Cycle 7 Finale: "The Girl Who Becomes America's Next Top Model"
This is our final three!
Eugena
She’s only really taken one good photo the entire cycle. But for some reason, she’s still here.
Melrose
She’s very knowledgeable about fashion and has had strong photos the entire competition. But the other contestants see her as a kiss-ass and just plain mean.
CariDee
She’s known as a loose cannon for not being afraid to get wacky but it sometimes is too much. Her photos have also been consistently good.
After the recap of the final three, we jump right into the episode with Mr. Jay walking up to the models who are standing in an undisclosed location.
He tells them they’re going to do a CoverGirl commercial and photoshoot for Outlast Double Lipshine. You can buy it online from Walmart.
Yum, isn’t that color fantastic?
The models are joined onset by Cycle 6 winner Danielle who now goes by Dani.
She was so lovable her season but comes across a bit aloof here. She calls the final three “cute”.
Their photographer for the shoot is Jim de Yonker, who’s been in the cast of ANTM characters before.
He awkwardly kisses Eugena on the cheek.
And then says he’s gonna get in trouble with his wife. You initiated it, Jim!
After that, we go straight into panel where the judges will decide the final two models.
Tyra’s dress looks like it’s supposed to only be red but her black bra wouldn’t fit so it’s just peeking out.
Twiggy looks like CariDee’s mom.
Melrose is told her commercial is great but her photo is lacking.
Both Eugena’s photo and commercial are good. But the judges are still fixated on whether she actually wants to be a model. And Nigel can’t drop that she doesn’t look friendly when she’s not smiling.
CariDee looks good but much older than 21.
It could be anyone’s game after this week. But Eugena can’t fly under the radar anymore. She gets sent home.
Eugena has gone on to shut Nigel (and the other judges) up and become a successful model.
She signed with several agencies around the U.S. and internationally.
She has walked runways, been in music videos and was even Playmate of the Year for Playboy in 2016. I thought she didn’t pose nude, but then I searched for it on my work computer and found out that’s not true. Oops!
She is thriving and doing a lot of makeup tutorials on her Instagram.
Go, Eugena! Own your nudity and sexuality!
The finale becomes a battle of the blondes.
CariDee’s room looks disgusting.
CariDee and Melrose do their photoshoot for Seventeen because the winner of the competition will get a spread in the magazine. Their crew is Atoosa and Beau, who we know from before. Beau still does not say a single word on camera. And their photographer is George Holz.
The top two then meet with Tyra and Dr. Michelle.
She’s been on Tyra’s talk show as a life coach and still looks the same after 20 years.
They brought so many people to Barcelona this cycle! There’s really no purpose to this part. Dr. Michelle probably just wanted to come to Spain and Tyra said, “let’s put you on camera!”
Mr. Jay explains the final runway at Park Güell in Barcelona.
The models will be playing “ghostly brides”.
This is me at the Hard Rock Cafe in Barcelona in 2004.
Park Güell is an awkward runway space in my opinion because it’s right next to a wall. So the audience can only be on one side. Most of them appear to be everyday Spaniards standing in their jeans and flip flops, holding candles.
It could have been a cool photoshoot location.
The models are all encouraged to scream while walking. It’s very chaotic for me. CariDee steps on Melrose’s dress and rips it. Melrose cannot let it go.
Miss Jay has his moment on the catwalk.
Melrose and CariDee do these weird poses at the end of the show and then the lights go out.
The judges seem to be pretty positive about Melrose’s performance at the fashion show, but they really lay into CariDee. They say she looks stiff and like she’s holding her breath.
They review photoshoots from throughout the competition, and several of the judges say CariDee’s matador photo is great. Nigel says it’s one of his favorites from the cycle. What? She got READ DOWN for her photo that week.
The judges say that Melrose is a perfectionist, alluding to her being an over thinker and maybe not having as much natural modeling ability. So it doesn’t feel like the judges love either contestant.
But they choose CariDee to win.
Melrose loses and isn’t happy.
I feel bad for Melrose being portrayed as a meanie. But it was reality TV in the early 2000s and someone had to have that label. Melrose went on to achieve success in the biz. She signed with several modeling agencies around the world after her cycle.
She’s also been a real estate agent, an event planner and a podcaster.
She now lives in Wyoming.
Following her win, CariDee fulfilled her ANTM modeling obligations in addition to other modeling and hosting gigs. She really likes to be photographed without clothes on.
She’s also been a very visible spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation and psoriasis medication. You might have seen her in commercials.
Sadly, CariDee has struggled with alcohol addiction but appears to be doing well now. Props to her for being transparent and sharing her ups and downs publicly.
It doesn’t appear that any of the final three are married because they are independent women!
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here for Cycle 8! Natasha from Russia! Jael the rocker chick! Brittany the redhead with the bad weave and attitude!
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Fierce and love,
P