America’s Next Top Model Review: How To Brand A Top Model

It was everyone’s favorite episode on ANTM last night- the makeover day! Before the models could proceed with their “Ty-overs”, however, they were paid a visit by professional branding expert Martin Lindstrom to help each girl identify their true marketing potential. Lindstrom has worked with various Fortune 500’s, along with Tyra herself, and bluntly gave the models the truth on how their fans perceived them. Telling Alexandria her fans found her “annoying” and that Kayla’s LGBT pride “was so five years ago” sounds like a bad thing but twisting those traits into positive branding words like “tough” and “free” can make all the difference when you’re in the public eye and that was the goal of the exercise.  Some were pretty obvious and not so negative though, like Lisa being undeniably “daring” and Allison’s “unique” character traits.

Keeping their new labeled words in mind, it was time for the ladies to feel the shock of new haircuts. Ashlee Simpson was the guest celebrity of the episode and helped introduce the girls to their new looks along with Miss J. It wouldn’t be ANTM without waterworks and drama which poor Bre wound up creating when her lovely locks were traded for an uber-sleek bob. A few tears in the bathroom and a talk with a Top Model producer later, Bre sucked it up and decided not to go home, as she was previously threatening. Alexandria, on the other hand, had the polar opposite reaction to her newly chopped coif (“polar” being the key word here) when she burst out in a fit of joy and emotion over the new ‘do, confusing and frightening everyone in the room.

The day’s photo-shoot showcased their new looks along with trying to embody their new personal brands all while eating a foot long from the famous Pink’s hot dog spot in LA. The real goal was for each girl to create their own signature hot dog and the winner with the best photo would have their branded “America’s Next Top Model Hot Dog” added on to the Pink’s menu. Some of the model’s did such a stellar job like Laura, whose superstar shoot was hard to follow. Others, like Kayla, Bre and Sheena, couldn’t quite capture their inner-brands.

At elimination time, after the models were shown their best photos, Tyra’s Ty-overs were not quite finished when she took clippers to Nigel’s head, bringing him back to that trademark look that we’ve all grown accustomed to. Apparently, Tyra wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get used to the idea of Nigel with a little hair on his head. Afterwards, deliberation continued and Lisa was crowned with best photo of the day because honestly she rocked the photo shoot but also had the most unique, in my opinion, Pink’s bunless hot dog creation complete with veggies which she so perfectly named “The Skinny Little Bitch.” Bianca was runner up and proved herself to be a worthy adversary in the competition along with Lisa. Bre’s overwhelming feeling of defeat over her current hair cut had the judges seriously considering her place in the all-star competition but she snuck by this week, leaving Kayla and Sheena in the bottom two. Although Kayla’s version of “free” was subpar, it was Sheena’s lack of “unexpected” branding that day was what ultimately got her kicked out of the competition.

Cycle 17, Episode 2: Ashlee Simpson (originally aired September 21, 2011)

Images courtesy of The CW.