#cycle22top10

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#10 – Mikey’s Mothers Shot

This shot just felt so validating. After a cycle of Mikey giving us the same face, and acting honestly like a douche, seeing him so vulnerable gave us another perspective. The connection with his mum is so strong, it just lights up the entire shot. The shot is beautiful, but the clothes still pop. Like Mame’s shots from the week, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this actually used as an ad.

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#9 – Lacey’s Night Creatures Shot

This shot just harkens back to the classic days of ANTM. Gorgeous with a flair for the dramatics. The clothes look spectacular, but Lacey still steals the shot. Her face looks mysterious, and the angle is incredible flattering for her bone structure. While I felt the judges overrated most of Lacey’s shots – though only slightly – this is the one I think they underrated to high hell.

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#7 – Nyle’s Zappos Couture Shot

While the more recent cycles never matched the peak period of ANTM, I will admit the final photoshoots have been so much better than the boring Covergirl shots. Nyle’s spread actually looked like one I’d see in a magazine, with this photo being the best of the best. Even in such a sleazy location, Nyle is serving pure suave, gentlemanly brilliance. It is definitely one of Nyle’s best moments, but is sadly overshadowed for a lot of people by his dogs shot. While I think that is true as far as the overall shots are concerned, for me this is the strongest Nyle modelled during the cycle; the pose feels more composed, and his face is just as strong. It is really the external factors that put his dog shot ahead, and even then just slightly.

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#1 – Ava’s Veterans Shot

It is weird to see that Ava has actually kept shorter hair since the show; the mullet may be gone, but Tyra’s sentiment about strong faces actually proved true. She looks incredible now, even if I still think this is the best I’ve ever seen her photograph. You take away the hair here, and the shot would lose a lot of its wonder. The flowing hair, along with the dress makes Ava look like some ethereal being, clutching to the stability of the veteran. The shot would still be great without the hair, but I doubt I’d be putting at the top of this list. Definitely the worst makeover of all time.

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#2 – Mame’s Mothers Shots

I’m still shocked Mame managed to produce 2 stunning photographs. I remember this shoot would end up with a bunch of sweet, but honestly bad photographs. When the girls did it in Cycle 3 of AusNTM, it was such a train wreck. Even the best shot was average, but Mame proved it can be done right; energetic, but not cheesy; light-hearted, but still fashionable. Mame just looks incredible in each shot, the strongest she ever looked. It was these that really made her stand out against the others in the top 4. She displayed versatility in such a difficult situation without failing at the brief. Mame’s mother also deserves a shout-out, as she killed both shots too.

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#3 – Mame’s Unretouched Shot

This photo is just brilliant. Like I said with Hadassah, sometimes having a background in pageants can give a model control needed. Mame has perfectly balanced the wild energy in her upper body, with the simplicity and strength in her stance. This shot is impactful and dynamic; easily one of the most eye-catching shots of the cycle. If you had asked me before the cycle which shot I’d consider Mame’s best, this would definitely be the choice. Even if that has changed, I still love this.

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#4 – Lacey’s Unretouched Shot

While it always felt right giving Mame first call-out for this week, I did seriously consider putting Lacey higher than her on this list. The two were so indistinguishably close, in reality I would kind of consider them tied. For simplicity and organisation though, this shot officially sits at 4th. Lacey just looks killer here. It is pure sex, but in such an empowered way. She is serving me neon femme fatale, and I am living for it from head to toe.

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#5 – Hadassah’s Possessed Shot

If that arm was dropped…honestly, if that one change was made, I am 99% sure I would have put this top my list. The top 5 have been changing since I started writing these comments, and all I can think is Hadassah’s is the only shot where I’d change something. Other than that I am in love with this photograph. There is something instantly dramatic about taking a shot in profile, and it has always been a quick way to my heart. Her body is just so elegant, and I am stunned that she was that composed while in a harness. The pointed toes, and elongated neck…stunning. Hadassah proved having some training with grace and elegance can really help out a model, as well as hinder them.