Can you believe we have watched the girls of ANTM come all this way to compete in the final four? Neither can I! This week four tough competitors – Anya, Whitney, Fatima, and Dominique – posed as iconic movie stars. Most of the girls shined in their pictures, but one did not have the star power. Who was eliminated this week? Let’s see…

The first girl in the bottom two was Fatima, but this was not her first time there. Before jet-setting to Rome in an earlier episode, she was almost eliminated because she missed the photo shoot. Though there is one thing I admire about Fatima: she is tremendously determined. I can feel her desire to become America’s Next Top Model more than anyone else’s. She always has a way to overcome the challenges that are put in front of her, including this week’s photography challenge. The judges thought her picture was only so-so, but the smile in that photo was worth a million dollars. That smile showed me how badly Fatima wants to win. That smile showed me this girl needs to be a finalist.

Dominique was the second girl in the bottom two. Truthfully, I have never liked Dominique. Her overly confident attitude ran over the rest of the girls like an eighteen-wheeler. In the house she bragged about how she was the most talented model…again. In her photo she came off looking like a drag queen…again. In the judging room she did not dress like a model…again. I usually have the “three-strikes-you’re-out” policy, but Dominique has had about a thousand strikes. She overwhelmed everyone she came in contact with, including the judges. That being said, Tyra and the gang sent Dominique packing.

SO LONG DOMINIQUE

I was holding my breath but FINALLY the judges seemed to gain some brain cells and kick Dominique right out of Rome. I was worried for Fatima’s fate for a minute there but I knew after Dominique’s manly photo and her sad little outfit that she was a goner. No fashion sense at all.

It’s good that Dominique went home when she did because it looked like the other girls about had it with her. Even sweet Anya said that she felt like she was melting under Dominique’s ego. I was done when Dom said that she was the Saleisha of this cycle. Yea, I really don’t think so. And when Tyra told Dom that she had to “master her face,” she really should have said “master your ego.”

Anyways, other than my joy of seeing the Wicked Witch depart, the other girls need to step it up because none of them followed direction very well in their photo shoot with Nigel. But now that Dominique is gone I’m thinking all the good drama will leave with her. I mean Fatima still likes to cause trouble but at this point in the competition, the girls will be focusing on winning and not on manipulating one another.

But we can hope.

The end’s almost here. I think it will be a battle of the blondes. What do you think?

 ”I SEE TRANSVESTITE”

This week the girls put their skills to the test behind the camera, instead of in front of it, and for once, Anya wasn’t the challenge winner. Her quirky mannerisms have caused viewers to fall in love with her, but sometimes she’s a little too everywhere all at once. Even panel judge Paulina agreed: “She needs to narrow her focus.” With Anya out of the way, Fatima stepped up to the plate and was named challenge winner. I thought Whitney was more confident, but Fatima’s range of diverse poses and strong directing capabilities earned her 50 extra frames for her photo shoot.

And believe me, she needed every last one.

At the photo shoot, Nigel and Mr. Jay had to stop Fatima after her first set of frames, just so that she could see for herself how badly her film was turning out. She wasn’t looking at the camera, her poses were too “posey”, and she wasn’t brining any energy to the shoot. Let’s just say, Nigel wasn’t the only one bored stiff. Even with 50 extra frames, she just didn’t get it.

Then there’s Dominique. When her photo showed up on the big screen at panel, the first words out of Paulina’s mouth were: “I see transvestite.” No hesitation, no sugar-coating the truth…just confirmation of what Miss Jay has been saying for weeks now - that Dominique looks like she might really be a he. Her strong bone structure has been her biggest setback, and while she’s been able to soften her look in previous episodes, it just didn’t happen for her this time. So there you have it, one down and two to go. Who do you think will be the last girl standing?

 Ronda Jordan can be heard on 102 JAMZ from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Don’t judge a book by its cover…Last week I think it’s pretty much safe for me to say that we all thought Dominique would have been next to go home…but I guess we were wrong.

I need more friends like Whitney and less like Fatima. Fatima is sitting straight up on her high horse, but it was really nice of Whitney to share her shopping spree with Anya. Not too many people would have done the same.

I think the challenge for this week was appropriate for the stage that the girls are in now in the competition, but I know it had to be nerve wrecking to do a photo shoot with Tyra!

The judges hit the nail dead on the head in panel this week. Whitney winning the challenge saved her from being sent home but the judges had to give Katarzyna the boot. I hated to see her go but I understood the decision that the judges had to make. Deep down I was cheering for her but in the end we all know that there can only be one America’s Next Top Model.

Make sure you tune in next week at 8p.m. to see who will be next to go home.

Swing! Swing! This week the girls were turned into Roman Gladiators! (Yes with swords and all). Not only did they have to learn the movements of the gladiators, they also had to be able to complete a photo shoot with only 5 frames per person! Whitney did phenomenal and won the challenge. She was able to go on a shopping spree either by herself or split the money and bring a friend. She chose Anya and they made out like bandits, shopping bandits that is!

In panel, it was down to Whitney and Kat in the bottom two. Whitney they said wasn’t doing as well as she had previously and there may have been some attitude. However, it was Kat who was sent home due to her lack of personality. As the competition gets tougher and finish line gets closer, we will soon find out who will be America’s Next Top Model!

