It's time for the commercial challenge on Top Model! This cycle, Tyra is pulling out all the stops by bringing her best bud and American Idol alum Clay Aiken to teach the girls a thing or two about acting. After shooting a cosmetics commercial, Aiken serves as guest judge to decide which model will get sent home.
After the obligatory catfight at the house — this time between Aminat and Natalie — the girls head out to Harlem Stage Theater where they are greeted by Paulina. They are given a stage-acting exercise with partners, and it's pretty clear a lot of them need work. The girls are then given scripts and asked show off what they learned. But Paulina has a little surprise: It's Clay Aiken, who will act alongside them as a designer sizing up each girl during their go-sees.
London wins the challenge, and gets $5,000 of cloths from Joe's Jeans. When she claims her prize, we learn she's "struggling with weight" because she's packed on some pounds. Where, I'm not sure, but clearly it's making her so self-conscious that she doesn't even want to try on her clothes.
The girls head off for their photo shoot where last cycle's McKey is there to introduce them to the CoverGirl product they'll be selling (which sounds like a bad commercial in itself). The girl isn't the best at delivering lines, but you have to admit, she looks amazing these days. The models are tasked with breaking into two groups and filming the commercial together, with each one taking a turn as the "lead."
Group one is Teyona, Celia, Aminat and Celia. Celia does really well, and Clay loves the way she creates a character. Teyona is a bit squinty on film, but get her lines out. Tyra calls Allison's commercial "punishment," which is a double whammy after she gets chastised for wearing the same outfit twice to panel. Clay, however, looks on the bright side and said it was the loudest she's been yet. Aminat chops the endings of her words off ("the makeup you choo" vs. "choose").
Group two is Natalie, Fo, London and Tahlia. Natalie was fine, but Clay didn't think she connected with the other girls. London was working the hard sell too much. The judges rip her apart for her acting and mock her shorts as "not becoming" because of her extra pounds. Fo trips over her words, but she shines in the background. Tahlia looked "old" and "mean" -- despite her raised energy level. Clay can see her huge self-esteem issues are getting in the way.
Ultimately, it's no shock that Celia's commercial is chosen as the best, considering the rest were painful, while Allison and Tahlia are the bottom two. So which was less horrendous? Allison and her one face look (even on film), or Tahlia and her visible lack of confidence? Allison and those saucer eyes stay.
What did you think of the episode? Should Tahlia have been the one sent packing? Did you enjoy Clay's guest appearance — and his two cents? Discuss!
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It's time for the commercial challenge on Top Model! This cycle, Tyra is pulling out all the stops by bringing her best bud and American Idol alum Clay Aiken to teach the girls a thing or two about acting. After shooting a cosmetics commercial, Aiken serves as guest judge to decide which model will get sent home.
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