Damn... I had a long post on the girls' photos, but it didn't go through. In short: Brooke's was pretty good, Nnenna's was scary, Jade's was hideous, Sara's was okay, Danielle's gap bugged, Joanie's was hilarious, Furonda's still weird looking, and Leslie's was meh. I was never on the Leslie Love Train.

I know! She really brought it with her krumping. And I loved the water bottle trick; it was sexy and cool and unexpected. I thought she looked much younger in this week's photo than she has so far on the show. Not that I'm rooting for her to win or anything (Joanie and Danielle are my top bitches), but she did sort of rock this episode.

Put me in the small group who believes Jade did indeed deserve the diamonds. She aswirled the hell out of that cape! I agree that they only showed Jade with an aswirlicious cape but since there were +1 outfits modeled by each girl, I'd bet some of the other hamsters also had aswirlable garments as well. Jade does have permanent bitchface in all her photos. Girlfriend krumped like crazy....loved the water bottle effect and that head shake she did at the end before turning, stomping off and almost running smack dab into the brick wall. <giggle>. No one upthread mentioned her tears at beginning of episode but I got a good laugh at that before realizing they're trying to set up her redemption edit. When she looked into the camera and asked can we see Jade's supermodel potential, I said to MrJace "no, but she def has loads of video ho potential.

I laughed my ass off at Furonda this week. She is the only other one I remember attempting to aswirl in the show. I remember this because her "two-step" aswirl almost plunged her right into the pews! HA! I noticed her garment actually flapped a lady in the face when F turned to strut back down the aisle. Girlie can't dance for shit. Furonda, please eat a cookie! and another one until you've gained at least 5lbs.

I'm not buying the bitch edit on Nnenna just yet. I agree with upthread...not enough evidence. Show more clips if you want more believers. Of course, I didn't fully accept YaYa bitch edit either until final 3. I'm not sure who Nnenna was standing next to when being prepped for the church fashion show but Nnenna looked short in those shots.

Tyra's turntable was amazing and I can harldy wait to view my DVD to see the little pads on her shoes. I admit, I tried it too and was surprised that I can actually do it but not as slowly as Ty-Ty...oh yeah, I'm fierce if Tyra cheated with shoe pads.

Brooke's "if Africa is so great, go back there" comment was incredibly immature, stupid, and uncalled for in relation to the supposed issue of the phone (although we all really know its about Brooke's insecurity). However, being a naive Texas adolescent thrust into the supposedly worldy LA and for weeks hearing your supposedly worldly "betters" like Tyra, Jay, Nigel, et al. make hackneyed comments about Africa and Africans constantly isn't exactly helping the situation.

Seeing in Jade in that "nun" get-up totally remind me of her previous acting gig:


Jade



Stayed tuned next week when she turns into a dragon.

I really felt that everyone (Leslie and Danielle to a lesser extent) had very good photos and that this week's judging was probably the hardest. Leslie though was doomed because of her walk. It isn't her *ass, its really where & how her back curves that funky in an unattractive way, imo. She's pitched forward.

I like Nnenna's picture because it highlighted what's beautiful about her. Dazzling white teeth against gorgeous impossibly even chocolate brown skin. The red lipstick emphasized the fullness of her mouth and her complexion as well. On top of that her legs were killer. Joanie's pick showed a playfulness and comfort that the others could learn from. She looked like she was having a ball and her energy and the contrast btwn her milky complexion and the krumpers made it all even more dramatic. Furonda's had a fierce face and great eye contact.

That whole shoot was totally Vibe layout and something that could be used to sell in the hugely profitable urban wear market. Didn't they show a clip of Tyra twirling on the runway? Clearly she's done it in her work so I don't think the twirling is so absurd. Anyway, the church fashion show seemed to be about how other people do it when they've been marginalized. Its a tradition that continues and a venue that up & comers who didn't go the traditional route have used. Yeah this ANTM but that doesn't mean that things can't change in an industry that is slowly but surely being forced to include people & elements it'd tried hard to ignore or dismiss. Others can add their own sazon to the mix or they can atleast try.

