To Model in a Bathtub or Not ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 17 Blog (‘ANTM’)

BTW, I realize that there was another episode last night, but since I haven’t posted this article, I hope you can forgive me. 

 

                 I missed this episode when it first aired, but I will give props to the producers because watching it from the computer was a joy whereas in the past it was, as the British tend to say, a bugger.  The show started with the announcement that all of America can soon smell like a reality model want-to-be – the fragrance will be debuting at your local Target soon.  The girls go to a lab to create their own individual perfumes, which was a fun task.  After they created their concoctions (the name of which should be tied somehow to their ‘brand’) they had to sell their wares to the public which required them to meet their ‘fans’ while in bathtubs while wearing bathing suits.  Huh. 

 

                Later in the episode, I’ll cover the details of what happened during the perfume challenge in the individual reviews of the models, the women were given two reality star role models to emulate in their photo shoot; Snooki from ‘Jersey Shore’ and NeNe Leakes from ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’.  Allow me to point out the obvious, although I love me some NeNe I don’t think neither she nor Snooki represent the type of iconoclasts who should be held in high esteem especially since NeNe tends to be too aggressive with her cast mates and Snooki doesn’t appear to be the most sober of individuals.  Part of the challenge was sold on the idea that the models need to learn how to project their personalities in the same way NeNe and Shookie project themselves…ye gads!  For some reason they were put on the back of a motorcycle with a bad boy.  It wasn’t the most inspired ‘Top Model’ photo shoot, but it was interesting to see how it was done on a flat bed trailer driving down late (or really early) L.A. streets 

 

                Kathy Griffin was underused as a guest judge.  She was funny and had a great point about knowing who you are and where you are in terms of your career.

 

                I almost forgot, but Eva Marcilla (formally Pigford) returned to her roots (she was winner of Cycle 3) and interviewed the models as they were participating in the bathtub challenge.  Marcilla is arguably the most successful of women who have won ‘ANTM’.      

 

                Shannon Ratiff seems to be fading.  She called her perfume ‘Smitten’ which I still don’t know if I like as a name for a scent.  I really thought she might have been in the bottom two…except this week two girls went home and Shannon landed in the bottom.  Her picture was odd.  She is making a fist and it appears to have cast a shadow across her face.  I don’t expect the models to know X, Y, and Z I do think they should know where their light is and adjust posing accordingly.  I was surprised that the judges didn’t mention it nor criticize her.  Shannon did get Banks’ patented ‘the light is leaving your eyes’ speech.  I don’t think she will make it to the end.  Honestly, I thought she should have gone home this week. 

 

                Lisa D’Amato has gone up and down in the competition.  This week she won not only the ‘model in a tub with a scent challenge’, which gave her immunity for the photo elimination challenge, but she also got the first call out for her take of NeNe.  This even though she didn’t know who NeNe was before the challenge.  Ironically, Bianca was the one who clued her in.  She named her perfume ‘Neon’ and that was a good name for someone with her personality.  Because she is so gregarious she presented well to the fans and won their vote.  I don’t know if I’m overly in love with her photo, but over all I don’t think this photo shoot was that interesting.  I don’t think she will win, but I think she will be one of the last ones standing.

 

                Bianca Golden was finally sent packing.  I thought she was actually making an effort to play well with others.  This change might have been based on the fact that her best friend in the house was eliminated the week before.  Her scent was called ‘Candid’ which with Bianca meant it gave her license to say whatever the f*&^ pops into his mind.  She kept making the point that Beyonce would never sell her perfume in a bathtub so she shouldn’t either.  She didn’t even get in the thing, while Lisa was practically doing laps.  I don’t know why Bianca cared one way or another.  Of all of the borderline bits the ‘ANTM’ contestants have done in the past, sitting in a tub clothed in a bathing suit is pretty mild even if it is at best stupid and has little to do with perfume. 

 

                Her chance at redemption was the photo shoot and one couldn’t fault Bianca for at least trying, in an attempt to mimic Snooki so she ordered up a jar of pickles.  At first several models wanted to borrow the props, but she was adamant that they were hers, but she seemed good natured, however she denied Allison a pickle, and all the girl wanted was a pickle to eat.

 

                Despite Bianca’s attempt to be innovative was for naught because her argument about why she didn’t sit in the silly bathtub only made the situation worse for her in their eyes.  She isn’t Beyonce and her level of fame is only above the average ‘Top Model’ contestant because she got into an altercation with the chick who played Tracy Turnblad in ‘Hairspray’ at an airport in the Caribbean.  Anywho, it makes little difference because she was shown the door.  I had originally thought she might be one of the finalists but the fact that she was given her walking papers before the models go to Crete is shocking. 

 

                Dominique Reighard was Snookie and the judges seemed to love her picture.  As it stands now she might be one of the finalists.  She has a dramatic look that she seems to be able to manipulate with ease (she was a sexy uptown version of Snooki).  Dominique named her perfume ‘Survivor’ which I presume is a nod to everything she has overcome and not necessarily the TV show of the same name.  ‘Survivor’ is a horrible name for a perfume.  Surviving something leaves you bloody, bruised and hopefully wiser – but I don’t think you necessarily want to smell like it.  I imagine she is going to Crete.

 

                Allison Harvard continued to show that she is no cookie cutter contestant.  She named her perfume ‘Honey Blood’ which wouldn’t work for anyone but her.  I thought her channeled Snookie photo was the best of the bunch.  The judges didn’t seem to like it as much.   I think she will be one of the finalists. 

 

                Laura Kirpatrick was cast as NeNe and once again she proved to be her usual adorable self.  She did some great NeNe sayings.  Her perfume’s name wasn’t that original with a title of ‘Love’.  The judges weren’t in ‘love’ with her photo, and frankly I can’t believe that Tyra and the producers couldn’t find a better shot of her.  Seriously, this photo is horrible!

 

                Angelea Preston wasn’t in the bottom this week which was a change for her.  Her perfume was embarrassingly named ‘Angelea’.  Her photo was adored by the judges but I found that her NeNe was far from the NeNe I have come to love despite her flaws.  I don’t know how much longer Angelea will be in the competition, so far she has lasted a lot longer than I would have guessed. 

 

 

                Kayla Ferrel was sent home.  She never really found her niche this cycle.  I think she was branded a cause more than an actual person.  For instance she named her perfume ‘Free’.  I think it was a relief for her to be sent home, however I differ with the judges and confess that I like her photo.  I didn’t think it was the worst of the bunch by a long shot.

 

                Alexandria Everett took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to choose a scent and when she did she named it ‘Diamondatrix’ -  good heavens!  In my mind she almost channeled too much NeNe and made her photo look cartoonish, but once again the judges liked it even though Mr. Jay stated that she didn’t provide the photographer much variety.  

 

                That’s it for this week. For more info on the show check out the show’s official website here.

 

               Here are links to the last blog entries.

                  ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Super Duper Cycle 17 ~ ‘ANTM’ ALL STARS Blog 

                  Models on Stilts ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 17 Blog (‘ANTM’)

                   The Adventures of Elderly Models ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model All Stars’ Blog Cycle 17 (‘ANTM’)

                Honoring an Iconic (Alleged) Pedophile ~ America’s Next To Model Blog Cycle 17 (ANTM)

                Model on Model Violence ~ ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Cycle 17 (‘ANTM’) Blog

 

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