Still think Ren is tops. That's her on the far left. From left: Ren, Naduah, Tatianna, Simone, Raina, Brenda, Krista, Alexandra, Alasia, Jessica, Angelea, Anslee, Gabrielle Photo Credit: Jonathan Mannion / Pottle Productions
By Gina Carbone
gina_carbone@comcast.net
It’s a worrying sign when someone makes Miss J look sane.
Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley — he of the “Famine of beauty” line in “The September Issue” — has replaced J. Alexander on the “America’s Next Top Model” judges panel.
He provided not much beyond crazy asides and new terms like “Dreckitude” during the second week of ANTM cycle 14.
Even Tyra Banks gave him the eyebrow raise once or twice.
Eccentric is one thing — J. Alexander is that in spades — but André saved Alasia during the first of two eliminations on “Dreckitude” by being the only judge who liked her nude photo where she wore a jacket backwards with her arm across her and her ass hanging out.
That’s not eccentric, that’s just loopy.
But he not only liked it, he made some long-winded pitch about how he’d hang the photo in his salon. Then defined salon.
He also seemed to love Alasia’s cold, colorful perfume ad photo (why, why, why did they need to have wind and rain and colored perfume dye? None of those elements add up to “that looks like it smells great!”)
Nothing compares 2 Naduah.
So Alasia Ballard is in and somehow exotic Naduah Rugley is out.
I don’t care if Naduah wears too much makeup, even after the makeup artists put stuff on her.
I don’t even care if she is a pathological liar, although there’s no proof of that beyond gossip from the girls in the house.
She’s uniquely beautiful. She took one bad photo.
Alasia also took a hideous nude photo, didn’t stand out during the Rachel Roy fashion show and produced a perfume photo that looked like snot was dripping from her chin.
(And Alasia really, really, really does need to shut the eff up. Ren Vokes is coming off like an arrogant beyatch, but she’s right about Alasia’s mouth.)
Jessica Serfaty, who looks like a Disney character, won the naked photo shoot.
Alasia was in the bottom two after that, along with Gabrielle Kniery, aka The Other Angelea.
Can't say I'm surprised to see Gabrielle Kniery go home.
Gabrielle was sent home and I’m glad for it. She was odd looking and not in that ugly-pretty intriguing way that works for “Top Model.” She had a famine of beauty.
Poor Alexandra Underwood. What’s the worst case scenario when you picture a runway walk where you have to get down a set of stairs and then walk through two huge swinging pendulums?
She fell first going down the stairs, and her face showed her frustration and anger. Then she was knocked clean off the runway by one of the pendulums.
Hugely embarrassing.
But she still made it longer than Naduah.
I don’t know what the heck they are thinking, but I never want to enter any salon with that ugly ass photo of Alasia.
Dreckitude is right.
Here are the remaining contestants, in order of my preference: (For photos of all the contestants, visit the official Web site here.)
Ren, you don't have to be BFFs with all the girls, but you should at least try not to be so condescending
1. Ren Vokes – I’m suspicious about how she ended up on this season, but she is so arresting and “model” looking I can’t help but want to see more of her.
2. Raina Hein — I like her personality and judging by her winning perfume ad photo, she has the confidence and modeling chops to go far.
3. Krista White — Tall, skinny, gorgeous skin, those cheekbones. Love some good cheekbones.
4. Brenda Arens — Shut up about your hair, it looks good. She won the runway challenge and got to keep her clothes. I think she actually wanted to keep them, too, unlike Jessica, who was probably less excited.
5. Tatianna Kern — I think Andre called her perfume look romantic and that’s the best word to describe her so far.
6. Anslee Payne-Franklin — Speaking of cheekbones. But I’m not completely sold on her yet.
7. Simone Lewis – She does look like a pretty girl used to being called pretty without putting forth any effort, as Rachel noted.
8. Jessica Serfaty — Just looking at her I’m not impressed, but she’s shown she can impress the judges.
9. Alexandra Underwood — I feel sorry for her and I know she’s competitive, but she doesn’t belong here and I don’t think she’ll be around for long.
10. Angelea Johnson — Never thought I’d have her be the SECOND to last, but I’m too frustrated about Alasia to put her last.
11. Alasia Ballard — Looking forward to when Andre stops saving her.
5 comments
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March 18, 2010 at 12:10 am
Jean Corder
Alasia is beautiful
March 25, 2010 at 11:22 am
shelia daniels
I agree! Sometimes the loudness may not be appealing to some but you have to look where she came from. So what, she is excited. Let a child stay in a child’s place. She will grow with age. What an experience. I just look at Alasia making sure that no one doubts her because she is young. Ren was weak, and seems to me like she was keeping up gossip. Who’s the children? The one’s keeping up mess or the one that says what is on here mind and keep it moving! I say, “that eliminates Alasia!” Alasia, has not talked down upon anyone nor has she started the drama. As we can see, she definitely knows how to finish it. I say, Alasia, keep on moving…she is definitely going to put her stamp on media. Starting with this page! The longer you talk, the more Alasia is acknowledged.
March 28, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Youssef B
Alasia is a beautiful contestant and she has what it takes to become a model. Just look good at the third episode of this cycle. When Alasia is about to take her shoot, girls talk crap about her and how about she would ruin her shoot (interpretive dancing)…….but they were in shock when they saw how good Alasia was…..and that’s why she had the best photo.
Naduah is a pathological liar.
By the way I love Angelea….I think Alasia or Angelea should win ANTM!!
Gina, you have a very bad taste. ;)
April 15, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Rodney
I meet Alasia when she was 12. I took her and my kids to Six Flags over Georgia and told her then that she had what it takes to be a model. I am surprised she did not take this up earlier. Go get em baby girl.
August 1, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Christine
Alasia, Angelea and the like. o geez. You have GOT to be kidding me. Being a model isn’t just about looks. You need to have class and get along with others. You really think photographers who see how they treat others will want to work with her? As much as it is about looks, you also need connections. Does NO ONE realize that if any of those girls actually make it in the industry, they may have an opportunity to collab with someone and bring them in for some gigs? Burning bridges isn’t the way to go. It’s ALL about the connections and those girls have already shown themselves as just another crazy that no one wants to work with.
All the top photographers and stylists are being kind to them because it’s part of the show and their job for the moment. They won’t want to work with someone like that outside of ANTM. Models are a dime a dozen. She’ll be forgotten soon enough like all the other girls from past seasons who were eliminated.