(S08E11) It seems like only yesterday I began using this space to relentlessly make fun of 13 want-to-be models, and now we find ourselves already down to the final four. I feel a sad, little tear forming in the corner of my eye.
If Brittany were here, she'd probably cry with me.
Four remain. Which one of the girls will become America's Next Top Model?
I never really noticed until the judges mentioned it, but Dionne does seem to scowl a lot in her photos. She looks less like she's trying to model and more like she's trying to intimidate someone into giving her something for free.
Of course, a scowl is nowhere near as bizarre as Natasha Eskimo kissing her cell phone while talking to her "husband," but some may have found that endearing. Yeah, the girl is a little weird, but I've just learned to accept it. Everything this Russian touches seems to turn into Vodka, which is a good thing in my book.
I personally think it was wrong of the other girls to question Natasha's truthfulness regarding the whole hubby and child situation. If unbelievable situations and wild back stories were a television show, yeah, Natasha would be Lost - I get that - but does it really matter?
So she doesn't wear a wedding ring. So her circumstances for arriving in the country are a little strange. Who isn't a little eccentric and different? Jaslene, Dionne, and Renee should be ashamed of themselves. More on Natasha in a second.
I was pretty impressed that Nene was able to come up with an informative yet concise story in such a short amount of time. Sure, I've heard the story a million times before, but it was entertaining nonetheless in the context of the aboriginal dance. She set a pretty high bar for the other girls to try and top.
By contrast, Jaslene came out and basically stood there like a tree telling her story that ended with the phrase "living, loving, and laughing." I threw up a little. The kid who did the solo slow-clap in an unsure manner at the end of Jaslene's performance absolutely slayed me. High comedy.
Dionne had a poor attitude throughout the entire period leading up to the storytelling session, and she pretty much tanked as I anticipated. Natasha had a lackluster showing because she spoke like she had laryngitis during her story despite performing some interesting choreography with foliage pom poms. As a result, Renee winning this challenge was a no-brainer, and she and Jaslene won some beautiful pearls. Lucky girls.
Later on in the show, I was surprised to see Natasha showing physical signs of illness with "the stuff nose and the sore throat." Is this the same girl who had a tooth pulled without anesthetic? Is this the same girl who suffered a third-degree burn on her ear but hardly whimpered? Is this the same girl I imagine wrestling wild Yaks in the Siberian wilderness for pleasure? I figured the flu would be like a paper cut to Natasha. Apparently, I was wrong.
She "fell flat" in the photo shoot to use the words of Jay Manuel. In all honesty, I can't say I blame her too much because when I'm sick with the flu, all I want to do is sleep. Of course, as a non-model dude, I have that luxury.
Like Renee and later Tyra said, "plenty of models have shown up for shoots sick and still came out with good photos." It's a shame Natasha wasn't able to pull off a decent shot despite her illness. She'd been so consistent the last half of the season.
Natasha was absolutely destroyed during the judging portion of the show by her peers and by the judges; however, she pulled out the big guns with her responses. I thought her saying she was still friends with the other girls despite them obliterating her was classy. I also found the "Gisele" comment and the "it's better to be talked about than not noticed" comment clever. This spunky little Russian never fails to come out on top in a war of words, and it's admirable.
I'm relieved Wholahay-that's-good-that's-good-can-I-have-this-bathing-suit was given the old heave-ho. Especially since she seemed to shun Natasha's embrace when learning she was going home. Although she ended up hugging Natasha in the end, this stubborn, crappy way of being kind of typified how Dionne has been all season.
She's a pretty girl with a bad attitude, and it's a wonder she made it this far. Tyra and the other judges always tell us "it takes more than just a pretty face to be America's Next Top Model." Dionne definitely fell into the "just a pretty face" category.
So with only one episode left, who of the remaining three do you think has the total package? Lurkers who usually just read this - let it be known in the comments.
I give this episode a 6 on the patented 1-7 TV Squad scale.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-09-2007 @ 10:48PM
MissPinkKate said...
I think final two will be Renee and Natasha, but I can't decide who is going to take it all. I would like Natasha to win, but they've really been pushing Renee as great mom/wife/human being angle, like they're trying to make up for how evil she was for the first half of the season.
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5-09-2007 @ 11:40PM
Michelle said...
Natasha is fantastic. She should win - after all, Eastern European models are in fashion (to paraphrase her), but unfortunately Rene (who looks far too commercial) seems to have it in the bag already; sob story and all.
And I do wonder how Natasha would fare as a Cover-girl/Spokesperson... her little "grammar problem" might not be too attractive to the sponsors.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:41AM
Sherry said...
