Previously: Clare, Tahnee, and Adele won the challenge of a lifetime, earning them places in Alex Perry’s special show aboard the Queen Mary II. The theme of the week was fashion/style, which most girls failed, although the mums came to visit-and most girls failed at the Chanel on a Pilon photoshoot (taken in the public swimming area, when the swimmers were there). Laura was also given her walking papers, thankfully.
Back at the Elimination Warehouse, Tahnee says she would have preferred that Franky went, as she was more of a threat. Adele says it was sad to see Laura go, but they are used to the fact that someone has to go each week. Seriously, what’s with Adele and those comments? She gets them every episode. She then goes on to say that she’s glad it’s someone going, because it is a competition. Clare says that now that they are down to the final 6, so they can all taste the prize. The next morning, Lola, Tahnee, and Franky all go for a walk/run, and get to a log where they all sit and talk. Clare’s “Marcia Brady” routine annoys the girls-as Tahnee says, “brush your hair 10 times on this side, 10 times on this side…” Back at the house, Clare is, well, brushing her hair. They still haven’t gotten all the letters from that Sarah Mail off. Adele is picking at her ingrown hairs, and at the rock, Tahnee (who is braiding Lola’s hair) says that at first Adele was a bit scared, but “now that she’s gotten some good feedback it’s gone to her big old boring head!”. Then it’s a whinge session about Cassi’s walk, which looks like a “drunken mess” as Lola demonstrates. Back in the garage at the house, Cassi is…hip hop dancing? Oy. Later, Franky goes out to the pool and there’s a bottle with a Sarah Mail inside. She naturally calls the other screaming girls outside, who are oh-so-excited about the message in a bottle. “Big brands mean big bucks. Don’t let your message get lost today” All the girls are stumped, but Adele thinks it may be a commercial. They go to the Sheraton on the Park, and are met upstairs by Charlotte. She tells the girls that modeling is about the brands that they represent, and they will be acting as representatives of Virgin Air’s new V Australia service-know your stuff about the brand, all right. Charlotte then says that she will be in the boardroom, and there will be some tricky questions asked of them! Ah yes, this must mean that it’s media week-in where the models learn how to deal with various forms of the media. Who can forget the fake paparazzi in season 3?
Charlotte then tells the girls that everything they need to know is in the pamphlet-and to make it more official, they all have V Australia outfits. Charlotte tells them to memorize the “dot points” and get the outfits on, as she will see them in the boardroom. As the girls study, Clare says that they were not only going to be asked questions about V Australia, but they were going to be asked personal questions as well. They all split up and go to memorize the stuff, which Tahnee says is a LOT of dot points! Now I did drama in high school and everything, and memorizing stuff in a half hour is difficult. They all want to impress Charlotte. Their outfit is a white collared button-down, a khaki high-waisted skirt, a skinny red belt, and…hose. Seriously, I want to report anybody I see wearing hose to the fashion police. Tights are okay, but hose? Fuck no. Lola is first up, and she explains that there are 10 people in there, staring at her, as well as Charlotte, and they have to go through the list about V Australia. She starts on the pitch, which essentially is crafting Virgin Blue as the first long-haul from Sydney to L.A.. Then the personal questions start, and one journalist says it’s great that there is somebody who is plus-sized. (OH NO SHE DIDN’T!) She then goes the tactful route and says that she never saw herself as plus, even though she is the biggest girl in the competition. Lucy Chesterton (from Woman’s Day) says that it’s a question she is going to need to get used to. Back in the conference room, Lola is getting emotional, saying that it took her by surprise, although she thought she handled it well. I definitely have to agree there. That’s one thing she is showing-tact. Between that and the nude photo scandal…you are set. Lauren Smelcher (from Cosmo) says that brand ambassadors don’t usually talk about their personal lives, but it can happen.
