Cycle 15, Episode 8: Zac Posen

Designer Zac Posen surprises the girls at their beach house and tells them they will be wearing his fall 2010 collection during this week's runway challenge. The girls put their personality and balance to the test when they shoot their first commercial in roller skates. Posen is also this week's guest judge.

Runway Challenge
The girls girls learned they would be in a Zac Posen fashion show the following day with professional models.  Ms. J and the Mr. Posen would judge the models, and the winner would get 5 outfits from the designer’s runway show.  The secret twist to this challenge? The professional models were asked to be catty and mean towards the novice models.  The judges wanted to test their composure by seeing what would happen if they got rattled.

So, guess who got rattled? Giraffe (Ann) of course! She stumbled on the runway. It wasn't that big of a deal, really, but Ms. J threw his neck back in disgust as if she had fallen. She’s GOT to work on her confidence or she will be sent home.  If she is, Mop Top (Kayla) will likely win the competition.  But we’re not there yet, darlings.  Our gentle Giraffe (Ann) just needs to push it on through the otha side and she will come out on top once again!

Ms. J reacts in horror to Giraffe's (Ann's) runway stumble

Chester (Esther) had a SUPER awkward walk. I don’t know what she was thinking! I don’t remember her walking so funky before, so why is she starting up with this now? Her torso, arms, and legs were so akimbo while walking. She looked terrible.

Overall, the rest of the girls did fine.  Post-runway show, they hugged as a group while shouting, "We're real models now!!!" I don't think saying it makes it true, girls. Maybe I should take back my rant from last week criticizing the judges for questioning whether or not the girls are "real models."  Maybe the aren't! (Gasp!!!)

Challenge Winner
Ms. J revealed that the "mean girl" models were just faking it. Nothing much really came of this bit, so moving on.  Casper (Chelsey) wins! We don't see her rub this win in anyone’s face, nor do we see her pick out her 5 looks, so we don't care too much either.
Casper (Chelsey) shows how a real model should walk and strike a pose

Commercial & Judging
Mr. J and Nigel burst into the ladies house to announce they’d be doing a commercial then and there, and that Nigel would be filming it.  So many people are showing up unexpectedly that the girls’ house is getting busier than an Amsterdam brothel!  Nigel revealed the hard part of the commercial: the contestants would have to film on roller skates, kiss a boy, and promote a faux energy drink called 'H2T.' Whoah! This is going to be interesting for sure!

A Shocking Drama
While in hair and makeup, Mop Top (Kayla) broke down crying. She revealed to Mr. J that she was deeply against kissing a man because she was sexually assaulted at age 11 for long period of her life.  She had never talked about this prior – not to her mom, not to her friends, not to her partner. Holy. Shit.  ANTM Just. Got. Real.

Mr. J did a great job being den mother. This was a serious topic and Mop Top (Kayla) could have easily opted out of the commercial without anyone faulting her. However, thanks to Mr. J and his kind words, he somehow got Mop Top (Kayla) back into the mindset of filming a commercial.

Props Where Props are Due
I have to give major props to Mop Top (Kayla) for her strength and ability to deal with such an emotional topic so calmly on the show.  It shows how mature she is.  This is exactly the type of thing that has sunk contestants in cycle’s past, but Mop Top (Kayla) proved she would not be held back from her dream:

"Now that I've talked about [the abuse] and realized that it's actually healthy to talk about it, I'm going to deal with it. And I feel a lot better about it. I don't think it’s going to affect me in this competition because the basis of me being here is to win, and I refuse to let anything get in the way because that’s my 'lot' in life." --- (Mop Top) Kayla

At first, she forgot her lines and her delivery was so-so. When it came time to kiss the guy she was definitely awkward. But she got through it, and Mr. J thought she "delivered a performance that was believable." 

The best part was seeing her best take. She glided by the camera saying how great H2T water was because of the "acai berries, guarana, and... .... 'boo-bana!'" HAHA!  Surprisingly, the judges didn't give her too much shit for butchering the ingredient. Instead they 'ooh'-ed and 'ahh'-ed over her "urban" look and ribbed her lightly: "This drink has iguanas!" -- Nigel

Chelsey (Casper) skated pretty well, despite a few bumps.  She hit her lines, but her delivery was flat. Tyra called her performance "wooded."  Not good!  Nigel noted that she had potential to be a model, but questioned whether she could be a "top" model.

“I wish there had been more snap crackle and pop.” – Andre Leon Talley

Well, at least they aren't calling her an amateur drag queen anymore!

Giraffe (Ann) was super bad this week. She was crying before she even started the commercial!  Because of her fear of falling and embarrassing herself she focused on screwing up. So, what did she do? Exactly that. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"Ann's biggest issue is she’s afraid of failing and making herself look like a fool in front of other people. As a result, Ann completely psyched herself out!" – Mr. J.

Poor Giraffe (Ann) took spill after spill after spill. As soon as she got up from falling, she would crash back down immediately. Her height (and extreme awkwardness) definitely put her at a disadvantage. I've fallen down on roller skates as an adult and it hurts. You don't want to do it – trust me. Seeing her fall repeatedly was painful to watch. I really sympathized.

Nigel tried to help her by taking her arm and walking with her. "You can do this!" he coached. I don't know how much it really helped, because still Giraffe (Ann) couldn't seem to stay upright, but his effort was earnest.

