'America's Next Top Model' - Francesco Carrozzini Episode Recap

America’s Next Top Model continues on with one less girl from last week. The girls were excited that Kacey was eliminated because she didn’t click with the group. Kendal shook her hand and let her be; probably foreshadowing of her performance this week. They all talk about how Ann is the girl to beat - five top photos in a row is a bit crazy. Esther talks about her Orthodox Jewish nature and how she has to keep Kosher; again, foreshadowing that she had on screen time early in the episode.

A Tyra Mail arrived talking about doing a duet. The girls arrive at the Grammy Museum. Jay Manuel introduces Neil Portnow and explains that the girls would be competing to become a Grammy Girl (the models that hand artists their Grammy when they win an award). The girls would be broken into teams of two and had to choose a look to best impress Neil. The twist was that the other girl in the team had to pick the clothes for their partner. The girls caucus with Liz emphasizing to Kayla that she wants a tight top and a flowing bottom. The girls head to Chic Little Devil to shop for 10 minutes while their partner waited outside.

Teams
Kendal – Chris
Ann – Chelsey
Jane – Esther
Kayla – Liz

The girls feared each other’s looks wouldn’t be right. Jane worried about Esther’s boobs, while Kendal thought Chris looked a little cheap. As time ran out the girls met up. Liz hated the outfit that Kayla picked out. Chelsey got depressed because Ann picked a size 12 dress when Chelsey was a 2-4.

The girls went in front of the judges with Kayla & Liz first. Liz admitted that her outfit was cute in the end. The sheer fact that she admitted to not liking the dress was enough for me to automatically vote for Kayla. Kendal & Chris tried not looking like hookers, but Jay thought Chris came from a bar. Jane & Esther arrive, immediately slip while entering and never recover from there; the other girls thought the two looked like church-goers. Chelsey & Ann were last and Chelsey clutched her dress. Jay called her out for the lack of confidence with the dress. Jay picked Kayla & Liz as the winning team. Nick picked Kayla as the winner. She was in tears for getting an opportunity like the Grammys.

Liz was upset that she was so close to winning, but turned to alcohol to make her feel better. She looked like a fool as she ran around drunk to all the other contestants. There’s a great role model for you; what are you going to tell your kids?

A Tyra Mail clued the girls about being labeled, and the following day, the girls arrived at Smashbox Studios. Mr. Jay explains that the photoshoot is all about portraying a fashion designer; they will pose with a professional model but stay in character. Their stylist, Rushka Bergman, assigned them their designers and their photographer was Francesco Carrozzini.

Esther - Christophe Decarnin
Chris - Betsey Johnson
Kayla - Vivienne Westwood
Ann - Alexander Wang
Liz - John Galliano
Jane - Marc Jacobs
Chelsey - Carolina Herrera
Kendal - Vera Wang

Liz admits that she didn’t know John Galliano but loved that he cocked the eyebrow; Jay appreciated the photoshoot. Chelsey was a bit too hard in the face at first, but softened as the photo progressed. Chris had fun playing Betsey and had a lot of energy. Kendal was nervous about being Vera Wang; Jay mentioned that Vera was simple and smiley, but Kendal never cracked a smile once. Kayla needed to make sure that she shared the energy of Vivienne Westwood. Jane probably had the hardest job portraying a man. Ann naturally played a slouchy guy on a box. They probably plopped her on a box because she was too tall. Esther also struggled for being masculine.

The girls arrived at judging and along with Nigel Barker and Andre Leon Talley was guest judge Francesco Carrozzini. Kayla was first and the photo was strong, the judges loved how she expressed herself. Liz had a subtle nature of John and caught his natural tendencies; Tyra appreciates her androgynous nature. Chelsey had elegance, but no charm. Esther’s shot was a bit too over the top for Nigel. Jane also struggled; she looked a bit puffed up. Kendal didn’t take direction well; Tyra feared that she was the noun “model” not the verb “to model”. Ann gets positive reviews for Alexander; but then again, when does she not get good photo critiques? Chris is last and she aced the energy of Betsey; but Andre planted a seed, claiming she still didn’t look like a model.

After judging, Tyra announced the top photo was Liz, finally breaking Ann’s streak. The bottom two were Esther and Kendal. Esther’s issue was that she was gaining momentum, but slipped back. Kendal was criticized for not having any confidence. Esther was safe and Kendal was eliminated.

Final Callout
1) Liz
2) Kayla
3) Ann
4) Chelsey
5) Chris
6) Jane
7) Esther
8) Kendal – Eliminated

Esther and Jane probably had the hardest task portraying men, so it was probably unfair that they were compared to Liz and Ann, who just sat on a crate and everyone was screaming gold was struck again. Kendal probably had it worse because Vera Wang has designs at Kohls, her picture is in the mall, she’s been on several episodes of Project Runway, and sat in the audience of Dancing With the Stars supporting figure skater Evan Lysacek. There’s no excuse not to know her and her elimination was justified.