Friday Night Sweat Session + ANTM

Whenever I think of "2 a days" my mind races back to thoughts of high school football. Mildly athletic teens being forced to hit the gym morning and night, all in an effort to "win state" lol. Last night I needed to clear my head, so despite having already worked out with my trainer at 5am that morning, I hit the gym again for a cardio session.

The TV in my apartment gym only tunes into one channel - - the CW. Thus, I was forced to check out the season 20 premiere of America's Next Top Model. I haven't really watched this show since maybe season 5, but honestly... after Eva, Yaya, and Toccara season 3 I was cool on the rest. Anyways, this is a show that I can watch on mute... and ironically it's about models, so in theory they should be able to paint an effective story without the volume turned up lol.

I can't say that I've been successfully sucked into watching this entire season, but I might make it a Friday night ritual to clear my head with cardio instead of happy hour drinks.

Reality Check: ANTM

So, I'm sitting here watching yet another season of ANTM. *sigh* I know, I know... While I think Tyra is extremely corny (though I respect her business hustle) this show has pretty much been like a broken record since season 3. I don't care what anyone says, Season 3 cannot be topped!!! Eva the Diva, Yaya, Tocarra... they were all my favs... nobody can touch Eva tho... but I digress....

So, when I was setting up my dvr to record all my favorite shows I pressed the info button and saw that tonight's premiere episode featured the makeovers, my favorite thing!!! I love seeing the transformations (and who breaks down)...

The episode was pretty much more of the same but I can say that my standout favorite is Naduah. She's striking...

My dvr somehow stopped recording the remainder of the episode so I have no clue how things ended... but this season should be decent enough. I can't say I'll watch the episodes when they air... but I'll probably record them. Who else watched?

Elongation Nation

The theme of episode 3 was elongation. Being petite models, the ladies are forced to bring their A game every time - - always having to appear longer than they actually are in print and in person. After practicing their walks with Ms. Jay Alexander and the fiercest 9 yo strutting runways around the world, Diva Davanna, the girls appeared in their first show for designer Kevan Hall. The challenge of appearing in the show with 5'10" models made some perform average, but Brittney rose to the top. On the flip side, Lulu scraped the bottom of the barrel. During their practice, Lulu had been adamant that her walk needed no help because it was her "signature walk" she'd been doing "forever".... Ummmm......

Newsflash: To all aspiring models - - you don't have a signature walk until you make it and folks know who you are. Being a contestant on ANTM and refusing to change your "signature walk" is absolutely ridiculous to me. Obviously, your "walk" has gotten you nowhere as of now so maybe you should keep an open-mind and try to soak up all the knowledge you stand to gain by being a part of the show.

When the photoshoot rolled around the ladies worked with a scaled down set to help make them appear bigger. A surprise front runner was Kara who seemed to finally master her face angles and have her jaw line photograph softer. Two of my favorites, Nicole and Erin, didn't disappoint this week and were able to deliver pictures that made their bodies seem very long - - Nicole looking like she was over 6'0".

Elimination time rolled around and Ms. Lulu "my signature walk will never be changed" was the contestant sent packing her bags. After having a sub par walk and producing a lackluster photo, the judges decided she no longer had what it took to be be America's next top model.

Nicole

Kara

Erin

Smile with your Eyes

The 2nd episode started off with the ladies meeting with Wilhelmina Models President Sean Patterson. Along with Photographer and Judge Nigel Barker, the ladies were given the opportunity to make a lasting impression on Patterson (the season winner will be calling him boss) in an interview setting. Some did well while a few struggled to come across charismatic and memorable. A surprise elimination sent home 1 girl, Ashley, who aside from her large eyes was not that noticeable.

The ladies then went to "smize" training with Tyra who drilled them on her signature "smile with your eyes" technique. They had a competition and the winners were awarded a 5-star dinner with Patterson.

