Cycle 2, Episode 8: "The Girl With a Signature Walk"
Have you all been going through it like I have? I struggled a lot with my anxiety/depression this spring. Could it be a pandemic, the non-stop competition of living in a Type A city like DC or just an unusually long winter? Yes!
But I’m still here, giving you the hottest recap of a 20-year-old show with a few added surprise photos mixed in. (Hint: they’re of me. The photos are of me.)
Everyone’s still sad after Sara got eliminated last episode, especially Yoanna. Yoanna lost nearly 50 pounds to take modeling seriously, which I think sets her apart from the rest of the contestants. For the most part, they’re very young and tried out because people said they were pretty and should give modeling a try. Yoanna’s weight loss shows she really wants this and has worked to get here. She also seems more mature than everyone else regarding certain things like food. She encourages the models to eat healthy and not criticize what other people choose to eat (e.g. Camille using a fork and knife to eat pickles with ketchup on top.)
But look at these photos of her from when she was young.
I don’t think she looks that overweight but losing 45 pounds, especially in what seems like an intentional and healthy way, is respectable.
Yoanna still does not like Camille but now they’ve somehow become friends?
The models go to the IMG Models office in NYC. Whoever wins the show gets a contract there. Nothing memorable happens.
They then meet up with Tyra for lunch in Little Italy. Tyra tells them they’re going to the real Italy using the art form of rap.
They only have one hour to pack. Within that hour, Shandi has time to call her boyfriend (guess she’s over the movie theater drama) to tell him that she’s leaving. Priorities.
Yoanna uses holy water to bless all the luggage before they leave. Ok, Miss Robin.
They arrive in Milan and straight away are whisked to go-sees. I’m sure they’re gross and tired from flying, but of course it’s part of the challenge to see who can overcome the odds. A British man with the driest voice gives them their directions. They have to get around on Vespas driven by hot Italian men who only say “Ciao!” over and over.
The feedback the models get is as follows:
Yoanna - She is CONSTANTLY told her body is incorrect, which really throws her this time.
Camille - Comes across as VERY confident
Mercedes - She’s very nice but doesn’t have the strongest look.
Shandi - The best look but too shy
April - One of the agents asks April if she’s “mixed-blooded”???
The standout designer was this woman and the man behind her who translates.
She’s the one who asks about the models’ walks and Camille delivers this famous line:
Shandi DID NOT like her.
Camille hits it off with her Vespa driver.
Camille wins the go-see challenge by being the most confident and not having a major flaw like her body (Yoanna) or being boring (April).
She gets to pick someone else to share her prize and goes with Yoanna of all people.
Everyone keeps talking about Yoanna’s body and how big/out of shape she is. But they never show it. She looks fine to me, just maybe has smaller boobs. But isn’t that normal for these high fashion models?
This week, they’re doing an editorial photoshoot for sunglasses at a coliseum in Verona. This is one of the season’s best shoots IMHO.
After how close Camille and Yoanna have gotten since their spat, Camille insinuates that Yoanna has an eating disorder after dinner. Mercedes then tells Yoanna, which sets off their feud again.
This is Tyra’s photo this week lol.
The models find out one of Tyra’s agents was a plant during their go-sees. So the meanie Italian woman was acting extra on purpose. The show really just seems like it’s trying to make a storyline out of nothing.
These photos are the best. So much so, I did them a bit myself.
My faves this week:
Shandi
Yoanna
This was outside the Supreme Court in March on one of the coldest fucking days. Thanks @alexisvictoria24 for taking them!
April
Janice criticizes April’s face but this is a bit much:
Camille gets eliminated. She was called “aggressive” and constantly told she had a bad attitude. I don’t think she ever got a great photo throughout the competition, but her fierce-ness made her a staple of the season, much like Miss Robin last cycle.
Since the show, Camille has taken her signature walk onto numerous other runways, getting signed by several modeling agencies. She was even on the All Stars season of Top Model, but didn’t do anything too remarkable.
She has a daughter and a lingerie line based on — you guessed it — Jamaica.
Go Momma Camille!
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here for Cycle 2, Episode 9. We’re getting closer to the finale! Follow along by watching the episodes on Amazon Prime or Hulu if you like commercials. If you’re not already, be sure to subscribe to get added to my newsletter.
Fierce and love,
P