turning into a Klingon.

I've grown to really respect Tyra Banks as an inspiration for other women and as a very successful business woman... so I don't mean any disrespect towards her, but has anyone else noticed the ridges forming between her brow every time she gets a serious/confused face on? I mean, they're kind of hard to miss... either way, they remind me of the Klingon foreheads from Star Trek...

Just thought I'd mention it.

My Head Just Starts Ringing!

****ANTM SPOILERS INCLUDED****

What else do you expect when you voluntarily faceplant yourself onto a sheet of hard plastic after falling from at least five feet of distance? You're gonna hear the bells... and let's just say they're not going to be pretty.

This week was a very fun/different episode for Next Top Model.

Usually, when the girls get down to about 6 or so, they will be flown to a foreign country, and when there's only about 5 or 4 left they'll have the girls go on go-sees. Well, there are 8 girls left, and they decided to have the girls go on go-sees already...

In past seasons the girls have always gone alone as they meet with designers, show them their portfolios, and walk for them... but this season they did it in 2 groups of 4, and it was much more structured than past seasons... where they usually say good luck, be back by [enter time here], hopefully you'll make it to a couple... they instead gave the groups one location at a time, and there was no time limit...

Whitney, Dominique, Stacey Ann, and Claire's group won the challenge and got to do a photo shoot for Seventeen Magazine as their prize.

The main photo shoot for the episode was one of my favorites in any season so far. They had the girls lay on some thick sheets of plastic, in a small puddle of water, and they photographed them from beneath.

At panel, the judge's favorite was Fatima, who took a fantastic photo, that even Tyra said looked so perfect it looked like someone drew it. Fatima said that it was because she had practiced her poses, but when Nigel asked her to show them one, she fell flat and gave them a pose reminiscent of the teapot song.

My favorite of the day was Whitney. I LOVED the emotion inside her photo, and the fact that you could see her entire body was very cool for me. The judges joked that she was a fetus, and Tyra said it looked like she was taking her first breath... I think that it's a compliment to say that though... it's evokes thought and emotion... much more than the other girls' shots I thought.

Lauren suffered in this shoot, and it resulted in a very awkward photograph that even the judges didn't like. Her awkwardness didn't show high fashion this week, and they're getting tired of her lack of self-confidence. She was in the bottom two this week... but she made the cut over miss faceplant...

...Claire. I didn't think her photo was that bad actually. I thought it was very pretty, and I actually thought the profile in the picture was very beautiful. I have seen profile shots of this girl before and her nose seemed to always take command, whereas in this shot it didn't. Her personality and carelessness seems to have been what tipped the judges against her, although they said she wasn't enough of a chameleon to be a top model... so she was sent home.

Getting down to only 7 girls... it makes me more confident in my choices of Anya and Whitney. I don't see Fatima, Dominique, or Lauren being the top model this season at all... They are actually the bottom three in my opinion for the title. I honestly think they're going to take a Caucasian this season, so that pushes Stacy Ann out of the running no matter how far she gets, although I think she would hold the title really well...

Anya has been versatile and the judges love her, not to mention she has that foreign quality to her, even though she is only from Hawaii. Her communication skills might be lacking, but she's someone unlike anybody already with the Top Model title, and that'll work in her favor.

Whitney is the fiercest plus sized model that the show has ever had. She knows her stuff, and she is showing it. The show would do well to finally have a plus-sized Top Model, and I think Whitney is a prime candidate for that.

Katarzyna is the big question mark for me. She wasn't one of my top picks from the beginning, BUT she seems to be doing spectacularly well in the competition. The judges are liking her more and more, and honestly, I think she would be a great Top Model. I'm excited to see her progress through the rest of the season.

We'll see what happens! We'll see!

NUTS and nuts!!

Later in this entry I'll go over the ANTM episode from 3/26... but first...

I had another audition today (Thursday 3/27)... this time it was for representation by a talent agency here in the Twin Cities. As I have talked about previously, I quit my job about a month ago and decided to use this time as the perfect opportunity to pursue my acting career - INCLUDING expanding my repertoire from solely stage to the camera.

