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‘Top Model’: Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it on lock

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“America’s Next Top Model” special report

By Nadria Tucker

Welcome to Cycle 15 of “America’s Next Top Model.” Let the drama fly.

America's Next Top ModelDozens of contestants fly to Los Angeles to stand in judgment before host Tyra Banks, but only 14 will make the cut. Will Kendal Brown of Northport survive the first set of challenges?

See who can pass for a weeping willow, who needs development and who makes the Top 14, after the jump …

America's Next Top Model

This season, the stakes are higher, and the models are skinnier, but one thing remains the same: Tyra. Tyra, Tyra, Tyra.

The season begins with the customary weird flashback: Tyra dressed as a schoolgirl re-enacting the surprise and wonder she feels every morning waking up and knowing that she has a room full of fake hair and corsets to call her own.

America's Next Top Model

Another change this year: The winning model will receive two spreads, one in Vogue Italia and one in Beauty in Vogue. Ciao, bella! Quite a step up from shilling zit cream in Seventeen.

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

Once again, the pack of semi-finalists contains a hometown girl. Kendal, 23, is excited to travel to Palm Springs!

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

But she’s also confused about what Palm Springs is …?

America's Next Top Model

This is Ann Ward. She’s weird. You can tell by the sandwich and the cat.

America's Next Top Model

The drama begins. Meet Lexie Tomchek, left, and Jordan. Lexie listens, while Jordan poo-poos consumerism and fakeness and kind of everything “Top Model” represents. (The editors’ use of sepia tone denotes foreshadowing.)

America's Next Top Model

Mr. and Miss Jay — Jay Manuel, right, and J. Alexander — give the girls their first assignment: Walk a runway wearing a Cynthia Rowley gown.

America's Next Top Model

The girls walk in groups organized by genre. First the quirky ones; note that this group includes both Weird Ann and Crazy Jordan.

America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model

The sexy girls and the brunettes. Kendal didn’t appear to be in any of the groups, but I’m fairly sure they just stuck her in an ethnic group with the Asian girls that didn’t get any face time. 🙁

America's Next Top Model

Lexie rats out Crazy Jordan’s lack of enthusiasm to the rest of the girls.

America's Next Top Model

“I will cut you.”

• • •

Buy this episode or the entire Season Pass
from iTunes. [aff. links]

• • •

America's Next Top Model

During the interviews, the judges ask Rhianna Atwood to pose as a cactus.

America's Next Top Model

And a weeping willow.

America's Next Top Model

And a tumbleweed.

America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model

Meet Emily from West Virginia. She’s the racist of this season’s bunch. And that makes her sad.

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

The elusive Kendal makes an appearance. She is shy but curious.

America's Next Top Model

Tyra sizes up her prey: “I understand that you’re pure.”

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

Kendal: “Yes.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking. On a show full of stereotypes about weird girls with cats and racists from the South, Kendal must surely be a Bible-thumping celibacy nut, right? Right?

America's Next Top Model

Tyra: “Tell me why being intimate with a guy grosses you out.”

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

Kendal: “I don’t like semen.”

America's Next Top Model

Kendal: “I don’t like it on my hand.”

America's Next Top Model

Kendal: “It grosses me out.”

Congratulations, Kendal. You’ve certainly made yourself memorable.

America's Next Top Model

Mr. Jay manages to look past Kendal’s “confession” and declares her “stunning.” Tyra concludes that Kendal is “one of the most beautiful ‘Top Model’ girls I’ve seen in a while.”

America's Next Top Model

After the interviews, the girls are invited to a party with Cynthia Rowley. Well, just 20 girls are invited. The rest are deported to … their crummy non-televised lives.

America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model

Ann is in.

America's Next Top Model

Poor, weird Ann.

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

America's Next Top Model

Kendal is in.

America's Next Top Model

For the photo shoot, the girls are placed in pairs, based on similarities. In other words, their direct competitors.

America's Next Top Model

Mr. Jay is impressed, but doesn’t say by whom.

America's Next Top Model

The judges retire to the set of “Austin Powers” to confer before making final cuts. They decide that Kendal needs development …

America's Next Top Model, Kendal Brown

But, she’s in!!

America's Next Top Model

After the dust settles, 14 finalists remain. The racist and the crazy girl are out. The weird girl, the snitch and tree girl are in. The rest shall earn their nicknames in time. But for now …

America's Next Top Model

The Tyra abides.

• • •

Buy this episode or the entire Season Pass
from iTunes. [aff. links]

• • •

Nadria TuckerBirmingham writer Nadria Tucker (@NadriaTucker) dabbles in magical realism and the Southern gothic tradition, but always keeps an eye toward the future of Southern fiction. Her award-winning fiction is character driven and sometimes dark, but usually plays fair. Her work has been featured in publications such as The2ndHand, Lipstick and Birmingham Magazine.

“America’s Next Top Model” airs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on CW 21.

How did Kendal do? Who are you pulling for to win “Top Model”? Leave a comment below.

Previous: Meet Kendal Brown.
Next: Walking the runway? Tough. Walking the runway a hundred feet in the air? Dizzying. [Episode 2 — Bully for them]

Also:

• • •

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• • •

On the runway: more on “America’s Next Top Model.”

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