The photoshoot featured the girls topless and donning long wigs while posing with horses and their jockeys. A few of the top performers were Erin, Brittany and Nicole who managed to exude tons of emotion in their photos and impress the judges.

I liked the surprise elimination though I wish Bianca would be sent home. She is quickly emerging as the bitchy, whiner of the house constantly complaining about everything on photo shoots and causing discord among the ladies in the house.

Erin

Brittany

Smaller package, Bigger fun

To say I know what season ANTM is on would be a lie. After my all-time favorite Eva "the diva" won season 3, I came to terms with the fact that the once addictive show was going downhill... slowly fading into the black abyss of reality tv when the faces, names and seasons run together. When Tyra announced that she was opening up the current season exclusively to ladies 5'7" and under it made my ears perk up. Another reality show was the last thing I needed but the lure of seeing women my size sucked me in.

Last night I watched the season premiere and I think that I'll be sticking around. Something about seeing women that looked like real people made me happy. Your girlfriend, co-worker, next door neighbor, these girls looked like everyday people. They were cute and exuded a model quality about but in a more believable package.

These are my personal favs...

Ashley
22 yo
5'6"





Courtney
22yo
5'4"





Rae
21 yo
5'6"




Nicole
18 yo
5'7"




The show airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on the CW. For more info check out the site here.

Short is Beautiful

ANTM is in its 12th cycle and it's safe to say we no longer expect (if we ever really did) for the winner to become a "top model" and strut on runways around the world. Instead, it has become a contest for your 15 minutes of fame. I applaud contestants like Toccara, Yaya, and Eva (my personal favorite) for keeping their names and faces out there... while some past winners (Naima, Nicole, Whitney, etc) were so random that you pretty much forgot about them as soon as the camera lights went black.

In an effort to keep her show as fresh as possible (if anything can really be fresh in it's 12th+ season) Tyra has decided to change up the dynamics of the show for the 13th season which is casting now (click here for application)

What is this change, you may be wondering. Well, season 13 is all about the short girls! The show is only accepting girls that are 5'7" and BELOW!!!! This comes as great news to short beauties that have been turned down from the show for the past 12 seasons. Change has come... to ANTM!

For my Chicago folks, ANTM will be rolling thru the windy city on March 25th and it should be noted that the entire ANTM casting team will be in attendance... definitely your fair warning to bring your best game face.

For my AZ friends, they don't seem to be casting in Phoenix this year but if you want to give it a try your best option is to go to either the LA casting on March 28th or the Albuquerque casting on March 10th.

America's Next Top...Model??

*originally posted on 5/15/08 on my myspace blog*

Despite being in their 100th season, I still find myself tuning in on Wednesday nights to see what drama Tyra has cooked up for the eager model hopefuls. Though half of them tend to have no potential, each season there is one that stands out. This cycle, for me, it was definitely Anya! From her first photo she was high fashion and leap and bounds ahead of the other girls. I just knew she was going to win. She had to. Nobody else came close to her in beautiful pictures, challenge wins, and actual model potential. Well, to my disappointment they announced Whitney - - the "plus size", cheesy robotic pageant smiling girl from the South. I am convinced that this show is a joke. There is no way to justify giving her the win. Anya was superior to her in every way imaginable...and the fact that Whitney actually won...I'm in total shock and disgust.

To me it goes slightly deeper than just the ANTM show, but the Tyra Banks' Bankable Productions corporation as a whole is quite suspect to me right now. Her Tyra Show talk show went from being a "must see" to a "who cares". She started strong but how many "don't lose your man" or "how old do I look" or celebrity interviews can you have? Does Jordan Sparks really bring in the high ratings? Heidi and Spencer? Give me a break....

After last night's huge let down, I'm officially letting go of Tyra in terms of providing entertaining tv. She is in the works to bring a new show to the CW network (Stylista) which is pegged to be an Apprentice meets the world of high fashion. We'll see if she can redeem herself.