'America's Next Top Model' Cycle 16 - Episode 1 - Bubble Trouble - National America's Next Top Model

If you’re an America’s Next Top Model fanatic, you probably think you can guess what the premiere episode is going to be like – girls strutting their stuff for the judges, telling them they would do anything to be America’s Next Top Model, one girl that is a total diva, one other girl that is a total geek, and the sweet girl, plus eliminations, tears, and screams of joy for the Top 14 that are chosen to make it to the house this Cycle. Well, you’d be right on some of that, but this Cycle, Tyra has chosen to not do the auditions, and cut straight to the chase and pick her Top 14 within 10 minutes of the start of the episode. What? No auditions? No girls explaining how they slept in the bus station to get on the show? No girl telling secrets about what some other girl said to her? Nope. Instead, Tyra chooses to give the model a dose of rejection. Something that they will have to get used to in the modeling world. Here is how that goes…

The semi-finalists are all given envelopes with their names on it, and the Jays (Mr. and Miss J) tell them that the ones with photos inside have made it to the house, while those with blank cards will be going home. Only, the truth is actually the other way around. So, we see 14 girls totally dejected, while the others are celebrating. The celebrants are taken off one way, while the 14 girls that are supposedly rejected are taken another, and are told that Tyra feels bad about this, and would like to say goodbye.

View slideshow: America's Next Top Model Cycle 16 - Backstage Photo Shoot

In Tyra’s own descriptive words, here are her final 14:

Freckled face Dominique, Fiercely real Kasia, Petite Ondrei, Spicy blonde Alexandria, Sexy momma Monique, Elegant Nicole, Quirky Sara, Hippie Hannah, Golden haired Molly, Baby face Jaclyn, Britanni from the block, Regal Dalya, Edgy Mikaela and Sassy Angelia.

The 14 girls are taken to an area near a stairwell, where their luggage is waiting, and Tyra comes down the stairs saying how modeling has its ups and downs, and they shouldn’t give up. Then, she says they will all be going home, but home isn’t that far away. With that a curtain is raised, and there is the model home, where photos of each girl are displayed, along with photos of Tyra. Not the Tyra of today, but Tyra at 16, because this is Cycle 16.

One girl is overwhelmed, and Tyra has to help Dalya to her feet, as she collapsed when she found out she really made it, rather than was going home. Then, Tyra says she better take off, before someone wants to beat her up for this prank.

As the girls go through the house, it is found to have only 12 beds, and some of the girls speculate that 2 people are going home this week.

Soon, it’s time for the first Tyra Mail! (That hasn’t changed, except for the photo of Tyra on the Tyra Mail, like all the other photos of her in the house, is of Tyra at 16)

"Let’s get the ball rolling. Shall we? Love, Tyra"

The next day, the girls pile into their bus, and are shuttled to a beautiful Malibu estate, where they are met by Mr. Jay and Erin Wasson – supermodel/stylist/jewelry designer. Mr. Jay tells the girls that they will have their first runway show. Erin tells them that they’ll be wearing looks from T. by Alexander Wang. They’ll also be modeling some pieces from Erin’s own jewelry collection.

Mr. Jay then goes on to explain that the runway will be 12" wide, and it will be over a pool of water, and they’ll be walking in a huge plastic bubble. With that, we see Miss J stroll into the scene, inside a huge plastic bubble.

Not only will they be having a runway show, but Mr. Jay tells the girls that at any real runway show, you’ll see photos being taken of girls backstage as they get ready for the show. He says that they’ll be experiencing that as well, and they will be photographed by Russell James. He comes out, and the girls scream at recognizing him. He tells them that he hopes that they’ll have that kind of energy during the shoot.

Backstage, the girls get into hair and makeup, and Russell checks out the models as they prepare for the runway. Some of them are posing for the camera, while others are not. Britanni comments that she’s really excited at the whole experience, since Russell James shoots the Victoria Secret models, like Tyra and Giselle and Adrianna, and she can’t believe she gets to work with him. Kasia explains that she has a leg up on the other girls, because of her previous experience, but yet she knows she’s going to have to work twice as hard being a plus sized model.

As the runway show start approaches, Russell takes one last shot of the group of girls. Then they are met by Mr. Jay, who gives them a pep talk, and then Miss J tells them to give fierce, fabulous, confident walks, with long strides. Erin tells them that she is also going to be their judge at panel, so she’ll be watching carefully.

Alexandria s first to go, and while she looks a bit clunky, she doesn’t fall. Ondrei however, isn’t that lucky, and she does fall, and then has a really difficult time getting back up on the runway again. Molly falls to one knee, but she doesn’t fall off the runway. Dalya decides to just walk slowly, with her hands on her hips, which gets Mr. Jay to comment, "When did hands on the hips become in fashion?" The best walk definitely belonged to Britanni. Dominique, like Ondrei also fell, but she made the most of it, even posing after getting back up, like, "I meant to do that."

