America's Next Top Model - Cycle 13 - 'Take My Picture Tyra' recap

_{America's Next Top Model finalist Jennifer
© The CW}

This week, the girls arrive home from the previous episode's elimination, and Kara admires her winning photo, saying it's great to see, to remind her how awesome she is. As they sit around the table, they ask Brittany if it was terrifying to be in the bottom two. She tells them it was no fun. Ashley commiserates about Lulu's departure last week, and she knows she really has to work harder, as she's the only one in the house without any modeling experience.

Time for the first "Tyra Mail."

"Sometimes you only have a minute to make a second impression." -- Love Tyra

Lessons in Makeup

The next day, the girls pull up to a building where they meet Sam Fine, who says he is a makeup artist who has worked with Iman, and of course, Tyra. He tells them how important it is to know how to do your own makeup. He gives the example of getting a casting call, and needing to put their best face forward quickly. Using Laura for his example, he shows the girls how to achieve a smokey eye. He tells them they only need four things:

1. concealer
2. bronzer
3. mascara
4. and gloss.

Oh goodie, a race!

Later that evening, they head out to the local Walmart where Nigel and his wife Crissy, who tells them, "You are about to face quite the test. You are going to be racing through the one-stop-shop CoverGirl challenge. Nigel tells them they'll be racing through different departments at Walmart to create that model basic look that is perfect for go-sees. The girl with the most perfect overall look will win. They will hit four different departments--clothes, shoes, makeup and then the computer area, where they will find their photo in the bin and race to the finish line. But there's a catch. At each station, there are fewer items than there are girls. The winner will receive a photo on the page at Walmart.com, a $1,000 Walmart gift card.

Watch out for the blonde with the wicked elbow jab!

And they're off. They run to the clothing station, but there's only eight sets of clothes, and Laura and Kara are too late, and they're eliminated.

Next is the shoe station. As they round the corner, Erin decides to grab onto Sundai and try to slow her down so she can pass her up. Nicole and Jennifer are last to arrive, and are eliminated.

Next is the makeup station, and Rae and Brittany are too late, and are eliminated.

The final four girls, Bianca, Erin, Sundai and Ashley all head to the photo area, and Erin grabs about seven photos, and sees hers on the floor, so she picks up her own and tosses Ashley's photo on the floor and runs to the finish line. The three girls to make it to the finish line are Erin, Bianca and Sundai.

Nigel looks over the girls and says Sundai's look is good, but he wishes she had a little more gloss. Erin's look is a little bland, and Bianca's lashes look great, but Crissy says that she put too much coverage on her face. And the winner is... Sundai.

Nigel bids the girls goodbye, and they head back to the model house. At the house, the girls talk about how rude Erin was. Ashley again relates how Erin tossed her picture out, causing her to lose. Erin states in her confessional interview that she guesses that they all don't know how races work, and that there aren't manners in races.

Time for another "Tyra Mail!"

"Tomorrow you will have to wrap your head around this competition." -- Love, Tyra

What could it mean? Kara seems to think it means they're gonna have headdresses on, like their statues in the house. Hmmmm... interesting idea. They load up into the limo and take off for the challenge destination. Ashley starts rubbing her wrist, and starts moaning again about Erin's behavior at the Walmart challenge, and Bianca tells Erin that there are certain things that it's alright to be competitive in, but there are some things you don't do regardless. She thinks Erin was playing dirty, and she should apologize. Erin doesn't see it that way, however, and says she wasn't pushing people, she was pushing through people.

Visions of Alice and Wonderland, and "Drink Me," this time it's "Pull Here."

The models arrive at their destination, which is BelleVardo Studios. They walk inside to see what looks like a mannequin wrapped up in lots of fabric. There is a tag on it saying "Pull Here." Laura goes over to it and starts unwraveling it, and it starts spinning, and who do you think is under all that fabric? Yep, Tyra!

Mr. Jay is also there, and the girls find out they will be shooting "beauty shots," and that Tyra herself will be the photographer. She explains that a "beauty shot" is a shot that focuses on the face. Many of the more petite models make a career of doing "beauty shots" only, so this is an area they really need to rock in. The shots will be done with scarves on their heads. And, a new thing this week is that Tyra and Mr. Jay will pick the #1 photo from the shoot, and that girl will be safe from elimination. Plus, there will be an extra prize for the winner.

Tyra helps pick out the different scarves for each girl, and tells the makeup people how to do the makeup, and they're off.

Wrap me up!