There are some great Talent Agencies in the cities here, one being NUTS, ltd. Talent agencies are companies that corporations will contact when they need actors for commercials/short films/industrials/voice-over work, etc. In order for the talent agency to send you out to the corporation to act in the job, they must first represent you and know you're capable of performing the job required.

My audition on Thursday included sitting down with 4 other hopefuls to get to know the company, and then going into another room for separate auditions where we read scripts into a video camera as they recorded you. The 5 of us were only 1 half hour worth of hopefuls... they had two full days of back to back sessions like this... so it's very competitive. I felt that I read my Target Industrial and LeannChins commercial very well, and now I just have to wait to receive either the "happy letter" or the "sad letter". Cross your fingers!

--------------------

In other news... one of my theories about ANTM were proven correct this week, and one was proven incorrect.

It's true that the girl whose past and personal life they focus on the most during the show is the one who gets the boot that episode...

It's false however that Aimee will be the winner of this season.

Just to keep this blog somewhat short...

The winner of the episode was Whitney who was great at "Pain Posing" (posing as if a part of your body is in pain) and delivered a wonderful Grunge music-inspired photo.













My favorite of the episode was actually Anya though - who not only won a private photo shoot with Nigel Barker himself, where she posed nude on a bed (scandalous!!!) but she also had my favorite photo of the week. It has so many wonderful angles, and there's just so much going on in the picture that all blends well together, that I have to call it my favorite.




Claire was second to last this week. She really got into a lot of catfights with Dominique this week... and when it came to really showing off her stuff, she fell flat. Her country music photo shoot just didn't work out... I HATED that skirt...









But it wasn't as bad as Aimee's R&B photo. From the very beginning of the episode I knew that Aimee was going home. There was nothing that she did in the house this episode that would cause her to be focused on... yet they shared her story anyway... it was a dead giveaway that she was going... In the end, she took some amazing and not-so-amazing photos, and she really didn't have that wow factor... and the Judges said goodbye...


Two of my top picks are still left - and actually did great this week. Anya and Whitney are doing great. Let's just hope that I don't jinx them too... as it seems when I start liking something it goes down the toilet, lol. We'll see, we'll see!

Let's Drink For Amis! One For The Homies!

**Includes ANTM spoilers**

Last night's episode was all about posing, and it FINALLY delivered some awesome headshots for the girls.

Benny Ninja, who has been the ANTM posing expert for the past few cycles, returned again to teach the girl the 3 c's - commercial, couture, and catalogue posing. The girls had a pose-off where Claire won a trip to Bora Bora! The four girls on her team, plus Claire herself, won a bunch of free stuff - bags and guitars...

The photo shoot challenged the girls' posing skills, but in only a small area around their heads. To add some interest they dripped paint all over the girls.

In the end, Stacy Ann, my wild card pick for bottom three, was called first...


It's a great photo, I agree. I just want to see Stacy Ann give a photo where her head isn't cocked to the side like it always seems to be.

Dominique was a surprise this week. She was cocky as ever, but she pulled off a great shot and was called second.

The judges were wowed by her soft look in this photo. They didn't think she could pull it off, but she did!

One of my favorites of the week was Lauren's photo - who was called 5th, after Claire and Anya.

Another favorite was Aimee's shot, who was 6th in line.

I LOVE her eyes in this photo, I think they're wonderful, and I love how it looks like the earring is weighing her head down. The colors aren't my favorite mix though. The judges gave some critique of Aimee - saying that she was a chameleon in her shots. They said it was a good thing, but to a point - my thought is that if you can mold yourself to almost anything and make it look good, and your portfolio shows that, then who's to worry that you'll suck if they hire you? *shrugs*

The bottom four boiled down to Katarzyna, Fatima, Whitney, and Marvita. I personally thought Fatima should go home. I did NOT like her picture, although it did strike up some pretty comedic talk from the judges about shaving your armpits...
However, after Katarzyna, Fatima was called - leaving Whitney and Marvita in the bottom two. Both of the girls' passion in being in the competition was challenged this week - they weren't sure if either of them really wanted this... In the end, they could see passion in Whitney's photo, and none in Marvita's.
I did not like whitney's photo... and there was almost no paint compared to some of the other girls shots... but it was better than this one...

