May 1 2008

Last week Lauren and Whitney were in the bottom two, with Lauren finally going home. This week, Whitney is nervous as the final five gather around and discuss the rest of the competition. Fatima voices her opinion about the need for Kat to improve because she’s getting lost in the background. She actually says that Kat would do better working in an office. A Tyra Mail arrives, and the girls are told, “In Rome, you must fight for the masses to pose for the classes.”

COMBAT READY

They arrive at some ancient ruins and get a quick lesson on combat. Then they are suited up in armor, and meet their competitor, a “gladiator” that Fatima is actually scared of like it’s the movie or something. Mr. and Miss J are both there to give the girls guidance. They are told to pose fierce and aggressively, but still maintain a model’s face. Fatima leans away from the camera too much for a good shot. And she is still so scared of the gladiator man, she can’t concentrate. Yawn. Kat doesn’t shine at all. Dominique tries some tricky moves, but it doesn’t work in her favor. Whitney gives the best camera angles, and even Dominique gives her props for her performance. Whitney wins the challenge and is given 1000 Euro to spend in Rome, or to split with a friend. She decides to let Anya tag along on the shopping spree.

ANOTHER PHOTO SHOOT

The girls get another Tyra Mail telling them that “Inexperience is a thing of the past.” I take this to mean that at this point in the competition; they have no excuses for a bad performance. They arrive at a 600-year old castle and inside Trya pops up and tells them she is their photographer. They are dressed in exaggerated period pieces with wild wigs and over-the-top makeup. They pose near priceless art. Tyra later admits it was her first shoot without using natural light. Kat’s poses are too much like the “Walk Like an Egyptian” video from the 80’s. Dominique actually did a good job, bouncing her back from that horrible commercial last week. Whitney did a wee bit better, less pageant and pose, and more refined. Anya was great. Fatima surprised everyone with her graceful poses and dead-on expressions.

JUDGING

With only five girls left, Kat is fading fast as someone to remember, and she lands in the bottom two with Whitney. In the end, Whitney, no stranger to the bottom two herself, is given another chance to prove she can take Betty Boop out of her pictures and insert a little May West. Tune in next week!