America's Next Top Model - Cycle 13 - 'Make Me Tall' recap

_{The girls wear matching dresses in their first runway walk off.
© The CW}

This week, in the limo going back to the model home, Bianca is so disappointed that she was again in the bottom two. She says that she knows she needs to work on making her face more soft and relaxed.

Entering the house, the first thing the girls see is Erin's winning photo from last week's photo shoot hanging as digital art.

Drama queens: part 1

This is where we get our first dose of drama, which will fill the episode. Ashley and Lulu are hating on Bianca, but don't stop there. They also delve out some hate on Brittany. Nicole listens to the two trash talking the others and is disgusted with their negativity.

It's time for the first "Tyra Mail." The Bankable safe light buzzes and flashes, and Bianca gets the mail out of the safe and reads it.

"How old were you when you learned to walk? -- Love, Tyra"

Runway challenge!

Everyone is excited at the prospect of a runway challenge. The next day, the girls arrive at The Conga Room, where a red carpet is laid out, and everyone speculates on what they'll be doing, but before too much conversation can begin, Miss J and a young girl dressed in identical black and white gowns come strutting out down the red carpet runway. Miss J introduces the young girl, Diva Davana, who is 9-years-old, and has been modeling since she was four. He asks her to demonstrate her walk, which she does. Sundai realizes that Miss J is trying to prove that you don't have to be tall to walk tall. Diva is fierce!

Next, the girls change into their outfits, created by Mara Hoffman, and return to the red carpet runway. Each girl gets a chance to show her stuff, and Brittany gets high praise from Miss J. When everyone has walked once, Miss J points out the fact that there are several of each outfit, and the girls with the matching outfits will have a "walk off" against each other, but he doesn't give any further guidance, other than telling them to practice, practice, practice.

Extra dose of drama from Sundai

Back in the house, Bianca and Sundai are eating a meal and Bianca talks about last week's judging, and how she felt bad that Courtney was sent home. Sundai tells her that she shouldn't feel so bad, because Courtney wasn't really her friend, because she talked about her. Bianca's eyes got really big at the shock of hearing this, and Sundai tells her that Courtney was only Bianca's friend because of Lulu, which puzzles Bianca. Sounds like Sundai is stirring up the drama pot. Bianca thinks she doesn't know who she can trust, and she says she's going to put her guard up.

It's time for some more "Tyra Mail"

"If you don't walk tall, then you'll come up short. -- Love, Tyra"

The girls speculate that the mail might mean that someone will be going home because "they fall short," so they start practicing their walks on the runway in the house.

Off to Malibu

In the limo later in the day, the girls are enjoying the scenery as they drive by the ocean to their unknown destination. They arrive in Malibu, and Miss J is waiting for them in front of this huge mansion. He says that this is where they will be doing their first fashion show. The designer they will be working with today is Kevan Hall. They meet Kevan, and he says he is pleased to be working with them. Miss J tells them there is a catch. They'll be walking the runway with models that are 5'10 and above today. He says that it's important that when they work with the taller models that they stand out and don't let the taller models work them.

Everyone goes off to hair and makeup, and when they're through, they meet Ann Shoket, who is the editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine. Miss J introduces her, saying "This woman can decide your fate." Ann tells the girls that the winner of the challenge gets to be in an advertorial in Seventeen magazine.

Next, it's time to try on their outfits. Kevan Hall personally picks out pieces for each of the models. Lulu and Ashley start gossiping about Bianca, and Nicole thinks they're being catty, saying that she thinks that Lulu is losing her focus.

Getting ready to go out next to a really tall model, Laura exclaims that she is scared that they are gonna look like midgets next to them. Ann gives some feedback after everything is done.

• Bianca -- Her stride was a little bit dumpy.
• Laura - held her shoulders back just like Miss J told her.
• Brittany - was thinking tall. Ann said she can see the length in her neck and stride.
• Lulu - has beautiful eyes and smile, but she didn't see that in her walk.
• Ashley - has the cutest wiggle. Miss J says that is because she is a dancer.

The winner is Brittany, who will be in the Seventeen shoot for Xcite prom dresses. She gets to pick two girls to be with her, and she picks Laura and Kara.

After the challenge, Brittany, Laura and Kara head off to their shoot, and the final picture looks great.

Drama queens: part 2

Later, at the house, Lulu and Ashley are still all anti-Bianca, and notice that Nicole is in the hot tub with Bianca. In their opinion, they feel that Nicole should stay away from Bianca. Catty!