As Paulina said during panel - it looks like an orphan modeling. She just doesn't look like she's putting any effort into this. She looks bored, she looks defeated, she doesn't look like she's trying. I did NOT expect Marvita to go home up until today's episode, but this just shows how, at this point in the competition, it's anyone's game.

One theory that has been proven with this show - watch for the girl who tells her backstory in the episode. The girl who you get to know the most in an episode, who is usually one of the first girls to have a clip in the show, is almost always the one who goes home. Marvita talked so much about her life in this show - from the very beginning I could tell she was gone... I wonder who it will be next episode?

It's An Anchor, Because I'm A Real Sailor!

Don't read further if you don't want to be spoiled... mwahaha

**ANTM spoilers from last night's episode***

Well, it was Fatima and Amis in the bottom two last night on ANTM. I honestly need to stop picking favorites, because they never stay very long. It was an interesting night where my picks are concerned.

The mid-episode challenge was a runway show, in which Katarzyna won an editorial shoot for Lot 27 in Seventeen Magazine. She took Amis and Marvita with her, and they got to do a photo shoot WITH Cycle 8's winner, Jaslene.

Then, the photo shoot came, and the girls had to wear meat - big slabs of meat as their outfits, and they pretty much just posed in a meat house.

Remember back when, before the show started, and I thought Anya would do well, well, she's boring the crap out of me, but she's doing well... she got called first this week with this picture:


It's a great shot, the body angles are great, and she stands out among all the dead animals.

Lauren, one of my picks for bottom three this week, actually got called halfway down the line up. She had taken such an amazing photo this week, that even though she looked like a nervous wreck on the runway, she got to stay. I do agree though that her photo this week was awesome.


She even said that she was trying to embody Leather Face from Chainsaw Massacre. It completely worked for her.

Aimee, the girl that I announced was my post-episode 1 pick to win, was in the bottom three tonight instead. She took a bad picture...


You can tell that she had some serious problems with her meat top. She just did not feel comfortable, and it showed.

I honestly need to stop picking top people, because everytime I do, they plummet to the bottom - all except for Anya, I guess, and Whitney. But I can't just pick everyone in the book, that's not fair. SO, I'll pick a top three - Anya, Whitney, Aimee. That should keep me safe - and I won't BUDGE from it at all.

Plus, Whitney took my personal favorite of the night:


I love the face, and come on - she's rockin that meat underwear.

Fatima took this shot:

And while she took a bad picture, and even showed the judges her bad attitude, she won over Amis...


And Amis was sent packing. I can't say I disagree with the judges pick. I mean, I loved Amis and all, but her performance just wasn't there, and she didn't seem serious about getting any better. She skipped at the runway challenge, and she just didn't seem all that focused at the shoot either. Her inability to 'bring it' sunk her to the bottom, just like her self made anchor tattoo. She will be greatly missed.

My bottom picks for next week - the posing week - will be Fatima, Katarzyna, and my gut instinct is saying Stacy Ann. We'll see, we'll see!

No Way, Jose!

Who could have guessed the outcome of last night's episode of America's Next Top Model?

"You are the epitome of apple-bottom-ness."
"She's gonna get we-we-weave down down down down!"
"Are you cold?" "No, she's posing"

***Spoilers on last night's ANTM episode***

It started out with everyone getting Apple Bottom jeans, and YET AGAIN I got the Flo Rida song stuck in my head... they didn't get boots with the fur though.

Allison and Fatima went AT it, pretty much saying the other had a huge ass... Allison stuffed a barbie's butt with kleenex to make it huge... and then at the challenge they were cocky but sucked ass. Claire won, yay Claire!