Things seemed to unravel further during panel, when guest judge Zac Posen told Girafee (Ann) to stand up straighter: "You have got to make us believe that you can do everything else even if you can't roller skate."  He told her to present herself with a sense of confidence. Exactly what Giraffe (Ann) has trouble with. [Cue Tyra's 'wah-wah']

Blockhead (Jane) actually nailed her lines and skated halfway decently. She had some stumbles, but at least they weren't in every take! Good job, Ms. Lacrosse! The judges criticized her for not bringing it "enough" and for her bland personality. However, she ended up being runner-up for best commercial.  I was happy, but conflicted. She did okay, but not great. Blockhead (Jane) was still struggling with connecting her hot face to her awkward poses.  Shouldn't she have been punished for not modeling head to toe?  I mean, the product being advertised was H2T water!

"You had the lines down, your outfit looked good, everything was good. I just want to see more of you." – Nigel

Chester (Esther) looked like she was about to fall asleep. She was pretty good on the skates, mildly steady. But when delivering her lines she was robotic. Tyra noted how her voice has a “muffle” on it. I’d say it's pretty damn nasal.  Overall, this week she was forgettable.

Denise Huxtable (Liz) didn't seem to take the commercial too seriously and laughed her way though it. What a mistake. She certainly fell out of Nigel’s good graces and really should have been in the Bottom 2 for her terrible performance.  Despite claims about being prepared, she didn't have her lines memorized and simply laughed it off.  If she had tried harder, she could have received best commercial.  Her skating was fine and her outfit looked good.  It was her attitude that made her bomb.  In my mind, she really should be sent home.

"When you feel beautiful on the inside, you feel even more beautiful on...the...inside..." – Densie Huxtable (Liz), screwing up her line.

I think she managed to escape the wrath of the Bottom 2 this week because she showed vulnerability in front of the judges.  If she hadn’t shown this growth potential, the judges surely would have sent her packing.  Nevertheless, her lackluster performance puts another black mark on her record. If she doesn't straighten up and fly right, she will go home soon!

Best Commercial
To our delight, Serena (Chris) won best commercial this week! She was called out for being slightly too cheesy, but overall the judges loved it. She skated backwards with no assistance, nailed a complex ingredients list (acai berry, guarana, chromium), and had chemistry with the male model. More importantly, she brought her personality out and made it believable.  Props to Serena (Chris) aka Woo Lawd! for taking first place away from Denise Huxtable (Liz)!!

Bottom 2
Chester (Esther) and Giraffe (Ann). You had to have seen this coming. Both ladies  did poorly in the runway challenge and the commercial.  Chesther (Esther) had a flat, forgettable commercial.  She also had a funky, knock-kneed runway walk. Giraffe (Ann) got frazzled in the runway challenge and stumbled. Then she cried her way through her H2T commercial.  Overall, both did quite poorly this week.

And the Loser Is…
Chester (Esther), the judges sank your battleship.  

 "I've never seen someone deliver a performance that was so under energized and flat." – Mr. J

"Total-- as Andre Leon Talley would say--drekitude!" -- Nigel

Forgettable. Boring.  Blah. Those descriptors combined with being up against someone who had won best photo 5 consecutive weeks, it was nearly impossible to avoid being sent home.  After all, only one judge supported her in panel:  "She, today, is not the worst of the lot for me!" said Andre Leon Talley.  Unfortunately, her time had come. Bye, bye 30Gs! I'm sure all the Jewish teenage boys will miss you.

Tyra was positive and encouraging towards Chester (Esther), telling her to continue her pursuit of modeling and to do it for curvy girls (ie. chest-a-licious girl) everywhere.

"I think moving forward I‘m going to try to open myself up more. I'm sad about leaving, about not being here anymore. When I go home I want to continue modeling." -- Chester (Esther)

Her ablity to leave the competition with such a positive perspective shows how mature she is. We will miss you, girl!

For Whom the Bell Tolls
Giraffe (Ann) had a BAD week. The judges didn't think she was capable of speaking or presenting herself well.  However, they also felt she had an "an awkwardness that is really beautiful."

Bottom Line: If she screws up majorly again next week, she will be sent home! She's treading some shark-infested waters.  She can bounce back from this, but it's vital she starts stepping up immediately!

Strike 1: Told (again) she needs to work on her confidence. 

Strike 2: Cried during commercial.  Time is money people! There's no crying in fashion!

Strike 3: Visible discomfort.  Andre Leon Talley said, "I felt as if you were in deep pain from the moment you stood up.  There was not a sense of "'letting go.'" This could just all be one huge Tim Lincecum style strike out for "lack of confidence" really. If Giraffe (Ann) does not improve, she will be thrown to the fashion wolves.

To Be Deeply Concerned About

Jane (Blockhead)
Strike 1: "You're just 'in the face.' I need to see that natural fierceness through the body!" – Zac Posen about on Jane

Strike 2:  Repeated criticism for not modeling H2T. Typically, the girls who receive the same ciriticsm several weeks in a row, are out of the door shortly thereafter.

Denise Huxtable (Liz)
This lady is walking a RAZOR fine line!

Strike 1: Bottom 3

Strike 2: Laughed through her commercial.

She's really got to show the judges how dedicated she is to modeling or they will throw her ass out. Tyra does not take kindly to mockery.