America's Next Top Model 9: Here's The Initial Rankings
By Jacob D.
August 30, 2007
Last time on America's Next Top Model, we visited cycle eight and 13 new girls hoping to be the next supermodel. We met some more interesting characters such as college grad Whitney, quirky Brittany, and "Martyr of the Universe's Happiness" Jael. It was the girls who made up the final three that made the biggest splash, though.
First, there was tough mom Renee. She was the season's resident bitch and did more than just rub a couple of girls the wrong way. She claimed she wasn't a mean person, but just could not lighten up. Halfway through the season, she did make some effort to change her ways and ended up in third place. Then there was Natasha, the Russian expatriate who raised her eyebrows with her home life. After a rocky start, she stepped up her game week after week and delivered terrific photos.
The winner of Cycle Eight was Jaslene Gonzalez, a.k.a. the "Cha Cha Diva." She first appeared in Cycle Seven's semi-final round, but failed to make it into the house as one of that season's finalists. When she was cut, she promised Tyra she'd be back and she made good on her word. She got her second chance and was made a finalist. She started out strong, then plateaued when her personality seemed to disappear, but never faded out to where she was forgotten. She came on strong in the end and as a result, won the whole shebang. Not only that, she won without ever being in the bottom two!
On Sept. 19 at 8 pm/7 pm central, we will meet the next 13 girls who hope to follow in Jaslene's footsteps. Here's a little preview of who they are.
Kimberly
Current Ranking: 1 - Previous Ranking: None
At the time of this writing, there wasn't any info up on Kimberly at the CW's website, but it's not important. Kimberly has an incredible look! Her face is strong, fierce, alien-esque, exotic, and all those other buzz words that the fashion industry loves. She really jumps out at me with a soft presence, fabulous body, and one-of-a-kind face. Everything about her at this moment just strikes me as "model in the making." If she can take great photos and get the judges on her side, she'll be a contender! I can't wait to see her in action.
Saleisha
Current Ranking: 2 - Previous Ranking: None
Saleisha is a 21 year old receptionist from Los Angeles. When I first saw her, I immediately thought "third place." She brought to mind the string of girls who finished in third in previous seasons like Keenyah, Bre, Jade, Eugena, and even Renee. She has a nice look and a strong presence in her photo. Like the aforementioned girls, she also strikes me as a gal with the dogged determination to win and be a model. Tyra loves girls like that, as she has spoken many times about passion being important.
Janet
Current Ranking: 3 - Previous Ranking: None
Janet is a 22 year old aesthetician from Bainbridge, GA. I am in love with Janet right now. She has a fresh, clean look and just exudes class and sophistication in her pre-season photo. She also has a certain sensuality with that "come hither" look in her eyes. She kind of reminds me of Alyssa Milano. The only thing I worry about with her is if either the judges find her boring or her sophisticated look causes her to seem old in her photographs. Both of those sins could get a girl cut and Janet could possess both. However, until she shows me something to change my mind, she is one of my favorite girls at the moment and I will be rooting for her this cycle.
Heather
Current Ranking: 4 - Previous Ranking: None
Heather is a 21 year old college student from Valparaiso, IN. I find myself responding to Heather's look. She seems very sublime and I feel like she could be a chameleon. She reminds me of such past contestants as Kahlen from Cycle Four, Joanie from Cycle 6, and the twins Amanda and Michelle from Cycle 7. Those girls were all "quiet storms" in that while the bigger, bolder personalities took the spotlight, they quietly won the judges respect with their excellent portfolios. All four ended up making it to the top five or better in their respective seasons with Kahlen and Joanie finishing runner-up. I think Heather has potential and I am looking forward to seeing what she can do.
Ambreal
Current Ranking: 5 - Previous Ranking: None
Ambreal is a 19 year old college student from Dallas, TX. As a Texan girl, she earns points from me, but I'm not entirely sure how I feel about her yet. Her look reminds me a bit of Camilla, one of the models from the third season of Project Runway and that's a good thing. I loved Camilla and her sophisticated style. However, her look also reminds me a bit of Jade from ANTM Cycle Six for some reason. I see her as being one of those girls with a signature look, but I'm not sure how versatile it will be.
Bianca
Current Ranking: 6 - Previous Ranking: None
Bianca is an 18 year old college student from Queens. Are Bianca and Ambreal related? I feel so many similarities from the two just from these two pre-season pictures. They're doing the same pose, giving the same look, have a couple of the same features, and so on. Bianca could be a signature look girl, like Ambreal, but unless she can show versatility, like last cycle's Jaslene, I doubt she'll be winning. Still, I don't expect her to be one of the first girls out.
