America’s Next Top Model: Dive Deeper

And we’re back!

Lots of chatter this week: First – it’s Kentucky’s birthday. Yay! Also: Erin worries about her new home in the bottom two – she’s settling in nicely while avoiding elimination. Sundai can’t understand how Erin has managed to survive, and I think Sundai’s never watched reality television, because these remaining short girls would be boring without someone like Erin to hate. We also learn that Sundai sucks her thumb and that she’s kept most of her past hidden from the others – she will reveal all only if she makes it to the top four. She interviews that modeling is her only chance to be successful. Nicole, though she won last week’s top photo, isn’t celebrating: Brittany was a strong contender, and her elimination means no one is safe. Nicole does not say who she thought should have gone home instead, but nobody likes Erin, so…

To the teach and challenge at a beach, where 5’8” Marisa Miller arrives to teach the girls how to pose provocatively without turning hooch. It’s basically five minutes of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: there’s boobs sticking out, butts popping out, rolling around in the sand, and posing under a shower. Later, the girls and Marisa meet Nigel on a set of small cliffs. For the challenge, they must incorporate Marisa’s posing lessons into a photo shoot while jumping off of a small cliff into the water. The ladies are all intimidated, and despite lots of nerves, they all jump successfully, with Kentucky taking the plunge first. Because she’s crazy, y’all! They have one chance to get it right.

I think they all look pretty awful despite the critiques: However, Sundai and Nicole do have the best shots, with Nicole clearly nailing it far more than the others. She wins! The jealousy eats away at the other girls. She wins a necklace which I’m sure is amazing, but she also wins extra frames in the next shoot. Then she can pick a friend who also receives extra frames, and that girl can pick a friend who receives extra frames, and that girl can pick a friend. Until only one girl is left who better rock the shoot because she has no friends and no extra frames.

That loser is Erin, because no one in their right mind is picking her. See Sundai? That’s why she’s here.

Photo shoot. The girls head out to sea for an underwater shoot. Despite the fake enthusiasm, Kentucky’s biggest fears are suffocation and drowning. They will go underwater to a specific depth, and will use a regulator to breathe in between shots. Everyone will go down once, shoot, and surface. Everyone but Erin will then go down a second time to use their extra frames. Erin starts out trying to be tough about her deficit,  but she slowly begins to crack.

Kentucky freaks out underwater and needs time to pull it together – when she does, she rocks her shoot and shocks Jay with her awesomeness. Nicole nails her shot in the first round and Jay encourages her to take chances in her second dive. Jennifer needed her extra frames to meet the challenge requirements; her first dive produced beautiful photos but she didn’t dive deep enough. Sundai asks that she be allowed to stay close to the surface of the water because of her asthma. The photographer comments that she came up with excuse after excuse as opposed to making an effort to overcome her fear. Jay describes her photos as “-ish.” Erin talks a big game about wanting to step it up. Erin also disappoints the photographer by refusing to dive deep. Jay rubs it in when she surfaces that she didn’t have the extra frames, and then Erin really feels sorry for herself.

Judging. Guest Judge: Marisa Miller.

Sundai looks tall in her photo but loses her face. Tyra also points out that Sundai’s complaints and requirements limited her potential for a great shot. Kentucky needs to learn how to find her light, but her fears never showed in her face. Nigel calls Jennifer’s photo stunning, and Tyra loves the length Jennifer creates. Marisa, however, says that Jennifer could have brought a little more life to the photo. The other judges disagree. Nicole brings something different, she finds her light, and she looks as though she’s dancing. She has crazy legs, but otherwise, the judges love it. Nigel doesn’t like Erin’s photo, but Tyra does. Unfortunately, because Erin sits near the surface of the water and misjudges her light, she washes out her face and becomes unrecognizable.

Over deliberation, we hear that Erin gains a few points for bringing out her personality during panel for the first time in a long time. Bring the girls back out, and called first: Jennifer. Then Nicole, then Kentucky, and the bottom two are Sundai and Erin. Sundai’s a complainer and Erin continues to weaken as the weeks pass. Going home: Sundai. Tyra warns Erin to pull it together or else. Meanwhile, a crushed Sundai feels the failure a lot deeper than most of the other eliminated contestants – she looks devastated. In her exit interview, she remains positive about the experience, and hopefully about the life ahead of her.

Though Erin’s the villain and has landed in the bottom several times, Sundai has been the weaker of the two throughout most of the competition. So as heartbreaking as it is to see Sundai eliminated, it does appear to be the right choice. Oh come on, we all knew it was coming.

Next week: Hula and hip hop, and a double elimination!

Listen to The J Factor with J.B. and Jaimie here or on iTunes.

Season 13, Episode 10: Dive Deeper (originally aired November 4, 2009)

For more on America’s Next Top Model, click here.

Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW

Photographs courtesy of The CW, Ryan Goble, and Russel Thomter