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America's Next Top Model: Cycle 11 Is Finally Here!
Two Hour Premiere Recap by Jacob D.
September 4, 2008
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Previously on America's Next Top Model, the 10th cycle came roaring through with new faces and new changes. For the first time since Cycle Four, there were 14 girls competing for the title. For the first time since Cycle Three, the competition took place in New York, where it all began. Finally, for the first time since, well, ever, supermodel Paulina Porizkova replaced Twiggy on the judging panel.
With 14 new girls on the scene, it would be a tough decision as to who would be the winner, but 13 of them had to fall. First there was Kimberly, the ditzy blonde. She participated in the first couple of exercises, an impromptu fashion show and the first photo shoot, but felt modeling wasn't for her. At the judging panel, she shocked everyone when she decided to quit and leave the show before the judges could even critique her picture. In an ironic twist, they loved it. Even though Kimberly quit, the judges decided they would still eliminate someone in that first judging panel. That unlucky gal was Atalya when she failed to make a big impression on the judges.
With the craziness of Kimberly's exit and Atalya's elimination out of the way, the competition carried on as it usually does. The next girl to be eliminated was the cocky Allison when the judges felt she had a bad attitude. Two more girls with attitude followed after her, though for different reasons than Allison. Amis was eliminated when the judges felt she was lackadaisacal toward the competition and Marvita was eliminated when she gave up on herself. After Amis and Marvita came Aimee and she was eliminated when the judges felt she was too green.
After Aimee left, my personal favorite for that season, Claire, was eliminated when she started to seem one-note and not particularly versatile to the judges. After that came one of the most controversial moves of that season, and perhaps in ANTM history. Since the time for the girls to travel overseas was drawing near, Fatima, who was not actually a full U.S. citizen, panicked and had to make a last ditch effort to get her traveling papers in order. This meant attending an early morning appointment that caused her to completely miss the next photo shoot. She got back in time for that day's judging panel, which was held right at the site of the photo shoot, and though she had no photo for them to judge, the judges still debated about her overall body of work and whether she should stay. In the end, they eliminated Stacy-Ann and kept Fatima when they felt Fatima's body of work was stronger.
The remaining six girls traveled to Rome, Italy and Lauren was the first girl to be eliminated overseas when the judges felt she was still struggling with her awkward nature. After her came Katarzyna, whom the judges felt was not living up to her potential, and Dominique, whom had improved greatly from the beginning of the competition, but was still very rough around the edges. This left a final three of Anya, the angelic stunner from Hawaii, Fatima, and Whitney, the first plus-sized contestant to make it that far. The judges eliminated Fatima and sent Anya and Whitney to battle it out in the final runway show. After the show, a final judging panel, and much debate about the two, the judges deemed Whitney the winner, making her the first plus-sized contestant to win the whole shebang.
Now we are on to Cycle Eleven and its two hour season premiere. The first hour deals with the semi-finals, where we get to see the 30-some odd girls chosen and how the judges came upon their decision of which 14 of them would move into the model house and compete for the title. The first thing we learn is that the move back to New York last season was only temporary because we are in Los Angeles again. We first see this season's 33 semi-finalists riding along in a bus. Hannah tells us that she is from Alaska, which is far removed from L.A. She jokes that Alaska is different from L.A. because Alaska doesn't have freeways or people. I think I like her already. One of the girls tells Sheena that she has an advantage in being the only Asian girl there. Sheena tells us that she feels her personality doesn't match her look, telling us that she is very dynamic.
In Cycle Nine, the theme for the semi-final round was Caribbean, what with the girls staying on a big cruise ship. Last season, the girls went to, "Top Model Prep School." Here in Cycle Eleven, the theme is a futuristic one as all the semi-finalists are taken to the, "Top Model Institute of Technology." Mr. Jay and Miss J greet the girls wearing futuristic garb and really bad hair and Veronique is beside herself. She thinks it's every guy and girl's dream to meet the Jays. Well, I wouldn't mind meeting them, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's my dream. Inside, the building is all spacified, my word, and the girls get outfitted in black boots and unitards. Marjorie thinks the theme is very appropriate because after 10 cycles, it's good to get a fresh start. She's also a big fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey, just you know.
The girls' first task is a, "body scan," which is just a platform for them to stand on, pose, and have their picture taken. I read on Wikipedia that there are about three, "Brittanys," this season, just like how there were two, "Amys," last season. Apparently, the information was correct because the first girl to step on the platform is billed as, "Brittany B." However, I am positive that this is the girl known as, "Sharaun," on the CW's website so I'll call her Sharaun. Anyways, Sharaun wants the other girls to be scared of her and view her as a threat. Elina tells us that modeling is something she has a passion for, but she is also an animal activist and has been a vegan since the seventh grade. I have to say, I don't view her as being particularly, "model-esque," right now. Not because of the animal activist tangent, but just something about her look.
We see some of the other girls get their pictures taken and then we meet Kacey. Kacey tells us that she, "knows how to have class," which is different from actually BEING classy, and then says she does not want to be, "ghetto." Am I wrong or would a classy person not go out of their way to say how classy they are and then complain about people who are ghetto? Just wondering. Veronique tells us that she grew up a Mormon and is taking this as her chance to blossom and be free.
Next, the girls go into another room.....
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Jacob D. is a twenty-something native of Austin Tx who spends his time
listening to music, posting on Austin based messageboards, playing
video games, and watching TV. Jacob also enjoys reading Shonen Jump,
Garfield and Calvin & Hobbes strips, playing Texas Hold 'em, drawing
cartoon chickens, and tending to his neopets. Though shy in real
life, he loves to sound off on his favorite shows and enjoys
interacting with other fans.
You can contact Jacob at Jacob@RealityTVCalendar.com
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