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America's Next Top Model: Ann Is America's Next Top Model
Recap and Commentary by RTVC Senior Staff Writer Jacob D.
December 2, 2010
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Winner, ANTM-15
Previously on America's Next Top Model:
14 new girls signed up for the fifteenth cycle of ANTM, all of them hoping to win, but knowing only one girl can.
In week one, the girls took photos that reflected their growth from being bullied in school to being beautiful, vital women. At judging panel, Ann's photo was deemed the best and she received First Call Out, whereas Anamaria was eliminated because of the concerns the judges had regarding her emaciated figure.
Makeovers commenced in week two and a surprise elimination was sprung on the girls right after. Terra was cut from the competition, leaving sister Chris to fend for herself. The week two photo shoot saw the girls portraying fallen angels and the overall end result did not please the judges. Ann was one of the only exceptions and received a second First Call Out. On the other hand, Sara was eliminated for not making enough of an impact.
Week three brought the girls a photo shoot involving underwater beauty shots, giving Ann her third First Call Out in a row and getting Rhianna a ticket out of there when the judges questioned whether she had enough versatility as a model. In week four, the girls posed with luchadores, Mexican wrestlers, and Ann continued to dominate the competition with her fourth First Call Out, tying her with the previous season's Krista for the record at the time. After weeks of underwhelming performances, Lexie was eliminated.
Week five brought the photo shoots to a bigger scale when the girls shot on Rodeo Drive, working in pairs and taking solo pictures. Ann broke a Top Model record when she received her fifth First Call Out in a row, also tying her for the record of most overall FCOs in Top Model history, and Kacey was sent home when she seemed disconnected from that week's photo shoot.
In week six, the girls aped various fashion design legends and Liz, posing as John Galliano, broke Ann's streak by receiving her first First Call Out. Kendal, this writer's favorite girl, chose simplicity when posing as Vera Wang, but gave too little and got sent home. Week seven saw the girls shooting their first commercial challenge and Chris' bright personality put her on top. Ann fell into the bottom two against Esther, but it was Esther who would be eliminated, just missing out on going overseas for the season.
Speaking of which, the remaining six girls traveled to Venice, Italy, marking the third time ANTM has gone to Italy after Cycles Two and Ten. Their first shoot abroad was another group shot, this time with a male model on a gondola. Kayla stole the show and took her first First Call Out and Liz was eliminated when the judges felt like she complained too much and made too many excuses for herself.
The top five girls posed as sentient statues in their next photo shoot and Kayla received her second First Call Out while Chris was shown the door when the judges felt like she had mentally checked out of the competition.
The final four girls learned of a looming double elimination, so how they performed in that last shoot, a 'moving editorial' directed by Tyra, was incredibly important. Ann pleasantly surprised the judges with her performance and set a new record when she received her sixth overall First Call Out, putting her in the final two for the season AND the ANTM history books. In a tough decision between the other three girls, the judges advanced Chelsey and eliminated both Jane and Kayla, just shy of the finale.
By the way, I want to get something off of my chest. You've already seen me complain about this trend of a "last minute double elimination," which started in Cycle 13 and has been the standard procedure since, so I won't go into that again here. However, I have a bone to pick in regards to how Kayla was eliminated. I missed the episode the first time, but had heard the reason why she was eliminated and I didn't believe it. When I finally checked it out on The CW's website, I found that it was true: Kayla was eliminated because the judges weren't sure she was "high fashion."
WHAT?! Kayla's not high fashion? Where the Hell have the judges been this season? Were they replaced with a new, alien clone panel at the last minute? They have complimented her for and raved about her ability to be a chameleon in her photos, falling for her look and the vast majority of her pictures, her Rodeo Drive shots being her only weak entries. They were impressed with her modeling abilities and going into the final four, she had just received two First Call Outs. Then, in the final four, they start to question whether or not she's high fashion and eliminated her for it??
That, folks, is possibly THE biggest "Bull Shit" elimination in ANTM history. Previously, I had thought Lisa's elimination in Cycle Five was the worst ever because she too was cut for an incredibly arbitrary reason, in contrast to her actual performance, which had been solid on all fronts and amazing a number of times up to that point. Heck, the judges even loved the photo she took THAT WEEK! But she was sent home and now Kayla is gone in a more heinous way because she got further than Lisa and had an equally strong track record, but was cut for some bizarre reason.
