Cycle 15, Episode 3: Patricia Field
Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 12:03AM I may be biased because my name's also Patricia, but this the best episode yet! It’s got makeovers, a fake makeover list prank, a double elimination (gasp!), a photo shoot challenge with male models, and special guest judge: Patricia Field!
The Elf Conspiracy
Is it just me, or do a bunch of girls this cycle look like elves? What's that about?? There must be some kind of conspiracy in the fashion industry that Vogue Italia wants an elf this year.
You Got Punk'd!
Uma (Lexie), Tumbleweed (Rhianna), and Giraffe (Ann) all cook up a plan to create a fake makeover list, leave it where someone will find it, then watch the drama unfold! A plan Nigel Barker later calls "brilliant!"
Some of the girls [ie. Denise Huxtable (Liz)], get a little upset when they find out a prank was pulled on them, but the majority shrug it off as no big deal. Compared to the Rutgers web prank, this is pretty damn harmless, y'all.
Uma's (Lexie’s) refers to her fake tears over her “sewn-in strawberry blonde afro” as “Academy Award winning.” More like Lifetime made-for-tv-movie caliber if you ask me.
Makeovers!
Before things get started, Mr. J explains there will be a photo shoot after makeovers, and that the goal during this shoot is to show how much the girls can embrace their new look. Who will rise to the occasion?
Giraffe (Ann) really got it. She passed Mr. J's test with flying colors, fully embracing her look.
"The new look will help my modeling potential because it exaggerates my height which makes me stand out." – Giraffe (Ann)
Giraffe (Ann) Before and After.
Capser (Chelsey) also really embraced her makeover, even having the gap in her front teeth permanently widened. Without any complaints she was immediately onboard with everything.
"Tyra wants ice blond, and, of course, I will do anything that she thinks looks good. The competition is so big and intense, and the stakes are so high that I take it really seriously." – Casper (Chelsey)
Casper (Chelsey) Before and After. She looks great in both photos, but is more ghostly after.
Mop Top (Kayla) also fell into group who really embraced their new look. And did she ever!!
"Personally I love my hair. I think that the boldness, the brightness meshes perfectly with who I am." – Mop Top (Kayla)
Mop Top (Kayla) Before and After. Talk about next level!! She looks ready for the Vogue Italia cover already!
Serena (Chris) loved her new long, curly brown weave because it's like Beyonce: "I got the Beyonce weave!!! I got that good hair! You can't buy this on the street!" Check out the video clip so you can hear her tell it like it is!
Mo' Chocolate (Kendal) recounts how Tyra wants her to be more "sensual and sexual" so she gives her a long weave. The best part about this is the way Mo' Chocolate (Kendal) says "sensual and sexual." Check out the clip below. Go ahead, watch it 20 times like I did...
Not much changed drastically for Chester (Esther) and she didn't put up any drama fits either.
Chester (Ester) Before and After. She went from girl to woman!
Blockhead (Jane) embraced her new look. Nothing too drastic here, but her positive attitude really shined through: "They can do whatever they want!"
"I really feel like a model. I can do this now." – Blockhead (Jane)
Blockhead (Jane) Before and After. I think she needs to smize. Her gorgeous (albeit shiny) face looks dead in both pictures. Bring it to life, girl!
Tumbleweed (Rhianna) got long, gorgeous waves.
"I think it suits my personality because it's very hippy-like.” – Tumbleweed (Rhianna)
Tumbleweed (Rhianna) Before and After. She's workin' it!
In addition to getting her hair done, ReRun (Kacey) also got some new contacts as well. Bye-bye glasses! Hello Preparation H! Trust me, you will be noticing her baggy eyes much more now...
"The girls should be worried 'cause Kacey's in the house! I still think I have this in the bag!" – ReRun (Kacey)
ReRun (Kacey) Before and After. I don’t think anyone is too worried.
In the other corner, are the girls who resisted their new looks.
Denise Huxtable (Liz) fought her makeover the whole time in the stylist's chair, complaining about her new look continuously and irritating the J's.
"I’m masculine-lookin' enough as it is, this is just addin' to it..." – Denise Huxtable (Liz)
Denise Huxtable (Liz) is complaining about her new look?!? It’s a huge improvement from the insane duo-crop she had goin' on before!
"I wouldn’t style it like this," she tells Mr. J.
Seriously? Why would you tell the judge you don’t like your new look when the whole point of the challenge is to embrace your new look?! This is Cycle 15! Doesn't she know better than to question the judges by now?! Didn't she learn anything from Cassandra, Cycle 5 who went home after not cooperating with her makeover?
Having super short hair and showing one's jawline is a huge compliment from Tyra. Doesn't she remember Jaeda from Cycle 6? Instead of bitchin', she should feel flattered that Tyra believes she can pull off such a strong look!!
So when Denise Huxtable (Liz) kept complaining, I'm sure the producers started prepping her boarding pass home. In fact, her behavior during the makeover leaves me questioning whether I should keep her in my gambling picks or exchange her for someone else. Afterall, questioning the authority of the judges can be a quick ticket home! This is not something to be taken lightly.