First of all Joanie is my new Brittany / Lisa! I LOVE her. Beautiful, funny, possibly even smart? Wow. And she can dance!
Brooke's back to Africa comment was definitely uncalled for but I have a feeling that if Nnenna was from say, Germany she'd be telling her to go back to Germany. Uncalled for but at least she's actually from there... or maybe Brooke is a racist, I don't know. Anyway I can't wait for both of them to get the boot. Brooke's ultra sensitivity is getting old fast and Nnenna's acting like a bitchy princess is pretty damn annoying. Anyone else think she's going to be the new Bre? I definitely get the sense of some hidden psycho, or at least that's the way the editing's going.
Jade did do a good job with the church twirling but when she won that $25,000 diamond, and then Nnenna of all people benefitted from it, too, I yelled at the TV. I don't know about Jade, though. She is evil and delusional but at least she's out there with it. I'd much rather people be up front with their evilness than put on a facade. And granted she does, or did, sometimes but people could see right through it (except maybe Nnenna?) so I don't think it counts.
In conclusion, Jade = crazy, Nnenna = possibly evil, Joannie = my girlfriend.
everyone else, whatever!
although... I secretly like Furonda now, except for when I see her full body and I'm like EAT SOMETHING!

See Furonda is one who I believe is naturally very skinny rather than starving herself. To me its clear she would have to work very hard at gaining weight. In person she looks too slim but in pictures she comes across as having more body.

When they showed Jade and Leslie in the pool together and Leslie was topless, I thought AHA! that's who she sexed up but then when Sara ended up bottom 2 instead of Brooke, I remembered Kim and Sara both being bottom two after their tryst and thought Leslie and Sarah the conservative?!? nah, but it could happen.

I completely disagree with this. I think what she's saying is that because she's African QUEEN, Nnenna thinks she's high and mighty and above people (whether that's really going on or not) but just because she's from Africa and is a "queen", she is no better than anybody else. That is my take.

Of course, again, this is ANTM and I'm putting way too much thought into it.



What??? What is this?

Joanie has been great lately. She might have screwed up her Cover Girl commercial, but she can walk and pose, and she's consistent. Danielle has been good too, but I think Joanie might be the frontrunner at this point, especially after they fix her tooth.

Jade can walk and dance, but I just can't get over the face. In her most recent photo, she looked like someone who spent too much of the 70s snorting coke Club 54, and hasn't quite gotten over that era. In other words, Janice, but less fun.

I don't think I'll ever get on the Brooke train. Her picture this week was definitely the best she's taken, but I still wouldn't consider it any better than middle of the pack. I think I just dislike her facial features. As for the Africa comment, I don't think it was racist, but it was rude. Both she and Nnenna need to act like the adults they are.

Nnenna's picture was just terrible. She's been very average in the past, but never outright bad. I think the judges have been a little too easy on her.

Furonda has been bringing it, but I don't think it's going to save her. They'll keep her around until she screws up, but they won't cut her any slack when she inevitably makes a mistake.

"her heig-TH"

OMG I hear this all the time from engineers and planning people who ought to know better and it drives me up the effing wall.

And, although I thought Nnenna reacted well to Brooke's somewhat unhinged bitchiness, I still think Nnenna is a total cow. Jade may be the obvious one to hate, but I'm coming to hate the many-n'd lady for the same reason I now can't stand Naima (is there a name connection?) — she's just kinda fake in a way I can't put my finger on.

However, I'm coming to like Joanie more and more. She had me at the offering money to Jade for toplessness.

Hey, SFWill, love the Maleficent! Always found her way more beautiful and interesting than poor Aurora ... (That was funny, thank you ... You captured Jade perfectly.)

This season is just plain bad. Nnena is about it for me ... although I'm getting tired of having Jay and Jay tell her she needs to bring out the fierce African blah blah blah. The rest of these girls seem to have great bodies and that's about it -- from the neck up not so much -- and dumb as doorknobs.

Best moment from last night -- Miss Jay and Tyra krumping. How awkward and unattractive was that?

And I can hardly wait until next week when we are invited to endure Joanie's 12-hour dental agony -- NOT!

