And we're back! America's Next Top Model is a juggernaut that will not rest! And there appears to be an endless supply of girls willing to undergo the withering scrutiny of the judges in search of that elusive and questionably-useful title.

But first! Those girls must undergo our withering scrutiny! It's time for this cycle's installment of Judging by Appearances, in which we make some best guesses as to a girl's modeling potential based on the photos the CW Network has released.

I haven't watched any interviews and barely skimmed only one set of biographical details (who can avoid knowing Isis's story?). I am making these evaluations based on nothing but the two-dimensional image and my own personal, yet impeccable taste. Well, it's my personal taste, anyway. Take a look at my thoughts and leave your own response to your first impressions of this new batch of modelettes from America's Next Top Model 11.


Analeigh – This is a hard one to start with because her hair and styling is so Girl-at-the-Mall, her potential is almost lost in there. Styled this way, she looks rather ordinary. That said, if you've been reading my articles over the past few cycles, you might know that I am a fan of the odd girl, the girl who can seem ordinary or awkward in some angles, but can come to life under the right circumstances. Analeigh could be that kind of girl if she gets the right haircut and some edgy shoots.


Brittany – Once again, what's up with the styling? How am I supposed to assess the modeling potential of someone in a heather gray tee, glen plaid vest-short jumper and ill-fitting acid gold pumps? How am I supposed to get past that to see what this girl could do? Well, maybe that's saying something. If you can't model your way out of a heather gray tee, glen plaid vest-short jumper and ill-fitting acid gold pumps, that might be telling your potential.


Clark – Let's shorthand it: see my comments about Analeigh with a dash of Amanda Plummer.


Elina – She's got a Julianna Margolis thing going on with a bit of the wide face Eastern European look that's been very popular in recent years. She's the first so far in this list who appears to actually be giving some Face in her shot, and modeling a bit, not just taking a glamour shot. It's nearly impossible to tell without sticking her next to some frame of reference, but I do wonder if she might be a little shorter than the usual model. Something about her body type doesn't say “willowy.” Then again, a lack of height has never held anybody back in America's Next Top Model.


Hannah – She's got a little bit of the Heather Kuzmich look to her. She's got an atypical nose (for a model) which could either make her interesting in her shoots or create challenges for her with her angles.


Isis – As we've reported, Isis is America's Next Top Model's first transgendered contestant to make it past the auditions. She's also been on the show before as one of the homeless models. She's got a good look and is giving fierce attitude in her photo (something many of the girls listed above could learn a thing or two from). One thing that could be very interesting about a transgendered model is the fact that the person has lived in the world as both genders and so has some sense of all of the constructs that go into making the world see you as masculine or feminine. These are exactly the kinds of tools a really good model can use to bring different feelings to a photograph. A good model can flip from masculine to feminine to androgynous to meet the creative direction of the shoot. If Isis is smart, and has really learned well from her experience, she could have some tricks up her sleeve to make for fascinating photographs.

Joslyn – Haven't we seen her before? There's something a little too familiar about her to me. She's got gorgeous bone structure and is on the verge of doing something interesting in this shot, but nothing is standing out. I hope she gets a severe haircut that will play up those cheek bones.

'America's Next Top Model' Cycle 11: Judging by Appearances, Part 2

- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Images courtesy of CWTV)