I will now deliberate...

My thoughts on (mostly) America's Next Top Model!

[topmodelthoughts]

I’ve been dragging my feet about starting ANTM because I don’t know where to begin so I’ll just bite the bullet... which cycle should I start with? I’ve seen all of them and have thoughts on most of them.

[finesherry]

SSNTM C2 Week 1 - Signature Black Dresses

Yes, it’s finally here! I’m ready to start committing to one of these again, and I hope with the added experience I can outdo Cycle 1 in every way!♥

I’m gonna do things slightly differently from last season - this time the 5 point safety net* will be in play from the very beginning!

To view the image in HD quality, click >>HERE<<

You can give each girl a score out of 10 >>HERE<<

Poses will be available to download when results have been counted (and when SimFileShare is back up)

*the 5 point safety net is a new feature where the lowest scoring contestant is not guaranteed to be sent home, and will instead be put up for trial against the 2nd lowest scoring contestant. This discussion happens between the judges and will take into account the girl’s track record and entire portfolio. This only happens if there is less than a 5 point difference between the two lowest scoring contestants.

[topmodelthoughts]

Africa’s Next Top Model

Photoshoots:

Week 1: Opening Credits Video/Photo Shoot

Week 2: Thula Sindi Runway Show/Photos

Week 3: P&G Product Advertisements

Week 4: Tourism Ad Beauty Shots With Natural Headpieces

Week 5: Etisalat Phone Ads in Marianne Fassler Couture

Week 6: Verve Credit Card Ads in Craig Port Suits

Week 7: Underwater Editorials for Snapp Alcohol

Extras:

Top 10 Photos (+ Dishonorable Mentions)

Contestant Tiers

Photoshoot Thoughts

[topmodelthoughts]

1. Opeyemi’s South African Tourism Ad

There’s no other choice for the top spot, from the second I saw it I knew that this would be the shot of the cycle. I don’t even really have words to express how fashionable this shot is so I’ll just link my initial thoughts on it where I gave it a good try. The long and short of it is that this is a stunning photo and I think even if Africa’s Next Top Model had run for twenty cycles this would still be my #1 pick.

[topmodelthoughts]

2. Opeyemi’s Verve Credit Card Ad in Craig Port Suits

Opeyemi’s glorious peak in the competition! Her face is radiating fire and she looks like she was born to wear that suit. There’s so much drama in this shot, it’s like they’re a couple who’s stolen away for a private moment and he’s glancing over to the side to see if someone’s going to catch them together and she’s clutching on to him because she doesn’t care who sees. The composition is great as well, I think it was the only photo this week that really made good use of the scenery because that arch makes the perfect frame for the models. Like I said before, this would be perfect as the cover of a romance novel or as the poster of a film.

[topmodelthoughts]

3. Aamito’s Alien Dungeon Shot in David Tlale Couture

For me, part of what makes something high fashion is that it should, on some level, be tacky and strange, but because of how it’s put together it works. One of the toughest parts of a model’s job is being the one to make it work, and Aamito had her work cut out for her on this photoshoot. She had a tube around her neck, chains wrapped around her body, a giant ponytail, and she was running from an alien, but she made it work! Aamito looks so pretty here and she’s made the dress look pretty as well, and she’s even made this weird concept seem decent. This is just an enchanting photograph, and Aamito’s peak in the competition.

[topmodelthoughts]

4. Joyce’s Tourism Ad

Joyce is one of those people who’s just blessed with the ability to smile. Her joyful expression pierces through the shadows, the crazy headpiece, and the giant necklace, and it makes you want to get to know her. I barely even notice that she’s topless and doused in blue powder! Joyce definitely hit the brief of invoking African iconography and making it seem approachable and relatable and produced a really memorable shot in the process.

[topmodelthoughts]

5. Aamito’s Etisalat Phone Ads in Marianne Fassler Couture

While I ranked this around the middle because it doesn’t quite work as a phone ad, the more I look at this photo the more I like it. The crazy styling (which she’s showing off flawlessly, even that giant bracelet), the unnatural way she’s bent her arm to hold the goats, the almost dumb way she’s glaring down the camera, it’s all so delightfully quirky; this could almost be a still from some kind of edgy live action Dr. Seuss movie. How strange that it was the phone ad with goats in the slums that turned out one of the most high fashion shots of the cycle! 