Me too. I totally friction burned the bottoms of my feet ya'll. This show is hazardous.

P.S. I heart Joanie.

Or, conversely, she's just a cold, self-entitled bitch and it's slowly starting to dribble out. If it's an edit, I've been falling for it from pretty much day one (gullible moi).

Add me to the list of people who thought Brooke's comment wasn't racist, just stupid and irresponsible.

Also? LOVE Danielle. Of all the hamsters, she's the only one the boyfriend said he'd stop and stare at on the street.

Yeah, and it's not going to work. I am never going to like Jade. They could show her rescuing a bunch of orphans from a burning building, and I'd still hate her. Hell, she could rescue my own children from a burning building, and I'd still hate her. In fact, I'd probably accuse her of starting the fire.

I think this is what was really underneath the Brooke-Nnenna showdown:


Brooke: I am upset with you because you're confidant, while I am not.

Nnenna: You are stating the obvious.

Brooke: WAH!!! I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!

Nnenna: Ok, well if you'll excuse me, I must deal with another insecure person right now...my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend.

Brooke: DAMNIT, I wish GINA was still here...so I could kick/take my anger/frustration out on her and no one would care/notice/stop laughing.


*fin*

Ok Tyra says that Danielle has too much of a natural look and was a bit ashy. I'm looking for the ashiness (Don't ask me if that's a real word. Heh), because I don't see it.

However, how can she say that with Miss J. looking a damn mess next to her?

Interesting comment in the midst of posts about the debate over whether "go back to Africa" is racist...

Kapsberger don't worry, I hear you on that one. I freaking love Joanie! I take back what I said about her being the only girl with a sense of humor too. I forgot about Danielle and that girl can bring the funny. I liked their freestyle rappin' in the kitchen, priceless!

Did anyone else try to do that "turning like you're on a circular runway thing?" That shit's hard! (Okay I just noticed that it's already been talked about! Whoops!)

It reminded me of Miss J's chest in that horrible tank top he was wearing at the accessories/runway session.

And yes, I tried the Turntable Tyra move. I'm happy to say I did better than half the hamsters. Maybe I'm the undiscovered supermodel. On a less happy note, I also tried swirling and knocked over my CD rack.

I don't know where to put this, but I just read on the Huffington Post that ElleGirl magazine is shutting down. Where will they put the face of the ANTM winner if they don't have ElleGirl any more?

I'm not hating on Payless or anything, because really, who can't appreciate imitation fashion coupled with bargain prices? I love me some designer fragrances as well.

But where the heck do they (seriously) get 3 rings like that which supposedly collectively run about $43,000? Maybe they paid in Monopoly money, who knows. Ooohh, maybe they had to return them. Jade probably had to reimburse them for turning the diamonds back to coal.

P.S. Would the show really make it that obvious by the fade away shot who makes it to the end??

With regard to the comments about Tyra's weight - I'm joking around. But y'all knew that. I find it funny that Tyra talks about not obsessing about her weight now that her modelling years are over, but she always has to be photo-shopped into a thin woman. Tyra's drive and carreer planning are admirable. It's hard to get famous in a 15-minutes-of-fame way, but's it's even harder - much much harder to sustain celebrity and sucess.

I think you know what I mean. Look at the Reality Show contestants who think that their reality TV gig is going to lead to fame and fortune. It takes lots of luck, lots of savvy, and back breaking work to have carreer in the entertainment industry. (Or any industry for that matter, but becoming a successful performance analyst was a lot easier for me than becoming a star would have been. I don't let it get to my head though.)

And yes, back in the day Tyra ruled the runway.

I'm still trying to rationalize how Brooke is the one that calls people bitch, screams in their face, talks behind their back, tosses off insensitive mean spirited statements, and throws people's education in their face and yet somehow is not a bitch herself.

Crazy.

If Jade had pulled any of that the shouts of bitch would have been heard from here to Mars.

Seriously. What was this "Thank you for believing in me, Tyra" garbage. Bleah.