A bit of an aside: Nowadays, very few models are true “brand ambassadors”. The only ones that usually are that way are cosmetics brands, and then Victoria’s Secret. In India, however, it’s not the models, but it’s the stars-both male and female-who endorse everything from suitcases to mobile phones to shoes and E-Bikes. The way that a brand sees it is that if they have a big name endorsing the product, it will sell more. Many of the stars though make the mistake of taking everything they see-however some are more selective, like Aishwarya Rai, who has Longines (watches) and L’Oreal (beauty), Sonam Kapoor, who has L’Oreal, and so forth.
Anywhoo, Tahnee is up next, and she says that she did really well….not. Alex Needs (from Woman’s Day) says that if every press conference had a Tahnee, the world would be a better place. He goes on to say that V Australia would make headlines…for all the wrong reasons. Mistake number one? Speaking more about Victoria’s Secret. One of the other reporters asks her a question about her ideal brand, and she says VS, then Alex asks if she would be more comfortable wearing VS lingerie and she says yes. One of the other reporters calls her on it, asking her if she should have been talking about VS considering she’s a V Australia brand ambassador. Let’s just say, it’s painful. Charlotte and one of the other reporters are laughing their asses off, and Tahnee? She’s scarred by the media. Clare is next, and she says that they all looked like idiots with no idea what the hell they were doing-and she is thankful it’s not a real magazine interview, because she would be embarrassed. One of the reporters asks her if she is a little prissy for the modeling world, with Clare responding that she doesn’t feel like she is prissy. Shelly Horton (from the Sun Herald) says that “Everything about her just SCREAMS prissy”. Shelly then asks her if she has ever had a boyfriend, and Clare says that “Boys are stupid”. Cameron Bayley (from Optus TV magazine) says that the girls gave him enough quotes to write dozens of feature articles. Franky is then asked about the “3-3-3″ seating configuration and she says that it’s their little secret-”if I told you, I’d have to kill you”. They are not impressed-Aletha McHalick (from NW magazine) says that death threats are not a way to get journalists on your side. She continues to flounder when asked about mood lighting, and Charlotte is none too impressed, saying that none of the girls captured the essence of V Australia (wide seats in economy, entertainment on every seat) and so forth. Cassi is next, and Sarah Grant (from Who magazine) describes her as the biggest disaster. That’s our Cassi! She is then asked about her smoking-and she says she started 6 years ago. She would be 10. That’s just a little wrong, IMO. Kelli Armstrong (from OK! magazine) sees right through the bullshit and would put the fact that she lied in the article. Adele is the last one up, and Shelly asks her the truth about Cassi-and it proved that Cassi lied (Charlotte is horrified). Charlotte then rounds up the girls and says that they should be glad it’s not a real press conference, and that none of them would be good ambassadors for V Australia or Virgin Blue. She then gives the girls advice-talk only about that brand, keep answers contained, and so forth. She then tells Cassi not to lie, because the media will find out the truth, then tells Clare that she didn’t handle the “prissy” thing right. Clare says the lesson was valuable, telling them that she needs to be less rude towards the media. Charlotte then says that next time they are faced with the media, it will be for real-as there are only 6 of them left. I smell a challenge…Charlotte then says that a lesson isn’t a lesson if you don’t learn anything, and “lambs to the slaughter? Absolutely.”