I do absolutely adore Natasha's rape of English grammar, but in her defense Dionne's first language is English and I can't say she did much better. I know that Tyra always speaks of models needing personality and more than a pretty face, but more often than not this does not seem to be the case. If it were about personality more than striking beauty, someone please explain to me how Naomi Campbell has managed to be around for all this time?! Thus far Natasha's home life (as strange as it may be) has had no effect on her ability to grow as a model. Which, honestly, is more than I can say for Renee who uses "providing for her family" as the reason for all evil she has ever done. It seems strange that she constantly speaks as if she's the only one bringing home the bacon in the house. Hmmm... And Jaslene, as striking as she is, does have a sort of drag queen quality about her. It seems that lately fashion has been steering towards the trend of "natural" beauty. Mind you it's an airbrushed, 3 hours to look as if I didn't do a thing kind of natural, but none the less. So in the scheme of things, they may seem to be preparing the world for the disappointment of seeing Renee win, but somewhere there has to be a designer calling Tyra right now to tell her how little Renee would actually add to the industry. Natasha may not be bright, but she's personable, doesn't look like a pretty man in a wig or succubus fighting 30, so she would definitely be the best choice for marketability.
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5-10-2007 @ 1:25AM
Rocio said...
I think Natasha should win. Jaslene looks like a drag queen. And Rene is a total bitch.
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5-10-2007 @ 9:14AM
Sorceressss said...
I think Natasha should win, I do't know if she will. It will be down to her and Renee. Jaslene is too drag queen looking and as all the judges commented, she really has only one look. Renee is way too hard looking for me, as Nigel says, she just does not look fresh and young, she looks old.
I was really surprised at how vehement the three girls were in their attitude toward Natasha, and I think Twiggy hit it right on the mark with her comments about how claays Natasha is and that the other three were probably just jealous.
Natasha has to have a stellar week next week to take it all and I really hope she does!!!
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5-10-2007 @ 10:54AM
Steph said...
I think Jaslene should win. I find her to be a little too drag and a little too skinny, but that is the way most models look off camera. On camera, Jaselene has the most powerful photos and can be used not only for high fashion but for maybe a drag queens accesory store.
Natasha is a close second for me. The only thing that will stop her from winning is cover girl commerical. "It makes me easy, a brezzy, Cover Girl"
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5-10-2007 @ 11:53AM
Dara said...
From Russia, with LOVE!!!! Go, Natasha, GO!!!!!
I could care less if she was a mail order bride for some forty-something Texan. Renee does not strike me as "Mother of the Year", and she does not look young and fresh. Take a lesson kiddies, smoking and a mean disposition DOES show up in your face!!!
I think Jaz is out next week, too one demensional, drag-queen.
Nata for the WIN!!!!!!
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5-10-2007 @ 11:56AM
Dara said...
oops---I meant, dimensional....
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5-10-2007 @ 12:19PM
Erin said...
I truly think Natasha will pull out in the end. They've never had a foreigner win before, and I do think as well as Renee does in the photoshoots, in person she looks 30. I think it will get the best of her. Jaslene just does not look like a model in my opinion. I think that is why Melrose didn't win last year. Even though she kicked ass the whole season, she doesn't have...something. Natasha all the way!!
For the record, I work at a company that is primarily people from Russia, Latvia, and Kahazakstan (or however you spell it). I can't say that Natasha's personality and my co-workers' are that much different.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:27PM
Gordy said...
Don't sleep on Jaslene.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:46PM
George said...
Who could sleep on Jaslene? She's so bony...
This is a tough call. Natasha is in the lead from a sympathetic standpoint but doesn't fit the typical winner profile. Jaslene, especially recently, has come across (IMHO) as pretty unlikable and might not be well received by agencies, but is the obvious choice if Tyra wants to please her core viewership. Renee presents herself best, is the most on-the-ball and is definitely a winner *on paper* but looks old and has received the "villain" edit from day one... and the villain never wins, right?
Why does this matter to me? I need help.
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5-10-2007 @ 4:38PM
Kira said...
Ok, this whole episode I kept singing "Dionne Don't Dance" to the tune of "Vance Don't Dance." Boy am I glad to see her go. She was high maintenace man!
Ok, unlike most of you here, my Natasha love slipped a few pegs last night. I hate the "I'm too sick to take a good picture" excuse.... and man were her poses BAD!!! I know the others were ganging up on her, but she IS a bit too cocky don't ya think? I kept thinking of that old SNL skit that made fun of Celine Dion saying "I am the best sing-ah in the world!," except with Natasha it would be "I am being dee mos bootiful model in dee worllll!" I did like her Gisele comment though, so I give her props for sticking to her guns.
Jaslene has become as boring as wallpaper for me. She can take beautiful pics but between the shoots its like "YAWN!"
Lastly ... Renee. Ok I was lamenting the loss of bitchy Renee for awhile, only because it made for interesting watching. Now I'm actually kinda impressed with her apparent complete turn-around. I think she is suddenly the most normal, most professional, and most consistent model of the bunch. I'd like to see her win, but since she would be the second All-American blonde to win in a row.
Anyway, based on the next 2 episodes I think either of these three could be eliminated or win the whole thing....just a matter of what happens. Should be fun!