Are we sure she's NOT a thin woman? I mean, in comparison to the hamsters it's not hard to look large. But Tyra weighs less than I do, and I'm size 8 (five foot ten). No way will I be modeling anything at all ever at any time, but I am certainly not hefty.

ElleGirl cover is no longer a prize this year. Now we know why.

About whether Nenna is really a bitch:

Several people have pointed out that while Jade is getting the bitch edit, it is her fault for giving the show so much to work with. I think that is a key. They are trying to give Nenna a bitch edit, too, but they have so very little to work with that we must assume that there really isn't much there there.

Also, in an interview Mollie Sue comments that she can't think of anything nice to say about Leslie. Then she indicates that she has no idea what went on after she left, but that she thinks the stress with the boyfriend starts to get to Nenna and that perhaps ugliness might come out in Nenna. Then she qualifies that by saying that she isn't saying Nenna has ugliness in her, just that the stress might make her wig out.


The fact that she would say openly that she can't think of anything nice to say about Leslie, and then qualify her "ugliness" remark about Nenna by saying that she isn't trying to say that there is ugliess in Nenna's personality suggests to me that the bitch edit on Nenna is a fraud. Also, as several people have already pointed out, Nenna keeps getting chosen as the friend by challenge winners.

The fact that Furonda has chosen her twice says a lot, I think, because Furonda had one of the best personalities on the show and is also obviously intelligent (soemthing I can't say about Brooke).

On the other hand, Mollie Sue also said that Brooke is almost unbelievably nice.

I do think we have to take into consideration the bizarre (and exceedingly stressful) situation these girls are in, as well as the fact that they are probably being encouraged to behave in certain ways by the show. Reality shows are not reality. They deliberately create drama. For example, I honestly believe that it was the show staff that messed with Bre's granola bars last season, in order to create a conflict.

Oh, and then there is what Cycle 5 Lisa says about what it is like in the house: no TV, no entertainment at all, nothing really to do. I don't doubt that this is intended to make the girls bored and frustrated,so that they pick at each other.

Yes, but Miss J. is not in the running towards becoming America's Next Top Model so she can look as nasty as she wants.....:)

Headline in today's New York Times Style section: Whirling and Twirling, Prada Shows Its Skirts.

Tyra's -- or Ken Mok's -- influence is truly amazing.

Like many others . . . I was so dissapointed Jade didn't start having her skin smoke and sizzle off when she blessed herself. God I can't stand she or her third person ways.

I also was furious that she won the Church challenge. Quite honestly I thought she looked absolutely rediculous. She looked like a child in a dizzy contest. She just turned so many times...much like her commercial which they criticized her for. If she didn't have a cape to work with (and not all the girls did) she could never have won that challenge. The preacher man wasn't so nice at judging either. Go back to the mall? Dude, you picked an idiot to win your challenege, so I have not much faith in your opinions as it is.

I thought Joanie had the best attitude/walk (plus she makes me laugh often now) and she should definitely have won the challenge. it made me sick that Jade of all the girls won the $25,000 ring (which I would so hock in a second as I could pay off my debts and still buy jewelry I actually like and other things as well. All three of the rings looked ugly, but I'd have probably hocked any of them eitherway.). She's so horrible.

I also thought Nenna was pretty rude and nasty with the phone (especially just ignoring Brook when she had stuff to say).....quite frankly I didn't blame Brooke for calling her a bitch. It especially bothers me that Nenna truly doesn't care. And speaking of Nenna, I thought I was going crazy with the final picture...I thought it was horrible to be honest. i thought her face looked TERRIBLE...scary and stiff....and the judges praised it as so beautiful and a money shot. How could they seriously believe that??

Course I also genuinely liked Leslie's shot, so what do I know right? Being an artist means nothing. =P I did agree that Furonda's looked the most like a legit shoe add though. i thought more of them would be from that angle.

The judges also irked me with how much they laughed at the girls trying to do the turntable turn...ok they weren't taught that at all in their twirling lessons. They didn't get to practice it...and if you don't place your feet just right then it isn't going to happen. It's not like they all got tons of practice and still failed.

