America's Next Top Model

Now that we're in cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model, I'm pretty much only interested in tuning in for the photo shoots. Tyra Banks' shenanigans have really turned me off the reality show aspect.

I have been singing the praises of the most recent season of Project Runway for a while now; I really enjoyed how focused on the fashion the season was. It was all about the clothes and no less interesting, to me at least, for that. I wish America's Next Top Model would take a cue from that.

This cycle of America's Next Top Model at least had some better shoots than the bargain basement look of last cycle, but this episode's started to feel a little too cycle 9 for my tastes.

But once again, I'm trying to look past the weaknesses of the art direction, lighting and styling to just focus on what the girls can control, so here are my Best and Worst of the week based on that, along with, again, one Almost, and a few Not Quites.



Lauren once again tops my list mainly because she – once again – has a picture that actually looks like something that could almost be in the pages of Vogue today. Her body is mainly all pop diva, but that odd angle and her grumpy face give it a high fashion twist.



I put Katarzyna in the Almost column because despite how beautiful evocative her face it, I think her lower body looks too foreshortened. Claire was criticized in the paint photo shoot for looking more recording artist than model. While the challenge this week was to portray a certain genre of music, they are still supposed to look like models, and I think she didn't quite nail that long and lean thing models have. Had she just knocked that right knee open a bit more lengthened her spine while still hunching her shoulders, I think she would have a better shot.

Whitney…I know the judges like her shot but I think it's just not there. I think, however, that it might not be her fault. Why would the stylist put the bigger girl in those jean shorts and leg-shortening ankle-high boots? Above the waist, it looks like the shot could have been something, below the waist, it just doesn't work with her body. I think with a better outfit, she would have had a really cool shot.



I didn't think Aimee's was that bad. I thought she managed to capture something that was, in fact, appropriate for her R&B theme. She's just somehow missing that spark that makes a photo magical.

Anya should be taking better photos than this. I can't even quite figure out what the issue is with her, but it's like she gets halfway there and just doesn't have that edge to put it over the top. She's got a lot to work with and I think could be very interesting; I wish she could just get there.

Stacy-Ann…there's nothing really wrong with this photo, but there's nothing really right with it either. I'll admit I just can't fairly judge her because for some reason, her look just really does not work for me.

Fatima…I almost want to put this one in the Worst column, but I guess she at least did something. But oh! is this photo annoying.



Dominique. What does this shot have to do with folk music? Other than that over-the-top styling? (I don't know why but that ridiculous skirt actually makes me angry.) The photo is not aesthetically pleasing in and of itself, but I also feel like she did not meet the aim of the theme.

Claire. Oh my. She's so gorgeous…I said in my Predictions column that I kind of hoped she would land in the bottom two just to give her a little scare. I really think she has potential, but there's something…just not that intelligent about how she poses. She's seems like a relatively bright girl, but when she gets in front of the camera, it's like she loses IQ points or something. For some models, posing is innate. For Claire, it's clearly not, so she needs to actually think about it and come up with some kind of creative way to inspire herself to meet the theme of her shoots.

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