In the end though, somehow she managed to pull off a decent photo and convince the camera -- and the J’s -- that she was into her new look.
Then, there was the questionable makeover... We all know Tyra loves the "no-eyebrow" look as evidenced by Snowflake (Erin), Dennis Rodman (Bianca), and Chevron (Rae) all from Cycle 13:
This cycle, Feminem (Sara) is the one Tyra decides needs to have her eyebrows bleached. Uggh...
Poor Feminem (Sara) with her no eyebrows! I think she pulls it off in this photo, but when you see her around the house in daily life she does look a bit alien. Personally, I think she should have had dark eyebrows to make her more like a sexy Natasha from Cycle 8.
Soup Coola' (Terra) could not stop crying because she got her hair cut off. She definitely didn't embrace the makeover whatsoever.
"I feel like I have to work extra hard to model because I have no hair.” – Soup Coola' (Terra)
Soup Coola' (Terra) Before and After. Tyra did her a favor cutting off all that damaged hair!
Whatever, girl! Just like Denise Huxtable (Liz), you need to appreciate the fact that Tyra is giving you short hair because it means you have strong bone structure and can pull it off. Learn the damn ANTM rules if ya gon’ play the game, girl! You should know better by now!
In fact, Terra does so bad during her photo shoot that Mr. J says, "You could go to the mall and find a girl who poses better than this."
Oooh! Getting compared to someone at the mall is a low blow indeed!
As her sister Serena (Chris) explained: "I look over, and see my sister getting her hair cut and she's havin' a fit. The problem with my sister is it's written all over her face. And I'm like, please suck it up, 'cause if you don't you will go home."
Mop Top (Kayla) couldn't understand why Soup Coola' (Terra) was making such a fuss:
"Terra was the girl who was unhappy with her makeover. This is what's going to take you to the next level. I don't understand why people cry. I don't understand why people get upset."
Unfortunately, our next aspiring model, Uma (Lexie), just didn't bring it in the photo shoot. Check out Mr. J reacting to her posing: 
"Oh HEEEEELLLL no!"
"I've just become very uninspired by her," Mr. J confides to Ms. J. Oh, snap! Looks like it's time for a posing battle between Uma (Lexie) and Soup Coola' (Terra)! Who can pose worse??! The uninspired model or the one who poses worse than a stranger in the mall??
Uma (Lexie) Before and After. I think her problem is she isn’t smizing. You gotta bring life to those eyes!
Surprise Elimination!
We learn after the makeovers that someone is going home. Come on now, they totally could have seen this coming. Tyra warned the models earlier: "You know that Cycle 15 is gettin' realer and realer every day...When you're sitting in that hair chair, you may cry, and you may get emotional because we have connection to our hair as women. But just know, it's to make you more marketable."
The girls even got a warning from Mr. J too: "At the end of the day, we're going to do a quick little photo shoot to see if you can embrace your new look." If the judges straight up tell you to embrace your new look, then FAKE IT while they are watching—even if you hate it! But, nooo, some of these girls just haven't learned the rules yet!
Who sucked:
Denise Huxtable (Liz): Complaining too much and questioning the designer/stylist. 
Feminem (Sara): "On set you felt and looked a little uncomfortable," said Mr. J.
Uma (Lexie): "You embraced your makeover before you stepped on set but that confidence left in the chair right in front of the mirror," explained Mr. J.
Soup Coola' (Terra): Continuously questioning the designer/stylist, openly sobbing.
In the end, Soup Coola' went home. This actually came as a shock, because she has so much potential. I was really wishing Uma (Lexie) would go home. But then again, Soup Coola' (Terra) has been breakin' down a LOT lately. It seems like every episode she is crying multiple times. She is such a gorgeous girl but she doesn't know how to make it translate on camera. 
How can we be certain the judges made the right decision? Well, Soup Coola' (Terra) proves to us how much she just doesn’t get it during her exit interview:
"I much rather would have had them send me home before they cut my hair than after. I don't feel like it was a good decision at all!" – Soup Coola’ (Terra) whilst sobbing.
And with that, there are no regrets sending her home!
Photo Shoot
Malibu, CA
Can I just day, DAMN!, what a nice location!
And I loved Mr. J’s crazy outfit for the shoot!
For this week's photo shoot, the girls work with photographer, Anne Menke. The ladies don a harness and are hoisted up into the air to portray fallen angels. Each one chooses an emotion they must convey on camera. Now for the best and worst:
Chester (Esther) was first up and chose the word 'fearless' for her angel's emotion
While she looks great before getting in front of the camera, she stumbles after and is unable to connect with the male model. It gets so bad that the photographer stops Chester (Esther) in the middle of the shoot. How embarrassing!
Next up, was Denise Huxtable (Liz) who did super bad on her photo shoot because she would not stop complaining. I’m getting tired of this shit again! When is she going to learn to act humble? This is a huge unspoken Tyra Rule. She even went so far as to pull a diva move, stopping the entire shoot so that she could adjust her harness.