The girls, after changing back into their street clothes, go down to the lobby and there is a little star displayer thingy with a Sarah Mail inside, which Tahnee reads: “A designer is only as good as the star who wears her clothes. Who will shine the brightest this week?” Adele immediately figures out that it’s going to be a red carpet, and Tahnee says that they are going to be ambassadors for the designer they are representing. Oh, and Adele? Get some petals-the headlights are on. The next day, the girls are met at B2 Studios by Sarah and Pease, and they think it’s a challenge but it turns out to be a photo shoot. Pease says that it’s a very special one, and it’s very real. Sarah says that this week is all about being more than models, and when they get out into the real world there is more than just hair, makeup, dresses. Sometimes the best things aren’t all about them-and the photoshoot is a special one: the photos will be auctioned off on the AusNTM website to benefit Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Sarah says that the charity, which was founded by fashion types, has brought in over $40 million AUD (Australian Dollars) globally, and that it is specifically for research in women under 45. Clare is excited to be working with the charity, that’s for sure. Pease then brings in the photographers, Denis Montalbetti and Gay Campbell, who have shot Bill Gates and Yoko Ono, among others. This week, it’s See Models Jump! An idea stolen from US Vogue oh, every issue, with David Sims. God how I hate those jumping editorials, but at least they cut Eugenia Volodina out of the 2004 models issue. That person is more manly than Lola-and people say that Lola is the manliest of the model wannabes. Anywhoo, it’s tough because of all the elements that have to be involved. Pease then says that some of Australia’s top designers have donated gowns for the girls to wear. Clare is wearing Collette Dinnigan, Tahnee is wearing Akira Isogawa, Adele is wearing Kit Willow, Franky is wearing Sass & Bide, Lola is wearing Easton Pearson, and Cassi is wearing Alex Perry. The girls go to hair/makeup, and Franky says that everyone wants to do well for the obvious reasons, but also to raise a lot of money for the charity. Clare goes to her dress, a frothy light pink number with crystals, which Pease says that Nicole Kidman actually wore. Clare says the quote of the series so far: “I’m actually sharing armpit sweat with Nicole Kidman!”. Tahnee’s yellow beaded gown was worn by Eva Mendes, as Pease tells us that the shoot is going to be 40 minutes instead of the usual 10-15. Cassi is up first, and all we really get? “Point your toes!” She has a lot of trouble with that part, then it’s the head. Gay says that Cassi was good from the neck to the ankles, and it got to a point where she was like “Point, point, point”. She definitely doesn’t have the stamina, and she ends up getting off and she gets a lot of crap for the smoking. She reiterated that she is quitting, but Tahnee says that it’s what she gets. Clare then tells us that immediately after Cassi got out of the AP gown…she goes and has another cig. Clare is next and definitely nails the ethereal, which the photogs LOVE. Gay says that it’s rare that they get models that respond that quickly under that challenging of conditions, but Clare rose to the challenge. She then goes on to say that she would book Clare for a job, and they even call the shoot early.
Clare goes back to change out of the gown, and she lets Tahnee know that she finished early, which she is amazed by. Adele is next and her hands are going every which way-she is told to stop as she is totally out of control. Denis says it’s like she’s on the trampoline in the backyard. After about 10 minutes and a lot of direction though, she starts to get it. Gay says that she made a 180 from where she started, and the quality is book material. Tahnee has a yellow gown with a big slit and some matching ruffled undies, and she gets glowing reviews. She is told to get into a pike position, and she does it the first try and delivers some great shots. Now when it comes to a trampoline shoot, the third season of ANTM did a really, really good one. Lola is next in a white gown with a sort of tutu, and she flounders. Badly. Her face shows the concentration from having to focus on her hands and legs. Denis says “We shot 250 shots and we got a few, but…we got a few. Truer words have never been spoken. Franky is last, in a sequinned number, and it is worse than Lola, because Franky had never been on a trampoline and thus was even more discombobulated than usual. Eventually, though, she gets it, and Gay says that it was “stressful, scary, and funny all at the same time”. Pease then gathers the models together to tell them that this isn’t the end of those dresses-and Adele (I think) is the one who guesses that they’re going to wear them and then they’ll be auctioned off. The next morning, Cassi finds a little target with a Sarah Mail darted to the board, and it goes like: “Charity begins at home, but should not end there”-Phillips Brooks “Be on target at your challenge today” Adele immediately figures out it’s for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, and so the girls are off to Hugo’s, which is “a trendy nightclub thing” in the eyes of Clare. They are met by Pease, who tells them that they are going to be doing a fashion show wearing the gowns they wore in the photo shoot, and they will be auctioned off for the charity. They then have to sell the audience on the gown, so they have to know the gown and the designer. BTW, Franky is wearing either a wig or extensions, and all the girls have poker-straight hair. To help the fashion-challenged wannabes, he gives the girls some cards, and then lets them know there will be some special guests in to help prep the girls. First in? Mink, who says that Cassi is “all groomed now”. She talks to the girls and says that FTBC is her cause celebre, and tells them that as models, they will be asked to do a lot of charity events. Adele and Clare are practicing when Ruby Rose comes in, who I only know about due to her hooking up with Myf Shepherd, as well as Lola. Adele reveals that she has a noncancerous thing in her breast, which will have to get removed-so that brings her closer to the foundation.
