It appears this new cycle starts out just like all the others.  Getting a bunch of girls together with crazy personalities is always what is up and creates a touch of drama, of course.  The beginning hour was just like all the others and really didn’t show anything spectacular, other than the clash of personalities.

The Makeovers

The girls all gather on Melrose Place and are headed to a premier salon to get their “thai-overs”!  What is a thia-over, you ask, well, just like Jay said, it’s a makeover in chinatown!

The makeovers were going on and each girl is getting more nervous with what Tyra is going to do.  In the meantime, we get to hear what the models think of eachother in the cut scenes.  It appears that Bianca, who is NOT here to make friends, is quite bitchy and was not liking her eyebrow bleaching of a makeover.  Since she didn’t have any hair, there is really nothing for Tyra to change.  Taking the eyebrows away was the best thing for her.

Nicole, who got more hair and more red, really looked good.  I didn’t think that Rae needed to go MORE blonde, but since it’s Tyra’s show, we’ll let her decide what looks nice.  Laura just got a bit of extra highlights, which is nice for most girls, but she wanted more of an edge.  When she sees people get their haircut off, like Courtney did, she would most likely be thankful she still has most of her hair.

The Home

For the most part the makeovers seems to make a difference and there wasn’t really any model with a bad attitude, other than Bianca and her almost gone eyebrows.  After the makeovers, the girls are headed to their new house.  Of course they are all screaming and getting all weird trying to pick out room, etc.  I thought the funhouse mirrors was something cool and the decor is really starting to get crazy cycle after cycle.  There is a pool, hot tub, bar and a ton of fun decorations.

Now, we have all kinds of girls living together and the personalities start to come out.  You can tell right off the bat that Bianca is going to start some trouble.  Lisa, came back after getting “booted” because Amanda could not continue on in the competition due to personal reasons, and she feels like she is extra lucky and knows that she is going to have to try 2x harder than the rest.

The FIRST Photo Shoot

Having to do an editorial type shoot based on some baby photos of the models.  The shoes that Rae had to wear were just unreal.  With her feet pointed straight at the ground and an 8 inch heal, I think they were effect because her baby photo was ballet like, so I guess it went ok.  Her photo turned out pretty damn good too!

Bianca is still complaining about her non-eyebrows and of course the makeup they chose for her was just not her style.  She liked Sundai’s makeup (boo whoo).  I think she might make it a couple of weeks, but her attitude is going to get her dumped quickly.

Brittany was starting to look “hoochy” and when Jay mentioned that, it got worse, lol.  There is always one model that keeps the hooch in each shoot, but the Jay’s have been able to break them of the bad habits.

Overall, the models have something to learn as they go, which is normal.  I guess we’ll see which ones turn it on and which ones  won’t “get it”.

Back at the House

Bianca starts trying to get into others heads and is really trying to get Nicole to say something, but I am not really sure what it is.  That is all they show at this point and the next portion is the elimination/critique, etc.

The Elimination (with guest judge Chanel Iman)

Lots of talk about making these girls appear taller than they are.  We all know they are under 5′7″, but Tyra is going to be giving the leason to appear taller more often.  Kara is getting the “you look good in profile shots, but nothing special from straight on” talk from Tyra.  She has a huge smile, but she cannot do much with it.

Courtney looked awesome with her red hair, looking into the mirror.  I think she has a tone of potential here and I am going to claim her as my all-the-way-to-the-end-model, for now.

Best photo went to Rae, which surprised me, but Chanel Iman loved it.  It was qutie WHITE and really caught the eyes of the other judges.

Final two were Bianca and Lisa and guess who got sent home?

I wasn’t happy to see Bianca moving on, but it creates a bit of a stir on the show.  Adding drama brings in viewers, it was just really sucky to see Lisa called back for a 2nd chance, then booted anyways.  Stay tuned for next week!

What’s Up Next?

According to the previews one model gets dumped halfway through the show and a photographer can’t seem to get a good photo from any of the models.  I think it might be a tactic to see how the models react, so we’ll see.

Everyone knows that you have been wondering this since annoucing Paulina’s departure from the show.  I was reading online today and finally came across the list of guest judges for America’s Next Top Model Cycle 13.

