Models Sandwiched Between Water with Creatures of the Deep ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (ANTM) Cycle 15 Blog

I’m impressed with the talent that ‘America’s Next Top Model’ is drawing for Cycle 15.  Matthew Rolston is one of the best photographers, fashion and otherwise, in the world.  He was discovered by Andy Warhol to work on Warhol’s ‘Interview’ magazine and from there his photographs have appeared everywhere else.  His most recent iconic photo was the recent cover of ‘Rolling Stone’ with the cast of ‘True Blood’.  I read the article and believe me, the best thing about it was the Rolston cover.   He has been on other fashion oriented shows before, but this was his first appearance on ‘ANTM’.  Not only did he take the pictures but he served as a judge as well.

 

                For some reason Miss Jay (who was sporting some interesting eyebrows for this episode) and Nigel Barker (the noted photographer whose claim to fame is that he is a noted photographer) to the girls to one of L.A.’s numerous amusements parks and gave them a word that they were to act out for the camera that takes pictures of folks on the ride who want some token that they rode a rollercoaster.  The challenge, like most of them on ‘Top Model’ was super lame.  Liz won for being best able to express catalogue modeling while undergoing 4.2 G forces.  You know, this task might have been more interesting if every model was given the same word.  Perhaps there are some gifted individuals out in the world who can look sultry in rollercoaster situations, but how many high fashion shoots take place while riding a rollercoaster?  It was an obvious plug for the amusement park whose name I can’t even remember.  Knotts Berry Farm perhaps?  Does that sound familiar?   

 

                For winning the challenge Liz was able to select two other friends to go with her to meet up with Tyra for a photo shoot and tea.  She picked Chris and Kayla.  For all of Tyra’s absurd vanity one of the things I do admire about her is that I think she is a very good photographer.  She’s not a Rolston mind you, but I think many of her photographs are much better than what the professional photographers do on the show.  Perhaps it is because she has been a model and knows exactly what she wants, but is very good at putting the girls at ease and telling them exactly what she is looking for.  Although this probably isn’t an earth shattering conclusion, but after years of watching various shows about fashion and photography, the best photographers aren’t the ones who know the most about lighting and so forth, but the ones who can communicate in such a way that is positive and doesn’t overuse the term ‘beautiful’ – straight forward and clear. 

 

                After Tyra was done taking pictures the girls were all in their white terrycloth robes and Tyra decided it was a perfect time to have tea.  It was a cute scene and I think it was Kayla who observed that Tyra ate all of the carrot cake.  Tyra, I think they have your number. 

 

                For the Rolston shoot the girls were told who their photographer was going to be and thankfully not only did most of them know who he was, but they were impressed that he was taking their photos.  Rolston said that he generally gets involved with the hair and makeup for a shoot because he is so hands on.  I think he mentioned that it was his staff that was going to do the hair and makeup, but I could be mistaken, but whoever was responsible did a brilliant job.  It was one of the better challenges in ‘ANTM’ history.  Along with the shocking sea creatures, which I think was supposed to shock the girls into protesting that they just couldn’t pose next to a squid, the shoot was supposed to be advertising a million dollar collection of jewels.  BTW, none of the girls complained or acted scared so the whole dead sea creature bit was a bust for the producers.  For the photos Rolston had the girls lie on some Plexiglas that was over water and then had another Plexiglas container, it looked like a window, which was held above them; thus they were sandwiched by water without getting wet.  They wore nude colored underwear and if their hair was short they were given a wig of elaborate hair pieces.  All of them also had brightly colored lips of reddish tones.  I thought all of the pictures were beautiful, and a huge improvement from last week’s fallen angel shoot, but someone had to go home and that someone was…I’ll reveal it later. 

 

                Chelsey’s photo wasn’t a favorite of the judges, but she wasn’t in the bottom two.  They felt that the makeup was wearing her and not the other way around.  Tyra also indicated that she looked like a drag queen who should be on ‘Drag Race’ which is a show that can best be described (after you understand that it is about celebrating everything drag queenish) as a homage to ‘ANTM’ – things just seem to go in full circle on cable TV.  They thought Chelsey didn’t even look good in person when she came up for her assessment, but  I would beg to differ, I thought she looked great…too bad about that huge gap between her front teeth though. 

 

                Lexie did much better this week, although I don’t know about her nose.  Back at the house she finally confronted Kasey for making her look so bad during the preliminary week.  Remember, Lexie talked about a conversation she had with another contestant over how that contestant didn’t really want to be on the show.  Kasey asked the group how they felt about someone in their midst who didn’t really want to be there and the girl was indentified and feelings were hurt.  It was good to see Lexie hold her own.  I think she is growing on me…or maybe it is her nose. 

