Cycle 8, Episodes 1 & 2: "The Girl Who Won't Stop Talking"
Here we go with ANTM Cycle 8!
Model hopefuls around the country auditioned, and the finalists have been flown to LA. Kiley auditioned but didn’t make the cut.
I hope she didn’t have to do that.
Natasha has a thick mane of hair and is originally from Russia. But she now lives in Texas where she has a husband and baby. She’s so young!!
Jaslene was here last cycle but didn’t make it into the house. Look at all those teeth!
The finalists are taken to a military base where Mr. and Miss J arrive in gay camo.
The Js lead them in posing competitions…
And take them on a march (for no reason).
Whitney and Diana are both plus size and worry only one of them can make it into the house.
Tyra finally makes her appearance, this time stepping in with an entourage.
Is step dancing related to the military? Not really.
Tyra tells them to “Be all you can be, not bitch all you can bitch.”
Ok, diva.
We then go to casting with Tyra, Mr. Jay and Miss J.
Tyra is all bundled up looking like a newscaster.
Sarah seems really knowledgeable about the fashion industry, but I don’t think that translates necessarily into being a model. Also, you can see her swimsuit underneath her sweater top and her belt is so high! How is she only 20 with a mom haircut!
Cassandra has an amazing body and walks super well.
But she had a wig sewn onto her head.
Brittany is a bartender and says she’s good at being everybody’s friend even if she doesn’t like them. We’ll see about that.
We’re back with Natasha who discloses that she was 18 when she married her then 40-year-old husband.
Miss J brings up the idea that she’s a “mail order bride”, which follows her around for the competition.
I don’t know if that’s Miss J’s place to have an opinion. Does he work for Immigration?
Sarah starts telling a story about how she walked in a runway show in Cleveland for Dior or something and Natasha calls bullshit on it.
I love Natasha’s confidence.
Micheline is a cool chick with tattoos. She knows fashion, but Tyra makes fun of her for saying “hot couture” instead of “haute”.
I don’t like her armpit tattoos.
Melissa sold her weave to a friend but then had to buy it back before she came on the show.
Dionne comes out and just keeps talking. I love her.
We find out:
She’s a mother and a dental student.
She has three sisters.
She LOVES spaghetti.
She used to have a tarantula named Sassy but she died.
She’s a former pianist.
Her favorite color is blue.
Renee says she’s from Maui but is living with her mom in California. She’s 20 but is already married with a 7-month-old. Very similar to Natasha…
Jael, who has given off a very calm, rocker vibe so far, cries immediately upon meeting with the judges.
Tyra of course fixates on the fact that Jael is part Black.
Mr. and Miss J start the first elimination by having the entire group run by them to look for gift bags with their photos.
Those who make the cut then go to a party where they have their photo taken.
Props to Kathleen for getting on top of this table.
The Js are obsessed with Sarah.
I am not.
Tyra announces the final 13 who will make it into the model house.
She looks amazing.
They are:
Natasha
Kathleen
Sarah
Cassandra
Renee
Samantha
Dionne
Whitney
Brittany
Felicia
Jael
Jaslene
Diana
The second part of the premiere kicks off with their first photoshoot. Mr. Jay gives each model a “controversial” topic and a stance on it. The assignments are:
Kathleen - anti-fur
Brittany - pro-fur
Natasha - pro-choice
Jael - pro-life
Sarah - pro-life imprisonment
Jaslene - pro-death penalty
Felicia - only straight marriage
Whitney and Samantha - pro-gay marriage
Dionne - vegan
Cassandra - loves meat(?)
Renee - anti-gun
Diana - pro-gun
Their photographer is Nigel who’s back this cycle as a judge.
The concept for this shoot is supposed to be high fashion mixed with politics, but looking back now, it’s pretty cringey. These sometimes heavy themes (abortion, guns, the death penalty) are portrayed in a very Party City way.
Like look at Jaslene’s props.
I don’t know if Whitney has sapphic experience or has just been around it.
I do love Dionne’s definition of what being a vegan means.
After the shoot, they get in their fancy (and not fuel efficient) Hummer limo.
They also make it to their new house, which is massive!
This episode is SO LONG! So before we even judge the photos, we have a challenge. Miss J and Phillip Bloch meet the models at a Goodwill store.
Phillip reminds me of Robbie Rotten from the kids show Lazytown.
Their assignment is to find an outfit in 3 minutes. They then must walk in a runway show directly outside the store.
Krysten Ritter is randomly a spectator in the audience.
The models raise money by having the audience bid on their outfits (I think). The total is $286.50, which is not great.
Jael wins and I think it was deserved.
Renee begins to establish herself as the villain by going after pretty much anyone with a pulse in the house. She says it’s not fair Jael won because she already shops at thrift stores.
The judges are the same as last cycle: Tyra, Nigel, Miss J and Twiggy.
The prizes are the same too:
A modeling contract with Elite Model Management
A fashion spread with Seventeen magazine
A $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics
My favorite photos this week are:
Kathleen gets read for being naive about the fur industry.
I don’t think her photo’s the worst.
The bottom two comes down to Jael and Kathleen. Jael goes on this weird rant that she didn’t try in the photoshoot because she wants to be friends with everyone and not hurt their feelings. WUT? I definitely think other people should have been in the bottom.
Jael stays and poor Kathleen goes home.
Kathleen didn’t become a model, but she is a hairstylist with 48k followers on Instagram! Go off!
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here for Cycle 8, Episode 3!
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Fierce and love,
P