America’s Next Top Model Review: Warrior Mode Engaged

With Monique finally ousted from the competition, this leaves only one trouble maker to go: Alexandria. This girl isn’t going without a fight and boy did that show on this episode of America’s Next Top Model. The claws came out, the fur flew and Alexandria brought her A-game for sure.

The first photo-shoot challenge involved modeling for the Ford Motors “Warriors in Pink” campaign. The breast cancer awareness crusade seemed to be a sensitive subject for most of the models understandably since so many people yearly are affected in some way by the disease. Each girl had a different warrior persona to represent with the help of Nigel Barker directing and shooting them during the process. Some of the ladies pull it off week after week but some do just the opposite. Case in point, Mikaela. She received the usual criticism of not knowing what she’s doing at all and, as much as I like her, I kind of have to agree. She basically gives the same face every week; there’s no variety.  At the end, Nigel announced that Alexandria gave the best photo of the shoot and, besides the prize of being the new face of the Ford “Warriors of Pink” campaign, she was also awarded a special surprise: a brand new Ford Focus car. Well, while that’s all sunshine and rainbows for her, the outcome left the rest of the models feeling their real inner-warriors coming out. Then came the craziness and verbal hair pulling. Oh, how I love it! Brittani became the spokeswoman of the Top Model house and let Alexandria have it (finally!) making sure Alex understood that the entire house wanted her gone and that she didn’t deserve to win the challenge. I love reality show justice as much as the next person but I just wish Brittani hadn’t done it in front of Nigel and the Ford representatives- yikes!

For the main challenge, Jay Manuel and Miss J. brought the models to Universal Studios in Los Angeles to bring the full-on madness out of them. It’s not too far-fetched of an idea since a couple of the girls are letting out their wackiness a little more each week. The models were styled and dressed by Eric Daman who is the main stylist for the show Gossip Girl. The girls each had to pose as a woman crazy for fashion, meaning, one girl was crazy for shoes, another crazy for makeup, and so on. To me, it looked like one of the most fun and exciting shoots so far. Jaclyn looked so amazing (she was Miss Crazy for Makeup) with a look comparable to Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. Miss Crazy for Faux Fur, Alexandria, used the stress she was feeling from the competition and channeled it into her shoot. Alexandria is not my favorite but you have to admit she gets what this competition is about. She understands that she’s the only one who is going to help her get to the top and she doesn’t let anything stand in her way. She made it known in the episode also that whatever crap the other models give her is only going to add fuel to her fire and it shows!

At panel, a lot of good photos were shown and critiqued but the main focus of the judges soon turned to the previous Brittani and Alexandria showdown. Alexandria kept it together in front of the panel which was the best thing to do but Brittani went into full breakdown mode telling the judges how they never see the side of Alexandria that the rest of the models do. This is true but as Tyra and Nigel point out to her there is a reason for that. Just like in any workplace scenario, you keep your craziness at home and don’t bring it with you. Tyra had little sympathy for Brittani who later walked off set while having a panic attack. It’s such a shame because Brittani is definitely in the top three for winning this competition. Who knew she’d let her emotions get the best of her? Needless to say, Brittani made it to the bottom two along with Mikaela (again!). Despite her outburst, the majority of the judges felt Brittani should be given a second chance which I’m very happy about. Tyra, on the other hand, was not too pleased and voted to give Brit the boot. Luckily, she was outvoted but that meant that poor Mikaela had to go.

Can’t get enough of the drama? Check out Bates Motel Breed Bizarre Models by Savannah DuBois.

Season 16, Episode 7: Eric Dama (originally aired April 6, 2011)

See the fashion and the drama unfold Wednesdays 8/7 central on The CW.

Images courtesy of The CW/Miguel Starcevich/Pottle Productions Inc.