"America's Next Top Model" Gets Hot and Heavy

America's Next Top Model 2007 continues to build steam with its next few episodes weeding out the ones that just don't have the right stuff.

During the second week, the girls went to prom, so to speak, for their second round of competition. The fabulous Miss J divided them into teams of three and then taught them how to walk the runway with precision timing; just like in a real fashion show. Roy Campbell, fashion show producer then presented the girls with the weekly challenge; a prom dress fashion show.

The girls showed off their newly learned runway routine while modeling dresses in three categories: 80's chique; ghetto fabulous, and contemporary.

During the runway show, Roy made comments on several of the girls, noting that:

- Brittany has a great runway walk and really knows how to work the catwalk;
- Samantha has great attributes, but she needs to develop more of an attitude;
- Natasha has no comprehension of the other models on the catwalk and doesn't seem to care;
- Felicia needs to work out her runway walk; and
- Renee is all over the place.

He was horrified when Sarah's dress split open to show her breasts in front of high school students their parents. He awarded the challenge to Brittany.

The photo shot this week continued the high school theme with the girls being assigned roles:

- Brittany as class valedictorian;
- Cassandra as the cheerleader;
- Diana as the class president;
- Dionne as the bad girl;
- Felicia as the school jock;
- Jael as the nerd;
- Jaslene as the weirdo;
- Natasha as the teacher's pet;
- Renee as class clown;
- Samantha as the girl with the bad reputation;
- Sarah as the tease; and
- Whitney as the mean girl.

The top of the heap this episode once again include Brittany and Jaslene, but also added Felicia, Jael, and Dionne.

Brittany nailed her photo for the second week in the row; looking every bit the professional model, as did Jaslene, whose weirdo was spot on. Felicia also managed to look athletic while still maintaining a stunning model "look" and Jael's "nerd," was both charming and beautiful. Rounding out the top, Dionne's bad girl was naughty personified.

Renee, who continued to complain about everyone and everything throughout the entire show, still managed to pull of a pretty good shot as class clown, in spite of herself. Diana also proved to be a fairly convincing as the class president.

Less convincing was Whitney as the mean girl. Her close up was lovely, but her body didn't match her face. Sarah's tease border on a "men's magazine" according to Twiggy who cautioned her to be careful not to cross the line.

Samantha once again struggled to portray the girl with the bad reputation. "I wasn't very excited because that wasn't me in high school and it's still not me," Samantha said. Natasha also struggled with her role as teacher's pet.

The worst of the lot, however, was Cassandra's cheerleader, which came across as totally unconvincing.

Still, it was Samantha and Natasha who ended up in the bottom two. During the judging, Tyra expressed her concern about Samantha's lack of confidence and comfort level, equating it to her very young age. Of Natasha, Ms. Banks noted that the judges saw something beautiful in her - - inside and out - - and urged her to try to bring those qualities to her photographs. In the end, Samantha got the boot.

Things continued to get hot and heavy in week three as "America's Next Top Model" went into its makeover week. However, now it wasn't just Rene stirring up trouble in the model house. Brittany joined in the fray partly due to her dislike of her makeover and partly because she's got the blues.

Jael experienced a blow when she found out that one of her friends died of an overdose. Both Whitney and Brittany jumped in to provide support for her and gave her a safe place to vent. Cassandra also offered her spiritual support and guidance.

Makeover week on Top Model rarely goes well. However, this year's makeovers went much better than in the past. Only poor Jael had a major problem. After spending eight torturous hours in the chair having a long weave painfully sewn into her hair; Jay informed her that he didn't like the effect and that they were taking it out. Because of the damage to her hair from the weave, they were forced to cut her hair extremely short, a la Mia Farrow. Being a true pro, although disappointed after spending all that time in pain, Jael snaps back and vows to "work the do, no mater what."