Jenah
Current Ranking: 7 - Previous Ranking: None
Jenah is an 18 year old student from Farmington, CT. My first thought with Jenah is that she has an odd, quirky look. Odd, quirky looks are oftentimes the MO for the fashion world. There is a long line of bird-like girls with quirky looks such as Jenah on this show including Shandi from Cycle Two, Amanda from Cycle Three, Christina from Cycle Four, Jayla from Cycle Five, Sara from Cycle Six, AJ and the twins from Cycle Seven, and Brittany and Sarah from Cycle Eight. They generally do well, provided they are able to turn out great photos and gain the judges adoration. We'll see if Jenah upholds this streak.
Sarah
Current Ranking: 8 - Previous Ranking: None
Sarah is a 20 year old college student from Heath, MA. Sarah has a soft, sophisticated look, but everything about her from her pose to her look to her outfit reads "pageantry" to me. As any ANTM fan will tell you, the judges do not like pageant-y girls with Robyn from Cycle One and Cassandra from Cycle Five serving as prime examples. Robyn managed to make it a long ways into her season because she had a fierce look, great presence, and took good photos. Cassandra had potential, but chose not to adapt to this high fashion world and quit. With Sarah, it'll all depend on whether she is willing to change, accept what the judges have to say and do, and show a drive to succeed as a model. I kind of like her, so I'm hoping she isn't the next Cassandra Whitehead, the aforementioned Cycle Five contest who left the show.
Ebony
Current Ranking: 9 - Previous Ranking: None
Ebony is a 20 year old nursing student from Chicago. I'm not really liking Ebony right now. Her look is very rough and she looks like she could be the diva this season. Owing to that, she kind of reminds me of Robyn from Cycle One. If she's a woman with a strong presence, she could be carried along for a couple of weeks. If she's a woman of attitude, don't look for her to win.
Mila
Current Ranking: 10 - Previous Ranking: None
Mila is a 20 year old college grad from Boston. Mila strikes me as one of those girls who feels being beautiful is enough to be a model, someone who already has an idea of what modeling is about. I see her as being the girl who goes, "I'll pout my lips to look sexy. I'll rock my hips to make a fabulous walk." You know? Someone who's very sure of herself, but comes in to a rude awakening from the judges. She has a strong look, but if she is someone with pre-conceived notions, the judges could string her along by giving her a couple of chances and then grow frustrated when she just doesn't get it, kind of like Jade from Cycle Six. I don't know. I'm just getting that kind of "know-it-all" vibe.
Victoria
Current Ranking: 11 - Previous Ranking: None
Victoria is a 20 year old college student from New Haven, CT. Ohhhh dear. Victoria is so rough around the edges in her pre-season photo. Her body has some odd proportions, her pose is pedestrian, and her look is that of a girl who is very unsure of herself. "Am I doing this right? Is this the way to pose?" The vision I'm getting from her is someone of low confidence trying to be something greater than herself and the judges usually enjoy building these girls up and getting something good out of them. Just look at how Tyra responded to, say, Tiffany from Cycle Four and Anchal in Cycle Seven. However, unless she can really break out of her shell and show the judges that she can be fierce and command attention, eventually they'll just let her go so she has more time to find herself. I could be wrong and she could be the most confident, "I AM a queen" type of girl, but for now, I've got the opposite vibe.
Lisa
Current Ranking: 12 - Previous Ranking: None
Lisa is a 20 year old dancer from Jersey City, NJ. Hmmm. Lisa, Lisa, what can I say about Lisa? She has a slim body and a nice face, but nothing in particular is really grabbing me. I can't say I'm thrilled with Lisa at the moment.
Chantal
Current Ranking: 12 - Previous Ranking: None
Chantal is a 19 year old student from Austin, TX. An Austin girl? That's my hometown so she automatically gets some points from me. However, it's all moot because she has a stiff, "zombie" look right now. She's a beautiful girl and has a nice body, but her face is completely dead in her pre-season photo. I think she could be a nice palette to work with, but I'll have to see her in action and see how she adapts to everything that is thrown at her. Otherwise, I think she could go out quickly.
So there you have it. In general, the girls are kind of blending together at the moment. Very few really jump out at me and make me think they could be a contender. As a whole, I find myself very interested in this upcoming season. I find it boring on these shows when there's one person you think has it locked because then you start watching it going, "Yeah yeah, just give them the prize already." It's very rare that I'll get caught up in one of those cases, such as Yul's run on Survivor and Melinda Doolittle on American Idol Six. With an even playing field, you get a chance to see people develop and grow and it gives you more of a chance to learn about them. This crop of girls is one of the most unique that I've seen and I will most certainly be watching!
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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