Whitney and Kat - The Bottom Two

When I think of the Italian Renaissance, I am reminded of the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and the girls of America’s Next Top Model? This week the final five were challenged to pose as modern Renaissance-style women with Tyra as their photographer. I have to say, this week was full of surprises and Whitney said it best: “If you mess up in front of Tyra, you’re gonna go home.”

The first big surprise was when Whitney won the gladiator-themed photo challenge. Whitney was in the bottom two last week, so I thought Anya would win the challenge like she usually does. To my astonishment, Whitney won and then could not impress Tyra at the photo shoot. She fell back into her Anna Nicole-like ways, which included poses that were too sexy under the circumstances. It is scary that Whitney could excel in a challenge and then fail her photo shoot. If Whitney doesn’t learn the definition of consistency, she cannot become America’s Next Top Model.

The other huge surprise, Katarzyna in the bottom two! Believe me, no one’s jaw made a louder thud than mine when it dropped to the floor. Unfortunately, she did not push herself past pretty in her photo. Like Whitney predicted, Kat messed up in front of Tyra and was sent home. It was only Kat’s first appearance in the bottom two and I think she just needed more time. Given one more week, she could have broken out of her shell and transformed into the top model everyone knows she is. Now that Katarzyna is out of the running, who do you think will win?

Good Bye Kat!

Ciao Roma! This week was the girls first week in Rome, Italy! They were tested to see who could be the best Italian CoverGirl. The challenge was to deliver a commercial in Italian and many of the girls excelled. For the bottom two, Whitney and Lauren, it was a different story.

I can’t but help love Whitney because she is the underdog of the competition. It must be difficult being a plus size model who is sent to Rome where the look is super-skinny. To stand out Whitney tried to be more bubbly, but it came off more like Anna Nicole. Her fake, beauty pageant-like attitude at the CoverGirl shoot got her noticed, but not in a good way. Tyra was the only judge who liked her commercial. The rest of the judges thought she was too over-the-top and I agree. As a result, Whitney was put up on the Italian chopping block.

Lauren, Lauren, Lauren! Italy didn’t help this girl at all! I thought she was gawky already; putting her in front of a TV camera makes it worse. I didn’t think that was possible! Lauren had no desire to become a CoverGirl and it showed. Watching her commercial was painfully awkward and that was something that couldn’t be ignored. The judges noticed and she was sent back to America.

GOODBYE, GOODBYE, GOODBYE

Written: 4/24 at 7 p.m.

The time has finally come, as much as I wish it wasn’t true. Lauren’s top-modeling days have come to an end.  Her look carried her all the way to the final 6 in the competition, but ultimately, her inability to shake the nervous behavior in person and on camera is what hurt her in the long run. I wasn’t the only one disappointed during elimination, either. I think it was Paulina who said it best:  “I was afraid you were going to do something like that.”

Normally, I’d stand up for Lauren. “She’s just awkward,” I’d say. “That’s just who she is.” But this time was different; I felt like I was let down. She said she really tried, and I really wish I could believe her, but she walked onto that CoverGirl commercial set already defeated. She just gave up.

Whitney, however, was exactly the opposite. She walked onto that set with an excess of fake personality to go around. Fake smile, fake laugh…the whole bit. I think it’s great that she’s made it this far as a plus-size girl, but if people can’t relate to her, there’s no chance of surviving. In a world revolving around networking and social settings, personality is everything.

What it all boils down to is that there are really only two possible options for top-model material. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Anya and Katarzyna are forces to be reckoned with. Anya’s raking in the challenge wins, but Katarzyna is starting to come out of her shell. Will it come down to a head-to-head showdown between these two? What are your thoughts?

Top Model seguente dell’America è andato a Roma! This week was the first week where the top 6 girls were in Rome. Fatima, once in Rome, suddenly fell ill. Although I think it was all an act, she is going to have to deal with that in the industry because being sick isn’t an excuse. The girls challenge this week was to try and capture the true Italian woman’s style and portray it in a Covergirl commercial. While Whitney was considered of being a fake during the filming, Lauren just seemed to give up. Lauren didn’t even bother trying, almost as if she wanted to go home. Because of her lack of motivation, she was sent home.
I think it is very odd how much the judges have changed since the beginning of the season. Since the first photo shoot, the judges had always praised Lauren for her awkwardness saying how it worked for her. I, on the other hand, found it unprofessional and unattractive, in my opinion. Several shoots later, the judges seemed to change a bit when they said her awkwardness wasn’t working anymore. It seems to me that the judges just keep contradicting themselves, but that’s just one person’s opinion.

Whitney a Fake while Lauren gave up
 

Ronda is the Top Model Celeb Blogger and can be heard on 102 JAMZ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Cover Girl…well not for this group of girls.

Ok, I will be honest, this weeks challenge had to be the toughest of all. Not only did the girls have to do their first Cover Girl commercial but they had to do it in Italian. It’s getting down to the wire and these challenges are proving just who is Top Model material.

When the girls first arrived in Rome and Anya tripped getting off of the shuttle…the first thing I thought was, ‘Please don’t let that happen to her on the runway!”

I have to agree with the judges this week. All of the girls had horrible commercials but the best part about it is that none of them ever gave up…except for Lauren. After Lauren’s commercial it was quite obvious who was going home. At the end of the day, Lauren didn’t really want to be a model. She just wanted to try something different.

Anya is still my favorite but at this point I have no clue who will be America’s Next Top Model.

Anya is my favorite, who’s yours?

Make sure you tune in next week to ANTM to see who is next to get sent home.
Lauren didn’t really want to be a model anyway