Look, I'm not saying Chelsey is undeserving. In fact, I said in my last scoreboard that she still had a chance, even if it was a long shot. I had assumed so because Kayla, along with Ann, had dominated the competition up to the final four because she had made an impact personality-wise and performance-wise. Had Kayla completely bombed in that last challenge, I would've understood why she was sent home or if she were like, say, Alexandra from last season and had a case of "Too Little Too Late." But she fit neither bill and was thus, unfairly eliminated in a decision that the judges tried to rationalize in the worst way: completely contradictory to how they acted and reacted the whole season up to that point.
Anyway, we now have our final two and they will face their final challenges in their bid to be America's Next Top Model. Who will win? Queen Ann, who dominated like no other girl has before? Or will it be sleeper success story Chelsey, whose drive and strong performances managed to clinch her a spot in the final two? Let's find out!
By the way, I want to pose a quick trivia question to you ANTM fans. Chelsey made the final two and she becomes the second girl to do so while also achieving a certain, questionable distinction. What is so unusual about Chelsey's ascension to the final two and who else mirrored her path before her? I'll have the answers for you at the end of the article.
On with the show!
After surviving the double elimination, Ann and Chelsey celebrate being in the final two. Chelsey tells us she has wanted to be a model since she was three and she is freaking out that she is now getting that chance 20 years later. Ann says she is proud of herself for getting this far and working so hard, adding that this is the biggest thing she's ever done with her life. At the house, Chelsey tells us that she is so glad to hear a 'yes!' after so many years of 'no.' Ann says she wasn't self-conscious about her height until she was in her teens and is brought to tears by the fact that she is openly accepted now.
Later, the girls are driven to a lake and told that Vincent Peters will be shooting photos of them in that natural setting. Ann is first and Vincent seems to like her a lot, saying Ann is very couture, very high end fashion. Chelsey takes her turn and Vincent says she's a hard-working girl. The shoot ends and the girls head back to their house.
Tyra Mail: "Real high fashion models know how to commercialize their success. -Love, Tyra"
Gee, I have absolutely no idea what they'll be doing!
The next day, the girls head out to meet with Mr. Jay and film their CoverGirl commercials. Last night, the girls didn't receive scripts so much as they received a few lines. Well it turns out that they will not be reciting a speech in the moment like in season's past, but instead will do voiceovers later in the day.
After hair and makeup, the girls film the commercial together and do a pretty good acting job. Chelsey is told she must be more personable, but she manages to correct herself. In another portion of the shoot, even Ann is getting raves for her commercial work and Mr. Jay loves how the two have found a way to work off of each other.
Before the final portion of the commercial, Mr. Jay decides to give the girls some inspiration and the two are surprised to find their families are present! After that emotional moment, Chelsey is taken to do her campaign ad, shot by Federico de Angelis, which means Ann will be the first of the two to record her voiceovers. It also means Mr. Jay won't be there to guide Chelsey since he'll be working with Ann on said voiceover project. Chelsey's parents are bursting with pride and Federico says Chelsey was easy to work with.
On the subject of Ann, she begins recording her vocal track, but is told she's being too stiff at first. Chelsey then takes her turn and is told not to rush it. Ann goes to shoot with Federico and I think of two things: is everyone in her family tall? And she looks exactly like her brother. Anyway, Federico says Ann is a great editorial girl, but it was difficult trying to make her seem commercial. After their work is done, Mr. Jay gives the girls good news when he says their families will be present at their final runway showdown.
Tyra Mail: "It's time to make one more important stop on your race to the top. Love, Tyra"
Shouldn't that be, "it's time to make one more important stop IN your race to the top?"
Ann and Chelsey head off to have a meet and greet with Ivan Bart, Senior VP of IMG. He first sits with Chelsey and Chelsey says she's been trying to break into the business for a long time. Ivan looks at her portfolio and then tells us that he felt comfortable chatting with Chelsey and could see IMG working with her in the future. Ann tells Ivan about her growth from within her own skin and after also checking out her portfolio we hear the same thing we've heard about Ann for a long time: great photos, could be better as far as personality goes.
The next day, the girls are taken to the site of the fashion show and are told they will be modeling looks from Roberto Cavalli's, "Just Cavalli," fashion line. Joining them will be the other girls who made the final six, meaning Liz, Chris, Jane, and Kayla plus, as is tradition, the show will be lead by the previous cycle's winner, in this case Krista, as a way of passing the torch.
After preparations and pep talks, it is time for the girls to work it! Krista leads the show and Ann is the first of this season's final two to get out on that catwalk. She's got a deer-in-the-headlights look, but is still gorgeous. Chelsey takes her first walk and looks incredibly confident. The girls rush to get changed into their second outfits and make their second passes, Ann still looking like her awkward, yet high fashion self and Chelsey still having a serious game face. The girls walk the final pass and both are on such a high from being in such a huge show AND being done with the competition! At least, as far as actual challenges go. There's still a judging panel to be had.
