by Kylene Hamulak

 

America's Next Top Model: College Edition wraps up with a final challenge between gap-toothed Fan Favorite Leila, curvy bombshell Laura, and athletic beauty Kiara. The last battle for the title will take place at the (allegedly) haunted Rose Hall, Jamaica's most famous house. Tyra gives us a brief retelling of the White Witch of Rose Hall, but I'm skeptical about her version - none of the Wikipedia entries I've read about the tale mention anything about smizing.

 

A runaway has been set up in the backyard of the sprawling estate for this finale, and guests are treated to a dance troupe as the girls prepare backstage. Special guests include some of the eliminated contestants and Cycle 18's Top Model Sophie Sumner, who shares some advice: "Don't fall over." Ha. What useless advice. As if any of them are going to fall over on the runway.

 

Before the runway show kicks off, however, we go behind the scenes of the finalists' Nine West photo shoot. Nine West happens to be one of Kelly's clients, so she's accompanying them and warns them not to screw up.

 

It's a hot day, and things are about to get hotter during Laura's shoot. Kelly is supervising and not happy with the shots the photographer is getting. The two start fighting, making things awkward for Laura. Her shoot ends prematurely, and she's worried she didn't get a chance to get a good shot.

 

Leila is next, and Kelly and Johnny are having some trouble getting her to sell the image head-to-toe. Kiara, however, isn't giving them what they want either, as Johnny notes she's lacking energy in her eyes.

 

Back at the finale show, fittings are underway as the girls get dressed in their couture gowns and practice walking. Leila's dress obstructs her vision, so she's hoping that the extra walking will make her more comfortable for her walk.

 

The finalists were also invited to shoot for Nylon Magazine, which took place the day before the runway show at Half Moon Resort. Laura gets high marks, though she is described as "commercial," which could go either way. Kiara's shots look fun, but if I have to hear about her doing this for her grandmother and siblings one more time, I will never watch this cycle again. (Empty threat, since this is the finale.) The consensus seems to be that Leila would make the best Nylon model, but I'm not sure how I would take it if someone called me a little "off looking."

 

We also see footage of a surprise for each of the finalists - their families coming to visit them. Laura's shooting on the beach when her parents show up, and her mother is overwhelmed by her daughter's beauty. Leila is apparently two feet taller than her mom, and Kiara breaks down when she sees her grandmother. Ok, fine, Top Model. That whole segment was kind of heartwarming.

 

The show is about to begin, and our final glimpse backstage is of Tyra meeting with the three finalists and their families. To introduce the runway portion of the episode, there is a "film" starring Rob, entering this haunted mansion with Leila, Kiara, and Laura. He follows the sound of the White Witch beckoning to him and - wait, what the hell am I watching? He fell asleep? And now the ghost is going to have her way with him but then she sees our models? Then throws them all over the balcony in a fit of jealousy?

 

Ahhhh, I got it. So the girls are all earthly dead, the audience is forced to wear masks to protect them from the witch, and the models must walk the runway to compete not only for the title, but to regain their smizes. I'm sure this is EXACTLY how the legend is told in Jamaica.

 

Laura is the first of the competing models to walk, following Sophie, Kristin, and Nastasia, and she does it well. Kiara is next and looks beautiful with a strong walk. Then it's Leila. Remember when Sophie gave them advice? And it was not to fall?

 

Yep. Leila falls. Slips, actually. Right down the stairs. It could've been much worse than it was (especially considering those heels, those stairs, and the fact that she could barely see), and she just needs to focus on finishing her walk strong as she - whoops. She fell again. Right off the end of the runway platform.

 

To their credit, the Top Model crew seems both concerned and sympathetic, knowing how awful it is for Leila to have not one, but TWO falls, and noticing that she was limping as she walked away. And to Leila's credit, she keeps it together. Know who didn't keep it together? Kiara. She's having a legit panic attack as she gets ready for her next look.

 

The second look leads off with Yvonne, Destiny, Allyssa and Brittany. When Laura comes to present her second walk, she looks like an angel. No, seriously, literally like an angel, thanks to the ginormous wings on her gown. Kiara does too, having pulled herself together for her final walk. Leila recovers as well, and though Kelly does remark, "I can't take it," the model (stiffly) makes it to the end of the runway without falling off it, so there was improvement from her first walk.

 

At judges panel, Tyra announces that the models will be evaluated based on their body of work and the averages of their scores to determine the winner. They begin by looking at the runway walks.

 

Laura: As the winner of three previous challenges, Laura will be taking home $30,000 in her scholarship bank if she wins the title. Looking at her runway walk, Kelly isn't sold on her as a runway model, noting that she looked a little awkward. Rob agrees that she's more commercial than runway.

 

Kiara: Kiara won four challenges in the competition, giving her $40,000 in scholarship money if she becomes Top Model. All the judges loved her walk, with Kelly saying, "It was really a pleasure to watch you come down that catwalk."

Leila: Leila knows what's coming, and so do we, but if she is named Top Model, her one challenge win will earn her a $10,000 scholarship prize. As the video of Leila's walk (and falls) runs, everyone gasps again before Kelly tells her she (Kelly) would be fired if she had hired Leila for a show. Leila tries to explain herself, but Kelly doesn't want to hear it. Tyra and Rob tell her that the problem with her is all mental.

 

The Nine West shoot is reviewed next, and everyone liked Laura's shot. Kiara's shot went over really well with the fans, though the judges aren't impressed. Tyra coins a new phrase - "pea head" - to describe Kiara's tiny head on her curvy hips. Leila's shot is described as the perfect marriage between high-fashion and commercial.

 

The judges deliberate and fight for their favorite models and shots before coming up with a final score.

 

Leila is the first eliminated, with a total sore of 35.2 (8's from Tyra and Kelly, 7 from Rob, 6.7 in the Challenge, and 5.5 in Fan Vote), leaving the title between Kiara and Laura.

 

By nearly five full points, LAURA (9's from Tyra and Kelly, 10 from Rob, 7.6 in the Challenge, and 5.6 in Fan Vote), beats Kiara (7 from Tyra, 8 Kelly, 9 from Rob, 8.3 in the Challenge, and 4.3 in Fan Vote), for the title of America's Next Top Model!

 

There are tears from Kiara as she hugs her grandmother, and Laura is breaking down as she greets her proud parents and the judges.

 

America's Next Top Model: Cycle 20 is casting now, and for the first time ever, the competition is open to MALE would-be models in addition to all you ladies out there! Do YOU have what it takes to walk the runway and smize for the best H-to-T photo?

 

Stay tuned to Reality Wanted for all the latest America's Next Top Model updates!

 

(Image Courtesy of the CW)