The girls had make overs, and let me tell you - 7 dramatic color changes and 6 weaves among 12 girls? I love it. Not one girl sat around getting nothing done, they all had either some drastic dying, a huge ass weave, or cut super short.

Dominique had the least change, but I think it was NOT in her favor - that girl looks old as it is, and to give her an outdated and aged haircut a la Izabella Scorupco in GoldenEye... that's not going to help.

My two favorite changes were with Claire, LOVE the short blonde hair, and Marvita, that horse mane weave is super awesome!! Anya's makeover picture makes me want to sing "My Heart Will Go On", and Stacy Ann's new cut has transformed her from Dani in cycle 6 to Ambreal in cycle 9.

The photo shoot was on a boat floating just next to the Brooklyn Bridge, and was of the girls with the bridge and New York City as the backdrop.

Lauren was the first called, with an oh-so awkward photo...

This girl, photo-wise, will not be able to do any wrong. Another awkward photo and the judges will eat it up again, and if she was ever to take a photo that looked very high fashion and sexy INSTEAD of awkward, they'll think she has a huge range in front of the camera.

I like the girl, don't get me wrong, and she does have one extreme weakness that won't do well in front of the judges; her runway walk will be her downfall.

My personal favorite shot was Marvita's.


I thought this shot was awesome. Love the hair!! Marvita is going to be such a strong competitor this cycle, but she's gotta watch out about her attitude. She looks fierce and strong in her pictures but they're going to want her to soften up at some point.

In the end, our boring and, come to find this past episode, INSANELY arrogant girl Allison was sent packing.

She bored me from the beginning, and her constant cockiness was extremely off-putting. Allison, in general, was such a fake girl, and I honestly think she didn't care about this show, no matter what she did or said to state otherwise. She pretended to cry but when she took her hands away from her face to hug Tyra there was nothing there. You could almost see her mind saying "when do I get to leave?". I'm glad she's off the show.

I'm honestly scared for my girl Amis. She is honestly my hands down favorite in this show. Her personality is wonderful, and I still can't get over her pre-show video - at cwtv.com/cw-video/america's-next-top-model/short/?play=426-2820.

Everything she did, even lick the side of her mouth, looked model-esque, she's just not shining in the episodes. I will root for her, but I'm scared she's going home very soon. She did move a step up from last week though in the pecking order with this picture.


As I stated last ANTM entry - the girl to watch out for now is Aimee.


I had made a comment to a friend that I was going to expect some red hair in the make-overs, and Aimee was the chosen one! Now, red hair isn't going to make her win, but of all the theories I have about this show, I am confident to say at this moment in time, that Aimee fits everything this season is looking for, and now that I've seen a few episodes, I am willing to place a bet on her for the win.

I hate to say it, but my bottom three pic for next week is Amis, Lauren, and Fatima. Hopefully I'm a little off.

Katoucha

It's leap year! Everyone take a bound!

So, today in the city that I love and long to visit - Paris - a model who had been missing since January has been found, floating in the Seine.

Here's part of a CNN article about the discovery:

"PARIS, France (AP) -- The body of Katoucha Niane, one of the first African women to attain international stardom as a model and a vocal opponent of female genital mutilation, was found in the Seine River, police said Friday.

Known simply as Katoucha, the former top model for Yves Saint Laurent and other top designers was found Thursday near the Garigliano bridge in Paris, judicial police in Paris said.

An autopsy showed no signs of foul play, pointing to the possibility that the 47-year-old may have fallen accidentally into the river, they said."

How scary is that - to just fall into a river on accident and thus end your life.

It's kind of odd though - and I hate to compare this tragedy to a reality tv show - BUT there is a girl in this season of America's Next Top Model who is practically Katoucha reborn. Probably around the same time of this models disappearance, Top Model started filming Fatima - an African girl who was circumcised at 7 years old, who wants to use modeling as a voice against that very mutilation.

Fatima in the latest photo shoot

In a somewhat similar but completely different side-story... I was born the day after my last great-grandpa died. My great-grandma thought that part of his soul was transferred to me, and so she always cherished me in that regard.In that same thought - the moment that one voice left this industry, a new girl with the same hopes and goals arrives on the scene.