The celebs start to arrive, and Pease tells the girls to get into their Aldo heels. Sarah welcomes everybody, and interviews that in attendance are the creme de la creme of the fashion crop. She says that the girls having this opportunity this early on in their careers is a good move for them. Franky is up first, and she is nervous, but Sarah-Jane Clarke (from Sass & Bide) says it was refreshing as Australia needs a good crop of models and she is glad to see the next wave. Lola is next and yep, nervous. Adele is next, and she says it’s kinda interesting that Kit Willow is sitting in the crowd, watching her dress be modeled. Kit loved Adele, especially the bright red hair colour. Clare is next, and she says that she goes on autopilot when she does runway-look straight at the camera, focus. Tahnee is next, and Mink says that all the girls have really come a long way in confidence, poise, posture, etc. Well, we haven’t seen our girl Cassi yet…and it isn’t THAT bad! She is the worst of the girls, save for Lola, however she has definitely improved. Pease VO’s that the girls should be happy that they are able to give back this early on in their careers. The girls do the final bow, and Sarah says she is pleased with how far the girls have come. Then the girls have to mix and mingle with the audience, and get them to bid on the dresses. The girls mingle, apparently Megan Gale wore Cassi’s Alex Perry gown. Lola’s dress apparently was also made just for the event. After the bidding, Sarah gathers the girls and says that Franky was the clear frontrunner, and that Cassi was just not up to snuff. So as punishment-Cassi is the slave of the housemates for the day, and Franky is the slavemaster. Anything the girls want done, she has to do. All the girls are overjoyed, especially Franky who plans to milk it for all that it’s worth. However, there is Sarah Mail waiting back at home! “The dream of becoming Australia’s Next Top Model is getting closer every day, but for one of you, it’s just slipping away. Sleep well…” Lola is shocked that eliminations are so soon, as the weeks are just flying by. The next morning, the girls rudely wake up Cassi, and force her into an apron and shower cap. She is forced to do runway, do laundry and dishes, throw tampons in front of Franky and then pick them all up (the fugly U by Kotex), brush her teeth (I would have shoved that to hit her gag reflex), cook meals for Franky, make up a rap song, and so forth. At the rap song, she goes down to a rock and breaks down, but Tahnee and Franky humiliate her over the fence. Cassi says that as the day went on, it got easier-as we see her flat-ironing Franky’s hair, giving her a massage, and then reading a bedtime story.
