by Michelle Spigner

Cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model is what Tyra calls “revolutionary,” because for the first time in Top Model history the competition was opened only to women who are 5 foot 7 and under.

The show begins as the thirty-two finalists travel to LA . Tyra meets the girl, speaking with an overzealous French-accent and goes on about how she is breaking the barriers of modeling by allowing shorter girls in the competition. Next, the girls meet the panel of judges, hoping to wow them with their walks and unique personalities. But a few of the meetings do reveal some of the girls devastating backgrounds. Nicole was born with a bloody eyeball and has a passion for painting portraits, but no one will allow her to paint them. Rae was sexually assaulted after she was picked up at a gas station. Bianca was beaten and cut all her hair off to move on.

Twelve of the thirty-two are eliminated right after panel. The rest compete in a runway challenge where they must hit four poses at the end of the catwalk. The girls meet with the judges and the last six are eliminated, leaving the final fourteen. But one girl, Amber, drops out because of “personal reasons” and the judges decide to bring back, Lisa, a promising Latin beauty.

This cycle is also a first in that the make-overs, or “Ty-overs” as they are called, take place in the first episode. I braced myself for the tears due to burning scalps and inches of falling hair, but this season there were surprisingly very few complaints. Most of the girls really embrace their new styles, but this was one season when the transformations aren’t too dramatic. Many of the Ty-overs only consist of small changes like adding bangs or blonde highlights.

Bianca emerges as a the cycle’s biggest complainer. She entered the competition sporting a buzzed look so there isn’t much for Tyra to add, dye or cut. Bianca has her eyebrows bleached a light brown, but she rolls her eyes about her almost unnoticeable transformation.

Once the fourteen girls are Tyrasized, they are given the keys to their new house. The house is literally a funhouse set up with funny mirrors, glass bowls with multicolored candies, tiny tricycles, giant chairs and an oversized clown cutout by the door that reads “Must be shorter than this to enter.” It seems to play on the girls’ lack of model stature in a cruel way. To put insult to injury, one wall displays Tyra’s own progression in height from infancy to adulthood, and some of the girls barely match up to Tyra’s height at the age of twelve.

When it comes time for Tyra mail, the mail’s arrival is announced with a siren and flashing lights. The girls gather around a huge Tyra’s Bankable safe pull, opened the door and read the announcement. Tomorrow will make you go gaga.

The next day the girls have their first photo shoot. The concept is to recreate a picture they had taken as a baby, like pictures of the girls playing dress up and getting buried in the sand in the beach. Some of the girls do an okay job, others fall flat and a few get in some amazing shots.

Nicole, the shy and silent red head comes out with a powerful and editorial look in her shots. Rae, the glowing blonde looks etherial as a ballerina wearing pointe shoes with eight in heels (a feat for any model). Bianca complains again and gives attitude because she does not like her make-up or outfit.

The next day is elimination. Chanel Iman joins the judging panel the special judge. The judges are fair in the critiques and praise Rae and Nicole for their stunning shots.  Rae is awarded the best picture of the week and Iman even hopes to master her pose.

In the bottom two were Lisa and Bianca. The judges did not like Bianca’s attitude and did not think she was right for this career even though she had one of the strongest pictures that week. Lisa’s picture just wasn’t strong enough, she was lost in the background among the props, costuming and make-up. In the end the last girl in the competition is the first to go, Lisa.

America’s Next Top Model airs Wednesday nights at 8/7c on the CW.

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(Image courtesy of CW)

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