TELL ME THIS IS A LITTLE JOKE
ONE THING THIS SEASON OF PETITE MODELS WAS NOT- SHORT! It seems like ages ago when we first met the diminutive ladies introduced themselves, but who would have thought it would come down to the mumbling, monosyllabic Nicole and the bubbly, country-girl Laura? WELL IN TRUTH, I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!
The photogenic Nicole and multi-faceted Laura are the two with the star quality to be a top model, although I still give the edge to personality-girl Laura. Given a year, every model becomes more sophisticated and dresses more like a big city model; in twelve months or less, every model I ever worked with was teaching me make-up tricks and talking about lighting and movement, as if I had never heard the words before- that’s, of course, what I wanted to hear from them. Back to the subject, this is going to be a real contest.
The models are nervous and competitive, but trying to be nice, in spite of the pressure, as they really like each other. With no time to waste in this ambitious episode, the ladies start by doing a Cover Girl ad in a water forest in Hawaii- Lash Blast- they are going to shoot a photo and do the commercial itself. Nicole has trouble smiling and reaching out but does her shoot really well. At the same time, Laura is dyslexic and cannot do the commercial well- she gets frustrated and makes it worse. Somehow I wish no one gave people labels like dyslexic, as it makes them think they CAN’T. HOWEVER, Jay compliments Laura, saying that dyslexia and all, she stops and starts again with the same energy. She does it so he loves it and says CUT with happy vigor. Nicole sounds snobby to Jay and she gets nervous. In the meanwhile Laura is not full of emotion, and when Nigel wants her to think of romance, she is thinking of milkshakes.
Next comes the Seventeen Magazine Cover and both are so good and the editor says it is anyone’s game. Runway Time!!!! How do they remain so calm looking? Tyra comes to visit and talk with them; Nicole all but admits she is a loner and does not get along with others. L’il Laura cries talking about her grandmother, and Tyra finds her beautiful inside and out.
Jen, Sundai, Erin and Brittany come back to be in the runway, AND THESE NICE GIRLS ARE HAPPY TO SEE EACH OTHER. Laura says, “These dresses melt my heart.” Almost all are rooting for Laura. ME TOO! She gets to me; she melts my heart! The show is about to start and it looks like half of Hawaii is there. Nicole has a hard, mannish walk; Laura is shaking, but you cannot see it. Laura loves the backstage chaos, while Nicole sleep walks in slo-mo. They each do a bit with a veil and Laura does it right- Nicole looks weighed down by the veil. Then, they are in water, and Nicole looks dead, while Laura looks sultry. I say Nicole is better on first photo and Laura better on commercial. They are tied on Seventeen photo and Laura takes the runway.
The judges review the runway and the photos- they seem to be giving Nicole the edge. They like both commercials and both Cover Girl Shots, still on Laura’s accent. I am nerrrrrr-vvvvouus! Nigel makes a comment that Nicole can do both beauty and high fashion, based on one picture where she looks very tall with 4″ of hair piled on her head and an empire gown. Oh, I think they are going to pick Nicole because of this comment- what high fashion is there for Petites, and who would overlook her height and pick her with that thriller of a personality?
Nicole wins and I am speechless- again. As Tyra is all over her with praise and excitement (you see, Tyra has a personality), Nicole reacts with her usual sang-froid and I and my 42 years of experience think they have made a big mistake. My guess is that Laura will be scooped up and out-book Nicole. ANTM will not tell us, that is ‘fer sher!’
Top photos of both for Cover girl. Bottom photos are Nicole looking so thin in Finale dress and the photo of Nicole looking so much taller that caused Nigel’s comment that made her the winner.
Good Luck and again, Brava to Tyra for all her success this year. Beauty fades, even one day for Tyra- hmmm, maybe not, but ‘smart cookie’ just gets better! Hope you all enjoyed this season- I did. Mary