[topmodelthoughts]

6. Opeyemi’s Olay Ad

I’m still pissed off the judges put her in the bottom for this, if they wanted to see more skin why did they put her in baggy pants? Although this photo might not sell lotion there’s a litany of products I could see this shot running for, not the least of which being hair care. Opeyemi captured some serious wind in her hair with this one, there’s so much motion and emotion in her stance that’s perhaps ill suited for the prompt but gorgeous to look at. It’s hard to make sitting topless on a box look this good but she did it!

[topmodelthoughts]

7. Rhulani’s South African Tourism Ad

Rhulani was rightfully sent home for this photo but it’s one that my mind keeps coming back to. Despite not working as a tourism ad it works amazingly as an art piece, I could totally see this hanging in a museum. There’s something almost haunting about her expression and the play of light and shadow on her bronzed skin, I like to think of her as a hungry ghost trapped in a cage of sticks.

[topmodelthoughts]

8. Michelle’s Etisalat Phone Ad in Marianne Fassler Couture

I’m still surprised by the tepid reception this photo got from the panel because I think it looks like a legitimate ad. Michelle is displaying every part of the crazy styling and she’s found the perfect pose that sells both the phone and the concept of her being a modern African woman who walks her goat while wearing couture. She looks like she’s about to take the most epic selfie Africa has ever seen. Michelle’s peak in the competition.

[topmodelthoughts]

9. Roselyn’s Runway Photos

Another photo that landed a girl in the bottom that I loved! She looks like a powerful ‘80s business bitch who’s strutting down the hallway towards an important meeting, there’s so much power in her walk. I don’t see what the judges mean about her overpowering the clothes, I think her stance is perfect to show off the beautiful lining of the coat and the construction of the top. The shot on the right is just a screenshot that I included to shrink the image size down but I love that outfit as well. Even in these still photos she makes me want the clothes, so in my eyes she did a great job.

[topmodelthoughts]

10. Cheandre’s Safeguard Ad

While I stand by ranking Joyce’s photo above this one, I think this was my favorite shot from this tragically cheap photoshoot. While this photo is held back a bit by the overall cheapness and the weird sepia tone (am I the only one who sees it?), it’s a really strong shot of Cheandre. I love the matronly tilt of her head and the strength of her leg placement, plus she’s handling all of the props like a pro and modelling the hell out of that lovely dress. I’d buy whatever she’s selling.

[topmodelthoughts]

Dishonorable Mentions:

Since I didn’t want to devote a whole countdown to making fun of photos, I’ve collected what I perceive to be the “worst” photos of the cycle into one post. There actually weren’t that many, by and large most of the shots this cycle fell somewhere in the middle, but there were definitely some standouts in both the good and bad categories.

[topmodelthoughts]

Model Ranking Tier 4: Win Contenders

Opeyemi: The Fiercest Competition

My Callout Average: 2.125 vs. Actual Callout Average: 3.75

Opeyemi was my favorite girl of the cycle, she’s exactly what I think of when I think of a model. She was the best photo model on the cast (her portfolio is spotless) and she had a strong runway as well, and I thought the judges really underrated her a lot of the time. While she wasn’t a huge personality she wasn’t a non-presence, she seemed pretty funny and she had good rapport with the judges. Plus I low-key live for how she would NOT hug the girls she was in the bottom with, she went straight for that photo because she knew what she wanted! Opeyemi had it all and could easily be a supermodel, but I think in terms of what Top Model is looking for I’d still give the crown to Aamito. From what I’ve read Opeyemi still booked a ton of work after the show so good for her!

Aamito: The Rightful Winner

My Callout Average: 3 vs. Actual Callout Average: 3.4

Although I’m obviously a big fan of Opeyemi’s I can’t deny that Aamito was the best choice for the crown; I think she’s one of the best winners the franchise has ever had and her abundant post-show work is proof of that. he entered the competition with a bang and kind of floated a bit in the middle but found her groove again by the end, and after she stomped all over the other two girls in the final interview challenge there was no other choice. She’s just the full package of looks, presence, and a great walk, plus she has such a quintessentially “African” look that makes her the perfect representative of the brand and what they were trying to accomplish.

