Americas Next Top Model Archives

"The Girl Who Kissed The Roach" Synopsis :: Runway trainer J. Alexander critiques the models on their catwalk abilities, then unconventional fashion designer Jared Gold puts the girls to the test on their ability to handle the outrageous things the fashion industry can throw at a top model. As the competitors walk in his spring collection, they’ve got some wild accessories–live, giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches. While one model has a meltdown, another competitor demonstrates her runway confidence by kissing her roach. At the photo shoot, the models are made up as fairy tale characters, then are challenged to nail a perfect pose while falling in mid-air. Jared Gold serves as guest judge, and special guests include photographer Tracy Bayne.

Here’s your exclusive sneak peek at tonight’s episode with pictures aplenty from the Jared Gold runway show.  Lots of freaky looks from all the contestants.  America’s Next Top Model episode "The Girl Who Kissed The Roach"  airs tonight @ 8PM ET/PT on UPN. Many more pictures in the gallery!

Gina, Nnenna,  Furonda and Mollie Sue model Jared Gold’s
Spring 2006 collection on the runway in tonight’s episode.

Danielle falls flat on her face (twice!) during the runway walk
 challenge at judging.  She crawls out of the room crying
 "Ow, ow, ow."  Gina freaks out when she finds out she
 must model with a cockroach.  EEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jay Manuel directs the girls in a fairy tale themed photo
 shoot with Kari as "Goldilocks," Furonda as "Rupunzel,"
 Mollie Sue as "Little Boy Blue," and Sara as "Gretel."

Talk about milestones: Recent America’s Next Top Model winner Nicole Linketter’s first trip to France coincided with her first shoot for ELLE and also her first time wearing couture.  Hardly one to let a few successes go to her head, Linkletter, 20, took breaks from the ELLE photo session to go be a small-town girl seeing the sights of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre — "all the touristy stuff," as she puts it.  Back on the set, she loved trying on the beautiful couture clothing, especially Chanel’s pale pink gwn and Dior Haute Couture by John Galliano’s outrageous pantsuit. ¶  The North Fork, North Dakota, native has been on the fast track ever since waiting in line outside the Mall of America for "hours" last April to try out for America’s Next Top Model.  She made the show and had a wonderful time on it, although she wishes more people would understand that "reality television is not reality."  For instance, she admits that hte drama gets amped up by the video cameras, like when she had a fight with her younger sister on the telephone.  There’s clearly something about relaity TV that makes people more emotional, though she wouldn’t define it as acting per se.  "You are still yourself," she says, "but you’re in a situation you would never be in in actual life."  ¶  Having survived living in a house with 12 other aspiriing models and "being videotaped even when sleeping," Linkletter is now ready to concentrate on her career.  In the future, the buddind star hopes to have the oportunity to be like one of her industry heroes, Tyra Banks — who she describes as "not just a model, but a role model."  We wish her all the luck.

Here is America’s Next Top Model :: Cycle 5 winner Nicole Linkletter in her winning ELLE magazine photo shoot from the April 2006 issue.  My two favorite outfits (pictured above) are the Christian Lacroix Haute Couture paillette-embroidered tulle and chiffon gown and the Dior Haute Couture embroidered linen jacket, hand-painted leather trousers by John Galliano. More ANTM’s Nicole Linkletter pictures in the gallery!

The premiere of last night’s premiere episode of America’s Next Top Model : Cycle 6 certainly didn’t disappoint.  This episode had the ladies pose for beauty shots while wearing bald caps and having their skin bejeweled.  Rounding out my top picks of the week were Sara, Danielle (even though her personality is off-putting) and Brooke (even though the judges didn’t like her shot). Eliminated this week?  Southern girl Kathy who’s seen as a "hillbilly with a philosophy…[that she] can win this competition by being sweet, southern and a bit different." When it came down to it, Kathy just didn’t have enough of a model’s face to win the competition. All the portfolio pictures and episode stills in the gallery!  What were your thoughts on this episode and who are your favorites?

"The Girls Go Bald" — After 32 aspiring models arrive in Pasadena, Calif., to face host Tyra Banks, the field quickly narrows to 13 finalists, however, the finalists are given little time to settle into their posh new mansion in Los Angeles before Jay Manuel reveals in a jaw-dropping announcement that they will be bald for their first photo shoot.

At the latest ANTM press conference, Nigel Barker (Fashion Photographer and Judge) Jay Manuel (Art Director of Photo Shoots) and Ken Mok (Executive Producer) wouldn’t reveal much about the upcoming season of ANTM but they did confirm everyone’s suspicions that Cycle 5’s Jayla was the guilty party in stealing Bre’s granola bars.  Dun dun dun.  They also mentioned the uncertainty of future releases of subsequent seasons of ANTM on DVD because of poor Season 1 sales. Gah!  The sixth-cycle, two-hour premiere of America’s Next Top Model airs this Wednesday, March 8 (8PM ET/PT) on UPN.  More pictures in the gallery!