Episode #4 of America's Next Top Model.

The episode started with a comment to Dominique that she would get a new hair color and another “week” in the house. I think the format is for someone to get booted every 3 days or so, so Kimberly’s quitting is made up for (in the timing of the filming) by having no one getting evicted from the house for a few extra days/challenges. As this episode unfolded, there was also more than one photoshoot which sort of confirms that the original plan was for someone to get booted in the middle of this episode’s events.

The first challenge was at a fire station. The models had to practice their quick changing abilities to get ready for the ‘runway’ walk at the fire station. No doubt, all the firemen were in the next room watching the closed circuit TV. Everyone managed to get changed in the 90 second time limit except for Fatima. Then, they all tried to practice their runway walks while J. Alexander coached them. Dominique was criticized for trying to strut for the fire department men like she was on a stage. She seemed to think that was a good thing.

The next challenge was a runway walk in front of a real audience, a much more model-like task that the fire house silliness. Again, the models were given a very limited amount of time to change and this time several of them messed up. Fatima miss buttoned her shirt, Whitney walked down the runway with one breast hanging out, Lauren walked down the runway at high speed, and most of the rest of them had a ‘deer in the headlights’ look. Basically, they all looked very raw. In the end, Katarzyna was picked as the winner and got to bring Amis and Marvita with her on a photoshoot for ‘Lot 29’ featuring Cycle 8 winner, Jaslene. Getting a real photoshoot is a good thing, but you also have to worry that if you perform poorly, Tyra will be hearing about it directly from people that matter in the business.

The next challenge was a photoshoot at a meat processing plant. The models were set up to wear meat clothing and took pictures like they were in a walk in cooler. No one seemed happy to have cold, dead meat laying on them. Jay Manuel ran the photoshoot and had the most positive comments for Marvita, Anya, and Lauren. Most of the negative comments went to Fatima, Aimee, and Amis.



A review of the models as they were called out at final judging:

Tyra opened the panel with a singing introduction. I guess/hope it was supposed to be comedy, but it was really just annoying.

Anya: First call out. The judges loved her photos and they think she is versatile because she looks so different on camera from in person.

Whitney: The judges thought her photo had a comedic look, but love her stage presence when she stands before them.

Katarzyna: Some comment about a pole dancing look so the judges still think she might be too men’s magazine, but her photo was ‘close to being magical’.

Claire: Her photo got mixed reviews, good angles, but awkward face. The judges agree that she is definitely excelling due to her basic past modeling experience. She also won the home viewer vote again this week. I wonder if she is earning those votes on this show or because she already has a following from her previous reality TV endeavor?

Dominique: Her new hair color is an exact replica of the wig Tyra is currently wearing. She still looks very old and Nigel thinks her photo looked like a pinup for a meat calendar magazine. Nothing in this episode really supported her being called out in the top half of the models this week, IMO.

Stacy-Ann: She is described as model 101 talent and she seemed totally forgettable in this episode. Lucky for her, getting lost in the editing is sometimes a good thing this early in the season.

Lauren: Excellent picture, but the judges want her to learn how to walk normally rather than even trying to model walk. Paulina also points out that Lauren always has her head retracted into her body. I’m glad someone noticed that she was always doing as turtle impersonation.

Marvita: She ended up with a good photo and the judges told her to go to her ‘mean look’ and then learn other looks as she had time. I have no idea why she wasn’t picked further up than this, this week. Her pictures and runway performance were well above average.

Aimee: Her picture is described as a bored mannequin. Her hair looked darker (almost black rather than red) in this episode. I was surprised to see her perform so poorly after standing out so much last week. She also revealed that she isn’t comfortable living with other people and sharing personal space. Not a good thing for a model.

Fatima: In the bottom two and based upon the photo should have been sent home. Of course, all her personal tragedy backstory hasn’t been played out yet, so you just knew that she would not be eliminated. As it was, the judges thought her photos were the worst and berated her for doing a bottom teeth growl in every photo, but they kept her anyway.

Amis: Amis continued to try and be funny this episode. She literally skipped down the fire station ‘runway’ and she dressed up like an 80’s video girl for her appearance before the judges. She didn’t seem at all happy to be in the house and when she was eliminated she didn’t seem sad at all. I guess that she is hoping that she got enough airtime to get a guest role on one of CW’s comedies. Little could she have known that CW would ax their entire comedy development department. Personally, I found her entertaining, if a bit goofy, and hope that she does find her way back on to TV in a non-realityTV role.

Coming up next week: another round of racially charged arguing.

I don't have time for more this week, but I will say I liked Amis' attitude once she was sent home and I wish it was Fatima leaving instead of her.

Also, I think Jaslene went over the line asking Lauren "Do you want to be here?" considering that blonde girl (Bree?) left with that question being put to her. I remember Jaslene was no great runway walker at the beginning of her season. Just say she needs to work at it.

I really didn't see that much change in hair color on Dominique, and she looks old and worn for 23.

And I am amazed at Claire doing well with that terrible makeover she got. She looks terrible, but she's got enough model in her to work it. Lauren and Cavegirl Marvita had good instincts with their props.

Still disappointed Fatima the Pekenese Pup didn't go.