Phew, the girls are off to LA – not staying in Australia as I had cynically assumed they would. This week Nigel Barker, photographer from America’s Next Top Model is photographing them.
They got to fly Business Class and were then driven around LA in a limo to 2Pac’s California Love (OK that was overdubbed, but they should have had it blasting).
The girls were summoned to Next Model Management and were introduced to the director Alexis Borges. They had to walk in front of him. He liked Laura, he told Hosanna she was 2 inches too short so didn’t even bother getting her to walk. T-L was told she was too fat (she’s had two kids and I’ve seen her in a bikini – she looks damn good!) He told Ruby she looked like she still had some baby fat and she laughed – they measured her hips and told her she would have a hard time fitting the samples. (I then went and measured me, I am 6 inches bigger than required…). Both of them weren’t too worried as they can work on losing weight. Poor Hosanna will have to save up for some of those bone lengthening cages. T-L got straight into her diet by having some wedges with sour cream using the logic that they are less fatty than shoe-string fries. So is a salad.
Their next Sara Mail told them that their challenge had something to do with shopping. They were given $75 and 30 mins to shop and put together a look that said “Sucessful International Model.” They set off running, T-L tried to wangle a discount but the shop assistant didn’t look keen but in the end he agreed to let her have a dress and some shoes “rounded down” to $75. Hosanna stripped off in the shop so as not to waste time queing for a changing room. She found some pants she loved but ended up having to sit on the counter to get the barcode scanned as she refused to take them back off. Christobelle didn’t realize that she was supposed to be wearing her outfit so had to change in the street. Victoria was too late to be considered as punishment she had to sit in a big glass box back at the hotel, for 3 hours, as a kind of living advertisement. T-L had to join her because her dress made her look like a sausage and Christobelle had to go in there too for not being ready in time.
They were then off to shoot and ad for Covergirl Trublend. It was quite comical seeing them shooting a polished ad with their NZ accents – not so high class. Victoria says “Covergee-ul”. Christobelle did a really good job, she was very relaxed and her accent was hardly noticeable. T-L looked like she was secretly angry as she said the lines and then flashed a fake smile at the end, she had at least 11 takes. Hosanna was confident that she had what it took to rock the challenge but she kept doing crazy eyes. Colin said “There was the Hosanna Stare, The Hosanna ‘I’m Seductive’, The Hosanna Claw, there’s a Hosanna Smile…it was Covergirl meets pirahna.” Ruby looked fab and breezed through the ad. (Ruby for NZNTM! Though I think Christobelle will actually win). The winner got a personal tour of LA by night in a stretch Hummer limo. Christobelle won and took T-L and Ruby with her.
The next challenge was a photoshoot on Santa Monica beach with Nigel Barker. The shoot took place under the pier. Nigel said Ruby was more of a plus size model – but would need a bit more weight and was dissapointed that she was so nervous. He thought Laura did a great job and said the other girls should watch out for her. T-L did quite a poor job she didn’t pose much and seemed to be frowning a lot. Nigel liked Victoria and thought she made a great effort – he even picked her up and swung her around. Hosanna leapt about and Nigel said it seemed that she thought “clowning around” was modelling and commented to Chris that she was wretched. Nigel thought Christobelle was exciting and did everything right.
Off to panel – Nigel was the guest judge. They loved Christobelle’s photo and her Covergirl ad. Hosanna’s photo was her very last frame and Nigel told her the rest of her film was a mess. Hosanna cried her eyes out as she thought she had wasted her opportunity with Nigel. Nigel had high praise for Laura but told her to watch her face, Colin told her that her face had also let her down in the ad. Colin told Ruby that she did an awesome job in the ad and would buy anything she was selling. Nigel told T-L that she did the same thing over and over and that if she had been like that on a regular shoot her would never book her again and complain to the agency. Victoria was told by Nigel that her eyes were some of the most beautiful he has photographed.
During deliberations they said: T-L has no charm and is argumentative; Christobelle is not the prettiest but the most interesting her photo was Sara’s fave of the competition to date; Hosanna – a mess and wretched but hard-working; Ruby dissapointing and neither a rake nor a plus size; Laura’s photo gives Colin shivers and is a great mover; Victoria – gorgeous with striking eyes and could work on an international level.
Christobelle was called first. T-L and Hosanna were in the bottom two. T-L was sent home for lacking warmth. She said she was pleased to be going home as she would get to see her kids. She also said that Hosanna would be going home next week anyway. I have a feeling I will be seeing T-L on the cover of Ralph magazine – though I hope I don’t.
Tiffany, Victoria, Christobelle, Ajoh, Rebecca Rose, Sarah, Rhiannon, Teryl-Leigh, Ruby, Olivia, Laura, Lucy and Hosanna
You can watch the episodes online (NZ only) and see the final photos by visiting here.
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