Cheandre: The Narrator / The Robbed Girl

My Callout Average: 5 vs. Actual Callout Average: 4.7

While I don’t think Cheandre was ever going to win the show (I’m sorry but a white woman winning the first cycle of Africa’s Next Top Model would have felt wrong) I think she should have been in the Top 3. Yes she bombed her final photoshoot but she was one of the strongest competitors up until that point so by all accounts they should have sent Michaela home in her place. She’s a bit of a confusing contestant because she always gave great performances on set and had an interesting look, but for some reason that didn’t translate to an exceptionally interesting portfolio and the judges callouts rarely seemed to reflect how good her actual photo was. Still, seemed like a fun person to hang around with (though her calling Rhulani “common” was... interesting) and was a huge presence in the cycle so she earns a place in my first tier at least.

[topmodelthoughts]

Model Ranking Tier 3: Power Players

Michelle: The Plateau

My Callout Average: 5.1 vs. Actual Callout Average: 5.1

With her unique face and consistently strong on set performances Michelle is definitely one of the most memorable contestants of the cycle and while I’ve seen many who think that Michelle was robbed, I honestly don’t disagree with her going home when she did. She came into the competition strong but then never really went anywhere, it just felt like every week we were getting the exact same performance from her. Many of the girls this cycle had prior modelling experience but I feel like it really only showed with Michelle because her approach to the competition was so polished and professional that it just kind of became boring. She was lacking in star power but had pretty much everything else going for her so I hope she found a nice career post-show.

Joyce: The Shocking Elimination

My Callout Average: 3.8 vs. My Callout Average: 4.4

Joyce is my pick for the shocking elimination of the cycle. Everything was going for her: she was at the front of the pack in callouts, the judges loved her personality, she was getting a lot of camera time, so her elimination just kind of came out of nowhere. Given her weak performance that week (and lack of potential compared to the remaining girls) I don’t think it was a robbery but still, I wanted more from Joyce. She was one of the most entertaining girls of the cycle (funny and a stealth bitch) and had a very interesting portfolio.

Michaela: The Girl Who Overstayed Her Welcome

My Callout Average: 4.5 vs. Actual Callout Average: 4

Every cycle of NTM there’s one girl who the judges drag way too far just based off of “potential” and for AfrNTM it was Michaela. She’s gorgeous so I understand why but her yo-yoing performances and lack of drive should have sent her home long before the Top 3. It was frustrating to watch stronger contestants who wanted it more get sent home in her place, and every time she looked like she was about to start living up to her potential she dropped the ball again. Michaela just seemed like a really sweet, introverted girl who wasn’t right for a competition setting, so while I was annoyed by her presence I was never angry with her. Her portfolio is decent but lacking in iconic shots, although this flower shot could have been it.

[topmodelthoughts]

Model Ranking Tier 2: Advanced Filler

Omowunmi: The Meme Queen

My Callout Average: 9.7 vs. Actual Callout Average: 8

Omowunmi had limited modelling potential and with three weeks to prove herself still performed worse than some of the girls beneath her, but she escapes Tier 1 on the strength of her personality. The cast of the show took a few weeks to warm up to being on camera but Omowunmi was a delight to watch from day one and carried us through those first few episodes. Her disastrous on set performance in the first episode and her confessionals were reality tv gold, so I have no issue with her making it as far as she did.

Roselyn: Distinguished Filler

My Callout Average: 4.4 vs. Actual Callout Average: 4.5

I actually quite like Roselyn and think she earned her spot in the Top 6 but when I sat down and thought about it, I don’t really feel like she was a force in this cycle. She had a fun personality in confessionals, turned in strong performances on set, took good photos, but she never really had a breakout moment or anything. I never truly considered her a threat for the title and think she left at the right time, but she was a very strong contestant so I hope she booked a lot of work after the show.

Rhulani: The Rookie

My Callout Average: 6.75 vs. Actual Callout Average: 4.75

Ah, Rookielani. I forgot how strong of a presence Rhulani had during her time on the show, she was the prime source of drama while she was there. Her calling out Michelle for being fake, the other girls complaining about the judges favoring her, the shocking fight with Cheandre, she provided a lot of solid reality tv moments. Despite being a drama magnet she seemed like a nice enough person and I think she has such an interesting look, so she was a very dynamic contestant to watch. I do think that the judges overpraised her for her mediocre performances but they cut her at the right time, so no harm done really.