Cycle 13 Guest Judges

• Chanel Iman: September 9th episode
  Chanel Iman is one of the world’s top models right now. She has walked in several big-name shows
• Lauren Conrad: September 16th episode
  Lauren Conrad is a reality-tv-star-turned-designer-turned-author. Her latest collection, LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s, will debut this fall
• Jaime Rishar: September 23rd episode
  Jaime Rishar, at 5′7″1/2, is one of the world’s top shorter models. She’s appeared in the pages of Italian, German and Australian Vogue and walked in many big name fashion shows.
• China Chow: September 30th episode
  China Chow is a actress/model who has worked with Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.
• Josie Maran: October 7th episode
  Josie Maran is a one of the most successful short (5′7″) models ever. She’s the face of Maybelline Cosmetics and rose to fame in 1998 when she was a Guess Girl.
• Jessica White: October 14th episode
  Jessica White has been the face of CoverGirl, Chloe and Gap, walked for Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs and is the newest face of Maybelline Cosmetics.
• Kim Kardashian: October 21st episode
  Kim Kardashian is be known for a sex-tape and her reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She is the co-owner of the high-end clothing boutique DASH and has her own shoe line.
• Jessica Lowndes: Special Appearance October 21st
  Jessica Lowndes of 90210 fame won’t be a guest judge, but she makes a special appearance in the October 21st episode when she tests the girls’ intervewing skills!
• Kirsty Hume: October 28th episode
  Kirsty Hume is one of the world’s top models, having walked for Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Louis Vuitton. Her many campaigns include Chanel, Versace and Gucci.
• Marisa Miller: November 4th episode
  Marisa Miller is a Victoria’s Secret Angel and has appeared in the pages of Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, andSports Illustrated.
• Ann Shoket: November 11th episode
  Ann Shoket is the editor-in-chief of Seventeen and no matter how hard I pray, she just won’t go away. It looks like she’s making a single appearance this season, as the guest judge in the November 11th episode. (source)

It looks like we will be in for a treat of all kinds this time around.  At least we won’t have to listen to Paulina get disgusted in a models inability to be thin or the fact that she dressed like a grandma for panel that day.

In less than ONE week we will be able to enjoy the antics of America’s Next Top Model again.  Today, I updated the photos of all cycle 13 models for your enjoyment.  I was browsing through Buddytv.com and they actually have the interviews and MANY more pictures of the models.  Not that I was surprised, but most of the models have pictures from OTHER photo shoots, take a look here.

Keeping My Fingers Crossed

I am hoping to see some TV with a bit less drama this time around.  I know that when you cram all these woman in a home, you cannot expect them to all get along.  But the drama from last cycle was overwhelming at times and almost took something away from the show itself.  The fact that Tyra doesn’t seem to know about it or care to address it sometimes, does bother me a little bit.

I also hope the comedy is there.  I get a kick out of how blunt the judges can be about certain looks, etc.  I am not a fashion icon by any means, but sometimes it’s just pure comedy what models think is a perfect outfit.  Miss Jay is always a hoot and his comments about how badly the models walk is 100% entertaining.

The judges were a bit harder on the models last cycle and I hope it stays that way for this year.  It’s good to see them “crack the whip” and get the models that just sit around and “look pretty” to try and work for something once in their lives.

For This Cycle

This cycle should be a blast and I am always looking forward to watching it.  If you do NOT have a DVR unit and miss an episode, make sure you double check the site here because I am going to be posting the episodes as fast as they become available.

It looks like our favorite show of all time is due back on September 9th, 2009.  Remember, this year is the year of the shorty models.  All contestants will be 5 foot 7 inches or SHORTER.  That adds a bit of a twist on things, as usually models are tall.

The show is going to kick off with a 2-hour premier, but that is nothing out of the ordinary.  This will allow the judges (remember Paulina is GONE) to narrow the field down to 14 or 15 girls by the end of the show.

Lately, I have been catching up on OLD ANTM episodes and realised that maybe some of you might want to check them out as well.  I have started to post links to those episodes on this blog, so that you know exactly where to find them.  All you have to do is bookmark this page and you are all set up!

It looks like Paulina Porizkova has been fired from America’s Next Top Model.  According to Yahoo News, she was a victim of the show “trimming some fat”.  Well, maybe it was the producers way of getting back at her for getting on London all the time throughout this cycle.

The an alleged “ego problem” Paulina was sent packing and it doesn’t really effect the way I see the show.  She seemed to always have her favorites, at least it was very easy to tell from her stand point and I could see where she might have an ego. 

Paulina was on the Late Late show last night (Tuesday May 12th) to tell Craig Ferguson she was booted.  According to Access Hollywood, they could NOT confirm she was fired, but did get word she was no longer with the show.

Oh well, I guess having her around was no big deal, but the “big” 3 are enough plus a guest judge from the show challenges.