This is it!

The Battle Royale between Bloody Eyeball and Golden Tooth is upon us! Which tiny terror will emerge victorious tonight?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about... well, what are you doing here? I'm talking about Nicole and Laura, the final two under 5'-7''contestants on America's Next Top Model, of course! And we're about to find out who has gone through 12 weeks of Tyra-sponsored terror to win a contract with Wilhemina Models, a spread in Seventeen magazine, and a Covergirl campaign.

But first, it's the perfect time to look back on this cycle of the shorties. Relive the journeys for Nicole and Laura by checking out each week's photoshoot, and their final portfolios from the competition.

Photo Shoots
Episode 1 (Makeovers)
Episode 2 (Baby Photos)
Episode 3 (Seabiscuit)
Episode 4 (Lengthening)
Episode 5 (Scarves)
Episode 6 (Cirque du Soleil)
Episode 7 (Ninja)
Episode 8 (Covergirl Commercials)
Episode 9 (Biracial)
Episode 10 (Underwater)
Episode 11 (Pele)

See Laura's ANTM Cycle 13 Portfolio
See Nicole's ANTM Cycle 13 Portfolio

Stay with me tonight as I livethought the finale of America's Next Top Model Cycle 13 (8 PM ET) and get thinking--because TOMORROW, I have the chance to chat with both Nicole and Laura about their ANTM experiences, and I'm always up to ask what you wanna know! So leave those questions in the comments!

Here it goes...

The final two can't believe they're... the final two! Nicole is excited to have conquered her shyness, and Nicole is thrilled to go from downhome to the catwalk. Both have come so far and grown so much in the competition, and no matter who wins, they've both benefited so much from the experience.

Nicole says she related the most with Laura at the beginning of the competition, and she's threatened that Laura has a Covergirl look. Laura, on the other hand, knows Nicole has great photos, but lacks some of the personality.

"Tyra Mail" provides each model with her Covergirl script. Laura is stressing because of her severe dyslexia.

The Covergirl Shoot:
Jay greets the girls (looking like a leprechaun) and tells them the winning image will appear all over Wal-Mart print displays. He then brings out Teyona, who tells them to pimp the mascara to the max. Jay explains the girls will be exploring the Hawaiian forest, looking glamorous. So it's hair and make-up time.

Nigel is shooting today (ah-der...) and Jay will be prepping the other for the commercial at the same time. Nicole has a hard time at first smiling. But it doesn't last long. Nigel is wowed by her look and modeling skills in the still shots.

Meanwhile, Laura's over there filming her commercial, and... it's a stutter-fest. Her frustration just makes the dyslexia even worse.  Her lines almost seem intentionally tongue-tying (maybe because Covergirl's main modes of marketing are alliteration and puns). But eventually, Laura powers through the commercial and her sunny personality shines though.

Nicole's turn to deliver her lines. Each girl has a Hawaiian line to deliver at the beginning of the commercial, and it seems to trip up Nicole at first. Jay accuses Nicole of speaking like a snotty, privileged kid. Uh oh! Now it's Take 22... and Jay's still saying Nicole seems unlikable.

Nigel is a little concerned by Laura's lack of complex emotions during the still photo shoot. Instead of thinking of her boyfriend or something happy... she's thinking of a milkshake. What are you talking about, Nigel? Milkshakes make ME ecstatic!

OH LOOK, it's Ann Shoket. This time, she actually has a reason to be here: the Seventeen shoot. Gilles Bensimon is shooting, and both girls seem to do really well. "It's anybody's game," says Ann Shoket, who always knows what she's talking about. (?)

Next up... Runway Show!
Each girl practices her walk, and they're both confident in their skills.

But first, at the door, it's... TYRA! She came to talk. Look, it's our first one-on-one sesh of the cycle!

Nicole tells Tyra she's thrilled to be a finalist. Tyra rehashes that Nicole felt isolated and awkward when she was young, and ate lunch by herself in the bathroom stall, a la Mean Girls (we've heard this, oh, eight times before).

