Cycle 15, Episode 9: Margherita Missoni
Monday, November 22, 2010 at 3:52AM Summary
The contestants travel from Venice, California to Venezia, Italia! They pause briefly for a group photo shoot in a gondola with the historic Rialto Bridge as the backdrop, then dash over Milano for this week's challenge: a fitting with Missoni. This week's guest judge is Margherita Missoni.
Andiamo!
Ms. Jay leads the girls through the streets of Venice on beach cruisers to see more of the city. But, we all know there must be a twist – there’s no sightseeing in fashion! He slyly tells the contestants they have arrived at the location of their "next photo shoot" and that they will have to dive off the bridge and swim into the lagoon for the photo. But guess WHAT?! Tyra shows up gliding toward the bridge in a gondola and announces the girls actually will be going to Venezia, Italia!!! Ciao belle!! They return to their beach house to pack their bags.
Benvenuti Raggazze!
The ladies deplane in Italia and note the sweltering heat. They must have arrived during the summer, possibly August, when most Italians spend the month of ferrie (vacation) at beach resorts to escape the heat. In their gorgeous new hotel room, the ladies prepare a champagne toast (cin-cin! salute!) out on their balcony. Suddenly, a bird takes a shit on Denise Huxtable's (Liz's) arm and Blockhead's (Jane's) hair!! (cue laugh track)
Denise Huxtable (Liz) reverts to her usual ways and complains profusely about getting shit on. In doing so, Casper (Chelsey) gets pissed off at her constant complaining. Trust, me – she ain't the only one! After all, this is exactly why I traded her out of my model gambling picks. Blockhead (Jane) doesn't complain about the shit in her hair, she just takes it in stride. Somehow, though, the entire incident seemed rather ominous. Did the bird know something we didn't??
Photo Shoot: Simone Falcetta
The models head through the twisting streets of Venezia to their photo shoot location near the iconic Rialto Bridge in Venezia. Mr. Jay explains they will be doing a high fashion period editorial with photographer Simone Falcetta. They are divided into groups of three and must pose as high society women trying to woo their Casanova while on a romantic gondola ride.
The girls have mixed emotions about the shoot. One side of the spectrum sits Mop Top (Kayla) who is immediately nervous about portraying romance with a male model. She suffered last week in the CoverGirl commercial on the same task and is determined to improve this week. On the other side is Serena (Chris) who is immediately comfortable with Casanova:
"He's one handsome, beautiful, big-nosed Italian man! He is handsome, mmm hmm! He is HAND-some!! Oh! I wouldn't mind me bringin' him home, honey!"
Many of the contestants express how it's their time to step it up and why they have the edge on everyone else. With everything on the line, the girls boldly board their gondola and vie for the attention of not just Casanova but the judges as well!
Group 1: Mop Top (Kayla), Serena (Chris), Denise Huxtable (Liz)
Denise Huxtable (Liz) complains right off the bat this week. Once again, Mr. Jay is not happy with her performance. Casper (Chelsey) is also irritated, commenting: "In this industry, I don't think complaining is tolerated—at all."
Mop Top (Kayla) did awesome. She was comfortable immediately and really present during the shoot. You could see her smizing and getting into character. 
Serena (Chris) is still fighting her "Teen Vogue" / "too commercial" label.
"As the shoot progressed, Chris became more and more awkward, so she lost her performance." – Mr. Jay
"I know Chris for being goofy and funny. I felt like she may have done a mediocre job on her photo shoot. Chris is not high fashion." – Mop Top (Kayla)
Group 2: Giraffe (Ann), Casper (Chesley), Blockhead (Jane)
Casper (Chelsey) believes that because she is "older" (she's only 23 for christ's sake!!), this competition is her last chance at a modeling career. She really wants to step it up this week and claim top photo. She did well, but was a bit forgettable.
Giraffe (Ann) has been progressing with her confidence with the other girls. She is more comfortable being herself around them: "She is growing not only in modeling, but as a person." – Mop Top (Kayla) However, this naturalness has not carried over to the set. She hasn't brought a level of confidence and control to her photo shoot. She is on really shaky ground and might fall off soon. The amazing thing is, she still has it in her hands to control, but she doesn't even seem to realize this.
