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America's Next Top Model: The Girls Go to the Great Wall
by JJ Hawkins, posted Dec 6th 2007 9:23AM
(S09E12) Tonight's show was a little bit on the dull side if you ask me.
There weren't a lot of laughs, the challenge was completely forgettable, and the photo shoot didn't really do anything for me either, which is surprising considering Tyra was the photographer.
I just realized that a majority of the pleasure I derived from watching the show this cycle vanished the second dear old Heather was handed her walking papers. She was truly the driving force behind most of this cycle's success and I'm bummed that she didn't make it to the final four. It definitely would have made these last two episodes more interesting, don't you agree?
Even if you don't , I'm betting America agrees with me on this one. I mean, Heather has been America's CoverGirl of the week 12 consecutive weeks now. The girl isn't even on show and anymore and she won again last night! How is that even possible? She has to be the most popular girl to ever be on this show and for good reason.
It was really refreshing to have a model like her around. She had an exotic look, a humble attitude and she had this really attractive quirkiness about her that came off less annoying and more endearing. She was an outsider who infiltrated a glitzy modeling world she seemingly deserved no part of, but she ended up being better at some aspects of it than seasoned girls who have been at it for most of their lives.
She was the best example of an underdog I've seen on TV in a long time (unless you count anyone playing the NE Patriots this year) and it was hard not to root for her. Also, she was good for at least two or three solid laughs an episode and not always at her expense. I've always liked people that make me laugh.
Ultimately, she just brought a nice balance to the show, and now that she's gone there's a gaping hole where segments involving her used to reside. What else can I say? I'm having Heather withdrawals and it sucks.
It was really refreshing to have a model like her around. She had an exotic look, a humble attitude and she had this really attractive quirkiness about her that came off less annoying and more endearing. She was an outsider who infiltrated a glitzy modeling world she seemingly deserved no part of, but she ended up being better at some aspects of it than seasoned girls who have been at it for most of their lives.
She was the best example of an underdog I've seen on TV in a long time (unless you count anyone playing the NE Patriots this year) and it was hard not to root for her. Also, she was good for at least two or three solid laughs an episode and not always at her expense. I've always liked people that make me laugh.
Ultimately, she just brought a nice balance to the show, and now that she's gone there's a gaping hole where segments involving her used to reside. What else can I say? I'm having Heather withdrawals and it sucks.
The one satisfying thing to come out of this episode? Karma finally made a much needed appearance and got rid of Bitchy McBaldy. At the very least, watching Bianca get kicked off made this episode a little bit more watchable.
Saleisha Controversy
I guess we should address the Saleisha controversy that's beginning to brew online.
Take a look at this video.
I don't think this is as big of a deal as it may look. In fact, I probably wouldn't even be bringing this up if tonight's episode was better and I had a more things to write about.
Saleisha has known Tyra since T-zone. That was disclosed to us very early in the cycle. That video shows that Tyra has used utilized Saleisha's services as a model on two occasions prior to cycle 9. Once in an earlier cycle and once during an episode of The Tyra Banks show.
Why don't I think this is a big deal? Because Saleisha doesn't appear to have received any preferential treatment that has helped her advance from one week to the next in the competition. She's been in the bottom two several times and she's been at the top of the pack several times. Basically, she's been evaluated on the merits of her work on a weekly basis just like the rest of the girls.
Am I saying this prior relationship between Saleisha and Tyra didn't help Saleisha get on the show? Not at all, but every job I've ever held in my life is the direct result of me knowing somebody at a company and getting my foot in the door. I still had to nail multiple interviews and I still had to perform on a daily basis to show the people who hired me that they made the right decision.
I see this situation as very similar. In life, it's more about who you know then what you know. That said, you generally have to work twice as hard to prove you belong in whatever position you get knowing someone helped you land it. Saleisha has worked twice as hard this season. Long story short, I think this controversy is overblown.
The Challenge
Tonight, the girls were given roughly $200 American dollars to add accessories to an outfit that was similar to one worn by an ancient Chinese figure.
The girls scrambled around a shopping center in Beijing and bought purses and jewelry in the hopes that they could modernize the outfits.
During this sequence Bianca pulled a sneak move on Jenah and told her to go across the street because their were a ton of stores in that direction, only there really weren't.
Jenah had the last laugh because she won the challenge and selected Chantal to accompany on her reward instead of Bianca. This was Karma's first appearance in the show. And that's seriously the only thing interesting that came out of that.
The Photo Shoot
As mentioned, Tyra shot the photos this week. The girls had to pretend like they were on the verge of scaling The Great Wall to invade China.
Chantal looked like a blonde oxen but ultimately took the best photo of the girls.
Jenah looked like a slightly more attractive blonde oxen with less pronounced horns and also took great pictures.
Bianca looked like she was taking a #2 during most of the shoot. She was stiff and uncomfortable looking, and needed constant guidance. Karma, is that you again?
Saleisha pretty much killed the shoot with confident poses similar to the one seen above.
The girls also ended up taking a group photo, but it didn't really prove much because everyone on the panel picked a different girl as looking the best in the shot.
The order of the photos:
Chantal
Saleisha
Jenah
And Karma appeared one last time. The hood rat is gone! Good riddance. She never should have lasted this long in the first place.
Update: Gallery updated.
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