Laura tells Tyra that she's happy to have debunked her hometown expectations that farm girls can't be models. Then it's Wanda Sue time! Laura says her grandma sent her a letter (it's crying time...) saying how proud she is that Laura has made it so far, and conquered her dyslexia.

Back to the Runway Show
Erin, Brittany, Sundai and Jennifer reappear, and they'll be walking in the runway show with Laura and Nicole.

It's hair and makeup time, and Teyona shows back up too. It's a freaking ANTM reunion over here.

The designer and stylist meet with Laura and Nicole, and then it's time to glitter up all the ladies and put them in pretty dresses. It's a dream come true for Laura, she says.

Oh hey, there's Eddie Murphy. His daughter is walking in the show. I wonder if he'll be tonight's guest judge? Couldn't be much less helpful than any of the others...

It's SHOW time!

Teyona starts off this 'elemental' show as "fire."

Then it's Nicole, and her walk is confident and strong. They've got her in a high-necked dress that makes her look even taller.

Laura's up, and she looks sexy and sleek. She says she shook as she walked, but she seems to be at ease.

It's changing time, and Laura loves the chaos and "feeds off of it." Then, walking time again.

Nicole is "wind," and she whips a huge cloth off her face at the end of the runway. It's Laura's turn after that, and both of them say it was hard to get the "quilt" off their heads (Laura's words) but BOY do they both look fierce as they do it!

It's "water" time for the finale of the show, and it's raining hard on the models as they walk. After the group has each gone down the runway, the two finalists and four other models pose together in a sexy, slinky pile of wetness.

After the show's over, Tyra hugs the wet kittens, and congratulates them on doing such a great job. No drama, no hiccups.

WHO'S GONNA WIN?!?!! Gah!

Final Judging Panel
Tyra reminds the girls of the prizes once more. You don't need the reminder. You're clever.

Time to talk about the fashion show:
Laura: walks like a seasoned model, and they are pleasantly surprised
Nicole: at first, it felt a little clunky, but it became a signature walk because of her confidence

The photo shoots over the cycle:
The judges look through each girl's photos from across the season (check out the portfolio links above) and rehash their old compliments and critiques. We've been there, disagreed with that, so... spare me the recap space, will you? In summary: Nicole is fierce. Laura is beautiful. They both nailed it week after week. WE KNOW, we watched the show!

The Hawaiian Covergirl commercial:
Nicole: Tyra thinks it was natural and likable, but she forgot to model. 
Laura: Tyra congratulates Laura for getting over the dyslexia. Nigel and Jay were concerned that her accent took over some of her enunciation.

The Covergirl Ads:

Laura: She looks hot and sexy. The eyes pop. It's simple and clean.

Nicole: The picture is relaxed but confident, chill but focused.

Tyra congratulates both girls on being inspirations to short models, awkward girls, and farm girls all over the world.

IT'S. DECISION. TIME!

The Judges Deliberate
Jay would book Laura in a commercial beauty ad in America. Nicole is a clothes girl for Milan.
Nigel thinks Laura has an extraordinary face: classic beauty with a twist. Nicole has the right features, but lacks the personality... until you get her in front of the camera. Nigel thinks Nicole is a high fashion model.

Tyra brings the two girls back. And the winner of America's Next Top Model Cycle 13 is...

NICOLE!

Laura is crying her adorable little eyes out, but she's also proud of how well she did, and I have a feeling she's looking at a "Fan Favorite" title...

Nicole is showing more emotion than I ever thought possible from her. "I'm a dork, and I'm America's Next Top Model!"

Then it's time for her final photo shoot with Tyra...

Voiceover:
"Congratulations, Nicole! Now represent for the shorties everywhere. Love, Tyra"

Me:
"Congratulations, Nicole! Now represent for the red-headed dorks everywhere. Including me. Love, Meghan"


-Meghan Carlson, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Image courtesy of the CW