“Ann, you look petrified." – Mr. Jay
"You know, Ann was the break-out star at the beginning of this competition. But as we're moving forward week to week, I'm starting to feel that Ann is losing her confidence. She didn't look comfortable in today's photo shoot. ... If you're not comfortable with whoever is around you, you're not going to sell anyone that photograph.” – Mr. Jay
Blockhead (Jane) made it believable and impressed Mr. Jay: "Jane, I love this! This is the best I've seen you!" I think part of why Blockhead (Jane) did so well was because she didn't need to pose H2T, just H2Waist. Her face is stunning. Even if she doesn't win this competition, she can definitely continue in modeling. Tyra might give her the ol', "you can be a face model" schtick.
"Jane had the difficult position of working behind Mario, Chelsey and Ann, so she had her own private little moment and she made it so believable! I felt with Jane that I was looking back in time." – Mr. Jay
Una Missione per Vedere Missoni
The girls jetset from Venezia to Milano, internationally recognized fashion and design capital, home of IMG Model Management, Vogue Italia, and designer brands, such as Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Missoni.
The ladies make a quick stop to their new pad in Milano and quickly realize it's not a mansion. Wah-wah. Get over it. Tyra set them up to have a more realistic model house that they would stay at if booked through an agency.
"It's nice. It ain't all that." – Serena (Chris)
Tyra surprises the contestants in their pad and tells them their next challenge will be to head to fashion house Missoni for a fitting. Missoni is famous for its unique knitwear, made from a variety of fabrics in colorful patterns.
The ladies don the Missoni winter clothing line in sweltering August heat and must walk for Creative Director of Maison Missoni, Angela Missoni, her daughter, Margherita Missoni, and Ms. Jay. Combine the lack of air conditioners with thick winter knits and this was a recipe for Casper (Chelsey) to nearly pass out. The overheating theme would continue into juding. 
Judging & Elimination
This week’s guest judge is Margherita Missoni. This girl has some rep in the industry. Not only is she Angela Missoni’s daughter, she is the brand ambassador, the accessory designer, the heiress to the brand, the unofficial "muse" of the collection, an IMG model, the face of the Missoni perfumes, and she is now studying in New York to be an actress. DAMN! And she's only 27! DAMN!!
The best part about the elimination ceremony was the fact that the girls became so overheated in their knitwear that a few of them almost passed out! It really showed how much the industry expects the models to just suck it up and deal with the conditions, no matter how adverse.
Best Photo
Mop Top (Kayla) steals it this week! Finally! Our girl takes first place! YES!!! She accomplished her goal of stepping up after last week's trouble with a male model. This week she delivers a pose that is believable and the judges love it!
"Her eyes are just so present. She gets my vote!" – Margherita Missoni
Runner Up: Blockhead (Jane). We gotta give props to this girl because she deserves it!
Bottom 2
Will 
Serena (Chris) and 
Denise Huxtable (Liz) please step forward? Two lovely ladies stand before me, but I only have one photo in my hand, and this photo represents the girl who will continue on in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model. I'll only call one name. And the girl that I do not call must immediately return to her home here in Milano, pack her bags, and go home.
Serena (Chris) has an effervescent personality, but her photos do not shine and sparkle as much as she does. Denise Huxtable (Liz) has gorgeous bone structure and strong androgyny that the judges love. But the judges also agree she makes too many excuses.
And The Loser Is…
Denise Huxtable (Liz) gets her ass handed to her this week. C'mon, was it really that much of a shocker? Once Tyra is telling you to correct something for the 3rd time, you're out the door, sweetheart.
She didn't know the industry: "I don't know who John Galliano is."
She didn't even know geography very well:
“Instantly when I hear Milan I think Mulan. You know, Japan, dragons... I don't even know where my mind was at.”
Bottom line: Make excuses for a poor performance and you will be excusing yourself out the door.
Mop Top (Kayla) called it this week: "One mistake can send you home." Amen, girl. Truer words were never spoken.
"I find [her pose] a little bit vulgar."– Margherita Missoni
“Why is she standing like that anyway? It looks like a whole universe between her legs and—nmm nmmm!" – Andre Leon Talley
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Giraffe (Ann)
Strike 1: Bottom 3
Strike 2: "The judges feel you are shrinking. You need to perform well even when you are not at the top of the pack. But something needs to happen because you're slipping." – Tyra
Best Quote
"I could definitely get used to living a fabulous life. I'm gay; that's what we're used to!" – Mop Top (Kayla)
What We Learned
- Blockhead (Jane) was a European history major at Princeton.
- Milan is full up with fashion! (Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni!)
- Margherita Missoni is the shit!