"Liz is becoming a pain in the butt! From makeover day to today, everything is a complaint from her!" – Mr. J.
But who killed it? That's right, Mop Top (Kayla)!
"Kayla is not attracted to this male model. But you know what, if you can make me believe it, you've more than done your job.” – Mr. J.
Serena (Chris) also pulled it off during the shoot: 
"She became this other wordly, soft, feminine creature." – Mr. J.
Ann (Giraffe) killed the shoot too:
"I haven't really had much experience with dudes, so I was kinda nervous in the beginning. But once I actually stepped out there, I was like, okay, this is alright." – Giraffe (Ann)
Uma (Lexie), however, was among the worst. She got bad commentary all around:
"Lexie she probably shouldn't model to be really honest. I think that her whole body is like not right for it.” – Anne Menke, photographer
"Every time Lexie steps on set she lets me down.” – Mr. J
Uma (Lexie) had a very hard time modeling H2T (head to toe) and couldn't figure how to deal with her big, awkward feet: 
The male model wants her stanky feet out his face! Not sexy!
Elimination
This week's special guest judge was Patricia Field, who looked and sounded like she had a severe hang-over. She even wore dark sunglasses at certain points during filming.
Leading the Pack
Mysterious Casper (Chelsey) creates a dynamic in her photo that the judges love.
Mop Top (Kayla) 
Mop Top (Kayla) delivers an intriguing photo.
Giraffe (Ann) 
Andre: "I think it's fabulous!"
Middle of the Pack
Tyra decides that the group did so bad overall that they should grade on a curve.
Serena (Chris)
Tyra: "I don't think this picture is that strong, but right now because the film is so weak collectively that now we must grade on the curve. So, on the curve, you are rising above the pack. Just know that if you're heartbroken, next time, you need to be broke down.”
Tumbleweed (Rhianna)
She gave good face and connected with her body, but the judges were not falling over themselves about it. However, I’m liking her so much that I’m seriously considering switching out Denise Huxtable (Liz) for Tumbleweed (Rhianna). Making a gambling change has consequences though, so I really need to be certain about this…. It will require more thought. 
Pullin' Up the Rear
Chester (Esther)
Nigel: "It looks to me like a still from movie, but at the same time, it's not cinematic. Because the male model's doing nothing really, but he looks genius."
Tyra: "Esther, your face was like this in every single shot. It's like you weren't there."
Uh-oh. Based on this critique, Chester (Esther) is on the verge of being labeled either a "movie actress" or "blank face." Either way, once you are officially labeled by the judges, this can be your ticket home.
Chester (Esther) has not been officially labeled yet, but she needs to heed this warning and watch out for any repetition of these terms. Beware!!
ReRun (Kacey) 
Her photo was fine, but where ReRun (Kacey) sucked was in her wardrobe choice:
Andre: That's just too much fashion!
Kacey: This is actually part of the shirt, though.
Patricia: Well, you shouldn't have worn the shirt.
Well said, Patricia Field!
Haven't the models learned yet to wear a tank top, jeans and heels?!? That's the model uniform during Tyra boot camp. Wear it, ladies!!
For those of you planning on auditioning...here are long-time casting director Mock-Falcon’s two top tips: (1) "Wear a tank top, jeans, and heels. I think girls think if they come like that, they'll feel underdressed. Then they're shocked if I call back the one girl in the line that's Plain Jane. They're like, 'Ohmygod, I got this, I spent this much money.' It's not about that.'" (2) "Come as natural as can be. We've had girls who've had to go take all their makeup off because they have so much of it on. Girls come in wigs and all sorts of things. Really, we just need to see through all of that."
Uma (Lexie)
Tyra: "You didn't give us predatorial. You didn't even give us editorial. You gave us 'deadatorial'."
Nigel's reaction to Uma's (Lexie's) photo says it all. Look away, folks, look away! 
Feminem (Sara)
Feminem (Sara) does especially bad, and receives criticism from all the judges:
Nigel: "I mean, really?"
Tyra: "It looks like an amateur ballet dancer to me."
Andre: "There's no aspiration and no inspiration in the photograph!"
Tyra warns the girls: “This film this week was near a disaster. And with the caliber of photographers we have this season, you girls really need to step it up.”
Tyra: "So we have a strong set of girls--"
Nigel: "Beautiful."
Tyra: "But this week, these pictures are--"
Andre: "Drek-i-tude!!!"
Tyra: "And they had an amazing photographer. So there's no excuse!"
In the end, it was between Uma (Lexie) and Feminem (Sara). They both did terribly. Ultimately, the judges decided that it was Feminem's (Sara's) time to go. I thought that Uma (Lexie) should have been the one packing her bags. But, instead they sent home no-eyebrows. However Feminem (Sara) showed us that she did learn and grow during the experience.
She certainly showed a lot more maturity than Soup Coola' (Terra), for example, who didn't understand that her new look was to make her more marketable and something she could use to book modeling jobs. Oh well. You can't teach 'em all, I guess!
And now for a glimpse back at how Feminem (Sara) got her name:
What We Learned
- How Giraffe (Ann) got her nickname:
