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America's Next Top Model Cycle 19: Episode 11 Recap

Posted on 11/11/2012 by Kylene in Americas Next Top Model

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Top Model Panel - Nastasia Leila Kiara Laura

 

by Kylene Hamulak

 

Still in Jamaica, we've got just four girls left competing in America's Next Top Model: College Edition. Kristin's been eliminated, but will the drama leave with her? Doubtful.

 

The remaining girls are all feeling the pressure of the competition, particularly because there are so few of them left. Leila invites Kiara to share the Tyra Suite with her, but let's be real - there are no friendships here. Even Laura admitted that she wasn't sad to see Kristin go.

 

Let's recap: Nastasia is from Harlem. She thinks she's got what it takes to win. Leila refers to herself as "the comeback kid" following her return to the competition thanks to her fans. She also thinks she's got what it takes to win. Kiara's grandmother told her that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and Tyra said that only the strongest survive, so Kiara believes that she's the strongest in the house and will reach that light. Say it with me - she thinks she's got what it takes to win!

 

Oh, and in this week's episode, the role of "Girl Who Misses Her Mom" will be played by Laura. I know the competition and being away from home is stressful for the girls, but how come when Victoria missed her mom it was such drama but no one bats an eye when Laura is crying?

 

Anyway, the first challenge of the episode is at an equestrian center that reminds Laura of home. The acres, the stables, the pond - Kiara's reaction is priceless. "You have acres? You have a pond? Do YOU have a pond? I don't have a pond." Yeah, Laura is just a little bit out of touch with reality sometimes.

 

Rob and Miss Jamaica meet the girls with the challenge: audition to be in a commercial advertising Jamaica as a travel destination, including writing a 15 second script and shooting a scene on horseback in the ocean. Laura is super excited because she loves horses and she thinks she has it in the bag. Leila, on the other hand, is still traumatized by the dolphin encounter that didn't go well.

 

Laura is up first and has some trouble with her script. Oh gosh, I'm having secondhand embarrassment for her, and I hope the other girls are better. Her second take is better than the first. Leila goes next, and she's terrified of the horse. She's delivering her lines when the animal starts picking up speed, and when she asks "is this supposed to be happening?", I really can't tell. She has a bit of a panic attack, and Rob notes that her lack of confidence could be a problem. Like Laura, however, her second take is much better.

 

As soon as Nastasia got on the horse for her first take, she can't remember any of the terrific script she wrote. She tried to improv her second take, but it comes of as a little generic and awkward. Leila wasn't the one having difficulty with the horse - Kiara admits to being scared as well, but instead of a panic attack, she just starts cursing. Thankfully, her second take goes really well.

 

After all the shots are reviewed, Laura and Kiara are the standouts, noting both facts and personal experiences in their scripts. When the decision is made, Kiara is named the winner and will be the face of Jamaica tourism. Laura is the face of irritation.

 

When Tyra Mail arrives, it's about the ad campaign for "Dream Come True," the official scent of America's Next Top Model. The images will be used to promote the fragrance around the world, so it's kind of a big deal.

 

Nastasia is the first up, and she looks very natural with a giant bottle of perfume in the ocean. Her shots are good, but photographer Jez Smith isn't sure they got a real "magic" shot. Leila is up next, and she's nervous, and Johnny said she doesn't look like "she's in a happy place." Leila tells us she feels like she did the day of the cheerleading shoot...and she went home that day.

 

Between shoots, Bryanboy visits with the models to talk about how they're feeling, so Kiara reminds us all again how tough her life has been, how awful her mother is, and how much she deserves this. Despite the fact that she can be a bit out of touch at times, I do agree with Laura's reaction - why should Kiara's dream count more than Laura's just because Laura had a good relationship with her family?

 

Kiara's shoot goes really well, and Johnny thinks she found a way to subtly portray her happiness in the photos. Though the crew isn't impressed by Laura, I think she looks gorgeous for her shoot - they, however, don't think she comes off as modelesque. "Too sexy," "Eyes are dead," "Keep the smile in your eyes," - it's just not going well, and Johnny thinks she should be nervous.

 

Back at the house, I need to know something - why are the girls so surprised when "Skull Mail" arrives to tell them that a) they'll meet with the judges tomorrow b) four of them will go to panel and c) only three will continue in the competition. Isn't that how the competition works?

 

At judges panel, we hear the following:

 

Leila: Kelly calls her shot "a little ba-bammy", which doesn't really work for the brand. Rob disagrees and thinks it would work well for the demographic. Tyra says that while it might not work for moms, it would be aspirational for young girls. Bryanboy notes that Leila needs to make sure she's showing off her neck more, based on social media.
Judges Scores: 8 (Kelly) + 8 (Tyra) + 9 (Rob)

 

Kiara: Rob actually thinks Kiara's be a little too sexy, but he really likes that she looks relaxed and loves it. Kelly thinks it looks like "wishing well" as opposed to "dream come true." Bryanboy says that a lot of the fans loved it. When Kiara mentions the dream come true again, Tyra takes the bait so that we get to hear her story again.
Judges Scores: 7 (Kelly) + 8 (Tyra) + 9 (Rob)

 

Nastasia: Bryanboy says that HE thought it was perfect for what the product was about, but the fans didn't necessarily agree. Kelly thinks it's very well done, but Robb thinks a little too cutesy. Tyra agrees that it doesn't fit the demographic, despite the fact that she looks lovely.
Judges Scores: 9 (Kelly) + 8 (Tyra) + 7 (Rob)

 

Laura: Rob thinks this shot is a little too sexy, and Kelly says it seems too soap opera-y. Bryanboy reports that social media was a mixed bag, and Tyra tells Laura that she knows better how to be a model than the shot portrays.
Judges Scores: 7 (Kelly) + 7 (Tyra) + 8 (Rob)

 

I have to say that if I was in the competition at this point, I'd be frustrated by the mixed messages. Clearly, the judges are looking for different things, and that's not even taking into account the client - so how are these girls supposed to score well? They tell one girl that the show's demographic is 18-24. They tell another that the fragrance is geared towards teens. Shots are too sexy, shots are too cutesy, but ultimately, they threw girls in bikinis into the ocean with an oversized bottle of perfume - what did they expect to happen?

 

When the scores are added up, Tyra announces that the Best Photo goes to Kiara. The next girl who is safe is Leila, leaving Nastasia and Laura in the bottom two for the week. As the girls wait to hear their fates, Tyra tells them that the third finalist will join Leila and Kiara in an "other worldly" fashion show like they've never done before.

 

So who will compete? By three-tenths of a point, Laura wins a spot in the final fashion show, and Nastasia is eliminated. She has a really positive attitude about her elimination and thinks she did everything she could to make it this far in the competition. She has a right to be proud, I think, because not only did she come close to that final fashion show, she also stayed out of most of the house drama...and that's something none of the remaining models can say.

 

America's Next Top Model: College Edition airs Fridays at 8/7c on the CW.

 

(Image Courtesy of the CW)

 

 


  


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