I just found it interesting.

Seven Entries In One Day!

I decided today to get caught up with the previous week's entries which I have been getting behind on.

To find out about my hectic week that I have JUST blogged all about, please read the relatively short entries, and comment freely:
It All Ends Thursday
Friday Fish Fries... er, Pesto Linguinis
Spastic Saturday
The Book!... I Mean, The Movie! - Spiderwick Chronicles Review
Finally Forever Plaid Auditions!
Ta Ta Tuesday

and obviously this one... to find out about today - Wednesday.

I found out today, via e-mail, that the callbacks for Forever Plaid will be held March 10th. Also, anybody who is cast will need to be Equity or "go Equity" if they aren't already. This was a big bummer to me, as I don't feel like I'm ready to become an Equity actor, but I will worry about that if the role is actually offered to me. I can always resign from the union if it doesn't work out for me in the long run, and then join again when I am properly prepared.

Next Top Model was on tonight...

***only read further if you have seen the episode or don't care if the episode is spoiled for you.***

Sooo many surprises came with the first elimination episode of Cycle 10.

First, HOW excited am I that the OH-SO-GORGEOUS super model Paulina Porizkova will be enhancing the weekly judging panel with her grace - replacing Twiggy from previous seasons. I LOVE this woman to death! She is such a classy and refined model. Her mere presence on the show made me beg for more. I don't know if I will ever get enough of Paulina, I am SO excited.

So wonderful!

The second surprise, was Kimberly's running away! It makes me want to sing Beauty School Drop out from Grease... Top Model drop out, no graduation day for you!

In front of the panel she told the judges she didn't really see the interest in modeling and would like to leave - so she left! And after THIS great picture!?

What a disappointment!

As I predicted, Atalya AND Allison were found in the bottom three, and Atalya was sent home. Paulina said that she kept forgetting who Atalya was - it's like we have the same mind!!!

BORING!

Also, Anya - one of my first glance top two - jumped ahead and was the frontrunner of the competition this week; being called first by Tyra at elimination.

She reminds me of a french painter!

The third surprise came when my FAVORITE, Amis, was placed in the bottom TWO! Honestly though, I think that girl will tap into her true potential and make it really far. I honestly think she's got what it takes, regardless of what this week's panel stated.

I LOVE this girl!

Now, as I've seen the girls actually perform - I'm still sticking with Allison being the worst. Of the girls that I previously thought wouldn't make it - I have reconsidered Whitney and Aimee. I think both of them are AMAZING, and honestly, I would LOVE Whitney to make it to the end. I've been very disappointed by the previous seasons' plus sized model - I think she would be the perfect fit for the next Top Model. I'm still rooting strongly for Amis though. I'm scared Anya will crash, but I think Aimee will pull through out of nowhere and beat everyone else down... it's going to be a bloodbath!

Go Whitney Go!

OH I LOVE THIS SHOW!

Yeah, I DEFINITELY have a cold, 'tis the season, non?... boo!

First Glance Top and Bottom Models

I think we all know what starts tonight!!!

And after looking at the first portfolio pictures, the naughty new york poses, and the VERY SHORT video of each girl, I have chosen my First Glance Top & Bottom Models... hehe... I think that's funny.

First, my picks for First Glance Bottom Models. There are a couple of girls that I keep forgetting about, and whom I just haven't been impressed by yet...

Allison and Atalya, sorry... if it were up to me, based on these first glances, you'd be gone.

The Farthest Bottom Model to me is Allison

Allison, you've looked like a deer in the headlights in everything, your NY Avril Lavigne poses, your quick video, and even in your first portfolio pic. Show me you can pose without thinking/needing approval of your choices.

And Atalya is second...

Atalya, same thing. You've shown more confidence in your first glance material, but you've bored me, and I keep forgetting about you until I see your picture. Hopefully you'll make a more lasting impression on the show.