Speaking of which, Ann and Chelsey head to their final judging panel session, at the end of which one of them will be named, "America's Next Top Model." Serving as guest judges in this session are Mr. Jay and Roberto Cavalli himself.
The judges begin by looking at Chelsey's runway walk and Nigel says she was too fast and too stiff. However, the camera loves her. Tyra says she gets lost at the end of the runway, needing to be on top of her game at all times. Mr. Jay echoes her sentiments, but Roberto is mostly satisfied with her. Andre says he felt no spark, but loved her legs and Nigel says it looked like she had tunnel vision, forgetting about the audience.
Now it's Ann's turn and Nigel says her walk has really improved, but she was too bug-eyed. Mr. Jay wanted her to own her walk and Roberto says she seemed scared. Andre says he'd give her walk a 'D-.'
Now it's time to look at the Cover Girl commercial and Ann's performance is critiqued first. Andre says the girls were engaging and while Ann needs to work on her vocal delivery, he thought she looked gorgeous. Mr. Jay says he was amazed at how they fed off of each other's energy and Nigel says Chelsey is a natural. However, Tyra says they were a little too natural and didn't seem like they were selling makeup. Roberto agrees with Tyra.
Tyra then moves on to the Cover Girl photos. Wait, so we're not going to hear Chelsey's voiceover? Hmmm. Could this be a sign that she'll get passed over? Chelsey's photo is posted and Nigel says it is very powerful. Tyra says she was stunning and Mr. Jay says the photographer loved her. Roberto again feels the product isn't prominent enough and Andre agrees this time.
Ann's photo is posted and it's incredibly awkward, but not in the way you'd think. Ann's face is so gorgeous and womanly, but the way her body is composed it looks like her head is floating in mid air, like her body was airbrushed OUT of the shot. Roberto loves her photo and Andre is drawn to it. Mr. Jay says she was difficult to shoot and it felt like she was holding back. Tyra says she usually loves looking through Ann's film, but this time she seemed very clenched and wonders if Ann knows how to be commercial.
Now it's time for the judges to deliberate. Who will win? I think Chelsey is the most well-rounded, but no one can deny the impact Ann has had on this season so both are strong contenders for the win. I still think Ann will take it, but what do the judges think?
Nigel says Chelsey is unique and a joy to shoot. Roberto says Chelsey is more professional while Ann is more naive. Andre says Ann is fresh and new, saying she is undoubtedly high fashion. Mr. Jay isn't sure if Ann is ready to 'take off the training wheels' and Roberto says Ann would be better for Italian fashion while Chelsey would be better for American fashion. Mr. Jay says Chelsey has an impressive body of knowledge, but Andre says you don't need to know everything to be a top model. Nigel says Ann is a star, but he would book Chelsey for a job. Andre continues to support Ann.
A decision or two has been made and it's time to wrap things up. America's Next Top Model is Ann! Surprise surprise. Yeah Chelsey is the more well-rounded and professional of the two and I say that usually the more well-rounded girl in the final two wins, but Ann had just made too big of an impact on the judges this season such that it would've been extremely difficult to knock her from her perch. And in the end, she wasn't. Chelsey gave it a damn good try though and should be proud of her strong record, the experiences she's had, and the exposure she's getting.
Well, after years of being told she's too tall, she's not normal, and so on, Ann has achieved her dream in grand fashion and I am happy for her.
On a side note, I'm also glad that a Texan finally won this show! We've placed second twice with Natasha from Cycle Eight and Chantal from Cycle Nine, Chantal also being from my hometown of Austin, but we finally come out on top. Not only that, but this Texan is a major record setter in ANTM history. I love my home state!
On another side note, the following states still have had ZERO representation on this show: Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming. If you live in one of these states, try out for the show and maybe you'll be the one who finally makes a strong showing for your home state!
And with that, cycle fifteen comes to a close. Look out for my final scoreboard, in which I recap the season and give my thoughts on how it went plus where it stacks up amongst all the prior cycles. Also, be sure to join me for Cycle 16 and the eventual search for a new Top Model.
See ya there!
P.S. Earlier I posed a trivia question that asked what is so unusual about Chelsey's path to the final two. The unusual thing is that she made it to the final two without ever receiving a First Call Out at judging panel. That's only happened once before and the girl in question was Laura from Cycle 13. Every other member of every final two received at least one First Call Out before making it to the finale.
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