We see Nicole suggesting Bianca practice a soft look. They talk some more, and Bianca reveals to Nicole about her past abusive relationship, and how she is still trying to get over it. When she comes back in the house, Lulu, Ashley, and Kara try to tell her that she's being naive about Bianca. Nicole says in her confessional that Ashley is like the mean girl in school, and Lulu is like the sidekick.

And it's time for another "Tyra Mail." This time Erin reads it.

"Objects in mirror may be shorter than they appear. -- Love, Tyra"

They girls take off in the limo, which drops them off at an old warehouse where there are things like old couches and jungle gyms and Mr. Jay! He tells them that like Tyra has been telling them, there's no reason why they can't cheat their proportions and look really tall. The photoshoot will be to work with the set to make themselves look taller than they really are.

Time to look tall

First to go was Brittany whom Mr. Jay wasn't crazy about. Kara was next, and Mr. Jay thinks she had the potential to engage into a flow. Laura was next, and Mr. Jay tells her to not look pageant and more modelly. He was pleased with the results. Lulu was next, and Mr. Jay thinks this is Lulu's worst shoot. (Maybe all that negativity she's been spewing about everyone is coming back at her?) Mr. Jay said she was boring. Jennifer is next, and Mr. Jay is impressed, and can't even see her lazy eye in the shoot. Nicole is next, and she does a great job. Ashley is next, and she knows she needs to lose the dance thing. Mr. Jay said that she knew exactly what she wanted to do, and did it well. Sundai is next, and Mr. Jay tells her to not pout her lips so much. Rae was "interesting-ish." Erin was disgustingly gorgeous, according to Mr. Jay. Bianca frustrates Mr. Jay with her hard look. He asks her what warms her heart, and she tells him "Jesus." So, he asks her to look up like she is seeing Jesus, and when she does, Mr. Jay says that all the hardness left her face. Sounds like maybe she will escape the bottom two this week.

Back at the house, it's time for the skull treasure chest that tells of the elimination to come. Kara reads the note inside.

"Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only ten will continue on in the hope of becoming "America's Next Top Model"."

As she paints her toenails, Bianca reveals that she was proud of herself for softening up, and she feels that she was vulnerable at the photo shoot. She doesn't want to be in the bottom two ever again.

Drama queens: part 3

Once again, the gossip girls (Lulu and Ashley) are talking trash. This time it's about Brittany, whom they were talking bad about at the photo shoot. Lulu says that she thinks that Brittany looks old, and she photographs old in her photos. She says she's not worried about herself, and thinks she did just fine.

Dum-de-dum-dum... it's judging time

The girls arrive for panel, and Tyra tells about the prizes, and introduces the judges -- Nigel Barker, Miss J Alexander, and the guest judge, who is none other than petite supermodel Jaime Rishar. She is 5'6" tall.

Comments:

• Erin - They love her photo, and think she looks super tall.
• Bianca - Nigel says that the photo, which has her on the gymnist rings doesn't make her look really tall, but he thinks it's a beautiful picture of her.
• Brittany - Nigel thinks she looks her actual height, and she isn't showing her neck.
• Sundai - They think she looks relaxed and confident.
• Laura - They see her laying on a cart, but don't think she's looking particularly tall.
• Jennifer - They love her picture and are glad to see that her eye problem isn't showing up at all.
• Nicole - They love her picture, and think she looks 5'13". Nigel jokes that "that isn't her knee, that's Sundai's head under there."
• Lulu - They think she looks pretty, but not "modelly" or tall.
• Kara - They love it, thinking she is using the props well.
• Rae - They think it's ok, but she doesn't look super tall.
• Ashley - They aren't crazy about it. She looks like she is "smizing" with one eye.

After deliberating, the call-outs went as follows:

1. Kara
2. Nicole
3. Erin
4. Sundai
5. Jennifer
6. Bianca
7. Laura
8. Ashley
9. Rae

The bottom two are Lulu and Brittany. And Brittany is called, meaning Lulu is going home. I think karma has struck here. Sorry Lulu... that's what happens when you're nasty towards others. Ashley looked devastated that she lost her sidekick in gossip.

Next week on America's Next Top Model, the girls are racing, and Erin pulls on Sundai's arm to keep her from getting ahead, and Tyra will photograph the girls.

Watch a video preview of next week's episode below:

"Take My Photo Tyra" preview

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