I didn't see the comment Brooke made myself (I came home 15 minutes late), but from what I'm reading Brooke told Nnena to go back to Africa? Well if that's the case, then I would agree that it's racist, or displays some form of an ignorant attitude about what constitutes an "American."

Some have argued that the comment is valid because Nnena is originally from Africa, but that shouldn't excuse Brooke's comment. Many ethnic groups present in the US today are first generation or 1.5 (people who came over here as babies or toddlers) generation, and they are just as American as people who happened to be born here. (By American, I mean they have citizenship, pay taxes, etc.) To tell someone to "go back to ___" whether or not they are first generation or fourth generation is just racist and uncalled for because it implies that they don't belong here.

So Brooke,unless you are 100% Native American, you are not allowed to tell anyone to "go back" anywhere.

That cracks me up. And seriously, that site is The Worst. I keep clicking on ANTM and it takes me all sorts of places I do not want to go.

Danielle was awesome..."roosters, the Eifel Tower..."

While I think Brooke's comment was rediculous, I think that the beginning "If Africa is so great...." shows that it wasn't just something she pulled out of thin air. So, I say she's probably not racist, but she does look like a trout and needs to be sent home.

Just a thought -- it would have been interesting if Brooke had been aware enough to say "Go back to Nigeria" instead. :-) (What if Nnenna had listened to "Go back to Africa", and wound up in Morocco or something?)

(just messin with ya)

Tyra, please pay your editors double because they are doing a masterful job.

I'm cracking up that Nnenna can be cast as the wicked witch while the girl who actually embodies that behavior, Brooke, walks away the poor victimized princess.

I guess that Hawaiian girl on American Idol two seasons ago had it right: Cry and you get what you want and win sympathy even if its undeserved.

As far as the turn goes, I'm going to guess Tyra had leather or suede on the bottom of her shoes. However, I've done this as a dance exercise, with suede soled shoes on, and it's not easy. The most important thing is to set up correctly. If you start off balance or with one foot too far in front of the other, you're going to trip yourself when you come around, like a couple of the girls did. Tyra's turn was very well executed, one of the few things on the show that has reminded me "oh right, she used to be a legitimate model." More of this Tyra, less "acting."

She looks like Jocelyn Wildenstein to me.

I really can't see any ANTM editing trying to make Nnenna a true bitch. Just showing one unpleasant personality trait does not a bitch make--even in the simplistic world of ANTM. Neither Brooke nor Nnenna is going to win it, so they just want to show the drama. If anything they just want her to look cold and bland, so that if she doesn't break down in tears and admit to Tyra she went to clubs (Naima) or told someone they hope she bites it (Eva) they have a good excuse to axe her.

I was also irked how the judges were laughing at the hamster's turn table moves. Did they really expect them just to do it having never done it before? They really make them do the dumbest things.
Also, I don't know iif this has been mentioned yet but did anyone notice how horrible and strung out Miss. J looked when he came out to show them the runway moves?
I still <3 Joanie!

I would like to point out again that Brooke didn't say that to Nnenna, she said it to Leslie during an immature monologue of complaints about Nnenna. The only thing she said to Nnenna was that dumb 'you're a chemist so you should know how to share the phone' thing that she did. And either through editing or actual occurence, Nnenna did hear Brooke call her a fucking bitch. I would bet money that if the fight had been w/Danielle Furonda or Jade she NEVER would have said that.... it was personal, not any repugnant 'all blacks need to go back to Africa' horseshit.

You know, when I read this, I immediately associated Succubus with her bretheren from the movie Alien.

DarkCorner...you hit the nail right on the head. I am in total awe here. Brokeback Brooke is a total bitch and it's just amazing that she's the victim here. The ammunition that they have for calling Nnenna a bitch is because she didn't address that ranting, whiner. Nnenna behaved in a mature, considerate way. She should be admired; but the squeaky mouse always get the oil. Brokeback Brooke was loud and wrong; hopefully soon she will be going home.

judyfan, I agree with your post too...

I so hope you're right and they don't try to pull a big, unexpected twist by kicking Joanie off the same week they give her dental work! Although I really do think she's going to be around for a while. I agree that she and Danielle are the frontrunners right now.

