Posen & First Commercial (ANTM)

New week, another ANTM! Let’s get straight to the recap shall we!

After last week’s panel Liz was ecstatic to be the only other girl that had best photo: “you don’t know how good this feels.” Ann was disappointed in herself, and nervous because she could see that all the other girls were improving. Esther took being in the bottom two as a learning experience, “I know I have to come out more, personality wise.”

Tyra Mail: To Be A Top Model, You Need Help With Posen. The girls immediately wondered why ‘posing’ was spelled oddly, but they didn’t have time to dwell on it as Miss Jay suddenly arrived. He promptly informed the ladies that they would be in a fashion show tomorrow, but not just any fashion show. They would be modeling a new line from one of the most successful designers in the world- Zac Posen. [The guest judge this week!] They would be doing the fashion show with Posen’s hand-picked, professional models, and before they went to bed they got to have a seven-on-one, up close and personal conversation with Zac Posen. Esther asked Zac: “who are your favorite models and why?” He answered with a specific name, and he picked her because of her attitude and personality. Chris asked Zac: “what kind of walk are you looking for?” Zac answered that it depends on the show and it depends on the model; if a model has a specific attitude or a signature walk, he would want that type of walk. Zac left the girls with a strengthening note: a runway walk is a performance, it should embody who you are and what you’re wearing. This is a challenge and the winner will win five looks from Zac’s new fall 2010 line called the Z-Spoke collection.

The next day, the girls are at the fashion show, and completely excited. Chris believes working with professionals and for Zac Posen is extremely intimidating. The girls began practicing their walks while the professional models were watching and whispering quite loudly amongst themselves. The models were told by Miss Jay to be the “mean girls” of the show to our newbies. When Ann practiced her walk, one model said she looked like she was trotting, and they continued to whisper things about each girl. Kayla thought they were bitchy but what could she do-she had to stay focused. Zac said that it didn’t matter that the girls were inexperienced, if they had the confidence to wear the outfit, they could sell it. As the girls were getting ready in make-up and outfits, the professional models continued to critique them. One model told Ann that she was lucky to be in the competition because otherwise she would never work for Zac Posen; “you’re totally not his type.” Another professional model commented on Esther’s bust size: “your big boobs must be hard to work with.” Jane was nervous to be opening the show, and it didn’t help that the professional models were so rude. Liz tried to make sure she knew where to pose, but the professional model she asked told her that she wouldn’t tell her; “I need to focus, you’re fine.” Chris also tried to ask a professional model a question and the model snapped back: “figure it out yourself!” Ann was the third in line to go out, and as she was nearing the beginning of the runway, the professional model behind her told her to make sure not to screw up. As if Ann needed any more pressure! Esther tried to show some personality, but her walk came out sloppy and Miss Jay commented out loud “not good.” Zac thought she was a mess! Chelsey wanted so badly to impress Zac Posen and saw this as her one chance to do that, as well as get ahead in the competition. Miss Jay thought her walk and poses were very cute; and she was so proud of herself. The rest of the show went off without a hitch.

Once the show was over, it was time for the winner to be chosen. Liz was just happy to have this kind of opportunity: “its a stepping stone for the career of a lifetime.” Before they were judged on their runway walks, Miss Jay had an announcement – the mean professional models were putting on an act! He had asked them at the beginning to be mean so that he could test the girls composure in the work place. It was all a joke! The professional models even apologized and wished the girls good luck. In judging the girls, Zac said Kayla had good body language and that she had an elegance to her performance; Miss Jay said that Chris needed to work on her long steps; Zac loved Jane’s face; Miss Jay told Liz she only needed to put her chin down a little bit. Zac thought Ann’s variety was great but she needs to work on her confidence; Miss Jay told Esther that she looked shaky on her feet; Zac said the clothes fit Chelsey perfectly! Miss Jay and Zac chose Chelsey to be the winner! She was so happy, just to be able to impress Zac Posen caused her to be speechless; and getting five gorgeous looks from his new collection isn’t that bad either.

The next day, Nigel and Mister Jay visit! Wow, I guess anyone can pop over anytime over at the America’s Next Top Model house. They were there to inform the girls that they were going to be shooting their very first commercial-and Nigel is going to be the director! The commercial was for a fake product called H2T: beauty and water; they would have to do the commercial while on roller skates, and at the end-be kissed by a male model! Jay explained that the kiss at the end was to try and get a sexual, tense and completely free moment for the big finish. Kayla was immediately distressed, she didn’t want to kiss any boy; she explained: “it was deeper than me being gay, I felt like it was completely wrong, to be intimate with boys.” Jay noticed that there was something wrong, and he took her aside to speak with her. She explained to him that she was sexually assaulted when she was younger, and this challenge freaks her out, and being in this close proximity with a boy scares her. She really doesn’t want to do the challenge, she didn’t want to interact with the males-let alone kiss any of them. Jay consoled her and later she explained that she never told anyone before, and that saying it right there was so hard. Jay told her that she had some work to do, like therapy, and that she needs to deal with this-needs to heal. Kayla later agreed, that she needed to get together for herself, so she could be the best she can be in modeling. She knew to check her emotions at the door when she started her commercial, but it was hard for her because her memories kept coming up in her head. She knew she was here to win, so she did her best to focus and get it out of her head. Jay was very impressed with her commercial even though she fumbled over her words a little bit. The fact that she pushed away her memories and delivered a believable performance was very inspiring to him.

