America's Next Top Model Cycle 14: Return of the "Edge"

Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model is perhaps one of the most interesting cycles seen in a long. The season is full of celebrity "look-alikes", and appears to be focused more on being edgy instead of classically appealing. You could probably credit the androgynous vibe of today's pop culture icons for this creative shift. Couple that with heavy emphasis on technology and you have quite the fascinating season. These girls are competing to remain on Tyra's MyFierce page-an obvious spin-off from the millions of social networks that exist on the Internet.

The opening intro in and of itself looks like a music video. Gaga, Rihanna, and Beyonce would be proud. And we've also got a new judge this year - Andre Leon Talley of Vogue Magazine has joined the panel. He's already serving up a new brand of crazy to drive these models up the wall.

The Models...

But after presenting us with high fashion, low fashion, plus sizes, Nordic blondes, and girlish waifs, Tyra and her crew seem to have reverted back to what works. Included in the bunch are quite a few celebrity look-alikes. For example, if Denise Richards and Liv Tyler had a love child, her name would be Raina. With her heavy brows, chocolate brown tresses, piercing eyes, and flirty pout, she's already giving the other girls a run for their money. This cycle even has two "Foxes": Vivica and Megan, represented by contestants Simone and Tatiana, respectively. Just two episodes into the cycle, Ren, the 22-year-old wild card appears to be breaking already.

And since when did a size 10 officially become plus-size? Alexandra and all her curvy glory have run into some rough patches in the competition. But even her two major spills on the runway haven't stopped her momentum. And because every cycle on America's Next Top Model needs a sob story, they have included a young woman who has grown up in a religious cult. It doesn't hurt her story that she slightly resembles Sinead O'Connor. Too bad she won't be sticking around for Episode Three.

Other ANTM Notables...

This season also proves that you had better know your supermodels. One of the first challenges required the competitors to mimic their favorite runway icons. Tyra and the gang seem to be pushing this edgy thing really hard. They've even asked the models to pose nude with just one accessory, most definitely providing a boost to the ratings.

After showcasing short girls and "pedestrian-looking" competitors, this season seems to be all about editorial-quality modeling. ANTM has always presented some heavy hitters on the judges' panel. But with the addition of Andre Leon Talley (one of the most influential men in the fashion industry, according to Tyra)-there will probably be quite a few surprises down the proverbial catwalk.

SOURCES:

www.youtube.com
www.cwtv.com
www.vogue.com