Cycle 15, Episode 11: Franca Sozzani

Summary
The ladies take an acting class before meeting with editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani, who is also this week's guest judge. Later, they put their acting skills to the test once more in a moving editorial video shoot with Tyra as the director. Two girls head home this week leaving only the finalists to duke it out.

Rubbin' It In
Mop Top (Kayla) won best photo for the second week in a row and decides it's time to rub it in the other girl’s faces. This is the type of shit I'm not down with. You notice how Giraffe (Ann) never rubbed her five wins it in anyone's face. Take a note, ladies, because sometimes bragging early on in the episode spells disaster later.

In general, the girls are becoming more catty these days. I think it's a combination of PMS-ing and the fact that there are only a couple of weeks remaining. It's time to get the gloves off and fight for the title of America's Next Top Model!

Casper (Chelsey) turns the cattiness level up another notch or two when she chastises Giraffe (Ann) for not studying up enough on the fashion industry:

"I live in Idaho. There's no fashion there! There's more fashion in Texas than there is in Idaho!  If you're passionate, you make time!" – Casper (Chelsey)

To the camera, she reveals that she believes Giraffe (Ann) is just "coasting through" the competition. Whoah! Talk about Jealous Bitch Radar comin' on! Look girl, just because the judges love Giraffe (Ann), doesn't mean you gotta assume she's not making an effort during the photo shoots.   Regardless, Giraffe (Ann) is steppin' up her game and now feels comfortable telling the other girls to 'bring it!'

3-2-1 … Acting!
Miss J certainly knows how to make an impression!Miss J explains the importance of knowing how to act: "When you go to castings, personality is key. And if you want to be successful, you have to feel the emotion a designer wants and be able to deliver a personality so that people will book you – which means make a first impression." Miss J is basically telling the girls to fare bella figura!)

The girls are given an acting lesson by Acting Coach, Barbara Terrinoni. She teaches them how to project their voice, to express various emotions, to create a persona. Basically, she teaches them to exude confidence.  Sadly, Giraffe (Ann) does the worst. She really needs to improve on this quickly, or she will not be able to win ANTM.

Challenge
The girls meet editor-and-chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani and must impress her with their personality. Andre Leon Talley, wearing his favorite sequined man cape and embroidered top hat, lurks in the background watching Franca interact with the girls. Although he discusses Franca's impressions of the girls, ultimately, he will decide who the winner will be based on his observations.

Ann is nervous going into it because she sucked so poorly during the acting lesson by not projecting her voice properly:

What the clip shows is that Ann has it within her to project confidence and present herself well. Right now, speaking like that feels silly and fake to her. Soon, though, she can make it more authentic, and gradually she will learn when to wear this strong persona (ie. at castings!!).

Challenge Winner
Casper (Chelsey) is the challenge winner and she picks Mop Top (Kayla) as her friend to share the win with. Andre Leon Talley accompanies the pair to Santa Maria delle Grazie for a private viewing of Leonardo Da Vinici's L'Ultima Cena (The Last Supper). After getting worked up over the painting because of her Catholic upbringing, Casper (Chelsey) sheds a tear and gets a hug from Andre, who is dressed like Inspector Clouseau.

Meanwhile, Blockhead (Jane) and Giraffe (Ann) make the best of it back at the house by drawing their own version of The Last Supper, eating Chinese food and drinking vodka. Way to make the best of it girls! I'm lovin' their positive outlook! I really appreciate how these two are getting along so well – like real pals!

Later, Casper (Chelsey) and Mop Top (Kayla) bask in luxury in a 7-star hotel located inside La Galleria Vittorio Manuela. While the ladies are pampered, drinking champagne and eating amuse bouche, their cohorts are having fun at home reading Tyra mail!

Photoshoot: Motion Editorials

Ann lurches through her runway walkMr. Jay welcomes the contestants to a gorgeous villa in Verona, Italia, the location of their next photo shoot. However, there's a twist. Rather than a standard photo shoot, they will be directed by Tyra in motion editorials in order to bring their photo to life. What I want to know is – how do they show this in their modeling books at castings? Do they bring a DVD? Do they bring a DVD player? What the dealio? Anyway, the bigger twist on this shoot? Two people will be eliminated after this week's judging. We're going to the finals, biotch!!! It's time to bring it!