 

                Liz’s picture was beautiful, but then again, like the shoot she did with Tyra, she was wearing a wig.  Of course there was trouble in paradise when her contacts started to water up after some of the glittery eye shadow fell into her eye.  Once again, it seemed like a reasonable complaint.  Even on TV you could tell that her eyes were watering, but Mr. Jay just had to paint her as a complainer.  When this was mentioned during the judging panel it stopped the judges dead in their tracks and they bitched about how she shouldn’t be bitching, which I didn’t really think she was doing in the first place.  You know, one of my biggest gripes is when the mothers of the group start whining about how they deserve to be the winner more than any of the girls without children because of their sacrifice.  I would say that Liz bordered on that this week, but she didn’t cross the line.  She said that she WANTED to win because she was a mother and not DESERVE to win because she managed to procreate.  I think overall Liz is a good egg and everything that she has lent her two cents about has been legit.  I think the Jays and the judges need to find another scapegoat.  Oh, I almost forgot, because of Liz’s alleged bellyaching she was in the bottom two but wasn’t told to pack her bags.  Alas, that honor went to…

 

                Rhianna. 

 

           Rhianna was so impressive during the preliminary week posing as a tree and other forms of nature.  I don’t know what went wrong.  You could tell she was losing steam.  She never had a picture that was a homerun.  She felt especially pressured since Ann the other girl with unconventional looks has been wowing the judges, but she was apparently loved by the other contestants, which is always a very good sign.  I hope she stays with fashion somehow – if not as a model than perhaps as a stylist or even a designer.

 

           I thought Jane took one of the loveliest photos but of course the panel wasn’t that impressed.  They said she looked very ‘Town & Country’ which I don’t disagree, but don’t necessarily think of as a bad thing.  Some girls are more ‘Town & Country’ than Urban & Hip, that’s fine, the world needs all kinds.  Thus far Jane hasn’t really stood out.  I wonder what her future will be. 

 

          Chris and her big tall forehead was of course in the good graces of Miss Tyra who said that they came from the same tribe.  Chris’ picture was Rolston’s favorite which I think is more due to the way the water rippled than to her actual talents as a model.  I think she has a charming personality.  I think she was brave to get on the rollercoaster after it was apparent she was deadly scared of them, what I don’t think is that she has an outstanding face.  Once again, I think she is pretty, but she isn’t model pretty nor is her face really that interesting. 

 

          Kendal did fine.  Rolston had some issues with her trying to keep her mouth not to look so hard, but overall she took a gorgeous photo…again. 

 

 

 

 

          Kacey took a very good photo, but as mentioned above she was confronted by Lexie.  What I didn’t mention was that she was basically confronted by the rest of the group as well.  I think what tipped the equation for Lexie was that she and some other girls have been doing their best to keep the house looking nice while Lexie does her best to leave messes that she doesn’t lift a finger to clean up.  Further, she has allegedly has a boyfriend while having a huge flirt fest going on with the male model she was paired with at their last fashion shoot as fallen angels.  Obviously she is into hurting her boyfriend’s feeling because it isn’t as if she minds giving googly eyes to someone new.  She even has the bright idea of inviting some of the guys over for a cookout.  Unlike that one season where the models all jumped into a hot tub with their male counterparts (and the girl from Kansas City had a huge breakup with her boyfriend after having sex with a guy she just met) this male model bonding was just a bunch of models starring at each other – one half wanting to leave and the other half wanting them to go.  The only person having fun was Kacey who didn’t seem to be having fun when she was faced with girls not responding to her question if they liked her or not.  The woman has issues no doubt, but when she said she was going to serve it up at the photo shoot despite the ill feelings the rest of the gang had for her she did just that.  Next week it looks like Kacey gets into it with Lexie and Liz…kitten fight. 

 

            Esther finally had a great photo!  Rolston compared her to Elizabeth Taylor. I didn’t really like how her hair separated on her forehead, but I was happy that she seems to be coming into her own. 

 

 

 

           Kayla had a very good week as well.  First Liz took her to have a photo and tea with Tyra and then she did this marvelous picture looking very Elizabethan.  The red hair works for her and out of all of the models I think she is the most versatile.

 

 

 

 

           Last but never least is Ann, who for the third time in a row and probably in the history of ‘ANTM’ won the top photo three times in a row.  Ann is a natural as well as being likeable as a contestant and amongst the contestants.  They don’t even seem to resent her that much for winning three times in a row, but then again next week might change their tune.  Wait, I just saw the preview for next week.  Ann doesn’t like holding the chicken head.  You know that Mr. Jay will think she is all divaish for not wanting to hold a chicken head!

 

If you are interested in knowing more, check out the official website.   

Here is a list of my ‘Top Model’ blog entries to date: 

‘America’s Next Top Model’ Takes on 'Italian Vogue' ~ And A New Blog is Born

 

 Models Who Live in Glass Houses ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (ANTM) Blog

 

               Fallen Angels in Uncomfortable Harnesses ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Blog (ANTM)    

 

 

 

     Westerfield © 2010