Top Model Picks: The gambling begins!

Alright, so I'm nearly a week late making my Top Model picks for our gambling pool. Our standard rule is we must make our selections prior to watching the make-over episode (which aired last Wed 9/22/10).  However, because I'm desperate to find out what happens in the 3rd episode, it's time to make it happen! 

After agonizing for almost two weeks over my selections and going back and forth on certain girls right up until the last moment (ie. I'm still agonizing now), I think I'm finally ready to make it official!  Although there is still a big part of me that wants to re-evaluate some more for another 2 weeks to make sure I have the best picks...

Patty's Picks for the Gambling Pool:

1)     Mop Top (Kayla)

I loves me some Mop Top (Kayla)! I am really rooting for her to win this whole thing!  Like many of us, I would love it if a gay girl finally won ANTM.  Mop Top (Kayla) has a great look and a very strong face.  She can be super editorial, which is exactly what is needed for the cover of Vogue Italia.  The camera loves her, she poses great, and she doesn't participate in drama.  What's not to love??

2)     Giraffe (Ann)

I also loves me some Giraffe (Ann)!  She is pretty much tied with Mop Top (Kayla) for my #1 choice, and I would love it if she won the whole show.  She falls into the "quirky" category and while most of the quirky girls in past cycles win my heart, they never seem to win the title of ANTM.  Giraffe (Ann) reminds me of Lauren, another quirky girl, from Cycle 10:

Cycle 10's Lauren dons raw meat and proves she knows how to make it hot -- even in an ice cold meat locker

I know these models don't really look alike, but their quirky nature that draws me to them. Both women seem to initally not have a chance at winning.  But once the camera starts clickin' and after the makeover --BAM!-- they come outta nowhere with extreme beauty and amazing photos.  I think if Giraffe (Ann) wins, it will be a tribute to all the past quirky/awkward contestants who didn't make it, as well as to all "weirdo" girls who think they can't make it in the fashion industry.

3)     Casper (Chelsey)

Experience.  That's what it really comes down to.  I'm hoping Casper (Chelsey) is a points horse in the competition.  She said she has some prior modeling experience, so I'm banking on that to earn me some points.  I'm not necessarily crazy about Casper (Chesley), but I like her look.  For my sake, let's hope she does awesome.

4)     Denise Huxtable (Liz)

This is another pick that I am not 100% on, but I'm going with it.  Denise Huxtable (Liz) has a lot of potential.  She has a strong look, the camera seems to love her, and she is highly motivated to win.  She has had a rough background, is a young, single mother, and has been working two full-time jobs to try to make ends meet. This is a girl who could use a break.  Now I just need her to win best photo a whole bunch of weeks in a row and not get sent home too soon.

5)     Serena (Chris)

Okay, so I admit it. Serena (Chris) is my "token black chick."  But that's not the only reason I picked her.  I love her strong personality and great ability to pose well for the camera. I'm not crazy about her rounded features.  [Actually, I prefer her sister Soup Coola's (Terra') look more. More on that below.] But, in the end, her personality won me over.  If she can make it to the go-see's, I think the designers will appreciate it too.

What About So-and-So?? Why Not Her?

I know some of you might ask, "Well, what about so-and-so? Why didn't you pick her instead?"  Well, I go through a careful screening process for most of my picks.  However, there were a few others that caught my eye and whom I am still not sure if I should have picked them instead.  This was definitely a tough call to make!!! 

So, here's who didn't make the cut and why:

1)     Chester (Esther)

I freakin' love Chester (Esther)! I think she has a great face that would be such a great fit with Vogue Italia.  She is definitely one of my "back-up" girls and I had a hard time not putting her into my picks.  I like her unique features, but I wish her personality were a little stronger.  However, being one of the quiet girls is not necessarily a bad thing.  I bet Esther (Chester) will go far.  I am secretly rooting for her too.

2)     Mo' Chocolate (Kendal)

This is another girl I love too!  She is one of my "back-up" girls as well.  I nearly put her in my Top 5 as my "token black girl" instead of Serena (Chris).  Both photograph really well. And while I like Serena's (Chris's) personality more, I like Mo' Chocolate (Kendal's) look more.  I mean, she just looks like a top model.  So why didn't I pick her?  Well, because someone who looks a lot like her won last cycle:

Chocolate Ass (Krista) was the winner of Cycle 14I know that Mo' Chocolate (Kendal) may win a lot of points and cause me to lose the gambling pool.  Trust me, I know this.  I'm sure I'll be kicking myself a few weeks from now for not putting her in my picks.  But really, folks, I just don't think that Tyra will have two girls who look alike win ANTM back to back.  In fact, during the initial model interviews, Kendal reminded us so much of Chocolate Ass (Krista) that we nick-named her Mo' Chocolate!  I think the Cycle 15 winner is a lot more likely to be a while girl simply because a black girl won Cycle 14.  It's not a guaranteed deal, it is simply a higher probability.  And when we are talking about gambling, it's all about probability and odds.  So, for those reasons, I had to cross Mo' Chocolate (Kendal) off my list.

3)     Blockhead (Jane)

How many "back-up" girls can I have?  One more, please!!  Blockhead (Jane) is another personal favorite.  She was tied with Chester (Esther) for makin' it into my picks.  However, she is in the same industry category as Mop Top (Kayla) -- they both have strong bone structure.  I'm not sure it would be wise to select two girls from the same category.  I like to mix it up so that I have a higher chance of winning.  Because I like Mop Top (Kayla) better, Blockhead (Jane) instantly went into my "alternates" group.  But it really was a tough choice because her face photographs SO well. She has a truly stunning look that I could see on the cover of Vogue Italia.  I think she will go far. She just needs to bring out her personality a little bit more.

4)     Soup Coola' (Terra)

I love her look and her personality. However, with two sisters in the competition, I feel as though I should only choose one.  What are the odds they will both make it to the end?  Soup Coola' (Terra) has a strong, angular face and a great runway walk. However, her younger sister Serena (Chris), has a round face with round features and poses better.  Ultimtely, I like Serena's (Chris') personality a little bit more than her sister's.  Let's hope for the best because I love both these girls!

5)     Tumbleweed (Rhianna)

While Tumbleweed (Rhianna) has that unique quirkiness to her, a strong look, and a seemingly innate ability to pose, I opted not to choose her because I already have Giraffe (Ann) and I like her far better.  Nothing against Tumbleweed (Rhianna), it's just all about the zen balance in this gambling game.

6)     Feminem (Sara)

Feminem (Sara) has a strong look, but I'm not convinced about her personality. Maybe she just hasn't gotten enough camera time.  Again, it's also a balance thing; I can't have too many white girls in my picks, so I left Feminem (Sara) out.

7)    Uma (Lexie)

This girl did not even make it into my selection process. Instead, Uma (Lexie) was immediately ruled out when she started participating in gossip.  Break an unspoken Tyra Rule and it's just a matter of time before you go home!  Plus, I don't really like her look...

8)     Re-Run (Kacey)

Re-Run (Kacey) is another girl who violated Tyra's unspoken ANTM "no gossip" rule.  For that reason she did't enter into my selection process either.  I like her look in some of her photos, granted, but I don't like her attitude at all.  Also, what about those baggy under eyes?  I'm not sure they would look good on a cover of Vogue Italia...  I vote no!