The ladies wear hot couture and work with Vogue Italia stylist Valentina Seraa. They portray "wonder" in a huge room with a gorgeous alfresco ceiling, flip their hair around, create shapes from their silhouettes, catwalk, pant their name, and fondle a hedge.

They all were strong at moments and weak at others. Casper (Chelsey) did the best overall out of all the girls, and had an amazing runway walk. Giraffe (Ann) had a terrible catwalk but managed to be sexy in front of the camera. Blockhead (Jane) worked her face but didn’t give enough raw emotion. Mop Top (Kayla) had a hard time fitting a lot of the dresses and also didn’t know how to best work the angles of her face.

Oopsie Daisie!
There is a moment during filming where Ann's shirt comes open during filming.  Oopsie!!

Judging

Four girls remain and soon there will only be two – eek! Those who survive will get to walk in a Roberto Cavalli runway show. The ladies show up to judging looking like models. Everyone is wearing blue, except Ann, who is wearing black with a white corset.  Andre Leon Talley is pleased with her look and wants to take her to a party! Way to go, Ann!

"I think this is the first day you have embraced your extravagant uniqueness in this corset. You look fabulous. I want to take you to a party!" – Andre

Casper (Chelsey) impressed the judges with her performance: 

"She was sexy; she was believable; she was raw." – Nigel
“She really wants to be a model. You can see by the effort she put into her movement that she wants to please people.” – Franca Sozzani

  

Blockhead (Jane) received mixed reviews:

"She's very photogenic." – Franca
"She’s got to be taught, 'Express!'" – Andre
"That big face is a million dollar face and she can go far." – Tyra

Giraffe (Ann) also got mostly positive reviews - except for her runway walk:

"I think [she is] unique and very photogenic." – Franca
"That runway walk – it's not usable." – Tyra
"I'm really surprised by Ann! I didn't think that she could do sexy." – Nigel

  

Mop Top (Kayla) also received mixed reviews. The negative commentary does not bode well for her chances going into the finals:

"When I was dressing Kayla, a lot of it didn't fit on her, it was just too big.” – Tyra
“Is Kayla high fashion? I'm not sure."– Andre

Best Photo
GIRAFFE (ANN)!!!!!! Hell YES!!! She's goin' on to the finals!!!!! Holy shit!! The awkward girl might win it this year!!! Way to go, girl!!!!!

Runner Up
Casper (Chelsey) also stays in the competition. The judges love her knowledge of fashion and how she brings that passion out. I’m not crazy about this chica – I'd rather have me some Mop Top (Kayla) in the finale – but she earned her spot.

Heading Home: Blockhead (Jane) and Mop Top (Kayla)

Blockhead (Jane) lacks personality and is forgettable. Tyra recommends she get signed with an agency and pursue modeling because she "she can make a lotta money!" The aspiring model is really excited to find out that with a little more practice, she can have a career in the industry. And I look forward to seeing her gorgeous face!

Mop Top (Kayla) is different and interesting, but she hasn't mastered the angles of her body or her face. The judges recommend she start acting and add this to her portfolio.

"I'm happy of how far I came. I really wanted to win this, but I'm proud of who I am. I'm reppin' for my community. I'm going to keep going and going!” – Mop Top (Kayla)

To Be Deeply Concerned About
Giraffe (Ann)

Girl, I know you got called first into the finale, but you really need to work on your runway walk if you gonna work Roberto Cavalli! Also, comb ya damn hair! She shows up at challenges, at photo shoots, at castings and in front of the judges looking so disheveled. This kind of stuff counts -- especially in the finals. I don't want the judges to say things like, "She doesn't look like a model in front of us." That's a dangerous road to go down, so avoid it altogether by primping beforehand, girl!!

I'm crossing my fingers that the underdog wins this year! I hope Giraffe (Ann) can really improve her confidence (in one week!) so that she can really shine rather than projecting fear. This is really the key to her success in the competition.

Tips for Giraffe (Ann): take a note from a fellow "awkward girl" Bloody Eyeball aka Wheelbarrow (Nicole Fox) who won ANTM Cycle 13. She may be petite and "weird", but she brings a lot of personality and is far from cookie-cutter! The judges loved her and he has really come out of her shell since she won. I'm hoping the judges see potential in Giraffe (Ann) to do the same.

What We Learned
Andre Leon Talley loves his man capes!