They rest of girls did their commercials after her, some tripping up their words and one completely falling flat. Liz was so sure she memorized all her lines, but when she got in front of the camera all she could do was laugh each time she messed up. Nigel was furious that she didn’t take the commercial seriously at all. Jay wanted Esther to be fun, but after her commercial, he said he had never seen someone deliver a performance so under-energized or so completely flat. Jane hadn’t roller bladed since the sixth grade, and she fell down a couple times but she was able to get through her lines. Chelsey tripped up a little bit, both on the skates and with the words. Chris was energetic and Nigel said she was one of the best of the day. Ann crashed and fell hard, and Jay said her biggest flaw was that she was afraid of failing and making a fool of herself in front of people. Nigel put pads on her, she tried not to defeat herself but Jay noticed she ended up psyching herself out completely. It was a hard day for the girls and I think everyone, including Jay and Nigel, were happy when Jay could say “thats a rap everybody.”

Back at the house, the girls talked about the challenge. Chelsey noted that this commercial was really hard. Kayla finally shared with the girls why the commercial made her so uncomfortable; she told them that when she was eleven, she was sexually assaulted. The assault was more than once and continued for a year and a half; she never told anyone before, not her mom or even her girlfriend. She now knows that talking about it is healthy and it made her feel better. Kayla doesn’t want it to effect her, she’s here to win and she refused to let anything get in the way of that.

Panel time! Jane was up first; Zac thought she had a magic moment and that she was beautiful, she had her lines down but Tyra wants to see more of her. Liz was up next, and Nigel did not hold back; he said she was an absolute and utter mess-because she laughed through most of it! Tyra asked what her motivation was, and Liz told her it was her daughter. Tyra told her to use her purity and her truth to fight harder, and take this seriously. Chris was up after her, she was told her commercial was well done; that she was fun, real, and a tad cheesy. They told her she did a great job, Zac said she was bubbly, and that she moved brilliantly. Ann was up next, and Tyra said that her deep pain showed in her performance, and the judges told her what she’s been hearing all season; she needs to have more confidence. Kayla was up next, and Tyra loved that she looked urban in her commercial, like regular people could easily identify with her. They loved that she made it believable. Chelsey next, and Nigel said she started out like a mess but then got better and better. She needed a little more flirt and fun according to Tyra, but they liked that she was energized and zoned in. Esther was last, and the judges agreed she was a mess in every way; she wasn’t memorable, and Tyra wanted her to work on the muffle in her voice.

The judges then went into deliberation, and decided who would go home. Lets quickly run through their critique: Chelsey has potential to be a model but is she a top model? Liz has nerves of steel on the runway, but is a potential disaster in performances. Jane has the perfect commercial look but where is her personality? Esther was not memorable, she was boring and it was as if she was nothing. Chris had spark, and she had fun with her lines. Kayla was fabulous, her makeup was great, and she has a balance to her. Ann has the beauty but she is not commercial. This week no one won best photo-because the title this week was best commercial. Chris won and Tyra told her that her energy was great but now it was time to bring it down and find that cute, coyness. Runner-up for best commercial was Jane; third was Chelsey, then Kayla, and Liz. Tyra told Liz that this is a competition and it was time she showed the world that she was in it. The bottom two this week were Ann and Esther! Have to admit, we kinda saw this coming for Ann. Her photos are beautiful but commercials are hard for anyone who doesn’t believe in themselves. Poor Esther-bottom two again! Thats twice in a row, I have a bad feeling… Tyra was sad to see two such beautiful young ladies in the bottom two. One who set a new record by winning best photo five times in a row, and who could put out stunning picture after stunning picture. The competition is not just about fantastic pictures though, its about speaking and presenting one’s self. Something the judges think Ann is not capable of. And the other, whose pictures are not as strong, but just as beautiful and slightly more edgy. The judges saw a whole new Esther at panel because she pulled her hair back, but fashion doesn’t like a personality that is blah. Who stayed, who went home? The judges felt Ann had more potential, Tyra told her she is great at taking fantastic photos, that she is awkward and that makes her beautiful, and that she stayed because she is unique and special and she needs to work with that. Esther unfortunately had to go home, Tyra comforted her by letting her know how proud of her she was, told her how she was an amazing role model. She reminded her to work on her voice, and not to give up, to keep going. Esther knew she had to open herself up more, and that no matter what she could, and would, continue modeling.

Oh my goodness-what did you think? Do you believe Ann should have taken not getting the best photo so hard? What did you think of her being in the bottom two this week? Did Esther deserve to go home? Is there anyone you would really like to see leave? What about Kayla’s story? Thoughts/concerns? What about Liz laughing her way through the commercial? Did you think Esther’s performance was as dull as the judges thought it was? What about the bitchy model trick? Wasn’t that a treat? Comment below or come chat with us in the FORUM!