America's Next Top Model Episode Review
Monday Night (Dec 19th) we saw the official first competition episode of the revamped season of America's Next Top Model. The new season features a brand new panel, host, and overall theme which focuses on the implementation of social media and its presence overwhelming presence in the fashion and entertainment world. The new panel includes plus-sized super model Ashley Graham, Paper Magazine creative director Drew Elliott, celebrity stylist Law Roach, and new host, recording artist, model, and boss Rita Ora.
*Spoilers Ahead*
Here's my review and play-by-play of the first competition episode of the ANTM reboot.
The theme and challenge for this episode is being fierce on the runway. The girls find out via Ritalert ( the end of TyraMail) that the following day they will be having a runway practice for a grand show and challenge later on that week.
Come the next day, the girls are greeted by Rita who tells them they will be learning from supermodel and runway connoisseur Stacey Mckenzie. McKenzie is known for her unique look and background and is also the host of Canada's Next Top Model.
As sad as I am to see the end of the Miss J reign we could all see it coming but the casual on and off appearances throughout the cycles.
House of Mugler voguers are called by Mckenzie to help and inspire the girls to add something interesting and energetic to their runway walks for the show later. The girls are then broken into two squads to compete in a side-to-side runway challenge against each other. During this walk-off, Stacey focuses her attention on the noticeably confident and outspoken Binta as well as androgynous and introverted Kyle. In the end, squad one wins and is told they have been rewarded a private walking lesson from Stacey later that evening.
Back at the house, the girls are gathered about future goals and Paige tells the girls that she wants to win in order to have a larger platform to inform the public on issues she agrees with and finds important like #BlackLivesMatter. While most of the girls agree with her sentiment, including those of color, Binta looks noticeably angry and shares her rebuttal to that statement and movement. She believes the girls shouldn't limit themselves to what's happening in America and should claim their African heritage but the other girls choose to believe that they identify more as American than African.
What do you think about this?
In this moment the underlying rivalry begins to brew between Paige and Binta and the tension continues throughout the episode
Once the girls finish the one-on-one lessons with Stacey she takes them inside to meet the rest of the girls and gives them some words of encouragement and inspiration through her own personal story. Mckenzie tells the girls to add another "B" to the main three apart of the mantra for this season, (Boss, Business, Brand) Belief. She tells the girls to believe in themselves the most and recounts her story of triumph after meeting refusal from countless individuals in the industry. After being rejected multiple times Mckenzie found success when she made it to her first show with Jean-Paul Gaultier and met Madonna.
We fast forward to the day of the runway show/photo shoot. The girls are expected to work the runway and once at the end fall into the arms of large men and pose for the camera above them. They are greeted with celebrity guest, model, recording artist, actress, and fashion maven Zendaya. The girl's reward for doing the best is a picture posted with Zendaya to boost their social media following. (If this is any indication of the prizes for this season then the Top Model budget has definitely run dry)
Kyle was definitely a standout and won the challenge while Coryanne, despite a supermodel model, struggled a lot with posing for photos, the same with sultry model Krislian. In the end, it was the youngest contestant, 18-year-old Justine who was eliminated for the weakest photo.
I was slightly disappointed in the deliberation and judging segment of the show. It lacked finesse and seemed very rush to me and the ANTM lover in me was so sad to not hear the famous words "in my hands are the pictures of the girls who did the best and will still be in the running towards becoming America's Next Top Model!".
Overall I think the show will benefit greatly from using relevant celebrity appearances and social media to boost viewership that was already down from previous cycles. While it may gain a few new viewers, it may be hard to win over the love from loyal Top Model and Tyra fans.
Let me know what you thought of the episode. Tweet Me @knowtoriousblog or message me on Tumblr @ theknowtoriousblog