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5-10-2007 @ 4:43PM
Michelle said...
i love the crap line tyra gave about natashas overall body of working being better that dionne so thats why she got to stay. um hello, where was the logic last week? britanys overall body of work was 10 times better than dionne, yet she got sent home. yes, im bitter and still pissed that brittany is gone. i know she was a drama queen but i dont care. she had the best look [in my opinion] and now the remaining contestants are just...meh.
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5-10-2007 @ 5:08PM
udienow said...
Sorry, folks. I already have big money down on Jaslene, but it's nice to have a dream. I mean, I love Natasha as much as the next person, even with her scary clown smile (she's one of those people who should never smile), but the girl can't speak. Unless she had a voiceover talent for all of her commercials, can you really imagine her as ANTM? And, yes, Renee is a super bitch sent from planet Bitchzilla, so no one WANTS her to win---but damnit if you can actually understand what she says. That's Jaslene's one downfall (besides the whole drag queen thing)---she sounds like she's chewing a pound of Bubbleyum. But, if she gets a good speech therapist (I know quite a few), I think she's the one. Latina power---whoohoo!
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5-10-2007 @ 5:16PM
Matt said...
I'm sad Dionne is gone because she was great in the exit interviews and she had an opinion, but it was her time to go.
I think Jaslene is being set up for the win. Every guest who has come on has loved her. She has a personality. She rocks almost every photo shoot. She has a distinct look (let's not forget that Tyra had basically the same look for most of her early photo shoots in her career). She wants it bad, and the judges have noticed. If she takes the note about having one look and rocks the CoverGirl shoot in the process, I think she'll have it. I can't remember if her walk sucks, but they've let people who lose the runway win a bunch of times now, so that's obviously a non-factor. If Jay is allowed to vote in the finals, I see almost no way she can lose.
Renee has three main things against her: she looks old, she looks commercial and she got edited as the villain. While you can overcome one of those things, I don't know if you can overcome all three. The only person who could even be seen as a semi-villain to win was Eva, and she had a much better arc to greatness than Renee has.
Natasha's a wild card. The public seems to love her the most, which gets you a leg up in the finals, she is European which fits in with fashion today and she this big ball of energy. But she doesn't take the best photos (Jaslene), she likely won't win the CoverGirl shoot (probably Renee, but who knows) and her walk isn't that good. So she's going to have to get by purely on personality and hope they label Jaslene as one-look and Renee as too commercial. She is lucky she has Twiggy on that panel though, because that woman loves her to death.
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5-10-2007 @ 5:27PM
udienow said...
One more thing! The writer is my husband, so I have to trash talk a little for his choice in Renee (aka Queen of Bitchzilla). From the beginning, he picked her dumbass for whatever crazy reason, and Jaslene caught my eye since she had tried and failed before (I'm a sucker for the lone horse).
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5-10-2007 @ 9:47PM
VSJ said...
Mrs. Hawkins #16, I'm with you!
I know I have made comments in the past about Jaslene, but I really think that she is THE most qualified...Most models (Just starting in the game) are not married and certainly do not have children. You can't exactly schlep your husband and children all over the country with you while you are working modeling jobs. How could the winner not be Jaslene? Can't wait for the recap of the season finale next week JJ!
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5-11-2007 @ 12:39AM
Nikeiva said...
I noticed Natas lackluster behavior during her shoot but I was most intrigued by her story. I had to be on the egde of my seat to try and hear what she was saying because her lips were moving and only like 5 words at a time were on my tv screen.
My predictions are that renee and nata will be in the final two. So sad that I see my Jas falling to the side because her looks dont vary very much from week to week. How sad that they should point this out so late so theres really no time for improvement.
I see Nata for the win --but wait her English is nowhere near CG standards--- So Nene it is.
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5-11-2007 @ 3:11PM
Morgan said...
Renee was the she-devil. I am so disappointed that the other girls bought into Renee's manipulative ways. I do give her props though. Jael would never have turned like Jaslene or Dionne. Jael will always me my favorite...although I'm seriously curious if she was on drugs the whole season. She seems like she's on drugs here: http://www.savvymiss.com/love-advice/dating-advice/dating-team-archive/article/americas-next-top-models-on-getting-out-of-the-rut-1077.html
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5-11-2007 @ 6:10PM
Yana said...
OMG! Natasha is the best girl there! Ok, I agree, she had a few bad pics, but she is so beautiful, and the other 2 don't bring anything new to the table. She is so spunky and cute and the only one who has her own look. Who cares if she has an accent Penelope Cruz does L'Oreal commercials all the time and her accent is way worse! Gisele has an accent and she's the highest paid model. Whats wrong with a foreign twist, its sexY! It was so obvious that Renee and JAslene wanted Natasha off because they were jealous and they knew that she was serious competion and if NAtasha was voted off then Dionne would be voted off next and they would be in the top two. Im very excited to see what happens next week. Plus Renee and Jaslene dont understand the whole cultural difference . Natasha isnt acting any different from the Russian people i know. Natasha all the way!!! RUSSIAN PRIDE!!!
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