Here is how the makeover changes fell out:

- Brittany went from a kind of curly wave short head of hair to a slightly longer full set of curls still in her trademark flaming red color;
- Cassandra got a full, curly Afro that definitely sets off her delicate features;
- Diana went blonde and beautiful with soft wavy locks;
- Dionne went short and bold with heavy bangs that bring the focus to her face;
- Felicia's hair got longer and darker;
- Jael went from a platinum blonde shaggy short but to a rich brunette Mia Farrow cut that accented the features of her beautiful face quite well;
- Jaslene received thicker waves in her natural hair color to play up her Latina charms;
- Natasha went brunette in a kind of Cleopatra style that oddly suits her;
- Rene got to go even shorter but remained blond in a kind of choppy style;
- Sarah lost her platinum blonde locks in favor of a new chocolate brown and a slightly short cut that really makes her beautiful skin "pop"; and
- Whitney received longer straight locks in her natural color designed to give her more of a diva feel.

Representatives from Seventeen magazine and Cover Girl Cosmetics conducted a new challenge. In a beautiful garden the girls were dressed in spring dresses and given five minutes to do their makeup in a soft style appropriate for the season. Brittany once again walked off as the challenge winner.

Top Model decided to get the nude portion of the season over early this year. The girls were dressed in nothing but candy and a smile, holding ice cream somewhere on their bodies.

- Brittany made a fuss, worried what her parents would say, but when push came to shove, she did her job and nailed yet another photo;
- Cassandra's efforts this week fell terribly short. Her attempts to look Tyra-fierce come across as comical instead; landing her in the bottom two;
- Diana made it evident she's not as confident with her full figure and her photo showed it, falling terribly flat and landing her in the bottom two;
- Dionne's photo, while not spectacular, remained strong enough to ensure her continuance for at least one more week;
- Felicia's photo was also sufficient to ensure her spot for another week;
- Jael let go of her pain and anguish over her friend's death and pulled off a remarkable photo with both sass and class;
- Jaslene continued to prove that the camera loves everything about her and that she knows how to "bring it" every single time;
- Natasha's photo, while better than anything she has taken thusfar, still fell short of what she will need to keep herself alive in the competition;
- Rene finally lived up the hype and pulled off a good shot;
- Sarah also found her inner diva and managed to save herself for one more week; and
- Whitney's body in her photo looked amazing but she continued to struggle with a true "model face."

Although it appeared that Diana was on her way out, in a last minute change of heart, the judges dumped Cassandra instead. The girls seemed genuinely devastated to lose their rock and inspiration as tears flowed upon Cassandra's final farewell.

In the March 21st installment of the series the girls were challenged to make their way through a series of laser light beams, while stopping to pose along the way. Some of the girls did very well, a few made it through but failed at the posing part of the competition. Renee was unable to complete the assignment within the 20 second timeframe alloted. The winner, surprising enough, was Whitney, who took home a $40,000 diamond bracelet.

Photographs for this series were done in a crime scene format. The models were challenged to "bring life to photographs while posing dead." Most of the girls rose to the challenge:

- Brittany proved yet again to be queen of posing, although someone else takes the top spot this week;
- Cassandra's efforts managed to keep her in the competition;
- Diana bounced back to deliver a stunning shot;
- Dionne's photo fell flat and landed her in the bottom two;
- Felicia's shot also fell flat and landed her in the bottom two;
- Jael tried to let go of her pain but failed to deliver the same level of photographs as she has in the past.;
- Jaslene continued to prove a strong contender, yeilding yet another flawless photo;
- Natasha finally delivered a model's photograph; and
- Whitney delivered a stunning photo but it didn't really appear to be "dead."

During deliberation, the judges seemed on the fence about several models. Some of them still question Whitney's ability to model. Others worry that Jael cannot cut it. However, they finally settled on Dionne and Felicia as the bottom two with Felicia losing because they felt she was resting too much on "being pretty" rather than delivering continuous fierce photos. They cautioned, Dionne, however to pay attention to the image she projects at all times; stating that she didn't come to elimination looking like a model.

Jaslene and Brittany continue to lead the pack overall. My bet is still on Jaslene as the one to walk away the winner. She is sweet; she stays out of trouble in the model house; and she delivers amazing photos every single time.

Still, it is early in the season so anything can happen. We'll just have to wait and see.