The next morning, it’s elimination warehouse time. Cassi says the competition is tight, and she doesn’t think she’ll make it through the competition. Lola isn’t ready to go yet-her walk has improved. Franky wants Clare to go home, as “her head needs to deflate and she needs to come back down to earth, and it’s always good to see someone’s ego being squashed”. Sarah welcomes them to elimination, telling the girls that it was media week-and that some girls rose to the challenge, while others leave her seriously worried. The guest judges this week, BTW, are Ruby Rose and Denis. Let the juding begin! Sarah tells the girls that the photos they took will be auctioned off on the website for charity, and she hopes the girls have started to think about how they will give back. Here’s a start: Do NOT give a penny to Children International. However, Alex says that on the fashion front, they are all getting a caning. Adele’s frock is equated to a nighty, Franky’s skirt is atrocious and “she and Lycra need to stay away from each other”, Tahnee stole her sequinned tunic from some old bat at the poker machine in a casino, “Cassi Trailer Trash”, Clare’s underwear-as-outerwear is not working, and Lola’s dress could be a tent. Nothing inspires Alex. Adele is first, and the judges love her photo. Charlotte says that she’s had a great transformation, and Alex says that Kit Willow would be proud. I mean, from the neck down, it’s nice, but the face is D-E-A-D, dead. Tahnee, according to Ruby, looks like one of the flowers-and this is another shot where the body is good, the face isn’t. Denis gives her an 11 out of 10 for performance, and Charlotte orders her to “burn that sack”. Franky gets an A for effort, as Denis says that halfway through he thought he wasn’t going to get anything. The face gets rave reviews from the judges, though. Lola is up next and she is asked about the plus-sized comment at the press meet, but when the photo comes up Charlotte says “there’s nothing plus-sized about that body, is there?”. Alex says her photo is very Revlon-a classic American brand. Cassi is up next and not confident at all-apparently her connection is that her grandpa had cancer. Sarah then calls her on being a chain-smoker, and that she was huffing and puffing during the photo shoot. At least she knows that she is defeated. The photo comes up though to a LOT of love from the judges, and Alex is very proud-it’s a perfect eveningwear campaign. Clare goes up and she looks like something painted on a fresco. It’s insane.
It’s deliberation time, and Sarah says it will be a very tough week. Cassi is first, and Charlotte says that she needs to be more honest. She goes on to say that when she gets some honesty in her, she’ll figure out whether or not she wants to be in the competition, because she honestly doesn’t believe it, and it’s a half-assed effort. Ruby says that she needs to change now while she can, because if she is still the classic bogan in her 20′s, people won’t put up with it. Sarah isn’t exactly loving Adele-she turns in great shots, yes. But she isn’t getting the appeal. Alex thinks she is crazy, however, and he loves the shot. I am going to have to side with Sarah on this one, though. Sarah says that Adele is definitely not safe, but Alex disagrees. Denis says that Tahnee had the best performance AND best effort of the day, and Sarah says that she has been a surprise in the competition. Lola is “completely unsafe” however, because she isn’t able to move forward and the competition is very tight. Clare scares the hell out of the judges, especially Ruby, who says that she’ll “be at the end of your bed with a knife”. Finally, Alex says that Franky’s picture is a lump, like dead weight, but Ruby disagrees. Ruby says “it’s like she’s flown up, to do a kung fu move” and Alex says that it looks like she’s wondering when she’s going to go *thud*. The girls come back in, and Tahnee gets her first photo. She is told that she has to be careful about what she says in public, even though she photographs well. Clare is next and Sarah says that sometimes she comes across as fake. Cassi is next, with Sarah hoping that she took onboard the fact that she needs to be honest-both with herself and others. Adele is next and while the photo was great, it’s very “Same-Look Adele”. Franky and Lola are the B2-Franky is told that she is not quite media-ready, and at the photo shoot, she may have plateaued. Lola, meanwhile, has improved, but is very inconsistent and at this point, the competition is so tight. Sadly, it isn’t a double elimination, as Franky gets her photo. Sarah says that Lola will have a great career, “wherever she goes”. Translation? “Not in modeling”. The typical kiss/cry, and then she leaves and yells “See you scrags!” Heh. Back at the mansion, she says that she expected it would be her, and she is proud of herself for making the top 6. She then says that she sees Clare winning, and she decides to get her revenge on Cassi (“she should be leaving before me!”) by throwing her frog stuffed animal in the pool.
Next week: Let the cattiness amp up! It’s acting week, as they go to classes where they have to learn tools such as crying on demand. Franky yells at Cassi, saying that everyone wants to be there except for her. It is then announced at the photo shoot that the girls will be going overseas after this.
Tags: AusNTM