After the runway, the models are given critiques by Miss J was especially pleased with Britanni, as was Erin, who commented that she didn’t even think she could have done that, and commended the girls on accomplishing it. She also tells the girls that she is going to gift them one of the pieces of her jewelry.

Back at the house, the girls see the elimination Tyra Mail with the skull and crossbones.

"Tomorrow you will have your first meeting with the judges. Only 13 will contginue on in the hope of becoming America’s Next Top Model."

Alexandria takes Jaclyn under her wing, and shows her some things on the runway. She tells Jaclyn that she has something inside her, and she needs to believe in herself. Jaclyn is appreciative of the help Alexandria is giving her, and is really anxious to learn everything she can.

Time for panel, and Tyra is wearing an Andre Leon Talley t-shirt. She introduces the judges, Nigel Barker, Andre Leon Talley and guest judge Erin Wasson. She tells them about the prizes -- $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, a contract with IMG Models, a spread in Vogue Italia, and a spread and cover in Beauty in Vogue, plus, they will be featured on Vogue Italia’s website, http://www.vogue.it

On to the judging, first to be called is Alexandria. Nigel tells her that she looks amazing, and Erin says that the photo is quite raw, and she loves it. ALT loves her profile.

Dalya-- ALT says that her natural beauty comes out. Tyra likes the way she looks like she’s not aware, yet she is aware.

Nicole-- ALT thinks it looks dramatic. Tyra says that looking at Nicole in front of her, she looks young and fresh, but in her film, she looks 15 years older than she is. Oh oh… not a good thing.

Sara -- Tyra thinks Sara’s photo looks like a 19-year-old boy with makeup on, but that’s what she likes about it.

Ondrei-- Nigel thinks it looks like she’s holding onto an electric chair. Tyra likes it. She thinks it looks like a girl in her first season in Paris that is nervous.

Angelia-- Erin says the photo has a little bit of mystery, and she likes a little bit of mystery, but with it being her first time, she felt it would have been better if Angelia had gotten out of her hair and let herself shine a little bit. Tyra says she doesn’t see a model in the picture. It looks like a really pretty girl.

Hannah-- Nigel is impressed at how Hannah shines in her shot, which is a group photo. ALT thinks she has something like a young Jennifer Aniston about her.

Kasia -- Erin says that all the girls have really nice personalities, but in Kasia’s picture, she doesn’t think she is showing off her personality. Tyra tells her that she feels that if you are a black model, or a fiercely real plus-sized model, you have to be better than, to get the same thing that the person next to you is getting. She says Kasia has a beautiful, luscious body, but it’s just standing there wasted.

Monique-- Erin thinks that Monique looks wonderful. ALT sees the excitement in her face.

Mikaela-- ALT thinks she stands out in the photo, looking like she is the new star, and someone that you want to know who she is, and what her name is. Nigel loves her jawline, and thinks that she looks "there" in her photo.

Dominique-- Nigel thinks she doesn't look striking. Erin reminds everyone that Dominique was one of the girls that took a spill at the runway challenge, but that she did it in such a jovial manner, and it really showed her personality, which was lacking in the photo.

Jaclyn-- Tyra thinks Jaclyn looks luscious in her photo, but says that her film didn't look this way. This was her only good shot. Oh oh!!! Not good. One has to only go back to Cycle 14, and remember that Tatianna had that same problem, and it only got her a few episodes before she was eliminated. I hope that's not the case with Jaclyn, as she's just adorable, and I'd like to see her get to the finale.

Molly-- Nigel thinks that the photo is definitely one of the best looks. Erin thinks that Molly really gave some intense stuff with her eyes during the shoot, but tells her not to let that compliment go to her head.

Britanni-- Nigel thinks her picture really stands out from all the rest. The photo shows the makeup artist pulling up her one eyelid to apply eyeliner to the underside, and Tyra is complimentary about Britanni's ability to look calm and gorgeous and stunning. She calls the photo a work of art.

The judges deliberate and the girls leave the room for a bit. As the judges complete their deliberations, the girls return and are called out one by one. The girl with the first call-out will have her photo displayed in the model home as digital art. The call-outs were as follows:

Molly
Britanni
Alexandria
Mikaela
Dayla
Hannah
Ondrei
Monique
Nicole
Kasia
Jaclyn
Sara

The bottom two are Dominique and Angelia. The judges think Angelia is so beautiful, but they didn't feel an emotional connection with her photo. The judges think Dominique is beautiful, striking, with unique freckles, but her photo, while it captures her physical appearance, it doesn't capture her soul. Who is staying? Dominique will stay. They love her personality, and we say goodbye to Angelia.

Next week, the girls will have a photo shoot with bees, and they'll be doing some acting.

America's Next Top ModelCycle 16 Related Links and Recaps:

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