Tyra Banks is back in America’s Next Top Model cycle 9, one of the few shows to survive the UPN/WB merger not just intact but as strong as ever. 33 girls, some of whom are actually attractive, will be narrowed down to 13 on a one week cruise.
The first task is a runway show, where they show off the latest fashion… life preservers. About half the girls are completely inexperienced and receive a lot of criticism. It’s not long before the cattiness comes out, with insults and name calling. Later, they meet up with Jaslene, the America’s Next Top Model 8 winner, on the beach, where they do their first photo shoot.
Then Tyra attempts to sing. Don’t do that.
Chantal impresses the judges with her natural modelling ability. Heather was diagnosed with Asperger’s, a form of autism, at age 13 and is awkward just in general, but the judges are pleased with her overall. Victoria is a Yale student who started this competition as a joke but now looks forward to getting what she can out of it. Marvita has a sad story to tell about her childhood. Mila is so perky she’ll very quickly get irritating. Jenah doesn’t get along with girls. Sarah’s not quite a skinny model and not quite a plus size model either. Lisa’s an exotic dancer, which makes her a good choice just based on the fact that it’ll shock people into talking. Bianca thinks Ebony’s a bitch, and she’s probably right.
13 girls are eliminated, as the other 20 board another ship. Who was among them and who wasn’t I have no idea. Just a bunch of names flashing by so fast it was impossible to catch them all, let alone figure out who was eliminated. It’s kinda like Kid Nation, where there’s so damn many people in the cast that learning who’s who becomes a difficult task. At least this will be a bit less hectic next week when we’re down to just 13 girls.
Without missing a beat, following the next commercial break, the 20 girls discuss why they should be America’s Next Top Model, then Tyra makes her decision which 7 to cut. The girls who make the cut are: Mila, Bianca, Jenah, Chantal, Ambreal, Victoria, Sarah, Saleisha, Kimberly, Ebony, Janet, Heather, and Lisa. Here is the full America’s Next Top Model 9 cast list (name, occupation, age, location… in summation, it’s basically a bunch of students age 18-21).
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for a recap of America’s Next Top Model 9 episode 2, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW, with Encore presentations at 9/8c on Sundays.