• First up is Laura, who it seems has a heavy bottom lip. She's lounging on a leather lounger. Tyra decides to turn on the wind, which blows the scarves behind Laura, and makes an awesome looking picture.
• Sundai is next, and she is standing. They think she looks a little stiff, so Tyra has her part her lips, and she looks much better.
• Jennifer is next, and she is laying down with her face turned to the side a bit to hide that lazy eye. Jennifer asks if it's ok if she screams, and that seems to do the trick.
• Brittany is next. Her scarf is covering her whole face, but it's very sheer and you can see her just fine. She stands and they turn on the wind, which makes a really interesting look.
• Up next is Bianca who has a bright orange scarf on her head. They have her kneeling with the wind blowing the scarf behind her.
• Rae has a white backdrop, and Tyra calls her an ice goddess. She's wearing a gray scarf that is braided in the back. They have her think of her daughter, and she delivered what Tyra says is "the most angelic picture."
• Kara is next. Her scarf is blowing behind her, and looks a little scared. Not sure how well she did.
• Erin is next, and in contrast to her platinum hair and eyebrows, her scarf is very dark. Her scarf is all piled on top of her head, and she gives Tyra her best "smize." Tyra is impressed, saying Erin knows how to model. She knows what to do with her face, her neck, her body, but she doesn't know what do to with her personality.
• Nicole is next. She is standing and Tyra says that she has some talent, and knows how to contort her body, but needs to watch her hands, which "look like Gollum."
• Ashley's scarf is a beautiful blue, which contrasts with her skin perfectly. They have her get down on the ground, and she does a sideways shot. Tyra isn't liking the blue, and has them change her into a red patterned headwrap. She has her looking straight into the camera with the blue scarf blowing behind her. Tyra is still not overly happy with things, and starts to wonder if it was really the headscarf that was the problem, or was it Ashley? Tyra tries one more thing, and puts the blue scarf over her face, similar to what Brittany had done, and finally Tyra is satisfied.

So, who will be the winner? It's Brittany. They show Erin, who looks disgusted. The second part of the prize is that she gets to do a photo shoot for TyraBanks.com with two male models that Tyra discovered. Brittany gets to do her photoshoot right now. The two guys come out, and Tyra snaps away, and the other girls watch, many of them looking disgusted, especially poor loser Erin.

Back at the house, it's time for the "box of death."

"Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only 9 will continue on in the hope of becoming America's Next Top Model."

Panel time

Tyra gives her weekly spiel about the prizes, and introduces the judges, Nigel Barker, Miss J. Alexander, and petite supermodel China Chow, who is only 5'3" tall. Comments are as follows:

• Brittany - They show her picture, and Tyra explains to Miss J. and China Chow how they picked her picture as the best from the photo shoot previously.
• Erin - China says she looks like an alien, in a really good way. Tyra comments on Erin's lack of personality, and tells her to let her personality shine through.
• Kara - They don't think she looks completely present.
• Ashley - They think something is missing in her photo, and that she should have done a little "smizing."
• Laura - Miss J. comments on her outfit, which is the two piece pale green and white stripe high waisted shorts and short bra-style top. She says her grandma made the outfit, and that she makes all her clothes. Miss J. asks her what her grandmother's name is, and she tells him "Wanda Sue." He then says that's major. They say the outfit is fine, but not for judging. About her photo: China says that it looks like a Renaissance painting, and I feel like you're present.
• Bianca - Nigel thinks she looks athletic. China thinks her eyes look like she is uncomfortable, and that she's straining. Tyra tells her that she can move her body great, but she forgets her face. She needs to relax her face like she relaxes her body. Then, she'll be the whole package.
• Rae - China loves her picture, saying she looks both very strong and very soft at the same time, which is very difficult.
• Nicole - They love her picture. Tyra says she feels Nicole is feeling the fashion and living it, but warn her to watch the Gollum hands.
• Sundai - Tyra mentions that Sundai is the challenge winner. Nigel thinks she looks sophisticated, and that the picture tells a story.
• Jennifer - Nigel says that it's her best shot ever. Once again, it's profile, though. I personally think she looks great in profile, but you can't have a career with only profile shots. Just my opinion. Tyra brings up that Jennifer asked if she could scream during the shoot, and they have her do it again. Tyra says she was impressed with her, and the other girls need to look to her on how to bring personality to the set and be remembered.

The judges deliberate, and the girls come back. The call-outs are as follows:

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

The bottom two are Bianca and Ashley. Bianca is there because she can't seem to relax her face. Ashley is there because she was the most difficult girl for Tyra to shoot. Poor Bianca. Three strikes you're out. Ashley's name is called and Bianca is packing her bags.

Next week on America's Next Top Model, the models head to Las Vegas, where posing expert Benny Ninja teaches them how to move. They'll pose as mimes, and one girl will take a gamble and lose.

Watch a two previews from: the "Dance With Me" episode and "Dance With Me" second clip.

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