Huh??? I was expecting some big dramatic blow-up scene but instead I got "you're a f**king Bitch Nnenna and run tearfully to the room to cry for calling someone else a bitch. WTF!!! Why even say it if you can't stick to your guns!! Brooke came off like a real crybaby last night. She will never make it in the type of business that modeling is if she can't even call someone out of their name without turning into every pitiful puppy you have ever seen. So I say temper…what temper, maybe temper tantrum but definatly not a temper.

No kidding.

A few other things...first, whoever edits this show has GOT to stop telepathing the bottom two so badly. We haven't heard from Leslie at all, ever, and she was all over the first few minutes of this one. Jade has an ongoing storyline, as does Nnenna/Brooke, and Joanie's just pretty vocal overall, but as soon as I saw Leslie being all, "I need to work on my _____," I said buh bye Leslie. Then I saw her walk and said OH MY GOD she can't walk. Anyway.



TOTALLY!!!! Hahahaha! I was trying to figure out what she resembled, and it's the cat lady!

I know! I was all excited for a big dust-up, but instead Brooke just pulls a drive-by insulting. And then...nothing. Worst."Fight."Ever. I would have much rather they showed a few extra minutes of Jade discussing herself in the third person than this humongous letdown. At least Jade is entertaining, for better or for worse (usually for worse).

I think Brooke is a mess in a lot of ways, but I don't think she's racist. Honestly I just think she's very immature and well, rather stupid. I don't get the feeling that there is a lot going on in the brains department. The immaturity in the way she deals with things like a scared little kid is also rather obvious.

However, I do think Brooke can probably be sweet when she wants to. I just think she's the kind of person who will usually say the wrong thing because her brain doesn't process until after the fact.

Then again, like I've said I don't really think Nnenna is a bitch either. Maybe a bit entitled or full of herself, but if that's all the footage they have of her bitchiness then I do call editor foul. Not that that is odd or unusual here. Editors edit to find the best story. Not to keep these competitors as true to life as possible. They could care less about representing these guys accurately.

Look at Leslie who's barely said two words on camera until last night. Somehow I doubt she's really all that quiet in the house. For whatever reason, the editors chose to portray her that way.

That said, I'm starting to think Joanie is going to take this. I see it coming down to her and Danielle, both of whom I like, at least as people. I can't see Tyra and co. putting so much money into Joanie's dental work if they had plans of kicking her off in the next few episodes. She's definitely in it for the long haul.

Hmm, I actually kind of liked most of the pictures last night and dare I say, I liked Jade's for once.

I'm willing to bet money that the phone conversation hooging thing is all edit, regardless of the reality of the personality conflict involved. The way it played in the show it almost looked like Nenna was on the phone several days in a row but I'd bet it was jus tone phone conversation.

You guys are really wearing me out today. Please stay on topic. Everyone's a bitch, okay? Just agree to disagree and move on. And there's no need to talk about what your fellow posters think and how wrong they are, etc. It's rude, it's off-topic, and it's making me dole out warnings. Stick to your opinions of the episode, say what you think nicely, and you'll be fine. Thanks.

I thought Nnenna's magazine cover shot and krump shot were hideous. It's probably just the make-up, but yech.

I don't think Nnenna is a bitch, but she can be VERY cold & detached. Maybe it's a coping mechanism.

Potes mentioned something along these lines: I think it's very telling that Nnenna seems to have formed a friendship with Jade.

I loved Brooke's photo. Also Furonda can photograph MUCH better than she looks in person.

Those diamond rings were extremely tacky-looking. And I'd be really surprised if the girls could sell them at the prices mentioned.

Brooke may cry often, but I still think she comes across as very sweet & child-like. Not whiny. She just seems very vulnerable.

I wish Miss J had offered Leslie some constructive advice to improve her walk, rather than just mock her & tell her that she walks like a duck. I thought Leslie looked so radiant & lovely in her Cover Girl commercial. Plus, I liked how she had a sense of humor about herself. She knew her walk sucked. Also, she had a good attitude about not winning any challenges.