Now, my picks for First Glance Top Models. Based on previous seasons, it's pretty clear that ANTM likes diversity. For that reason, along with the pattern of the previous winners, I'm guessing that this one will go to a caucasian contestant. I was pretty even in my thoughts of a couple girls, until I saw their videos and only a couple stood out.

My top choice for this category is Amis.

She's got a very interesting look, that has already transformed a few times in her pictures, showing that she can offer a variety of poses/emotions. I was a little scared that she might have a look that was too strong for the competition, but after watching her video, it was the only one with a girl who was having fun/laughing/and looking like a model all at the same time. Everyone else was stiff, trying to look bad ass, with the emphasis on TRYING. I hope Amis shows the other girls a thing or two.

The second is Anya.

This girl is exotic, and I think she could make it to the end. She's shown that she can play the innocent, fragile girl as well as a very confident/seductive girl. Plus, the fact that she LOOKS foreign will be enough for the judges to keep her.

In regards to the rest, I feel there are two categories, the strong and the interesting.

I feel that Aimee, Dominique, Lauren, Marvita, Stacy Ann and Whitney will take very strong pictures throughout, but I think their downfalls will be too bland, too old looking, too strong of features, too strong of features, and too slutty - respectfully.

Then, Claire, Fatima, Katarzyna, and Kimberly, in my opinion, look like they will be the underdogs, but will stay around as they each have a very interesting/distinct look to themselves, and we know how ANTM likes to keep the odd ones in as long as possible as they have such an individualized appearance that's easily recognizable.

This was my pre-premier first glance obsession... man I love this show... a little too much.

Model Match Ups

First, before I go into the upcoming season - which is only two weeks away!! - I have to discuss my thoughts on cycle 9.

Around this exact same time, about a week or two before the show actually started, I had looked at all of the girls' photos and when I saw Saleisha's...


... I said DAMN! This girl was going to either go really far or she's going to flop from being way too simple. I was partially right. Saleisha actually went the whole way BECAUSE she was simple. She was dull, she was fake, she was pretty - I'll give her that - and she knew how to play the game.

Honestly though, when they gave her that Chandra Wilson cut from Gray's Anatomy, I thought her 'fierce' factor was COMPLETELY diminished.

I mean come on...


She was pretty much a shoe-in for the win as no matter how high fashion or interesting a girl might be it all comes down to which one is Covergirl/Seventeen material, and those girls are kind, innocent, sweet, and pretty girls - good role models if you will - not all of these girls will be role models, and by the end of the season those girls will be the faces in "Guess Who?" who will surely be facing the floor.

I was a little disappointed when Saleisha won, and I honestly believe it was the ugly 'do' that hypnotized me into not liking her, because when they got rid of it and took THIS picture...


...my spell snapped and I was right at the beginning as if I had just seen her first shot all over again. THAT is why she deserved to win... not this...


Now onto my first thought when looking through Cycle 10 - Not much wowed me, and I simply couldn't get over the thought I've seen this before...

Katarzyna - Cycle 10/Adrianne - Cycle 1

Lauren - Cycle 10/Michelle - Cycle 4

Whitney - Cycle 10/Jayla - Cycle 5

Dominique - Cycle 10/Coryn - Cycle 5

Stacy Ann - Cycle 10/Danielle - Cycle 6
OR
Stacy Ann - Cycle 10/Eugena - Cycle 7

Claire - Cycle 10/Janet - Cycle 9

I'm not sure why...
Atayla - Cycle 10/Ebony - Cycle 9
... but she just reminds me of Ebony...

AND FINALLY

Marvita - Cycle 10/Marvita - Cycle 9
Oh, wait - after getting kicked off the cruise-liner, she's BACK!

I am having ANTM Deja Vu! - So, before I go further with my First Opinion Pick, I'll have to give myself some time to let my biased opinions of some of their clone counterparts slip away. Just to be fair, I'll include pictures of the other 6 contestents of Cycle 10 that I didn't name/find look-alikes for, although one or two DO look familiar... ...

Aimee/Allison/Amis

Anya/Fatima/Kimberly

Until next time ANTM fans! Are you ready?